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 Profits at PRH Rise, on Small Sales Gain, in First Half of 2017
Strong print and audio sales at Penguin Random House countered soft e-book sales to increase revenue 1.1% in the first half of the year. Earnings at the publisher rose 11.4%. more »   Texas Teacher Launches Hurricane Harvey Book Club to Help Children
A second-grade teacher living in a Houston suburb has launched a virtual book club, asking children to post videos of themselves reading aloud, to distract other children affected by Hurricane Harvey. more »  Chicken Soup for the Resistance A new collection from Chicken Soup for the Soul, 'My Kind (of) America,' which published earlier this week, tells stories of kindnesses shared between many diverse people in America. more »  Win a Copy of 'Miss Leslie's Secret' by Jennifer Moore Enter for a chance to win one of 25 advanced autographed copies of 'Miss Leslie's Secret,' a gripping romantic novel set in the beloved Scottish Highlands. (Sponsored) Enter Here! » 
Sandy Frank, formerly designer at
Grain, has joined Chronicle Books as junior designer.
Taylor Norman has been
promoted to editor of children's books at Chronicle Books.
Jamie Real, formerly managing
director at Litquake, has joined Chronicle Books as assistant managing editor
of children's books.
Deborah Kenmore, formerly
inventory and sales coordinator at Counterpoint Press, has joined Chronicle
Books as operations assistant.
Stephanie McKinley has been
promoted to senior digital developer at Random House Children’s Books.
Kelly McGauley has been
promoted to senior marketing manager of trade marketing at Random House
Children’s Books.
Mallory Matney has been
promoted to associate manager of marketing operations and consumer shows at
Random House Children’s Books.
Alissa Nigro has been promoted to
marketing associate for trade marketing at Random House Children’s Books.
Elina Vaysbeyn has been
promoted to associate director of marketing at Dutton.
Cecile B Literary Agency will
handle the translation rights for Bankoff Collaborative, and can be reached
at contact@cblagency.com.
 BISG Changes Governing Structure Among the proposed changes, which must be approved at the Book Industry Study Group’s annual meeting on September 25, is reducing the number of board members from 33 to 14. more » »  Bookstore News: August 31, 2017 Parnassus Books adds an airport outlet; new bookstores open in Indiana and North Carolina; an Iranian bookstore in Los Angeles closes; and more. more » »
Thurber Prize for American Humor 2017 Finalists Announced Books by Trevor Noah, Ken Pisani, and Aaron Thier are shortlisted for the award, which will be presented in New York City on October 2. more » »
Cartoonist
Stops Racist Kids' Book: The creator of Pepe the Frog, a
cartoon repurposed as a hate symbol, has stopped the distribution of a
children’s book featuring the frog.
Young Quebec
Publishers Take Risks: The francophone side of Quebec
publishing is undergoing a renaissance—and finding new readers.
A Book for
Botany-Loving Hobbits: The botanist Walter Judd has created a
book that examines the many plants and trees that J.R.R. Tolkien used in his
novels.
Being a Writer
on Social Media: What can authors do when news of their book's
impending publication garners way more attention than the writing itself?
Kōbō Abe’s
Sand Dunes Are Our Own: For Electric Literature's "Late
to the Party" series, 'PW' associate editor John Maher reads 'The Woman
in the Dunes' for the first time.
 Trade Paperback Bestseller List 'Two by Two' by Nicholas Sparks is the #1 title on PW's trade paperback bestseller list. See the full list » »
  'Sundays in August' by
Patrick Modiano and translated by Damion Searls "Nobel Prize–winner Modiano does more with less in this subtle and haunting noir." Read more » »
Amazing Kate Messner, Amazing Auction Elizabeth Bluemle
Manuscript critiques, Skype visits, autographed books, and more
in exchange for your Hurricane Harvey relief support.
 A Reading at Green AppleAuthor Guinevere de la Mare’s reads from her new book, 'I’d Rather Be Reading' (Chronicle Books), at Green Apple Books on the Park in San Francisco on August 24. Courtesy Chronicle Books |
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 New York Publishers Offer Help to Hurricane Harvey Victims
Scholastic, Hachette, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, and Penguin Random House are among the big New York houses who are offering their support—in the form of books and, in some cases, food and shelter—to those in flood-ravaged Southeast Texas. more »  Hillary Clinton to Do Speaking Tour to Promote New Book Hillary Clinton will kick off a speaking tour on September 18 to promote her memoir 'What Happened.' Tickets to the speaking events will range from $50 to $3,000, with the latter offering, among other things, a face-to-face meeting with Clinton. more »  Despite a Lift in Sales, B&NE Sees Losses Jump in Q1
The February 2017 acquisition of MBS was the major driver of a 48.7% jump in sales at Barnes & Noble Education in the quarter ended July 29. The net loss in the period, however, was $34.8 million, up from $27.9 million in fiscal 2017. more »
Chelsea Cutchens has been
promoted to associate editor at The Overlook Press.
 International Bestsellers: Ferrante Hot this Summer Norwegian author Maja Lunde’s dystopian tale 'The History of Bees' topped the charts in Germany, while Elena Ferrante claimed the first and third spots on the fiction bestseller list in Sweden. more » »  iBooks Bestsellers: 'Y is for Yesterday' Takes to the Top
Sue Grafton's 25th installment in her Kinsey Millhone series, 'Y is for Yesterday'—the second to last book in a series in which each book's title is based on a letter of the alphabet—is #1 on the iBooks bestseller list. more » »
Authors on the Air August 30, 2017: Tyrrell Mahoney Tyrrell Mahoney, president of Chronicle Books, will appear on 'Marketplace' with Kai Ryssdal on NPR on Wednesday August 30. more » »
Center for Fiction Announces 2017 First Novel Prize Shortlist The seven debut novels shortlisted for the Center's annual $10,000 prize have been announced. more » »
Kent State UP Names Wadsworth-Booth Director
Susan Wadsworth-Booth has been appointed director of Kent State University Press, effective September 11. more » »
Book World
Hopes for Fall Hit: As the book world’s most literary season
approaches, the industry still awaits the year’s big literary publication.
Learning the
Wrong Lessons from GRRM: George R.R. Martin has taken too long
finishing his magnum opus. 'Game of Thrones,' in contrast, has moved too
quickly on television.
Smelcer's PEN
Award Nom Pulled: John Smelcer's young-adult novel 'Stealing
Indians' has been withdrawn from the list of finalists for the PEN Center USA
2017 Literary Award.
The E-Book
That Could Have Been: A video game called 'Device 6'
illuminates the past, present, and alternate future of the book, and shows
what the e-book could have done.
Reading Robert
Lowell While Expecting: During pregnancy, writer Katie Schmid
turned to the poetry of Robert Lowell to deal with the anxiety of the
experience.
