Jill Santopolo at Philomel has acquired world rights to a picture book written by Chelsea Clinton (l.), illustrated by Gianna Marino. Don't Let Them Disappear introduces young readers to a selection of endangered animals, sharing what makes them special, and also what threatens them. The book will be published on April 2, 2019; Tara Kole at Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown represented Clinton, and Deborah Warren at East West Literary represented Marino.
Megan Abbate at Roaring Brook has bought world rights to Rachel Lyon (a pseudonym) and Jessica Verdi's (l.) Hannah Is a Boy, illustrated by Dana Simpson. The book tells the story of a boy coming out as transgender to his family, based on Lyon's son's gender identity journey. Publication is set for spring 2020; Kate McKean at Howard Morhaim Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Amy Cloud at HMH has acquired North American rights, at auction, to Michelle Harrison's middle grade series, A Pinch of Magic. In the first book in the series, three sisters go on a quest to break the curse that's keeping them imprisoned on their small island. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Allison Hellegers at Rights People negotiated the two-book deal on behalf of Julia Churchill at AM Heath in the U.K.
Mallory Kass at Scholastic Press has bought Adi Rule's middle grade debut, Hearts of Ice, about an only child who unexpectedly learns she has a twin sister born in a wintry, magical world—and that world is now set to get both girls back, whatever the cost. The book will publish in fall 2019; Ammi-Joan Paquette did the deal for world rights.
Christina Pulles at Sterling has acquired a middle grade novel by B.B. Ullman, author of The Fairies of Nutfolk Wood. Bad Order: A Little-Known Tale of Regular Kids and Holographic Aliens Facing an Interdimensional Catastrophe follows Mary and Albie and their friends as they work together to find out why aliens have suddenly come knocking—and figure out how to stop an interdimensional catastrophe in the making. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Ardi Alspach will edit. Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Hannah Smith at Owl Hollow Press has bought North American rights to debut author Jen Marie Hawkins's magical realism YA novel The Language of Cherries, in which artist Evie Perez's inspired paintings in an Icelandic cherry orchard bring her close to a connection with Oskar, who feigns muteness to hide his stutter. But when an innocent escape from loneliness becomes a mutual passion, Oskar must confess the truth, even though he risks losing it all. Publication is set for spring 2020; Kate Testerman and Hilary Harwell at KT Literary negotiated the deal.
Ellen Cormier at Dial has acquired, at auction, Jessika von Innerebner's author-illustrator debut, Kevin the Unicorn: It's Not All Rainbows, about a unicorn who discovers that life isn't always perfect—and that's okay. Publication is slated for fall 2019, with a second untitled picture book to follow in fall 2020. Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the deal for world rights; Erin O'Connor and Diane Kerner at Scholastic Canada acquired Canadian English and North American French rights.
Margaret Anastas at HarperCollins has bought world rights to Ame Dyckman's (l.) Tiny Barbarian series, illustrated by Ashley Spires (The Most Magnificent Thing). The picture books follow the comedic (mis)adventures of preschooler Tiny Barbarian and his SAHB (Stay-At-Home-Barbarian) Daddy Barbarian as they “CONQUER!” their new non-Barbarian neighborhood, the potty, and more—with cat Kitty Barbarian supervising. The first book is planned for summer 2020; Scott Treimel at Scott Treimel NY represented the author, and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Anne Hoppe at Clarion has acquired world rights to Rebecca Gomez's (l.) picture book Federico and the Wolf, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri, a gender-swapped retelling of “Little Red Riding Hood” with a Mexican-American setting. Publication is scheduled for spring 2020; Pam Victorio at D4EO Literary Agency represented the author, and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Liza Baker at Scholastic has bought, at auction, world rights to My Daddy and Me and My Mommy and Me, written by Linda Ashman (Rain!, William's Winter Nap) (l.), illustrated by Jane Massey (Baby-Boo, I Love You), padded board books that celebrate the special bond between parent and child. Publication will begin in 2019; Jennifer Mattson at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Mark Siegel at First Second has acquired Sara Varon's young reader graphic novel series called Detective Sweet Pea, starring a dog with a knack for sniffing out mysteries. Publication will begin in 2021; Tanya McKinnon at McKinnon McIntyre negotiated the deal for world rights.
Nicole Otto at Macmillan/Imprint has bought I Kissed Alice by Anna Birch, a YA novel pitched as Fangirl meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Two girls at a southern school for the arts find themselves in a bitter rivalry over the final spot in the scholarship program, even as they anonymously fall in love on a fanfic site. Publication is tentatively set for summer 2020; Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Amy Cloud at Aladdin has acquired, in a preempt, world rights to Kate Hannigan's World War II–era middle grade series, The League of Secret Heroes, illustrated by Patrick Spaziante; Alyson Heller will edit. Book one, Cape, plunges Josie and her friends Akiko and Mae into adventure, as the trio acquire superpowers and face off against a villain to protect a top-secret team of women coders. The series will launch in summer 2019; Jennifer Mattson at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Holly West at Feiwel and Friends has bought a new nonfiction book for young readers by Google It author Anna Crowley Redding. Elon Musk: A Mission to Save the World is an in-depth and up-to-date look at the entrepreneur inventor, from his early days to his most recent breakthroughs. The book is scheduled for publication in July 2019; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Erika Turner at HMH/Versify has acquired Wutaryoo by Nilah Magruder, author of How to Find a Fox. In the picture book, an unidentified creature sets out on a journey to answer the question of “what are you?,” and in the process creates her own amazing story. Publication is planned for spring 2021; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented Magruder in the deal for world rights.
Courtney Burke at Page Street Kids has bought Cristina Lalli's debut picture book, The Scribbles, about a girl's unique artistic outlook and what happens when she falls into a creative blank. Publication is slated for spring 2020; the author-illustrator represented herself in the deal for world rights.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Paulsen has acquired world rights to author Gary Golio's (l.) picture book, Sonny on the Bridge: A Surprising Story About Jazz Legend Sonny Rollins. The book is informed by Golio's personal interviews with the saxophonist, about listening to that small, wise voice inside each of us. Coretta Scott King Award winner James Ransome will illustrate; publication is set for fall 2020. Edward Necarsulmer IV at Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency represented the author, and the artist represented himself.
Sonali Fry at Little Bee has bought world rights to Silvia Lopez's (l.) Selena Quintanilla: Queen of Tejano Music, a picture book about the iconic queen of Tejano music, Selena Quintanilla, whose trailblazing success opened the door for other Latinx entertainers. Paola Escobar will illustrate; publication is scheduled for spring 2020. Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Amy Kitcherside at Pickled Ink represented the illustrator.
