Weslie Turner at Macmillan/Imprint has acquired, at auction, Zoraida Córdova (l.) and Natalie C. Parker's YA fantasy anthology, Vampires Never Get Old, featuring fresh takes on old souls with vampire stories by Samira Ahmed, Dhonielle Clayton, Tessa Gratton, Heidi Heilig, Julie Murphy, Mark Oshiro, Rebecca Roanhorse, Laura Ruby, Victoria "V.E." Schwab, and Kayla Whaley. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Sara Goodman at Wednesday Books has bought, in a preempt, Hannah Capin's Foul Is Fair, a reimagining of Lady Macbeth for the #MeToo era. Jade Khanjara and her three best friends rule their L.A. circle. They decide how the party ends every night but one—the night four St. Andrew's Prep boys try to ruin her. Certain they'll face no consequences, Jade takes vengeance into her own hands. Publication is set for winter 2020; Sarah Burnes at the Gernert Company brokered the two-book deal for North American rights.
Shana Corey at Random House has acquired Lisa Yee's Maizy Chen's Diabolical Plot to Rule the World, and an untitled second book. The first book is about 11-year-old cartoonist Maizy Chen, transplanted from Hollywood, Calif., to Last Chance, Minn., where her grandfather's health is failing and her grandparents' restaurant, which has been in the family for almost 100 years, is in danger of closing. When someone starts painting racial slurs on the side of the Golden Palace, Maizy is determined to find out who's behind it and why. Publication is slated for fall 2021 and fall 2022; Jodi Reamer at Writers House did the deal for world rights.
Gina Gagliano at Random House Graphic has bought world rights to two graphic novels for young readers by Laura Knetzger: Bug Boys and a sequel. The two full-color graphic novels explore the adventures and friendship of two young bugs, who learn about the natural world around them. Publication is scheduled for 2020 and 2021; Knetzger is unagented.
Melissa Manlove at Chronicle has acquired world rights to the first two titles in a chapter book series by Jory John(l.), about a pair of brother and sister squirrels, to be illustrated by Rowboat Watkins. The stories follow Lois and Lewis as they navigate their way through life in the forest, occasionally double-crossing each other in humorous ways. The books will be published in spring 2021 and fall 2021; Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the author, and Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the illustrator.
Courtney Code at Abrams has bought, in a five-publisher auction, Fox & Rabbit, first in a graphic early chapter book series by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Gergely Dudás. The series explores the fun, simplicity, and magic of friendship through familiar childhood experiences. Publication of the first title is planned for spring 2020; the three-book deal for North American English language rights was co-submitted by Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties on behalf of the author, and by Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions on behalf of the illustrator.
Frances Gilbert at Doubleday has signed a 12-book, six-figure deal for the Baby Astrology series by debut author-illustrator Roxy Marj. Each book—with titles such as Dear Little Aquarius and Dear Little Pisces—represents a sign of the zodiac and shares gentle thoughts about the characteristics of a child born under each star sign. All 12 books will be published in 2020; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author-illustrator for world rights.
Megan Tingley at Little, Brown has acquired three new picture books, The Don't Worry Book, The School Book, and The Kindness Book by bestselling author Todd Parr. Publication is set for spring, summer, and fall 2019; Liz Stahler at Suppertime Entertainment handled the deal for world rights.
Anne Hoppe at Clarion has bought Lyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarianauthor Jacob Sager Weinstein's new picture book, Princess, Inc. The book tells the story of a princess who has very little interest in frills and balls; when her parents don't respond to her request for a job, the heroine takes matters into her own very capable hands. The book is slated for publication in fall 2020; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Tracy Gates at Viking has acquired author-illustrator Abi Cushman's debut picture book, Soaked, about a glum, dejected bear, soaked by rain, who changes his outlook with the help of a badger, a bunny, and a hula-hooping moose. Publication is scheduled for spring 2020; Kendra Marcus at BookStop Literary Agency negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane has bought author-illustrator April Pulley Sayre's Feel the Fog, a photo-illustrated picture book exploring the delicate and mysterious weather phenomenon that brings clouds to ground level. The book is planned for fall 2020; Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt did the deal for world rights.
Ariel Richardson at Chronicle has bought world rights to two novelty board books by author-illustrator Suzy Ultman. A to Z Menagerie features pull-tabs and a curious collection of first words. Will You Be My Neighbor?invites readers to explore animal houses through lift-the-flaps and die-cut doorways. A to Z Menagerie will publish in fall 2019, with Will You Be My Neighbor? s;ated for spring 2021; Susan McCabe at Lilla Rogers Studio represented the author-illustrator.
Kelsey Skea at Amazon/Two Lions has acquired world rights to Lindsay Ward's Rosie. Inspired by the women who built heavy machinery in WWII, the picture book follows a tractor determined to maintain her farm as part of the war effort. Publication is set for spring 2020; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the author-illustrator.
Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has acquired debut author-illustrators (and brothers) Jarrett (l.) and Jerome Pumphrey's The Old Truck, a picture book about a young female farmer and her persistence in restoring a weathered truck to its former glory—and then some. Publication is scheduled for summer 2020; Hannah Mann at Writers House brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Cheryl Klein at Lee & Low has bought world rights to Seven Golden Rings by Rajani LaRocca (l.), a STEM-focused picture book that uses the story of a boy named Bhagat and his chain of seven golden rings to teach the basics of binary numbers. Archana Sreenivasan will illustrate; publication is planned for 2020. Brent Taylor at TriadaUS represented the author, and Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary represented the artist.
