Audrey Ingerson at Delacorte has acquired debut author Nina de Pass's The Year After You, a YA novel with hints of Girl in Pieces and We Are Okay, about a girl who is sent to an international boarding school after she was in a car accident that killed her best friend; the story explores the redemptive power of friendship and the dark truths we keep from each other and ourselves. Publication is scheduled for spring 2020; Janne Moller at Black & White Publishing negotiated the deal for U.S., Canadian, and open market rights.
Margaret Raymo at HMH/Versify has bought Mintie Das's YA novel Brown Girl Gone Dead. Pitched as We Were Liars meets Riverdale with a supernatural twist, the #MeToo thriller is about mean girls, murder, and race in a quiet Illinois suburb. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Tuomas Sorjamaa at Ferly represented the author in the deal for world rights (excluding Finland).
Tara Walker at Tundra Books has acquired world rights, in a two-book deal, to author Marthe Jocelyn's (l.) new middle-grade series, Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen, which follows the adventures of intrepid 12-year-old Agatha Christie-like detective Aggie Morton and her burgeoning friendship with young refugee Hector Perot. The first book, The Body Under the Piano, is set for spring 2020, with an untitled second book to follow in spring 2021; Isabelle Follath will contribute spot illustrations throughout. Ethan Ellenberg at the Ethan Ellenberg Agency represented the author, and Amy Kitcherside at Pickled Ink represented the illustrator.
Joanna Cárdenas at Kokila has bought Each Tiny Spark, a middle grade novel by Pura Belpré Author Honor recipient Pablo Cartaya. In the story, sixth-grader Emilia Torres reconnects with her father over the art of welding as he adjusts from active duty to civilian life and their larger community reckons with the effects of redistricting. The book will publish in summer 2019; Jess Regel at Foundry Literary + Media brokered the two-book deal for North American rights.
Amanda Ramirez at Simon & Schuster has acquired Briana McDonald's debut novel, Pepper Blouse and the Wicked Will, an Own Voices middle grade adventure. Zealous amateur sleuth Pepper loves to solve mysteries—and between her great-aunt's highly suspicious death, and the mystery of her own feelings for girls, she has plenty to investigate. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Jennie Kendrick at Red Fox Literary did the deal for world rights.
Robyn Chapman at First Second has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Damian Alexander's middle grade graphic memoir Other Boys. Touching upon issues related to gender, coming out, bullying, death of a parent, and class, the book is an extension of Damian's viral and award-winning autobiographical web comics. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Elizabeth Bennett at the Transatlantic Agency negotiated the deal.
Christian Trimmer at Holt has acquired, in an exclusive submission, in a two-book deal, a graphic novel series for chapter-book readers by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Heather Fox. The series, Fitz & Cleo, follows two ghost siblings, the bookish Fitz and the carefree Cleo, on their humorous adventures. The first book is slated for spring 2020, with book two following in winter 2021; Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties represented the author and the illustrator in the deal for North American rights.
Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has signed world rights to the first two titles in an epistolary early chapter book series by Dori Hillestad Butler, Geisel Honor author of King & Kayla. Dear Beast is about a dog and a cat sharing a boy who goes back and forth between his divorced parents; Kevan Atteberry (Bunnies!!!) will illustrate. The first book is set for summer 2020; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the artist.
Christy Ottaviano at Macmillan/Ottaviano has bought world rights to I Is for Immigrant, a multicultural picture book celebration of immigrants, by Selina Alko. The book is currently planned for 2020; Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has acquired author-illustrator Melissa Iwai's Dumpling Party, a picture book about a girl who travels around the world within her own apartment building, as she helps her grandmother and neighbors collect ingredients to make different versions of dumplings for a special party. Publication is scheduled for winter 2021; Christy Tugeau Ewers at the CAT Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Megan Tingley at Little, Brown has acquired The Truth About Grandparentsby debut author Elina Ellis, winner of the Macmillan Prize for Illustration. The picture book celebrates grandparents while humorously challenging stereotypes of senior citizens. Publication is scheduled for fall 2019; Anette Dal Jensen at Macmillan Children's Books UK did the deal for North American rights.
Ken Wright at Viking has bought world rights to National Book Award finalist Elizabeth Partridge's (l.) untitled picture book biography of landscape architect and designer of Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted. Becca Stadtlander will illustrate; publication is slated for 2020. Steven Malk at Writers House represented the author and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the artist.
Anne Schwartz at Random House/Schwartz & Wade has acquired North American rights to Tiny Cedric by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by Rowboat Watkins, about a tiny king with a gigantic ego, who wants to rid his kingdom of anything bigger than him. Publication is set for fall 2021; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown represented the author, and Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the illustrator.
Grace Kendall at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has bought world rights to Bird author Zetta Elliott's (l.) new picture book, A Place Inside of Me. The poetic text tracks a child's shifting emotions while reflecting on the beauty and complexity of being black in America. Debut artist Noa Denmon will illustrate; the book is currently planned for 2020. Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author.