 Children's Fiction Bestseller List 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two' by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany is the #1 title on PW's children's frontlist fiction bestseller list. See the full list » »
 'While Standing in Line
for Death' by CAConrad "Conrad consistently surprises, and few, if any, American poets are doing more visionary, disorienting, and wonderful work today." more » »
Shaking Things Up Cynthia Compton
Changing the “mommy ghetto” of story times at the bookstore.
 A Book Launches in BrooklynEliza Factor (r.) is interviewed by author Amy Shearn (l.) about her new memoir, 'Strange Beauty' (Parallax Press), at her book launch at Greenlight Bookstore. Courtesy Parallax Press |
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The World of Lonely
Planet
The familiar blue spines of Lonely Planet guides are ubiquitous
in the travel sections of bookstores and on the shelves and desks of intrepid
travelers. The company has not only printed over 145 million guidebooks
covering 95% of the world’s destinations over the past 40-plus years, Lonely
Planet has created content in over 14 languages, including everything from
magazines and TV shows to children’s books, cookbooks, phrasebooks, maps, web
resources, apps, and gift books.
While Lonely Planet makes many digital products, print
guidebooks are always at the heart of everything Lonely Planet does.
“Guidebooks are not going away,” said Lonely Planet’s product director of
guidebooks and e-books, Darren O’Connell. “Despite some declarations to the
contrary, traditional print guidebooks are still selling well and there
appears to be loyalty to the format. Sales of guidebooks are up for Lonely
Planet, and have increased year-over-year significantly for several years.”
Lonely Planet therefore continues to publish a wide array of
print books to suit various audiences. “Travelers frequently report to us
that they still like the tangible experience of planning for their trip with
a book in hand and pages to highlight, dog-ear, or tear out,” O’ Connell
continued.
So here’s a quick tour of the world of Lonely Planet, which
encompasses guidebooks and much more, including books to be read and re-read
even when not planning a trip.
Lonely Planet Inspires
Adventures
Lonely Planet’s “Explore Every Day” motto guides
everything the company does. “We want people to think of Lonely Planet on a
regular basis, for local adventures, not just when planning a major
international trip,” said Britney Alvarez, the company’s trade marketing
manager for the US. “We want to be part of their lifestyle, a lifestyle that
is exploratory and helps them have enriching experiences every day.
This philosophy is the inspiration for books such as Secret Marvels of the World. Just out
this month, it’s a beautiful coffee-table-size hardcover, packed with photos,
illustrations, and narratives about incredible, mostly little-known places to
visit, that makes for a good armchair adventure. One of these is Chicken,
Alaska, a faraway place that hosts an annual music festival and features a
saloon with a working cannon. In the words of writer Etain O’Carroll, “It’s a
weird and wonderful place, populated by oddballs and eccentrics, and ideal
for kayaking down isolated rivers where your only company are moose and
bears.” The photo of El Tio—the ribbon-strewn guardian of the Cerro Rico mine
in Bolivia—is particularly heart-stopping.
Of course, the book also has the kind of practical info you’d
expect from Lonely Planet should a reader want to make a trip to any of the
showcased sights—included are longitude and latitude for every place
mentioned, travel directions and tips, and compelling stories from travelers
who’ve visited.
Lonely Planet's Atlas of Adventure,
due out in September, is another inspiration book in a similar vein. It’s an
alphabetical and photographic tour of the world—from Albania to
Zambia—highlighting the amazing activities travelers can undertake in each
country, everything from surfing to snowboarding to cave exploration.
Also out this month is Epic Drives of the World, the
sister-book to last year’s Epic Bike Rides of the World. These
are eight-by-10-in. illustrated hardcovers designed to inspire conversations
as much as road trips. “If you want to take a road or bike trip but are not
sure where to start or end it, this is the place to start," said
managing director of publishing, Piers Pickard. "The beautiful
photography will give you a menu of options to choose from. The first-person
narrative will let you know if a certain trip is the one for you. And the map
and practical information at the end of each feature will start you on the
road to planning your chosen trip.” The book includes 12 drives in the United
States, as well as many others across the planet. More
Print Guidebooks
Remain Strong Sellers
Despite all manner of new technology, plenty of travelers still
rely on print guidebooks to help them plan and navigate their trips. More
people are visiting more places, and, in the age of the internet, travelers
expect the most-up-to-date information. To meet these needs, Lonely Planet
offers two main lines of guidebooks
for modern travelers’ varying travel needs, the comprehensive, traditional
blue-spine “Destination” guides, and the more narrowly focused “Discover”
guides, which have green spines.
The company continues to refine its guidebook offerings and
expand into new, related areas. For instance, starting last fall, Lonely
Planet began issuing new annual editions of its green-spined Discover guides
to a selection of major cities—Barcelona, London, New York, Paris, Rome, and
Tokyo. The 2018 set
is out this September. These beautifully designed guides, packed with
inspiring photos and information, offer just the must-see highlights. “Our
recent move to producing annually updated Discover guides is an example of
our commitment to guidebook publishing,” said O’Connell.
“One of Lonely Planet’s real strengths as a guidebook publisher
is that we have always looked to improve our guidebooks to suit the evolving
needs and preferences of the traveler,” O’Connell continued. He doesn’t see
Lonely Planet’s books in competition with the internet and new technology;
the books help readers focus in ways the internet can’t.
“In an age of massive amounts of user-generated content that
takes time to sift through, today’s busy travelers often need a one-stop,
authoritative, curated list of a destination’s best experiences. We recently
redesigned the Discover series to focus more on the ‘can’t-miss’ places in a
country or city, with an even easier-to-use and image-rich format that makes
planning a quicker process. They include colorful regional and neighborhood
maps throughout and often feature convenient pullout maps, helpful when on
the road and GPS is suddenly unavailable.”
But the comprehensive blue-spine guidebooks continue to be the
heart of the Lonely Planet list. According to O’Connell, “Despite other
formats and competition from other platforms, these guides still sell really
well.”
International destinations for which Lonely Planet guidebooks
continue to see strong sales, according to Alvarez, include Iceland, Italy,
Portugal, and Spain. She also advises booksellers and travelers to “keep an
eye on Central American and South American destinations—the trend of ‘soft
adventure’ is enticing a wider breadth of types of travelers to places like
Belize, Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Colombia; awareness and interest in places
like Montevideo, Uruguay, Pedregal, Ecuador, and Pisco, Chile is growing.”
Exploring the U.S.A.
In addition to constantly expanding their international
offerings, Lonely Planet has a growing commitment to books for travelers who
want to explore the United States in all its variety. “We recognized that a
lot of Americans have less vacation time to go to far-flung places than
people in other countries have, so we of late have been publishing more books
that can help Americans have adventures closer to home,” said Alvarez. To
this end, the company has been focusing on its Pocket guides
series to major American cities, national-park guides, and regional-road-trip
guides.
