Kate Meltzer at Roaring Brook has acquired YA novel The Sea Is Salt and So Am I by debut author Cassandra Hartt. Pitched as I'll Give You the Sunmeets Dawson's Creek, the multi-POV story follows three teens in the aftermath of a suicide attempt that shatters the delicate balance that has always existed between them. Publication is slated for winter 2021; Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Ashley Hearn at Page Street has bought a YA fantasy duology by Lori M. Lee, beginning with Forest of Souls. Blending western fantasy tropes with Hmong shamanism, the story follows Sirscha Ashwyn, who while training to become the queen's next royal spy, discovers she's a rare and powerful lightwender and is summoned to the realm of the Spider King, where her newly awakened abilities are needed to cull the bloodthirsty Dead Wood. Publication is set for spring 2020; Suzie Townsend and Devin Ross at New Leaf Literary & Media did the deal for world English rights.
Rex Ogle at Little, Brown has acquired an LGBTQ+ middle-grade fantasy graphic novel by Niki Smith. The Deep & Dark Blue tells the story of twins, Grayson and Hawke, who are forced to flee to a magical order of women known as the Communion of Blue when a coup usurps their royal house. The twins assume new identities as Grayce and Hanna, and Grayce realizes she wants to stay in the one place that will allow her to finally live as a girl. Publication is scheduled for January 2020; Rachel Poloski will edit. Charlie Olsen at Inkwell Management represented the author in the deal for world rights.
Alyson Heller at Aladdin has bought world rights, in a preempt, to Definitely Dominguita: The Knight of the Cape by Terry Catasús Jennings, first in a chapter book series featuring Dominguita Melendez and her adventures inspired by classic stories, starting with Don Quijote. Publication is planned for spring 2021; Natalie Lakosil at Bradford Literary Agency brokered the four-book deal.
Chris Hernandez, while at HarperCollins, acquired, in a five-house auction, author-illustrator John Loren's debut picture book Frankenstein Doesn't Wear Earmuffs, with Rich Thomas taking over as editor. The story follows an enthusiastic trick-or-treater as he sets out to show off his homemade Frankenstein costume—or he would, if his parents didn't keep ruining his outfit with sensible add-ons. Publication is slated for summer 2020; Brooks Sherman at Janklow & Nesbit handled the two-book deal for world rights.
Liza Kaplan at Philomel has bought two picture books, I Don't Want to Be Quiet! and I Don't Want to Be Small!, by author-illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson. The books star boisterous children who are discontent at having to be quiet and being small, respectively, but come to realize the value of each in a world that has room for noises of all kinds and people of all sizes. Publication for Quiet! is set for fall 2020, with Small! to follow in summer 2021; Flavia Esteves at Bloomsbury UK negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Julie Matysik at Running Press has bought two books by Misti Kenison: Pride and Prejudice and Math and A Counting Christmas Carol. Both books teach preschool STEM skills through characters and stories from classic literature. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Courtney Code at Abrams has acquired world rights to Rajani LaRocca's (l.) Where Three Oceans Meet, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan. The picture book follows a girl who travels with her mother and grandmother to the tip of India and learns about the strength and love that women pass down to their daughters across borders and oceans. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022; Brent Taylor at Triada US represented the author, and Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary represented the illustrator.
Christopher Myers at Make Me a World has acquired How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion, the debut picture book by teen climber Ashima Shiraishi (l.), illustrated by Yao Xiao, with Katherine Harrison editing. The book follows Ashima on her journey to become one of the top climbers in the world, teaching readers how to think like a climber to overcome any problem they might face with grit and determination. Publication is set for spring 2020; Tina Dubois at ICM Partners represented the author on behalf of Jonathan Retseck at RXR Sports, and Nancy Moore at Rapp Art represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has won at auction Survivor Tree, a picture book by Marcie Colleen, illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Aaron Becker. It tells the true story of the Callery pear tree that stood at the base of the World Trade Center for 30 years and was almost destroyed, only to be pulled from the rubble, coaxed back to life, and eventually replanted as part of the 9/11 memorial. The book will publish in summer 2021 for the 20th anniversary of September 11; the deal for world rights was negotiated by Susan Hawk at Upstart Crow Literary for the author, and Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt for the artist.
