Nancy Siscoe at Knopf has acquired Squirm by Carl Hiaasen, the author's first middle grade novel in five years. Billy Dickens is determined to track down his absentee father, but his dad has a secret life that involves grizzly bears, spy drones, dangerous poachers, and a dead parrot named Hubert. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Esther Newberg at ICM negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Natashya Wilson at Harlequin Teen has bought world English rights to two books from Fat Girl on a Plane author Kelly deVos. The Survival Code is a YA thriller set in an alternate near future, starring a teen coder whose Doomsday-prepper father is accused of triggering a political crisis. The second book, The Kill Code, is a sequel pitched as a wild west YA Designated Survivor meets Hackers. The first book is set for publication in 2019; Kathleen Rushall for Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Amy Stapp at Tor Teen has acquired Love Songs & Other Lies author Jessica Pennington's When Summer Ends, about a cautious girl who decides to live summer by chance after her longtime boyfriend dumps her right before break, and the former star pitcher who gets swept up in her plan while trying to find a new passion, after learning he's losing his vision. Publication is planned for winter 2019; Michelle Wolfson at Wolfson Literary Agency did the two-book deal for world rights.
Erin Clarke at Knopf has bought a new YA novel by Kate Hattemer, The Last Chance Dance, the story of a teenage girl who challenges the traditions at her private school, while exploring idealism vs. reality, friendship vs. sex, and the knotty complications of privilege. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Uwe Stender at TriadaUS Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Kelsy Thompson at Flux has acquired debut author Nikki Barthelmess's YA contemporary novel, The Quiet You Carry. The book follows 17-year-old Victoria, who, after she's kicked out of her toxic family, must contend with a chaotic foster home, dodge prying eyes at school, hang onto her college dreams, and somehow protect the stepsister she left behind. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Sarah Gerton and Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown Ltd. brokered the deal for world rights.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has signed artist Genevieve Godbout to illustrate a new picture book adaptation of the P.L. Travers classic, Mary Poppins. The book is planned for October 2018, just before the release of the movie Mary Poppins Returns. Bethany Vinhateiro will edit; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management handled the deal on behalf of the artist.
Liz Bicknell at Candlewick has bought world rights to The Village Blacksmith, based on the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, illustrated by G. Brian Karas. The new interpretation is drawn from the artist's own experience, and will feature a modern blacksmith using artisanal methods and tools. A pub date has not yet been set; Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates negotiated the deal.
Jennifer Newens at Graphic Arts has acquired world English rights to Betty Builds It!, a debut picture book by Julie Hampton that mixes STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering, and math in a story about a robot girl who can build just about anything and won't give up until she builds the ultimate friend. Publication is slated for September 2019; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the author-illustrator.
Susan Van Metre at Walker Books U.S. has bought Into the Jungle: More Stories from the Pack by Costa Children's Book Award winner Katherine Rundell (l.), illustrated by Kristjana S. Williams. A companion to Kipling's The Jungle Book, the book features a series of connected origin stories about Mowgli and his animal family in the Indian jungle. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Macmillan Children's Books U.K. brokered the deal for North American rights.
Rotem Moscovich at Disney-Hyperion has acquired Thomas Paine and the Dangerous Word author Sarah Jane Marsh's Most Wanted: John Hancock & Samuel Adams, the story of two very different men who come together to inspire the resistance. Edwin Fotheringhamwill illustrate; publication is planned for summer 2020. Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Pat Hackett represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Jonathan Westmark at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to KidLit411 co-founder Elaine Kiely Kearns's debut picture book, Noah Noasaurus, illustrated by Colin Jack. In the story, a dinosaur named Noah can't stop saying "No!" until he realizes he's having fun with his friends in a dino-parade to Nowhere. Publication is slated for spring 2019; Linda Epstein at Emerald City Literary Agency represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Kristin Daly Rens at Balzer + Bray has acquired, in a preempt, world rights to Megan Reid's (l.) debut picture book biography, Fleet-of-Foot Girl: The Story of Althea Gibson. The book follows Althea Gibson, the first African-American to win a championship at Wimbledon, and her journey from Harlem to the heights of international tennis. Laura Freeman, illustrator of Hidden Figures, will provide the art; publication is set for fall 2019. Wendi Gu at Janklow & Nesbit Associates did the deal while at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, and Janet DeCarlo at Storybook Arts represented the illustrator.
Melissa Manlove at Chronicle has bought world rights to Matthew Burgess's picture book, The Bear and the Moon, about two unlikely buddies, a bear and a red round thing on a long silver string, who spend a joyful day together before the inevitable happens. Catia Chien will illustrate; publication is scheduled for spring 2020. Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Rob Broder at Ripple Grove has acquired world rights to Selfie the Elfie by writer and director Savage Steve Holland, illustrated by Andrea Tripke. Sophie, an elf in Santa's workshop, is too preoccupied taking selfies, but when something goes missing, Sophie's selfies help save Christmas. Publication is slated for fall 2019; the author and illustrator were unagented.