Last August, the National Park Service celebrated its
centennial, and since then, Lonely Planet has been seeing growing interest in
U.S. national parks and in domestic travel in general. Domestic and
national-park guides have seen sales growth in the last couple of years.
April 2016 saw the publication of National Parks of America, a
large-format, photo-heavy book that is equal parts guide and pictorial that
has resonated well with consumers. Relatedly, the company is at work on
updates of its domestic Best Trips and Road Trips guides, including new
editions of regional guides for New York and the Mid-Atlantic,
Southwest U.S.A., and Florida and the South, and new Road Trips guides for
Route 66 and the Pacific Coast Highway, all due out in February 2018.
“With road tripping, RVs and campers, and #vanlife gaining in
popularity amongst millennials, we have invested heavily in new Trips guides,
with an emphasis on providing travelers with inspirational itineraries that
cover the must-see sights and experiences of a region beyond the major
tourist centers.” explained O’Connell. These books are a more utilitarian
counterpart to the new Epic Drives of the World.
Meanwhile, the company has also been adding to its list of Pocket guides
to particular cities, with new books coming in 2018 for Austin, Miami,
Philadelphia, and Charleston and Savannah. These are small-format guides to
single cities that include maps, must-see attractions, and relevant
historical information, perfect for quick weekend getaways.
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This newsletter and its contents are sponsored
by Lonely Planet
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 Weathering Harvey, Houston Booksellers Try to Stay Open...and Help
One Houston area bookstore reported trouble from flooding, while most others will re-open today after days being closed in the wake of devastating Hurricane Harvey. more »  Amazon Unveils Newest NYC Store, at 34th Street At the opening of its 11th bricks and mortar bookstore this morning, which is located across the street from the Empire State Building in New York City, Amazon said it will be continuing to open a number of new stores in 2018. more »  Ingram Realigns Executive Team Under the restructuring, Shawn Everson will be responsible for all of Ingram's wholesaling operations and Phil Ollila will focus on the distribution business. more »  Win a Copy of 'Miss Leslie's Secret' by Jennifer Moore Enter for a chance to win one of 25 advanced autographed copies of 'Miss Leslie's Secret,' a gripping romantic novel set in the beloved Scottish Highlands. (Sponsored) Enter Here! » 
Have you changed jobs, retired, or
been promoted? Click here to
enter your job move information. It will appear on our site
and in PW Daily.
 Rachel Kranz, Author and Ghostwriter, Dies at 62 Rachel Kranz, author of the novel 'Leaps of Faith' (FSG) and a prolific ghostwriter and co-author, died on Monday. more » »  Bookstore News: August 29, 2017 New bookstores opening in Alaska and Michigan; Florida bookstore to close; why Japan lacks bookstores; and more. more » »  Call for Information: Illustrated Books Needed: Information about forthcoming illustrated books of all types. Pub. dates: January through December 2017. New releases only, please; no reprints. Please email pitches to dpatrick@publishersweekly.com by August 30 and put “Call for Info: Illustrated Books” in the subject line. more » »
Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers' Awards Winners Announced The winners for 2017 are Aamina Ahmad and Dominica Phetteplace for fiction, Ama Codjoe for and Tiana Nobile for poetry, Ebony Flowers for fiction/nonfiction, and Shawna Kay Rodenberg for nonfiction. more » »
Village Books Founder Bikes Cross-Counrtry for Charity
Chuck Robinson, the founder of Village Books in Washington and former ABA president, will cycle across the U.S., and pledges $1 per mile to three organizations, including the Book Industry Charitable Foundation. more » »
James Smith Named CEO At Images/ACC Publishing Group
The combined Images/ACC Publishing Group now has offices in Australia, the U.K., the U.S., and China. more » »
V.E. Schwab
Signs $1M Deal with Tor: The 'Shades of Magic' author will
write four more books with the science fiction and fantasy publisher.
Vivien Leigh's
Library Goes to Auction: Personal inscriptions from Winston
Churchill, Orson Welles, and A.A. Milne fill the actor's library.
Fernando
Pessoa’s Disappearing Act: The mysterious masterpiece of
Portugal’s great modernist, 'The Book of Disquiet,' was found, in fragments,
only after Pessoa’s death.
On New
Technology in Fiction: The problem of representing technology
in fiction is that it's scope is overwhelming—so much American fiction simply
avoids mentioning it.
A Poetry Trail
in Duluth: Hartley Nature Center in Duluth, Minn., has
established the Connie Wanek Wildflower Trail in honor of the poet's work.
 Hardcover Nonfiction Bestseller List 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck' by Mark Manson is the #1 title on PW's adult hardcover nonfiction bestseller list. See the full list » »
 'The Largesse of the
Sea Maiden' by Denis Johnson "The second story collection from the late Johnson is a masterpiece of deep humanity and astonishing prose." more » »
The 4th Annual ‘Best New First Day of School’ Book Award Kenny Brechner
Can we join the protagonist of ‘A Letter to My Teacher’ in
incorporating change?
