Katherine Harrison at Knopf has acquired Anuradha D. Rajurkar's SCBWI 2017 Emerging Voices Award-winning contemporary debut novel, American Betiya, about a teenage artist grappling with forbidden love, family boundaries, and her boyfriend's exoticization of her Indian heritage. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Alexander Slater at Trident Media Group negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Annette Pollert-Morgan at Sourcebooks Fire has bought world rights to Miranda Kenneally's Four Days in May, pitched as a YA One Day. The book takes place on the same day in four consecutive years, tracing the on-again-off-again relationship of Alex and Lulu, two classmates who get off to a rocky start in freshman year when he beats her in the election for class president, but whose lives change as their paths crisscross over the course of high school. Publication is scheduled for spring 2020; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret brokered the deal.
Shana Corey at Random House has acquired at auction the first two books in a full-color graphic novel series by Colleen AF Venable (l.) and Stephanie Yue, called Katie the Catsitter. The books follow 12-year-old Katie, who is dreading the boring summer ahead until she realizes the mysterious neighbor who hired her to catsit is actually one of the city's greatest supervillains. Publication is slated for spring 2021 and spring 2022; Barry Goldblatt at Barry Goldblatt Literary handled the deal for world rights.
Stacey Barney at Putnam has bought two middle grade novels by Sarah Dooley (Ashes to Asheville; Free Verse), 2018 Lambda Award finalist and recipient of the 2012 PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship. The first novel, Tests of Faith and Patience, stars 12-year-old Patience Silas, who attempts to save a herd of horses abandoned on an old strip mine in West Virginia. The book will be released in spring 2020; Laura Langlie did the deal for world rights.
Reka Simonsen at S&S/Atheneum has acquired in an exclusive submission Rising Water: The Story of the Thai Cave Rescue, a middle-grade nonfiction book by Trapped author Marc Aronson, detailing the rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach who were trapped in a flooded cave network in Thailand, and the near three-week ordeal that prompted an international rescue effort. The book will publish simultaneously with the paperback edition of Trappedon March 19, 2019. Erin Cox at Rob Weisbach Creative Management negotiated the deal for world rights.
Liz Kossnar at Simon & Schuster has bought Fake Blood author-illustrator Whitney Gardner's middle grade graphic novel, Space Camp, in which a 12-year-old girl is upset to move from Portland to Seattle, leaving her only friend behind. When her parents enroll her in a space-themed summer camp, she finds that the camp—and long-distance friendship—might be more out of this world than she bargained for. Publication is set for summer 2020; Brent Taylor at Triada US sold world rights.
Diane Landolf at Random House has acquired S.G. Wilson's debut novel, Me vs. the Multiverse, as well as a sequel. The middle grade book presents the story of Meade Macon and his adventures at Me Con, a trans-dimensional convention where a hundred versions of Meade (or "Mes") meet to share stories, gain insight into themselves, and try to defeat Meticulous Me, the evil Me who wants to take over the Multiverse. Publication of book one is planned for summer 2020; John Rudolph at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret brokered the deal for world rights.
Courtney Stevenson at HarperCollins has bought The Complicated Math of Two Plus One, a middle grade novel by debut author Cathleen Barnhart. David and Samantha have been best friends since they first met on their Little League team. But when David's attempts at flirting go too far—and leave Sammie feeling upset and powerless—they have to figure out how to deal with their confusion and hurt to try to make things right. Publication is slated for 2020; Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch Literary Services negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Kendra Levin at Viking has acquired world rights to Anne Blankman’s middle grade debut, The Blackbird Girls, about a Jewish girl and her bully who must try to survive the Chernobyl disaster by journeying to safety together, and discover that they are more alike than they thought. Publication is scheduled for 2020; Tracey Adams at Adams Literary handled the deal.
Alexa Pastor at Atheneum has bought world rights to One Shadow on the Wall author Leah Henderson's Together We March, a nonfiction picture book about protest movements throughout history. Publication is set for spring 2020; Clelia Gore at Martin Literary & Media Management represented the author.
Jessica Echeverría at Lee and Low has acquired world rights to debut children’s author Linda J. Acevedo's Crazy Legs: A B-Boy from the Boogie Down Bronx, a picture book biography of Richard "Crazy Legs" Colon, one of the pioneers of breakdancing and a legendary figure in hip-hop history. Frank Morrison will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2019. Adriana Dominguez at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Laura Godwin at Holt/Godwin has bought world rights to Deborah Underwood's new picture book, You Are a Blessing, which places readers in a context of family, community, and the greater world, and embraces the flaws, the hopes, and the connections of all. Tim Hopgood will illustrate; publication is planned for winter 2021. Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Claire Cartey at Holroyde Cartey represented the illustrator.
Emma Ledbetter at Atheneum has acquired world rights to Simon at the Art Museum by Christina Soontornvat (l.), illustrated by Christine Davenier, a picture book about a boy's day at an art museum with his parents, and the unique appreciation he develops for the art, the people... and the museum café cheesecake. Publication is scheduled for summer 2020; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Studio Goodwin Sturges represented the illustrator.
Susan Kochan at Putnam has bought world rights to Kerri Kokias's picture book, Clever Hans: A Clever Horse Indeed!, illustrated by Mike Lowery, the true story of a horse who appeared to count, tell time, solve math problems, read, spell, and more, which led to the development of double-blind scientific studies. Publication is slated for summer 2020; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and Susan McCabe at Lilla Rogers Studio represented the illustrator.