Barbara Herndon at Zonderkidz has bought world rights to Christmas Cookie Day! by Tara Knudson (l.), illustrated by Pauline Siewert. The rhyming board book celebrates the tradition of making Christmas treats, and includes a Christmas cookie recipe. Publication is set for fall 2018; Jill Corcoran at Jill Corcoran Literary Agency represented the author, and Lisa Musing at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
John Morgan at Macmillan/Imprint has acquired two picture books by Karen Kilpatrick and Luis O. Ramos Jr.(center), illustrated by Germán Blanco. When Pencil Met Eraser depicts the creative journey that brings Pencil and Eraser together. Publication is planned for summer 2019, followed by a second, untitled book; Deborah Warren at East West Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Ali Fisher at Tor Books has acquired, at auction, TJ Klune's LGBT #ownvoices teen trilogy, The Extraordinaries, about teen superheroes and the everyday geek boy who follows them. The first title is set for a winter 2020 release; Deidre Knight at the Knight Agency represented Klune in the three-book deal for North American rights; Sam Bradbury at Hodder & Stoughton bought the rights for simultaneous hardcover U.K. publication.
Sara Sargent at HarperCollins has bought Sex Plus: Learning, Loving, and Enjoying Your Body by Laci Green, the YouTube megastar and sex educator hailed by Time as the "millennial Dr. Ruth." The book offers a guide to all the things that go along with sexuality, including pleasure, anatomy, consent, LGBTQ issues, STI and pregnancy prevention, sexual empowerment, and healthy relationships. Publication is set for September 2018; Erin Malone and Eve Attermann at WME handled the deal for North American rights.
Kat Brzozowski at Swoon Reads has acquired Katy Upperman's new YA novel, How the Light Gets, about a grieving teen whose move into her aunt's B&B prompts her to explore the house's strange ties to a grizzly death that occurred years ago, and the two boys still connected to the tragedy. Publication is scheduled for spring/summer 2019; Victoria Marini brokered the deal for world English rights.
Susan Rich at Little, Brown has bought Winnie's Great War by Lindsay Mattick (l.) and Josh Greenhut, illustrated by Sophie Blackall, the team behind the Caldecott Medal-winning Finding Winnie. The middle grade novel is based on the true wartime adventures undertaken by the extraordinary bear who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists and Kim Witherspoon at InkWell Management represented the authors in the deal for world rights, excluding Canada, and Nancy Gallt at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Emilia Rhodes at HMH has preempted, in a three-book deal, Maya and the Rising Dark by Rena Barron. After her father goes missing, 12-year-old Maya uncovers that he is the keeper of the gateway between our world and The Dark. To find her father, she'll need to unlock her own powers and fight a horde of creatures set on starting a war. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Stacy Whitman at Tu Books has acquired Ahimsa author Supriya Kelkar's The Sandalwood Pyre, about an 11-year-old child bride in 1857 India, who escapes the life she has no say in, only to end up a servant to a British general in the East India Company. When the Indian rebellion spreads, she must choose between following the British and fighting against them. Publication is set for spring 2020; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Margaret Raymo at HMH has bought two-time Edgar Award finalist Lamar Giles's debut middle grade fantasy, The Last Last-Day-of-Summer, inspired partly by Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth, about two cousins in Virginia who accidentally freeze time. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019 under Kwame Alexander's new imprint, Versify; Jamie Weiss Chilton at Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.
Liz Szabla and Jean Feiwel at Feiwel and Friends have acquired two untitled picture books by 2018 Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell (Wolf in the Snow). Publication is planned for fall 2020 and fall 2021; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio negotiated the six-figure deal for North American rights.
Carol Hinz at Lerner/Carolrhoda has bought A Map into the World by Kao Kalia Yang (l.), illustrated by Seo Kim. The picture book tells the story of a Hmong-American girl who seeks out beauty in many forms. Publication is slated for fall 2019; Bill Clegg at the Clegg Agency represented the author, and Claudi Conti at Illozoo represented the illustrator.
Sylvie Frank at S&S/Wiseman has acquired world rights to We Love Fishing by Ariel Bernstein, illustrated by Marc Rosenthal. The picture book stars Bear, Porcupine, and Otter, who all love fishing, and Squirrel, who, well, doesn't. Publication is set for fall 2020; Mary Cummings at Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises represented the author, and Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties represented the illustrator.
Caroline Abbey and Maria Modugno have bought Lasting Love by Caroline Wright (l.), illustrated by Willow Heath, for the Rodale list at Random House Books for Young Readers. The picture book is about a parent's enduring love, written especially for children facing the loss of a parent. Publication is scheduled for fall 2019; Katelyn Detweiler at Jill Grinberg Literary Management brokered the deal for world English rights, including audio rights.
Christy Cox at Little Bigfoot has acquired world rights to The Spirit of Springer by Amanda Abler, illustrated by Levi Hastings. The nonfiction picture book is about an orphaned orca named Springer—who was found near starvation in the Puget Sound—and her successful rescue and release, which led to her starting her own family. Publication is slated for spring 2020; both Abler and Hastings represented themselves in the deal.
Courtney Fahy and Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee have bought world rights to Allison Crotzer Kimmel's (l.) The Eternal Soldier: How a Dog Became a Civil War Hero, illustrated by Rotem Teplow, a nonfiction picture book about a dog that became the mascot of a Union battalion in the Civil War and comforted the troops during the Battle of Gettysburg. Publication is planned for summer 2019; Jenna Pocius at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Amanda Hendon at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Marilyn Brigham at Amazon/Two Lions has acquired world rights to The Monster Next Door by Sue Ganz Schmitt, illustrated by Luke Flowers, a picture book comedy about accepting differences. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented the author, and the artist represented himself.