 Author DuBois Visits a Duluth Book ClubNot only did the Tales to Tell book group in Duluth, Minn., read advance copies of Mary "Bernie" DuBois's book 'Gift from the Garden: A Treasure of Revelations for Life's Changes' (Tellis, Nov.), but the author (c., in blue shirt) joined the group and enlisted it to draft discussion questions to be included in the final edition. Photo: Claire Kirch |
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 Letter from Cevin - September 2017 Are you ready for fall? It’s hard to believe Labor Day is nearly here, but I have good news. The first fall publishing party is set to kick off the season in style on September 6 at the TAO Downtown Nightclub to celebrate the PW Star Watch top honorees. more » » 
 Events Corner for September 2017 Autumn is in the air, and PW is on it! PW Star Watch, the ABA fall regionals, Frankfurt and much, much more! more » »
 Canadian Publishing Supplement An overview of the Canadian publishing industry, with profiles of Canadian publishers and booksellers, news and trends analysis. Issue date: September 18; reservations due: September 5. more » »  NYCC Preview 2017 New York Comic-Con, which runs October 5 – 8, 2017 at the Javits Center in New York, is fast becoming the largest ComicCon in the world, with 180,000 attendees in 2016. Issue date: September 18; reservations due: September 6. more » »  Frankfurt Preview 2017 The Frankfurt Preview is the publishers’ and agents’ guide to the largest book fair in the world, this year taking place October 11 – 15, 2017. Issue date: September 25; reservations due: September 13 more » »  Frankfurt Show Daily “With the Frankfurt Show Daily, you extend your international reach and stand out among the myriad of exhibitors,” says Joe Murray about the largest book fair in the world. Issue dates: October 11 – 13; reservations due: September 20 more » »  Holiday Gift Guide 2017 Let’s celebrate together! Be the first to reach booksellers and librarians planning their holiday displays and promotions. Issue date: October 2; reservations due: September 20. more » »  YA Feature - Autumn 2017 Trends in young adult fiction and nonfiction dominate this regular feature. What’s coming on the YA scene makes this issue a solid opportunity for you to align your forthcoming YA titles with. Issue date: October 9; reservations due: September 27. more » »  Sci-Fi and Fantasy 2017 Genre alert! The science fiction and fantasy special feature is focused on genre busters, mystical fantasy and mystery and noir in SF. Plus, urban fantasy, historical settings and more. Issue date: October 9; reservations: September 27. more » »
 Self-Help 2017 Here, you’ll find a trends-oriented piece focused on books about aging, books about understanding unconscious motives and books about improving communications skills. Also include will be guided self-help journals. more » »  School and Library Spotlight: AASL Preview The AASL Preview is required reading for school librarians and other attendees of this biannual gathering. School library professionals rely on PW’s crack staff of library reporters and columnists to direct their attention to the “must-attend” programs. more » »  Texas Book Festival Spotlight The 22nd annual Texas Book Festival takes place November 4 – 5, 2017 in Austin, the capital of the Lone Star State. More than 100,000 attendees are expected to spend the weekend browsing exhibitor booths, meeting and greeting authors and more. more » »  Miami Book Fair Spotlight The Miami Book Fair Spotlight was so successful last year that PW is continuing the tradition and will reach 50,000 avid book-lovers at this year’s Miami Book Fair, which will be held November 12 – 19 at Miami Dade College. more » »  Play Fair Show Daily - NEW Play Fair NY is a celebration of play and entertainment in an expo environment, bringing toy and entertainment brands together. Attendees can touch, feel and interact with toys, games, books and entertainment products. 10,000 copies each day! more » »
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PW's Editorial Calls for Information Click here to read all of PW's current calls for information and books for upcoming editorial features. |
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 The World's 50 Largest Publishers, 2017 Although total revenue of the world’s 50 largest book publishers topped $50 billion in 2016, last year was not an easy one for global publishing giants. more »  Obituary: Top Exec at Three Publishers, Howard Kaminsky, Dead at 77
Howard Kaminsky, a former president and publisher of Warner Books, Random House and William Morrow/Avon, has died. He was 77. more »  Is Poetry the New Adult Coloring Book? Button Poetry is finding success in publishing and marketing poetry originally written for performance—leading some to believe that the sub-genre has book industry staying power. more »  Win a Signed Copy of 'Her Right Foot' by Dave Eggers! Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of 'Her Right Foot,' a new picture book by Dave Eggers and illustrated by Shawn Harris. (Sponsored) Enter Here! » 
Have you changed jobs, retired, or
been promoted? Click here to
enter your job move information. It will appear on our site
and in PW Daily.
IN THIS WEEK'S MAGAZINE
   Students' Textbook Spending Falls College students, according to two new reports, are taking advantage of the increasingly competitive marketplace for course materials, and opting for cheaper digital and rental textbooks. more » »  Book Deals: Week of August 28, 2017 The wife of a former NFL star sells a football-themed romance to Berkeley, Scholastic nabs Ally Carter’s first YA standalone, and more in this week's notable book deals. more » »  This Week's Bestsellers: August 28, 2017 ‘The Stone Sky,’ which concludes N.K. Jemisin’s Hugo Award–winning Broken Earth trilogy, debuts at #11 on our Trade Paperback list. Plus Serious Eats writer and chef Stella Parks shares her love of Twinkies and Oreos in ‘BraveTart,’ and Kate Winslet and Idris Elba cozy up on the movie tie-in cover of ‘The Mountain Between Us.’ more » »  PW's Latest Starred Reviews Check out the starred reviews of titles including 'The Republic for Which It Stands,' 'Thornhill,' 'Offal Good,' and more. more » »  Call for Information: Romance Novels For this feature we’d like to hear how editors and authors address issues of consent, communication, and safer sex in romance novels. For example, how do you balance historical accuracy with modern reader expectations, introduce safer sex without interrupting the sexy vibe, or include alpha males who aren't uncomfortably aggressive? Pub dates: December 2017 through May 2018. New titles only, please; no reprints. Email pitches to features@publishersweekly.com by September 18 and put “Call for Info: Romance Novels” in the subject line. more » »
Amazon Arrives
In Australia: As Amazon sets up shop down under, academics
examine the impact the e-tailer and publisher could have on the country’s
book culture.
A Debut
Novelist’s Descent Into Darkness: Alexandra Alter profiles 'My
Absolute Darling' author Gabriel Tallent, calling the book "poised to
become the breakout debut of the year."
Before Dylan,
Rabindranath Tagore: Bob Dylan wasn't the first songwriter to
win the Nobel Prize In Literature. Western audiences should know that.
The Promise
and Potential of Fan Fiction: Fan fiction offers new writers a
clearer path to potentially interested readers than has ever previously
existed, Stephen Burt argues.
Reading 'Jane
Eyre' While Black: Tyrese L. Coleman writes about how she was
denied the privilege of escapism from the classics that her white peers were
afforded.
 Hardcover Fiction Bestseller List 'Any Dream Will Do' by Debbie Macomber is the #1 bestseller on PW's adult hardcover fiction bestseller list. See the full list » »
 'Where the Past Begins:
A Writer's Memoir' by Amy Tan "In this wise and profound memoir, novelist Tan, now 65, looks back on her life, illuminating the path that led her to writing." more » »
Prepositions and Pronouns Contest Kenny Brechner
A YA title trend is put to the test.
 Rodale Launches Its Kids' Books ImprintMaria Rodale (far r.) and the New York–based book team for Rodale celebrates the launch of Rodale Kids. Courtesy Rodale |
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 The YA Bestseller Brought Down by the YA Community Members of the young adult writing community claimed that Lani Sarem's 'Handbook for Mortals,' which initially hit #1 on the NYT's YA bestseller list, charted because its sales were manipulated. The uproar has led to the book being dropped from the paper's list. more »  The Big Indie Books of Fall 2017 Gems from small and university presses publishing this fall, picked by booksellers and PW’s reviews editors. more »  Penguin Boots Up for Marie Lu's 'Warcross' 'Warcross,' the forthcoming sci-fi thriller from YA author and gamer Marie Lu, is a departure from Lu’s two previous hit series, and Penguin has devised an extensive campaign to build fan excitement. more »
 'Before I Knew' by Jamie Beck Tragedy destroyed their friendship. Can a shared dream help them love again? Become absorbed by Jamie Beck’s new heartfelt read about family, friendships and starting over. (Sponsored) Watch Now! » »
Linda Kasten, agent, has retired from
Loiacono Literary Agency.