Joan Powers at Candlewick has bought the picture books Lupe Lopez: Rock Star Rules and a sequel, co-written by Pat Zietlow Miller (l.) and e.E. Charlton-Trujillo, illustrated by Joe Cepeda. Lupe Lopez is a sunglasses-wearing, drumstick (pencil)-wielding kindergartner whose personal rules differ from school rules—but who finds her way (and her fellow rock stars) with some hard work and creativity. Publication is slated for fall 2021; the deal for world rights was brokered by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency for Miller and Charlton-Trujillo, respectively, and by Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for Cepeda.
Allison Cohen at Running Press Kids has acquired world rights to Goldibooks and the Wee Bear by Troy Wilson(l.), author of Little Red Reading Hood and the Misread Wolf. The picture book inverts the classic tale to feature an inquisitive, book-loving bear who raids Goldi's house for something to read. Edwardian Taylor will illustrate; publication is scheduled for fall 2020. Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author, and Freddie Dawson at the Bright Group represented the illustrator.
Julia Sooy at Henry Holt/Godwin has bought, in a preempt, world rights to Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years author Stacy McAnulty's Brains! Not Just a Zombie Snack, illustrated by Matthew Rivera. The nonfiction picture book is an introduction to the human brain, as told by a (mostly reformed) brain-eating zombie. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary Agency represented the author, and Andrea Cascardi at Transatlantic Agency represented the illustrator.
Emily Easton at Crown has acquired world rights to Bridget Heos's Treemendous, narrated by a young acorn, who recounts in a diary form how it evolves from a small acorn into an oak tree over a 10-year period. Mike Ciccotello will illustrate; publication is slated for spring 2021. Liza Voges at Eden Street represented the author, and Rachel Orr at the Prospect Agency represented the illustrator.
Christina Pulles at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to Ruth Horowitz's (l.) picture book, Eli’s Library, illustrated by Bea Jackson. When the river rises and threatens to flood Eli’s library, Eli and his father brave the storm to help their neighbors save the books. The story was inspired by the history of the library in Lincoln, Vt. Publication is set for fall 2020; Linda Epstein at Emerald City Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Courtney Fahy at Little Bee has acquired world rights to Ann Bausum's (l.) Moonbeams, illustrated by Kyung Eun Han, a picture book told in dual perspectives from the moon and people around the world, which celebrates our earth and pays homage to its enigmatic and comforting moon. Publication is planned for summer 2020; Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the author, and James Burns at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Andrew DeYoung at Beaming Books has bought world rights to Amanda Flinn's (l.) Yoga Baby, a board book in which a mother and child do yoga poses together, finding in the practice of yoga a source of connection, fun, and celebration of what bodies can do. Shane Crampton will illustrate. Publication is scheduled for spring 2020; Cyle Young represented the author, and Astound represented the illustrator.
Carolyn Yoder at Calkins Creek/Boyds Mills & Kane has acquired Prudence Wright and the Minute Women by Beth Anderson (l.), illustrated by Susan Reagan, a nonfiction picture book about Prudence Cummings Wright and the ways that women used their skills and ingenuity to contribute to the American Revolution. Publication is slated for spring 2022; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary represented the author and the illustrator in the deal for North American rights.
Casey McIntyre at Razorbill has acquired The Flood Girls author Richard Fifield's YA novel The Small Crimes of Tiffany Templeton. Set in a tiny Montana town, the story follows a teen named Tiffany as she tries to shake off the label of troublemaker and make amends with her friends and neighbors—even if that means revealing her secrets about past crimes, both her own and others'. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Gretchen Durning will edit. Jenny Bent at the Bent Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Natashya Wilson at Inkyard has bought Dana L. Davis's third novel, Roman and Jewel, about the stars of a hip-hopera Broadway musical that is a fantastical re-imagining of Romeo and Juliet. Publication is expected in spring or summer 2020; Uwe Stender at Triada US Literary Agency did the deal for world English and audio rights.
Pam Gruber at Little, Brown has acquired Katrina Leno's Horrid, a Stephen King-esque contemporary horror novel about a girl discovering her family's mysterious history in a haunted house in Maine. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Wendy Schmalz at Wendy Schmalz Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Diana Gill at Tor Teen has bought, in a preempt, the YA contemporary novel Every Reason We Shouldn't by Sara Fujimura. Olivia Kennedy's Olympic figure skating dreams had ended, until Jonah Choi, an Olympic speed skating hopeful, starts training at her family's struggling rink. Their rivalry could be the perfect thing to bring them together or drive them apart for good in this multicultural romance. Publication is set for March 2020; Rebecca Angus at Golden Wheat Literary did the two-book deal for world English rights.