Stephanie Pitts at Putnam has acquired world rights to In Our Garden, a picture book by Pat Zietlow Miller (l.), illustrated by Melissa Crowton. In this classroom tale, students create a vegetable garden on their school's rooftop. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Ammi-Joan Paquette at the Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Eliza Berkowitz at Sterling Children's Books has bought world rights to Leslie Helakoski's (l.) Are Your Stars Like My Stars?, illustrated by Heidi Woodward Sheffield. In the story, a young narrator looks at the colors in the world and wonders if others see them all in the same way. Publication is set for fall 2019; Suzy Capozzi will edit. Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books has acquired world rights to a picture book by Elizabeth Jaeger (l.), illustrated by Irene Montano. The Little Shepherd tells the story of a boy who is awoken by the brightness of angels one night and learns that a baby boy has come to save the world. Publication is slated for fall 2019; the author represented herself, and Atlanta Japp at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Eve Adler at Penguin Workshop has bought, in a four-book deal, world rights to Megan E. Bryant (l.) and Daniel Prosterman's (center) Citizen Baby board book series. My Vote, My President, My Congress, and My Supreme Court are about how families can engage with the institutions that form our government. The authors were inspired to write the series by their own youngest citizen baby. Micah Player will illustrate; publication is planned for summer 2020. Jamie Weiss Chilton at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the authors, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has acquired Randi Pink's Girls Like Us, a historical YA novel set months before Roe v. Wade is passed. The novel weaves the lives of three teenage girls from very different backgrounds who all find themselves pregnant pre-choice; they must decide, before they become too far along in their pregnancies, how to move forward. Publication is set for fall 2019; Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Erin Clarke at Knopf has bought, in an exclusive submission, author of Show and Prove and Efrain's Secret Sofia Quintero's #Krisette, about a teenage girl's struggle to understand why the police killing of her older sister Krisette fails to spark demands for justice. Inspired by #SayHerName, it features the central theme: “Krisette was deeply flawed and undeniably deserved to live." Publication is planned for fall 2020; Johanna V. Castillo at Writers House brokered the deal for North American rights.
Gina Gagliano at Random House Graphic has acquired debut author Dan Nott's Hidden Systems, a YA nonfiction graphic novel that explores the infrastructure that makes the U.S.—and the world—function, focusing on the internet, water, power, and the waste disposal systems. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Farley Chase at Chase Literary Agency sold North American rights.
Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has bought, in a six-house auction, debut author Syed Masood's More Than Just a Pretty Face, and an untitled second project. The book tells the story of charming but “not very bright” 19-year-old Danyal Jilani, who has one shot to impress his dream girl/future wife—and her strict desi parents—by winning his school's prestigious Renaissance Man competition. He seeks the help of another potential arranged marriage match with secrets in her past, only to realize he may be falling for her instead. Hodder & Stoughton will publish the book simultaneously in summer 2020; Melissa Edwards at Stonesong did the deal for world English rights.
Margaret Anastas at HarperCollins has acquired Dear Boy, written by Paris Rosenthal (l.) and her father, Jason Rosenthal, and illustrated by Holly Hatam, the followup picture book to the late author Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal's Dear Girl. The book is equal parts love letter, inspirational note, and life guide for the special boy in your life. Publication is slated for April 2019; Amy Rennert at the Amy Rennert Agency represented the authors, and Christina Tugeau at CATugeau Agency represented the illustrator.
Tracy Mack at Scholastic Press has bought five books by Truck Full of Ducksauthor-illustrator Ross Burach, in an exclusive submission. The deal includes three books in an illustrated early reader series, Bumble and Bee, to be published in the new Acorn line. The books star two rambunctious bees and their often put-upon frog best friend. The first book in the series is scheduled to publish in spring 2020. Mack has also acquired two Never Bored original board books: Potty All-Star, a potty training book with a sports hook, for fall 2019; and I Love My Tutu, Too!, an ode to a favorite tutu, for 2020. Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary Agency handled the deals for world rights.
Grace Kendall at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has acquired world rights to John Steptoe New Talent Award winner Charly Palmer's (Mama Africa!) first author-illustrator project, The Legend of Gravity: A Tall Tale from the Blacktop. When new kid "Gravity" joins the Hillside Projects basketball team, Milwaukee's "Best of the Best" trophy might finally be within reach, in this picture book ode to street ball and teamwork. Publication is set for 2020.
Taylor Norman at Chronicle has bought world rights, at auction, Mr. Watson's Chickens by debut author Jarrett Dapier, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi (Accident; Crab Cake). In the picture book comedy, Mr. Watson's beloved but unwieldy collection of chickens begins to strain his relationship with his equally beloved Mr. Nelson. Publication is planned for fall 2021; Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties represented the author, and Stephen Barr at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights to Michelle Schaub's (l.) Sweet Dreams, Little Scientists, a goodnight book with a STEM twist that introduces 11 branches of science. Alice Potter will illustrate; publication is scheduled for spring 2020. Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Amanda Hendon at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Hannah Lambert at Simon & Schuster has bought world rights to Ellen Jackson's (l.) Everybody Needs a Buddy, a board book about animal friendships. Maddie Frost will illustrate; publication is slated for fall 2019. The author represented herself, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Kelsey Skea of Amazon/Two Lions has acquired world rights to Nancy Viau's Pruett & Soo, illustrated by Jorge Lacera, about an alien whose orderly black-and-white world is upended when he meets an alien from a colorful planet. Publication is set for summer 2020; the author was unagented, and John Cusick at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the illustrator.
Hannah Smith at Owl Hollow Press has bought world rights to author Darby Karchut's The Spanish Red, a middle grade story in which an 11-year-old boy learns his estranged father may not be the family villain after all, and that it will take one extraordinary horse to mend the hearts of both father and son. Publication is planned for fall 2019; the author is unagented.