Laura Gianino, formerly
publicity manager at Harper360, has joined TIME Inc. Books as senior
publicity manager and can be contacted at laura.gianino@timeincbooks.com.
 Beijing Book Fair 2017: New Segments and Different Opportunities Await
Non-stop meetings and packed booths were two constants at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), which runs from August 23 to 27. more » »  Bookstore News: August 25, 2017 A new bookstore readies to open in upstate New York; Orlando indie to close; Oakland bookstore changes ownership; Portugal's chic new bookstore; and more. more » »  Tune In to PW Radio Author David Handler discusses his new novel, 'The Girl with Kaleidoscope Eyes.' 'PW' contributing editor Judith Rosen reports on hot books from small presses. more » »
eBooks2go Partners with Teacher Created Materials The new partnership with the Californian educational publishing company allows eBooks2go to convert the company's educational resources into the ePub3 format. more » »
To 'E' or Not
to "E": The University of Southern California’s
decision to spell William Shakespear[e]'s name without the final
"e" has reignited a debate.
Obscure
Medieval Texts, Translated: Stanford's Global Medieval
Sourcebook is a new online compendium of English translations for overlooked
Middle Ages texts.
An
Asian-American Lit Gathering: At the Smithsonian’s First Asian
American Literary Festival, more than 80 writers shared work across multiple
genres.
The Rise and
Return of Jesmyn Ward: Boris Kachka profiles the National Book
Award–winning Mississippi author for 'Vulture' on the eve of publication of
her third novel.
Looking for
Stories in Bloody Places: Novelist Rebecca Entel hunts for
complicated narratives at the sites of historical atrocities.
 Top 10 Overall Bestseller List 'Two by Two' by Nicholas Sparks is the #1 title on PW's top 10 overall bestseller list. See the full list » »
 'Lines' by Sarvinder
Naberhaus and illustrated by Melinda Beck "Lines have the ability to connect and define—something Naberhaus and Beck portray with grace in a board book that opens with a single vertical line and expands to encompass the entire solar system." more » »
Prepositions and Pronouns Contest Kenny Brechner
A YA title trend is put to the test.
 Girls Who Code, Read, and RallyOn Tuesday, August 22, Girls Who Code celebrated the launch of the first two books in the Girls Who Code publishing program with a rally for women in tech outside the Union Square Barnes & Noble in Manhattan. Courtesy Penguin Young Readers |
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In the News
 The Book That Has the YA Community Crying Foul Members of the young adult writing community are claiming that Lani Sarem's Handbook for Mortals, which was named a New York Times YA bestseller on Wednesday, only made the list because someone is manipulating its sales. more  
Library
News
 EveryLibrary, Follett Partner to Save School Librarians A new alliance has formed between the library-centric social welfare nonprofit and the educational services company that focuses on school library advocacy. At the outset, the initiative will focus on outreach in six states and on the launch of a new activist website. more
Book News
 Penguin Boots Up for Marie Lu's 'Warcross' Warcross, the forthcoming sci-fi thriller from YA author and gamer Marie Lu, is a departure from Lu’s two previous hit series. In anticipation of the September 12 release, Penguin is running at full tilt to build fan excitement. more  Humanoids Adds Graphic Novel Lines for Kids and Adults This fall the publisher will launch two new lines of graphic titles aimed at children and young adults: Humanoids Kids and Slice of Life. more 
Happy
Anniversary
 A Trio of Fall Titles Celebrates Virginia Lee Burton’s Rich Legacy
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is having a Virginia Lee Burton moment. On September 5, the publisher will issue Big Machines: The Story of Virginia Lee Burton, written by Sherri Duskey Rinker and illustrated by John Rocco. The tribute continues with the release of an updated edition of Choo Choo and a 75th anniversary edition of Burton’s Caldecott-winning The Little House. "This was a passion project for us all," said Cara Llewellyn of HMH. more
On the Scene
 On Tour with Chris Colfer's 'The Land of Stories’ Last month, author and former Glee star Chris Colfer set out on a 20-city tour in celebration of Worlds Collide, the sixth and final book in his bestselling The Land of Stories series. Read on for highlights from the events, which drew hundreds of fans for trivia, costume contests, and more. more 
Q & A
 Victoria Jamieson When Victoria Jamieson’s first graphic novel, Roller Girl, won a Newbery Honor, she was already at work on her second, All’s Faire in Middle School. The tale stars Imogene, a homeschooled tween whose free-spirited upbringing and participation in the local Renaissance Faire make adapting to public school a bumpy ride. PW spoke with Jamieson about the path that led her to graphic novels, her early days as a Faire groupie, and things that are hard to draw. Q: Where did the idea for the book come from? A: In my high school we had to volunteer somewhere, and one of my friends’ parents owned a shop at the Renaissance Faire. I used to go with two of my best friends. We just had the best time. We were supposed to be volunteering but actually we just laughed and ate a lot of sugar and were stalking this juggler that we had a crush on. more
News Briefs
Penguin Random House to Distribute Holiday House
The multi-year global English-language sales and distribution agreement takes effect in May 2018 for the U.S. and Canada, and in December 2018 for all other territories. more
Behrman House Acquires Remaining Interest in Apples & Honey Press
Apples & Honey Press will continue its schedule of releasing four to six front list titles each in its spring and fall seasons, now as a fully-owned imprint of Behrman House. more
Out Next Week
 Hot Off the Presses: Week of August 28, 2017 Hitting shelves next week are a picture book about the coming fall season, a middle grade novel about an ambitious Kenyan girl, and a YA novel about teens capable of surprising themselves. more
Rights Report
 Krista Marino at Delacorte has acquired, in a
six-figure preempt, Seeker author Arwen Elys Dayton's new YA
novel, Stronger, Faster and More Beautiful. Set in the future, the
novel features interconnected stories that explore the ethical dilemmas that
come with human modification and life extension. Publication is planned for
fall 2018; Jodi Reamer at Writers House handled the deal for U.S. and Canadian
rights.  Vicki Lame at Wednesday Books has bought, in a
three-book deal, Emily Duncan's debut YA fantasy, Something Dark
and Holy. Pitched as a gothic Joan of Arc, the book features two
countries locked in a holy war, and the peasant girl who can speak to the
gods who must find a way to work with a deadly adversary, a heretical blood
mage and heir apparent of the enemy kingdom, to turn the tide of the war and
assassinate the mad king. Publication is slated for 2019; Thao Le at the
Dijkstra Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.  Mary Kate Castellani at Bloomsbury has
acquired Morris Award finalist Leah Thomas's YA novel, Wild and
Crooked. Pitched as Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the
Universe meets Making a Murderer, the book stars Kalyn, a killer's
daughter, and Gus, a victim's son, small-town teens who develop a powerful
friendship despite a brutal murder that has long since divided their
families. Publication is scheduled for May 2019; Lana Popovic at Chalberg &
Sussman brokered the deal for world rights.  Rhoda Belleza at Imprint has bought Gabrielle
Byrne's debut novel, Rise of the Dragon Moon, about a feisty ice
princess on a quest to save her mother and her queendom from dragons.
