Michelle Frey at Knopf Books for Young Readers has acquired Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's (l.) debut picture book, Bold & Brave: Ten Heroes Who Won Women the Right to Vote, which offers a look at 10 influential suffragists. The diverse group of featured women includes Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Burns, Jovita Idár, Inez Milholland, Alice Paul, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Mary Church Terrell, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Ida B. Wells. Maira Kalman will illustrate; the book will be released on November 13, 2018. Robert Barnett at Williams & Connolly represented the author, and Charlotte Sheedy at Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency represented the artist in the deal for world rights.
Michele Wells at DC Entertainment has bought world rights to bestselling author Danielle Paige's graphic novel, Mera: Tidebreaker, for the new YA imprint DC Ink. In the book, the eponymous title character—warrior princess of the undersea Xebel empire—must choose between her heart and her mission when she's sent to kill Arthur Curry, the future Aquaman and heir to the rival throne of Atlantis. Publication is set for April 2019; Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media represented Paige.
Aimee Friedman at Scholastic has acquired world rights to Pretend She's Here by bestselling author Luanne Rice, in which Emily, who is still grieving the loss of her best friend, Lizzie, is abducted by Lizzie's family, in a twisted effort to “replace” their dead daughter. Emily struggles to survive the ordeal without losing her sense of self. The book will be published in 2019; Andrea Cirillo at the Jane Rotrosen Agency did the deal.
Pam Gruber and Hannah Milton at Little, Brown/Poppy have bought Sarah Henning's Throw Like a Girl, a contemporary romance and underdog story about a former championship-winning softball pitcher who has to prove she can be a team player by becoming the not-so-backup quarterback on a rival high school's football team. Publication is scheduled for fall 2019; Whitney Ross at Irene Goodman Literary Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Calista Brill at First Second has acquired Marshmallow & Jordan, Alina Chau's middle grade graphic novel about a former star youth basketball player, Jordan, who was paralyzed from the waist down in an accident and befriends Marshmallow, a magical elephant who helps her discover that water polo could be the sport in which she can continue her athletic dreams. Publication is slated for 2020; Marietta Zacker at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency negotiated the deal for U.S., Canadian, and open market rights.
Eliza Leahy at Capstone has bought How to Stage a Catastrophe author Rebecca Donnelly's new middle-grade novel. The Friendship Liecenters on almost-11-year-old Cora, who uses a mysterious old diary she finds in the trash to mend her relationship with her once-best friend. Publication is planned for summer 2019; Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency did the deal for world English rights.
Lisa Sandell at Scholastic Focus has acquired Lawrence Goldstone's Stolen Justice: The Struggle for African-American Voting Rights in the Jim Crow South, about the role played by the U.S. Supreme Court in denying African-Americans the right to vote in the post-Reconstruction South, and thus enabling the horrors of the Jim Crow era. The book is set for publication in 2020; Charlie Olsen at Inkwell Management brokered deal for world English rights.
Kelsy Thompson at Jolly Fish Press has bought U.S., Canada, and Philippines rights for the award-winning, middle grade Cogheart trilogy by U.K. author Peter Bunzl, which includes Cogheart, Moonlocket, and Sky Circus. In the first book, Cogheart, strong-willed Lily seeks the truth behind her inventor father's disappearance with the help of a local clockmaker's son and an over-opinionated mechanical pet fox created by Lily's father. Murder, mayhem, and mystery collide with airships and a bit of steampunk in a fantastical Victorian world. Publication is slated for spring 2019, fall 2019, and spring 2020 respectively; Katelyn Detweiler at Jill Grinberg Literary Management negotiated the deal on behalf of Jo Williamson at Antony Harwood Ltd.
Stephanie Pitts at Putnam has acquired, in a preempt, debut author-illustrator Alexandra Thompson's picture book, A Family for Louie, about a foodie French bulldog looking for a forever home. Publication is scheduled for summer 2020, with a second to-be-determined picture book to follow; Hannah Mann at Writers House brokered the deal for world rights.