Alessandra Balzer at Balzer + Bray has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Dogs at Work by Margaret Cardillo (Just Being Jackie), a tongue-in-cheek picture book compendium of actual canine professions, from seeing-eye dog to Mayor of Cormorant, Minn. Zachariah OHora will illustrate; publication is set for 2021. Stephen Barr at Writers House represented the author, and Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency represented the artist.
Joy Bean at Kane Press/StarBerry Books has bought world rights to the picture book Trucks Zooming By, written by author Pamela Jane, illustrated by Barry Gott. The story tells of a girl who dreams of becoming a trucker and lives out her ideal day as she gets to ride with her parents in their big rig. Publication is slated for fall 2019; the author represented herself, and Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary represented the illustrator.
Joy Peskin at FSG has acquired Be Amazing, a picture book written by drag kid and LGBTQ advocate Desmond Napoles (aka Desmond Is Amazing). Be Amazing, a story of acceptance, is inspired by Desmond's motto: "Be yourself, always." The book is scheduled for publication in early 2020; Jacob Slane at Producer Entertainment Group sold world rights.
Tiffany Liao at Holt has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Starboy by Jami Gigot, a picture book inspired by the life and lyrics of David Bowie, about a lonely boy who feels like he doesn't quite belong on this planet—until he receives a mysterious radio transmission from above. The book is set to publish in winter 2021; Wendi Gu at Janklow & Nesbit represented the author-illustrator.
Ann Kelley at Random House/Schwartz & Wade has acquired Sarah Miller's Violet & Daisy: The Story of the Hilton Sisters, a YA narrative nonfiction about the English entertainers and conjoined twins who were the sensation of the U.S. sideshow circuits in the 1920s and '30s. Publication is slated for spring 2021; Wendy Schmalz at the Wendy Schmalz Agency sold world rights.
David Linker at HarperCollins has bought world rights to Chris Grabenstein's Super Mysterious Puzzlers, a middle grade collection of interactive stories that invite readers to solve the mystery themselves, written by Grabenstein and an all-star cast of contributing authors. Publication is planned for summer 2020; Alec Shane at Writers House brokered the deal for world rights.
Lisa Sandell at Scholastic Press has acquired Jennifer A. Nielsen's (The False Prince and A Night Divided) new historical middle-grade adventure. The Carrier is set in turn-of-the-century Lithuania, where books have been outlawed, and a girl becomes involved in the struggle to keep the printed word—and her country's culture and identity—alive. Publication is scheduled for fall 2019; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Keith Garton at Red Chair Press/One Elm has bought world rights to Suzanne Kamata's middle grade novel Pop Flies, Robo-Pets, and Other Disasters. The novel depicts 13-year-old Satoshi Matsumoto as he learns to adjust to life in rural Japan after living in Atlanta for three years. Publication is slated for March 2020; the author represented herself.
Annette Bourland at Blink has acquired Lauren Mansy's debut novel, The Memory Thief. The YA fantasy is set in the city of Craewick, where memories and talents are bought and sold, and 17-year-old memory thief Etta Lark must return to the world of theft she left behind to complete the greatest heist of her life and save her comatose mother's memories from the auction block. Hannah VanVels will edit; publication is set for fall 2019. Steven Malk at Writers House represented the author in the deal for world English rights.
Kate O'Sullivan at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has bought, in a four-house auction, author-illustrator Julia Denos's picture book Acamar and Eridani: A Star Story, a story of friendship, cosmic connection, and curiosity for fans of The Little Prince. Publication is planned for fall 2020, with a second, untitled picture book to follow in 2021; Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Tara Walker at Tundra has acquired author-illustrator Elly MacKay's Clouds, a picture book about a girl who travels through the sky on the back of a bird, in search of simple answers about the clouds and pondering larger questions about life. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Daria Harper at Chronicle has bought world rights to Christmas Is Coming! An Advent Book, illustrated by Katie Hickey. With a lift-the-flap cover, the book encourages families to count down the days to Christmas with festive crafts, games, recipes, stories, and more. Publication is set for fall 2019; Helen Boyle at Pickled Ink represented the illustrator.
Katherine Harrison at Knopf has acquired world rights to The Power of One, a picture book by Trudy Ludwig (The Invisible Boy), illustrated by Mike Curato (Little Elliot). In a story about a simple act of kindness that transforms a community, Ludwig draws on her experience addressing and preventing bullying in schools. Publication is planned for summer 2020; The author represented herself, and Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented the artist.
Emily Feinberg at Roaring Brook has bought world rights to Lost by Richard Ho, the story of a package and its journey from sender to recipient, with a few bumps and some serendipity along the way. Jessica Lanan (Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet) will illustrate; publication is slated for fall 2020. Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt represented the author, and Ed Maxwell at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented the illustrator.
Alessandra Balzer at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has acquired, in an exclusive submission, The Night Is for Darkness by Jonathan Stutzman (l.), an ode to the magic of a summer night, illustrated by Joseph Kuefler, author-illustrator of Beyond the Pond and The Digger and the Flower. It's scheduled for spring 2020; Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties represented both the author and the illustrator in the deal for North American English-language rights.
Sarah Jane Abbott at S&S/Wiseman has bought world rights to Alice B. McGinty(l.) and Alan B. Havis's The Sea Knows, an exploration of the ocean and all of the wondrous creatures that live there. Stephanie Laberis will illustrate; publication is set for summer 2020. Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency represented the authors, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