Publication is set for winter 2019; Catherine Drayton at InkWell Management
did the deal for world English rights.  Andrew Karre at Dutton has acquired K.R.
Gaddy's YA nonfiction debut, Flowers in the Gutter. Drawing from
memoirs and other firsthand sources, the book chronicles the history of the
Edelweiss Pirates, a group of German working-class teenage boys and girls who
resisted the Nazis in Cologne during WWII. Publication is planned for spring
2019; John Rudolph at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret negotiated the deal for
world rights.  Alix Reid at Carolrhoda Lab has bought world
rights to Sasha Dawn's Blink, a psychological thriller about a
boy, Joshua, who falls in love with a mysterious girl who is on the run and
who might hold the key to a crime that was committed long ago. Publication is
slated for May 2018; Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger handled the deal.  Ashley Hearn at Page Street has acquired world
rights to Erin Cashman's YA contemporary fantasy, Uncharted.
When 16-year-old Annabeth attends the funeral of family friends who drowned,
she uncovers an ancient secret that some would die to protect and others
would kill to expose—the existence of the legendary island of Hy-Brasil.
Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; the author represented herself.  Beverly Horowitz and Kelsey Horton at
Delacorte have bought a middle-grade short story collection, Totally
Middle School. Arts advocate and former book publisher Betsy Groban
will edit. In the book, bestselling and award-winning authors Lois Lowry,
Linda Sue Park, Katherine Paterson, Gregory Maguire, Karen Cushman, Gary
Schmidt, among others, take on the challenges of the brave new world of
middle school, in a range of formats. Publication is set for fall 2018; Doe
Coover at the Doe Coover Agency brokered the deal for world rights.  Kristen Mohn at Capstone has acquired Saadia
Faruqi's debut chapter book series, Yasmin. The series stars a
Pakistani-American girl with a big imagination and a big heart. Publication
of the as-yet-untitled first book is slated for fall 2018; Kari Sutherland at
Bradford Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.  Kelly Barrales-Saylor at Sourcebooks
Jabberwocky has bought Scientist, Scientist, What Do You See?, a
scientific parody picture book by Goodnight Lab author-illustrator Chris
Ferrie, which introduces readers to important figures in science.
Publication is planned for April 2018; Ferrie was unagented.  Michael Green at Philomel has acquired world
rights to The Day the Crayons Quit author Drew Daywalt's (l.) The
Epic Adventures of Huggie and Stick, a buddy comedy starring a
curmudgeonly stuffed bunny and a happy-go-lucky stick, illustrated by debut
artist David Spencer. The book will publish in fall 2018; Steven Malk
at Writers House represented the author, and John Cusick at Folio Jr./Folio
Literary Management represented the artist.  Taylor Norman at Chronicle has bought Elise
Primavera's (l.) new picture book, I'm a Baked Potato!, about a
dog with a bit of an identity crisis. 2017 Pura Belpré Award winner and Juana
and Lucas series creator Juana Medina will illustrate; publication is
scheduled for spring 2019. Steven Malk at Writers House represented the
author, and Gillian MacKenzie at the Gillian MacKenzie Agency represented the
illustrator in the deal for world rights.  Kira Lynn at Kane Miller has acquired North
American rights to Erin Dealey's (l.) Grandma's Favorite and
the companion volume, Grandpa's Favorite. The rhyming picture books
celebrate contemporary grandparents around the world. Luciana Navarro
Powell will illustrate; publication is slated for June 2018. Deborah
Warren at East West Literary Agency did the deal for the author and the
illustrator.  Kristen Nobles at Page Street Kids has bought
world rights to Annie Cronin Romano's (l.) Night Train,
illustrated by Ileana Soon. The debut picture book follows a steam
engine's nighttime journey across various landscapes. Publication is planned
for winter 2019; the author and the illustrator represented themselves.  Naomi Kirsten at Chronicle has acquired world
rights to Karen Jameson's Woodland Dreams, a picture book
celebrating the wonder of forest animals as they settle in for the night. Marc
Boutavant will illustrate; publication is set for spring 2020. Kathleen
Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Amanda
Mason at Heart Agency represented the illustrator.
To see all of this week's deals, click here.
IN THE MEDIA
SHELFTALKER
Kenny Brechner Prepositions and Pronouns Contest
A YA title trend is put to the test.
more »
Cynthia Compton The Bookseller and the Very Bad Day *
A tired bookseller’s homage to Judith Viorst and her friend
Alexander.
more »
Elizabeth Bluemle Shining a Light on Girls’ Education with ‘Girl Rising’
A heartening evening in a challenging week.
more »
Leslie Hawkins Will the Third Time Be the Charm?
Striving for the ultimate teacher appreciation event.
FEATURED
REVIEWS
 There’s Nothing to Do!
Dev Petty, illus. by Mike Boldt. Doubleday, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-399-55803-0 The malcontented frog from I Don’t Want to Be a Frog and I Don’t Want to Be Big is at a loss about what to do with his day. “You can’t think of anything?” his father asks, working on a crossword puzzle. “I can think of lots of things... buuuuut I don’t want to do any of them,” replies the frog. more  Meow! Victoria Ying. Harper, $15.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-06-244096-9 Using only slight variations of the “meow” of the title as dialogue, Ying follows an anthropomorphic gray kitten around his house as he looks for someone to play with. “Meow?” says the kitten imploringly to his parents and older sister, holding out a yellow ball of yarn. Their preoccupation with other activities sends the kitten into a funk. more  Fallingwater: The
Building of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Masterpiece Marc Harshman and Anna Egan Smucker, illus. by LeUyen Pham. Roaring Brook, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-59643-718-0 A warm tribute to the creative genius and style of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, this picture book takes readers through his process of designing and building the famous home Fallingwater, which helped revive his stalled career, in the 1930s. Harshman and Smucker deliver an often lyrical narration of Fallingwater’s progression. more  The Secret of
Nightingale Wood Lucy Strange. Chicken House, $16.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-338-15747-5 After the death of 12-year-old Hen’s brother, her father moves the family from London to the countryside, only to depart to the continent for work, leaving Hen’s mother struggling with mental illness and cared for by a sinister doctor. Hen finds solace in the woods and meets a supposed witch living in a caravan. more  Timeless: Diego and the
Rangers of the Vastlantic Armand Baltazar. HarperCollins/Tegen, $19.99 (624p) ISBN 978-0-06-240236-3 After the catastrophic Time Collision restructured Earth into a world where dinosaurs coexist alongside steam technology and giant robots, four children team up with pirates to rescue their loved ones from marauders bent on destroying society. More than 150 full-color photorealistic art pieces bring the characters and setting to life in a manner suggestive of film storyboards. more  Forest of a Thousand
Lanterns Julie C. Dao. Philomel, $18.99 (384p) ISBN 978-1-5247-3829-7 Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is destined to become the empress of Feng Lu, and although she is initially uncertain about this foretold fate, the power it promises becomes too much to resist. Demons and bloody magic keep Xifeng’s face preternaturally beautiful and help her harness the power of her rivals as she schemes her way into the palace. more
TALES FROM THE
SLUSH PILE
 |
August 24, 2017
   
To Our Readers
For the rest of August, we'll be publishing Children's Bookshelf
once a week, on Thursdays. We'll resume our regular twice-weekly schedule
after Labor Day.