Katherine Jacobs at Roaring Brook has acquired J.F. Fox’s debut picture book, Friday Night Wrestlefest, illustrated by Micah Player. In the story, Dad engages the kids in a favorite Friday night family bonding ritual—a wrestlefest, replete with costumes and wrestling moves. The book is set for publication in winter 2020; Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the author, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Meredith Mundy at Sterling has bought world rights to the picture book Moldilocks and the Three Scares by Lynne Marie, illustrated by David Rodriguez Lorenzo, a fractured fairy tale about three monsters who feel something is missing from their lives and an orphaned zombie who is searching for a home. Publication is planned for fall 2019; Deborah Warren at East West Literary represented the author, and Emily Coggins at Astound Illustration Agency represented the illustrator.
Emily Easton at Crown has acquired Marjory Stoneman Douglas students and teacher Sarah Lerner's Parkland Speaks: Survivors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas Share Their Stories, a collection of eyewitness accounts, poetry, letters, speeches, journal entries, drawings, and photographs from the Parkland events of February 14 and their aftermath. Publication is slated for spring 2019; Lerner represented herself in the deal for world rights.
Daniel Ehrenhaft at Soho Teen has bought Sangu Mandanna's Color Outside the Lines, a YA anthology centered around interracial relationships and the complicated, rewarding and sometimes hilarious dynamics between friends, family, and first loves. The collection features Anna-Marie McLemore, Elsie Chapman, Karuna Riazi, Lydia Kang, L.L. McKinney, Lori Lee, Lauren Gibaldi, Tara Sim, Eric Smith, Caroline Tung Richmond, Kelly Zekas, Tarun Shanker, Samira Ahmed and Adam Silvera, and more. Publication is set for fall 2019; Eric Smith at P.S. Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Alice Jerman at HarperTeen has acquired at auction, in a six-figure deal, Erica Waters's debut YA contemporary fantasy, Ghost Wood Song. In the story, a girl must use her family's ghost-raising fiddle to conjure the one spirit who can prove her brother is innocent of murder, while choosing between the banjo-playing girl of her dreams and the rodeo boy trying to swagger his way into her heart. Publication is scheduled for summer 2020; Lauren Spieller at TriadaUS Literary Agency negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Hannah Smith at Owl Hollow Press has bought Emily Layne's These Wicked Waters, a YA paranormal novel in which 17-year-old Annie Mayfield moves to a cursed island with an ancient enemy lurking beneath the water. Annie channels her inner Nancy Drew—minus the skirt and pearls—in an attempt to uncover the ocean's secrets. Publication is planned for 2019; Becky LeJeune at Bond Literary Agency did the deal for world English rights.
Krista Vitola at Simon & Schuster has acquired in a preempt Stacy Hackney's debut book, a middle grade novel called The Mystery of Glimmer Creek. The novel is set in a town where each year, one lucky inhabitant survives danger and bits of magic cling to them for a lifetime. When 12-year-old aspiring filmmaker Rosie decides to make a documentary about the miracles to connect with her absent father, she learns that true magic is much different than she'd believed. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Katie Grimm at Don Congdon Associates brokered the deal for world English rights.
Allison Cohen at Running Press Kids has bought Eileen Moskowitz-Palma's middle grade debut, The Popularity Pact, a duology about former best friends who make a deal to help one another get in with the “cool” kids, first at summer camp and then at school. The first book, Camp Clique, is scheduled for spring 2020; Lauren Galit at LKG Agency broker negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Neal Porter at Holiday House has acquired Maxwell Eaton III's Bear Goes Sugaring, following a bear, her dog, and a tag-along squirrel as they set out to make maple syrup in their own backyard, from tapping, to boiling, to flipping pancakes. The book is set for spring 2020; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal for world rights.
Tamar Brazis at Abrams has bought world rights to Leyla by Galia Bernstein (I Am a Cat), about a baboon who takes a break from her chaotic life in order to experience some quiet time. Publication is planned for spring 2019; Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the author-illustrator.
Katie Cunningham at Candlewick Studio has acquired Crystal Kite-winning author-illustrator Carme Lemniscates's Seeds, a contemplative picture book about seeds and growth. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Adriana Dominguez at Full Circle Literary did the deal for world rights.
Shana Corey and Maria Modugno at Random House have bought world rights to Who Took My Nap? by Chris Grabenstein (l.), illustrated by Leo Espinosa. The debut picture book by Grabenstein, author of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series, tells the story of an energetic toddler who vehemently resists taking a nap until all the naps are used up and a spare one needs to be found. Publication is set for spring 2020; Eric Myers at Myers Literary Management represented the author on behalf of Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret; the artist was unagented.
Celia Lee at Cartwheel has acquired world English rights to four board books by author-illustrator Joyce Wan. You Are My Magical Unicorn celebrates the magical spark in every child; Dream Big is a motivational book honoring female icons and trailblazers; Choose Joy is an ode to love and positivity; and Nighty Night Farm is a lift-the-flap book that tucks farm animals into bed. The first publication is scheduled for 2018; Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary negotiated the deal.
Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane has bought world rights to Dianne White's (l.) Green on Green, a picture book that takes readers on a journey through the colors of the seasons. Felicita Sala will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2020. Jennifer Rofé at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Yvette Ghione at Kids Can Press has acquired world rights to Julie Abery's Sakamoto and the Sugar Ditch Kids, illustrated by Chris Sasaki. The rhyming nonfiction picture book follows the journey of science teacher turned swim coach Soichi Sakamoto, who trained kids to be Olympic swimming champions in the irrigation ditches of Maui. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Agency represented the illustrator.