Heidi Kilgras at Random House has bought world rights to Melissa Martin's picture book, Those Are Not My Underpants!, in which curious Bear Cub wanders through the forest asking critters just whose underpants are hanging on a branch. Troy Cummings will illustrate; publication is planned for fall 2020. Mary Cummings at Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Sue Tarsky at Albert Whitman has acquired two picture books by Maryann Macdonald (l.), illustrated by Priscilla Burris: It’s Good to Have a Grandma and It's Good to Have a Grandpa. The books are about the wonderful bonds of grandparenthood; both are due out in fall 2019. Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency represented Macdonald, and Christina Tugeau at the CAT Agency represented Burris.
Courtney Fahy at Little Bee has bought world rights to Lisa Ann Scott's Goodnight Lagoon: A Goodnight Moon Parody, illustrated by Paco Sordo, a debut picture book about sweet, playful creatures found in the lagoon that are getting ready to go to sleep. Publication is set for summer 2019; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented the author, and Amanda Hendon at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Jennifer Stokes at Kids Can Press has acquired world rights to the picture book 1 Girl = 111 Treesby Rina Singh (l.), illustrated by Marianne Ferrer. The book is a contemporary eco-feminist tale depicting the efforts of one man who turned a desert village in India into an oasis that is not only safe for girls but celebrates them as well. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Frances Gilbert at Doubleday has bought world rights to Bones in the White House by Candice Ransom, illustrated by Jamey Christoph. This picture book presents a true account of Thomas Jefferson's love of science and paleontology and his quest to find a complete mammoth skeleton, by way of proving the importance of the young country he was leading as president. It's slated for spring 2020; Victoria Wells Arms at Wells Arms Literary represented the author, and Patricia Lindgren at Lindgren & Smith represented the illustrator.
Kate O'Sullivan at HMH has acquired world rights to Kate Hoefler's (l.) Nothing in Common, a picture book about an old man, a hot-air-balloon-flying dog, and two kids who appear to have nothing in common, but perhaps do where it counts most. Corinna Luyken will illustrate; publication is planned for fall 2020. Steven Malk at Writers House represented both the author and the illustrator in the deal.
Wendy McClure at Albert Whitman has bought Hallee Adelman's (l.) debut picture book My Quiet Ship, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez. Whenever his parents fight, a boy escapes to his makeshift fort and into his imagination. But when his Quiet Ship is broken, he must bravely devise a new plan. Publication is set for fall 2018; Jill Corcoran at Jill Corcoran Literary Agency represented the author, and Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Allison Cohen at Running Press Kids has acquired Tom Ryan and Robin Stevenson's Meet Me Halfway, a contemporary YA novel following cousins on a road trip to Pride in Toronto as they search for love and adventure and uncover family secrets along the way. Ryan's novels have twice been named to the ALA's Rainbow List, and Stevenson is the author of the Stonewall Honor book Pride: Celebrating Diversity and Community. Publication is scheduled for May 2020; Eric Smith at P.S. Literary negotiated the deal for world English rights for the authors.
Amara Hoshijo at Soho Teen has bought Latinx author Michelle Ruiz Keil's debut novel, All of Us with Wings, a YA fantasy imbued with elements of Aztec mythology. The book follows Xochi, a teenage governess living with her young ward Pallas's glamorous rockstar family in San Francisco. When Xochi and Pallas perform a cathartic punk-rock ritual on the Equinox, they accidentally summon a pair of ancient creatures determined to avenge transgressions from Xochi's troubled past. Publication is set for summer 2019; Hannah Fergesen at KT Literary brokered the deal for world English rights.
Emily Seife at Scholastic has acquired Lydia Sharp's new YA novel, The Night of Your Life. Pitched as Groundhog Day meets prom, the story follows a boy who gets stuck in a time loop reliving his prom night, trying to have the best night ever with the girl of his dreams; to stop it he might have to let go of his ideas of perfection. The title is slated for 2020; Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Calista Brill at First Second has bought Naima, K.L. Ricks's YA graphic novel fantasy about a young woman's return to her native Caribbean island after completing her magical training to become a midwife. Publication is planned for 2020; Edward Maxwell at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates negotiated the deal for world rights.