People
 Jason M. Wells has joined Rodale as associate publisher, director of marketing and publicity for the Rodale Kids imprint. He had been executive director of publicity and marketing at Abrams Books for Young Readers, working on campaigns for Jeff Kinney, Tom Angleberger, Cece Bell, Andrea Beaty, Laura Numeroff, Michael Buckley, Mac Barnett, Tonya Bolden, Duncan Tonatiuh, and Lauren Myracle, among many others.
Random House Children's Books has one new hire and two promotions.
Noreen Herits is rejoining the company as executive director of
publicity, reporting to Dominique Cimina. Herits was most recently director
of marketing and publicity at Workman. Jillian Vandall has been
promoted to senior publicity manager, from manager. Chelsea Eberly has
been promoted to senior editor, from editor.
SNEAK PREVIEWS
 Have you checked out our Spring 2018 Sneak Previews? Take a look ahead at some of the big titles for young readers due out next season, in our exclusive roundup.
In Case You
Missed It
Bestsellers
 Children's
Frontlist Fiction #1 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts 1 and 2 by J.K. Rowling et al. Click here  Picture Books
#1 What Do You Do with a Problem? by Kobi Yamada, illus. by Mae Besom. Click here
Follow Us
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Archives
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 New Indie Bookstore Set to Open in Queens Kew & Willow Books, which was formed by three former B&N coworkers and financed through a Kickstarter campaign, is scheduled to open in late September in the Kew Gardens neighborhood of the New York City borough. more »  Religion and Spirituality Books Preview: September 2017 The memoir by journalist Sally Quinn, a collection of the Dalai Lama’s wisdom, and ‘Faith and Resistance in the Age of Trump’ are some of the big books in religion and spirituality publishing in September. more »  Book to Film Deals, Week of August 21, 2017 The forthcoming romantic comedy co-written by 'Rosie Project' author Graeme Simsion and his wife is nabbed for film by Fox Searchlight, while Pascal Pictures picks up the true tale of an Italian teenager who became an unexpected WWII hero. more »  Win a Copy of 'Harry Moon Wand Paper Scissors'! Enter for your chance to win one of 20 finished copies of 'Harry Moon Wand Paper Scissors' by Mark Andrew Poe. The night is dark, but it shines bright when you're reading Harry Moon! (Sponsored) Enter Here! » 
Have you changed jobs, retired, or
been promoted? Click here to
enter your job move information. It will appear on our site
and in PW Daily.
 PRH Goes to the Park Penguin Random House has wed its long-standing partnerships with New York City's Public Theater and Literacy Partners with a philanthropic book progam tied to Shakespeare in the Park's production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' more » »
Thurber Prize for American Humor 2017 Finalists Announced Books by Trevor Noah, Ken Pisani, and Aaron Thier are shortlisted for the award, which will be presented in New York City on October 2. more » »
PRH to Distribute Holiday House
The sales and distribution agreement takes effect on May 1, 2018, for the U.S. and Canada and December 1, 2018, for all other territories. more » »
2nd & Charles Set to Open Jacksonville Store
The Books-A-Million–owned company will open its 36th store on September 16. more » »
One Hundred
Books Across America: 'Literary Hub' rounds up one fiction and
one nonfiction book for every state in the Union for your last-second
literary road trip.
Talese and
Didion Come to Netflix: The streaming service will release
documentaries on Joan Didion and an adaptation of Gay Talese’s controversial
'Voyeur' later this year.
'Lemonade' for
Your Living Room: Beyoncé is releasing a 600-page coffee table
book that details the making of her landmark 2016 album.
Native
American Lit's “Living Con Job”: Is the novelist John Smelcer,
who is nominated for a 2017 PEN Literary Award, really who he says he is?
'The Stranger' investigates.
Ten Books
About Tyrants: The novelist Christopher Wilson assembles a
rogues’ gallery of despots and dictators from fact and fiction for the
'Guardian.'
Trade Paperback Bestseller List 'Two by Two' by Nicholas Sparks is the #1 title on PW's trade paperback bestseller list. See the full list » »
 'The Other Girl' by
Erica Spindler "Multidimensional characters with a plethora of hidden agendas help drive the riveting plot to its explosive conclusion...[in] this superlative romantic thriller." Read more » »
Prepositions and Pronouns Contest Kenny Brechner
A YA title trend is is put to the test.