Hannah Smith at Owl Hollow has acquired world rights to travel writer Josh Roberts's The Witches of Willow Cove, a contemporary middle grade fantasy in which Abby Shepherd discovers she has magical powers, odd occurrences start happening around her hometown, gargoyles fly, and a stranger she's not sure she can trust offers to teach her and five other middle-school girls everything she knows about witchcraft. Publication is scheduled for summer 2020; the book was unagented.
Alexis Orgera and Chad Reynolds at Penny Candy have bought world rights to Cloud Hopper, a middle grade novel by National Book Award finalist Beth Kephart. When a teenage immigrant refuses to talk after her hot-air balloon crashes, the teens who live in and around the municipal airport race to help the mysterious newcomer find her family. But how can they help her when they themselves need saving? Publication is planned for fall 2020; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary negotiated the deal.
Julia Sooy at Holt/Godwin has acquired, in a three-book deal, Monster and Boy, a chapter book series by Morris Award finalist Hannah Barnaby (l.), illustrated by Anoosha Syed. The series features a Monster from under the bed who decides to reveal himself to his Boy, and then immediately (accidentally) swallows him, setting off an adventure. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt Agency sold world English rights for the author, and Taylor Martindale Kean at Full Circle Literary sold world rights for the illustrator.
Samantha Swenson at Tundra has signed author-illustrator Cale Atkinsonfor a four-book deal including two original picture books and two graphic novels featuring characters introduced in Atkinson's Sir Simon: Super Scarer. One picture book stars Norm, an unusual animal in search of his first major role in a picture book; the other tells the story of a science-enthused older sister trying to find space for herself in a busy household. Publication begins in spring 2021 with the first graphic novel; Nicole Tugeau of Tugeau 2 handled the deal for world rights.
Nina Gruener at Cameron Kids has bought world rights to What's Growing in Mommy's Tummy?, a board book by Rachel Qiuqi Li. There's a baby in Mommy's tummy, and every month it is getting bigger—from the size of a poppy seed to a raspberry, from avocado to mango, to watermelon! Publication is set for spring 2020; the author-illustrator was represented by Natalie M. Lakosil at Bradford Literary Agency.
Semareh Al-Hillal and Nan Froman at Groundwood have acquired Governor General's Award-winning author Jon-Erik Lappano's (l.) Snow Song, illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler. The picture book follows a girl who is determined to save her town by spreading a long-forgotten song to summon the snow. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself in the deal for world rights.
Talia Benamy at Philomel has bought world rights to Ocean Lullaby by Laura McGee Kvasnosky (l.) and Kate Harvey McGee, the sister author-illustrator team behind the forthcoming Squeak! The story is itself a lullaby, with a cast of characters that includes all manner of ocean life and sounds—and at the end, a sleepy child. Publication is planned for summer 2021; the deal was brokered by Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio.
Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane has acquired Round by Jennifer Ward (l.), illustrated by Lisa Congdon, a celebration of round shapes in nature, from mushroom caps to turtle shells to owls' watchful eyes. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary represented both the author and the illustrator.
Maria Modugno at Random House has bought Scott Rothman's Chum, illustrated by Mika Song, a story of two sharks who just can't seem to get enough to eat, until their appetites nearly get them into trouble. Publication is expected in spring 2021; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio did the deal for world rights.
Yasemin Uçar at Kids Can has acquired, in a two-book deal, world rights to the picture book My Words Flew Away Like Birds by Debora Pearson (l.), with Shrija Jainillustrating. The book is about the experience of a child who moves to a new country, where she starts to learn English, but finds that all her words fly away when she tries to speak. Publication is set for fall 2021; Amy Tompkins at Transatlantic Agency represented the author.
Katie Cunningham at Candlewick has bought world rights to David Martin's The More the Merrier, with Raissa Figueroa illustrating. The book follows the animals of the forest as they shimmy and shake, dancing their way through the woods as others join in the fun. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Joe Spieler at the Spieler Agency represented the author, and Natascha Morris at BookEnds Literary represented the illustrator.
Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear has acquired world rights to Sing Some More by Deborah Diesen, a picture book tale of early-morning musical birds warming up their vocal chords to prepare for a day of singing. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Howard Gray will illustrate. The author represented herself, and James Burns at the Bright Agency represented the artist.
