Audrey Ingerson at Delacorte has acquired debut author Holly Jackson's A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, a YA crime thriller about a closed local murder case that doesn't add up, and a girl who's determined to find the real killer—but not everyone wants her meddling in the past. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Tracy Phillips at Egmont UK handled the two-book deal for North American rights.
Hannah Smith at Owl Hollow Press has bought Mother of God author Paul Rosolie's The Girl and the Tiger, a YA story about Isha, a girl grappling with the fact that the natural world is dying, who begins a journey of awakening and survival as she protects the Bengal Tiger cub she calls Kala. The book is inspired by actual events in the author's life as a naturalist and explorer; Rosolie has written for National Geographic, and had shows on Discovery Channel and Netflix. Publication is set for 2019; Lindsay Edgecombe at Levine, Greenberg, Rostan Literary Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Andrea Tompa at Candlewick Press has acquired at auction All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team, author Christina Soontornvat's middle grade nonfiction account of the events that riveted the world. The book draws on Soontornvat's knowledge of Thailand and her expertise in key STEM topics that impacted the crisis and rescue. Publication is scheduled for 2020; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary negotiated the deal for world rights in all languages.
Karen Greenberg at Knopf has bought world rights to Finding Joy, a contemporary middle grade novel by Gae Polisner (l.) and Nora Raleigh Baskin. Told in the alternating timelines of two main characters, the book follows Joy, in the present day, as she embarks on the traditional birthday scavenger hunt her best friend Lukas left her one year ago on the day he died. Publication is slated for summer 2020; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented Polisner, and Katelyn Detweiler at Jill Grinberg Literary Management represented Baskin.
Tracey Keeven at Disney-Hyperion has won, at auction, All the Missing Pieces by Counting Thyme author Melanie Conklin, in which a girl becomes obsessed with what happened to a boy who was abducted, eventually convincing herself the new boy in town is that very same missing child, all while trying to manage her own anxieties about the tragic death of her father. Publication is planned for May 2020; Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties sold North American rights.
Erin Black at Scholastic has acquired world English rights to Erin Dionne's middle grade novel, Secrets of a Fangirl, about 12-year-old popular athlete Sarah Anne who becomes the frontrunner in a fantasy book fan contest and must decide between living her popular girl life and losing, or winning and going public with her geeky self. Publication is set for 2019; Sally Harding at CookeMcDermid did the deal.
Kiara Valdez at First Second has bought world rights to Shauna J. Grant's untitled middle grade memoir, which follows a younger Shauna who turns to anime and art as a form of escape from her crisis of identity, troubling feelings, and her tiny Christian school in the Bronx. Publication is scheduled for 2021; Grant was unagented.
Carol Hinz at Lerner/Millbrook Press has acquired world rights to Coyote Moon and Hawk Rising author Maria Gianferrari's (l.) new picture book, Play Like an Animal, a look at all the different ways animals play. Mia Powell will illustrate. Publication is expected in spring 2020; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Tracy Mack at Scholastic Press and Anne Shone at Scholastic Canada have bought world rights to Irene Luxbacher's picture book, Once I Was a Bear, about a boy with a deep connection to the natural world. Publication is slated for 2020; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management brokered the deal.
Jonathan Westmark at Albert Whitman has acquired Imagination Vacationby author-illustrator Jami Gigot. The picture book follows a girl who uses make-believe magic to create an around-the-world weekend vacation for her very busy family. Publication is set for fall 2019; Wendi Gu at Janklow & Nesbit Associates did the deal for world rights.
Nina Gruener at Cameron Kids has acquired world rights to Oak Leaf by John Sandford, a picture book that follows an autumn oak leaf from tree, to aloft above the world, to the hands of a girl and the pages of her book. Publication is planned for fall 2019; Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary represented the author-illustrator.
Jill Santopolo at Philomel has preempted world rights to Tami Lewis Brown's (l.) I Really [Don't] Care, illustrated by Tania de Regil. Inspired by current events, the story is about a child whose selfishness turns into empathy when he discovers that our similarities matter more than our differences. Publication is set for fall 2019; Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary represented the author, and Adriana Dominguez at Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator.
Ann Rider at HMH has bought world rights to From Here to There: Inventions That Changed the Way the World Moves by Vivian Kirkfield, illustrated by Gilbert Ford. The collective biography features nine inventors of things that move—from the bike and the car to the wheelchair and the robot—to give young readers a glimpse into the "aha" moment behind each invention. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Carrie Hannigan at Hannigan Salky Getzler represented the illustrator.
Orli Zuravicky at Scholastic has acquired world rights to Laurel Neme's (l.) picture book, The Elephant's New Shoe, about an orphaned baby elephant with a severely damaged foot and the wildlife rescuer, Nick Marx, who saves his life with a special prosthetic foot, working in affiliation with the Wildlife Alliance. Ariel Landy will illustrate; publication is slated for 2020. Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and James Burns at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Clarissa Wong at HarperCollins has bought world rights to Allison Crotzer Kimmel's (l.) picture book biography, Betty Robinson, illustrated by Joanie Stone. The story tells of the American athlete's incredible journey to beat the odds and become the first woman to win Olympic gold in track and field. Publication is planned for summer 2020; Jenna Pocius at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Courtney Burke at Page Street Kids has acquired world rights to The Fort by Laura Perdew (l.), illustrated by Adelina Lirius. The picture book follows a boy and a girl who use a fort in the woods as a castle and a pirate ship, respectively, and the tug of war that ensues when they discover each other. Publication is set for winter 2020; the author represented herself, and Christy Tugeau Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Courtney Fahy at Little Bee has bought world rights to Linda Marshall's (l.) Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit, illustrated by Ilaria Urbinati. The picture book chronicles the life of the progressive and inspirational writer and illustrator. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Christa Heschke at McIntosh & Otis represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