Julie Matysik and Kristin Kiser at Running Press Kids have acquired wellness expert Mallika Chopra's middle grade nonfiction book, Just Feel, an illustrated guide for kids that offers advice and inspiration for building social and emotional learning. Publication is scheduled for September 2019; Linda Loewenthal at the Loewenthal Company brokered the deal for world rights.
Pam Gruber at Poppy has bought Positively Teen: A Practical Guide to a More Positive, More Confident You by Nicola Morgan, a guide for both boys and girls about navigating adolescence and fostering long-term well-being, from an expert on teenage brains and mental health. Publication is slated for spring 2019; Susannah Palfrey at Hachette did the deal for North American rights.
Erika Turner and Margaret Raymo at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt have acquired in a preempt Sofiya Pasternack's middle grade novel, Anya Kozlova and the Dragon, for the Versify imprint. Set in the ninth century, the book is about a 12-year-old Jewish girl who, with the help of a new friend, must go up against a bloodthirsty Viking and a vengeful Tsar to protect the lonely water dragon who saved her life, even if it means putting her family's home at risk. Publication is set for fall 2019; Rena Rossner at the Deborah Harris Agency negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Julia Maguire at Knopf has bought Doug Cornett's debut middle grade novel, Finally, Something Mysterious, in which three friends who solve small mysteries in their town face their biggest challenge yet. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Penelope Burns at Gelfman Schneider/ICM Partners represented Cornett in the deal for world rights.
Charlie Ilgunas at Yellow Jacket has won at auction Rajani LaRocca's debut middle grade novel, Midsummer's Mayhem. Inspired by A Midsummer Night's Dream, the story follows an 11-year-old Indian-American girl whose dream of winning a celebrity chef-judged baking contest stirs up trouble when she bakes with a mysterious boy from the woods and people around her start acting loopy. Publication is scheduled for summer 2019; Brent Taylor at TriadaUS brokered the deal for world English rights.
Carlisa Cramer at Jolly Fish has acquired world rights to Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold, a middle grade paranormal adventure debut by Lisa Schmid. Twelve-year-old Ollie Oxley isn't expecting his first friend in his new town to be a ghost, but together they team up to search for gold pieces hidden by Gold Rush prospectors, save Ollie's mother's theater, and take down the school bully. Publication is set for summer 2019; the book was unagented.
Rotem Moscovich at Disney-Hyperion has bought Cornbread and Poppy, an early chapter book series written and illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell (Wolf in the Snow). The series features two mice: reluctant Cornbread and adventurous Poppy, best friends with different ideas about life in the countryside. The first title is slated to launch in February 2021, with the second to follow in July 2021; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio did the deal for world English rights.
Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow has acquired world rights to three untitled picture books by Michael Hall, author-illustrator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo and Red: A Crayon's Story. The first book is planned for winter 2020; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the author-illustrator.
John Morgan at Imprint has bought world rights to two currently untitled picture books by author and artist Jason Tharp. The first will feature a lovable unicorn who's still learning to love himself. Publication is scheduled for winter 2020; Morgan was unagented.
Kelly Delaney at Knopf has acquired Me and the Sky, the picture book autobiography of Beverley Bass (l.), one of the first female commercial airline pilots who is currently portrayed in the Broadway musical Come from Away. Joanie Stone will illustrate. Publication is set for fall 2019; the author is unagented, and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Andrea Tompa at Candlewick has bought world rights to See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle (l.), illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka, collaborators on Moo! and This Is NOT a Cat! In the humorous send-up of early readers, a dog resists the narrator's descriptions of what is happening in the story. Publication is planned for fall 2020; both the author and the illustrator were unagented.
Joy Peskin at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has acquired world rights to Tamara Pizzoli's picture book, Tallulah the Tooth Fairy CEO, illustrated by Federico Fabiani. When Tallulah, tooth fairy and CEO of Teeth Titans Incorporated, comes across an unusual dilemma that isn't covered in the Teeth Titans Incorporated Employee Manual, she must find a creative solution of her own. Publication is slated for spring 2019; two more books by Pizzoli, illustrated by Phil Howell and edited by Trisha de Guzman, are forthcoming. The author and the illustrators were unagented.
