The first book for children by British author Nicky Singer (My Mother's Daughter; Little Book of Time) was bought at auction by Beverly Horowitz at Random Children's Books for six figures as part of a two-book contract, North American rights only. The sale was made by rights director—turned—agent Nancy Gallt, who first heard about the book, Norbert No-Bottle, at Frankfurt last fall, when U.K. agent Clare Conville sold U.K. rights to Harper. Gallt describes the book as a magical realist tale about a boy who is a victim of bullying and becomes close to a mysterious old woman. It is set for publication next year, followed by a second children's tale, Tilly Moondrop.