 Kenyan Soccer Comes to MinneapolisEllie Roscher (c.), author of 'Play Like a Girl: How a Soccer School in Kenya's Slums Started a Revolution' (Viva Editions), launched her book Monday at Open Book in Minneapolis on August 21. Here, she is joined by Asha Jaffar (r.), a graduate of the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy, and Richard Teka, the head of programs there. Photo: Stu Abraham |
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In the Spotlight
 Lessons from the Country’s Oldest Children’s Bookstores We checked in with some of the nation's oldest children’s specialty bookstores for insight on how they've weathered major changes in the business and remained vital in their communities. more
In the News
 Judge's Order Bans Distribution of KinderGuides A federal judge has signed off on a permanent injunction barring Moppet Books from distributing in the U.S. any versions of its KinderGuides series held to be infringing. Despite the ongoing legal battle, Moppet is moving ahead with plans to launch a new line of study guides based on public domain works. more 
Book
News
 Kid Reporter Hilde Lysiak Scoops Up Book Series Ten-year-old journalist Hilde Lysiak is about to make her print debut as the co-author and star of a new children's book series, Hilde Cracks the Case, focused on her real-life scoops. Lysiak recently gave PW a tour of her Pennsylvania home and a glimpse at her homemade news empire. more  New York Review Books Brings Back Maira Kalman Classics In 1988, Maira Kalman made a promising debut when Viking released Hey Willy, See the Pyramids, a picture book about a girl’s vivid bedtime stories for her sleepless brother. On September 12, the New York Review Children’s Collection will reissue Hey Willy, See the Pyramids and Max Makes a Million, with more of Kalman's beloved titles to follow in 2018. more  Small Presses Celebrate Laura Ingalls Wilder’s 150th Birthday
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s birth on February 7, 1867, and two small presses are marking the occasion by publishing books offering new perspectives on the life and times of the beloved author of the Little House on the Prairie series. more 
Four
Questions
 Katherine Applegate Katherine Applegate’s dedication to Wishtree, “for newcomers and for welcomers,” captures the essence of her latest middle-grade novel, due out next month from Feiwel and Friends. The story is narrated by an old red oak tree who welcomes families to the immigrant neighborhood he watches over. When newcomers—a Muslim family—move in nearby, and it becomes evident that they aren’t welcomed by everyone, his role becomes more important than ever. PW spoke to Applegate about her inspiration for the novel and its growing relevance in our country. Q: What was the spark that ignited Wishtree? A: I wrote the novel in summer 2016, filled with frustration about the way things were going in our country. I wanted to make a small plea for civility, but I wanted to keep it simple and accessible to young readers. more 
Out
Next Week
 Hot Off the Presses: Week of August 21, 2017 Hitting shelves next week are a linear board book, a middle grade historical novel set in Iran, and a nonfiction title that inspires girls to learn to code. more
In Brief
 In Brief: August 17, 2017 This week, a young reader lives it up at Sanae Ishida’s book launch; authors visit American Girl Place; and author Jean L.S. Patrick celebrates her picture book and a little-known athlete. more
Rights Report
 Lisa Sandell at Scholastic has acquired Lyra
Selene's debut YA fantasy novel, Amber & Dusk. The story is
set in the perpetual dusk of the Amber Court, where Sylvie tries to navigate
treacherous courtiers and a murderous empress, all while trying to develop
her magical powers. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Ginger Clark at
Curtis Brown negotiated the deal for North American rights.  Nikki Garcia at Little, Brown has bought world
rights to Someone Like Me: How One Undocumented Girl Fought for Her
American Dream, an adaptation of the 2016 adult memoir My
(Underground) American Dream by immigration rights activist Julissa
Arce. This YA adaptation chronicles Arce's childhood in Mexico separated
from her parents and her struggle to belong in America while growing up as an
undocumented student in Texas. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Lisa
Leshne at the Leshne Agency did the deal.  Adam Rau and David Saylor at
Scholastic/Graphix have acquired Dugout, a graphic novel for young
readers by Pixar filmmaker and author of the Magic Pickle series Scott
Morse. The book follows the misadventures of twin sisters Stacy and Gina
and the curse that their sibling rivalry unleashes on a Little League team.
Publication is set for 2019; Allen Spiegel at Allen Spiegel Fine Arts
brokered the deal for world rights.  Mallory Kass at Scholastic has bought in a
preempt Victoria Piontek's middle grade debut, The Spirit of
Cattail County. The Everglades-set novel follows 12-year-old Sparrow as
she attempts to untangle the secrets of her Florida town in order to convince
her best friend—a silent ghost no one else can see—to send a message to
Sparrow's recently deceased mother. Publication is slated for summer 2018;
Laura Rennert at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for
world rights; Piontek is a literary associate at the agency.  Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has acquired,
at auction, Bob Shea's Crash, Splash or Moo, an interactive
story that invites readers to predict the results of a competition between a
stoic cow and a daredevil clam. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018, with
a second, untitled book to follow; Steven Malk at Writers House brokered the
deal for world rights.  Karen Nagel at S&S/Aladdin has bought two
picture books from fine artist Leah Tinari. The first, Limitless:
Remarkable American Women of Vision and Grit, will feature new portraits
created by Tinari, alongside little-known facts about each woman across
history. The second book will similarly feature American presidents.
Publication is set for fall 2018, with the second book due in fall 2019; Rick
Richter at Aevitas Creative Management did the deal for world English rights.
 Cheryl Klein, in her first deal at Lee &
Low Books, has acquired Under My Hijab by Hena Khan (Amina's
Voice), a picture book celebrating the beauty and diversity of Muslim
women and girls and the many ways they wear the hijab. Debut artist Aaliya
Jaleel will illustrate, with publication planned for fall 2018. Matthew
Elblonk at DeFiore & Company represented the author, and Jaleel
represented herself.  Megan Abbate at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has
bought world rights to the debut picture book from Rachel Lyons and YA
author Jessica Verdi (shown), The Haircut, about a young boy
coming out as transgender to his family and friends, and his desire for a
haircut that reflects his identity. The story is based on Lyons's son and his
gender identity journey; Lyons is using a pseudonym. It's tentatively slated
for spring 2019; Kate McKean at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency negotiated
the deal.  Yolanda Scott at Charlesbridge has acquired
world rights to Not a Bean, the debut picture book by Claudia
Guadalupe Martinez, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist David Diaz.
The nonfiction picture book integrates English, Spanish, and a counting
concept as it looks at the lifecycle of the Mexican jumping bean—which is not
a bean at all. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Adriana Dominguez at
Full Circle Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented
himself.  Stacey Barney at Putnam has bought world
rights to Madelyn Rosenberg's (l.) new picture book, Cyclops of
Central Park, in which the shepherd hero Cyclops hunts down a wayward
sheep named Eugene across several iconic New York City landmarks. Victoria
Tentler-Krylov will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2020.
Susan Cohen at Writers House represented the author, and Studio Goodwin
Sturges represented the illustrator.  Jessica Burgess at Tundra Books has acquired Monica
Kulling's (l.) Fight for Life, a picture book biography of U.S.
doctor S. Josephine Baker, who revolutionized obstetric and infant care,
beginning with her work in the tenements of NYC's Hell's Kitchen in the early
1900s. Julianna Swaney will illustrate; publication is set for fall
2018. The author represented herself, and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright USA
represented the illustrator.  Julie Matysik at Running Press Kids has bought
world rights to Sue Fliess's (l.) Ninja Camp, illustrated by Jen
Taylor. The picture book features ninjas training to defeat a rival ninja
camp team in order to capture the shadow blade. Publication is slated for
January 2019; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented the author, and
Alli Brydon at Bright USA represented the illustrator.  Stephanie Pitts at Putnam has acquired world
rights to Leslie Staub's picture book, If I Were an Elephant,
illustrated by Richard Jones. The book presents a factual depiction of
a young African elephant's day in the wild, as told by a child narrator at
play. Publication is scheduled for spring 2020; Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin
Pfeffer Content represented the author, and Arabella Stein at the Bright
Group represented the illustrator.  Grace Kendall at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has
bought Le Petit Santos, a debut picture book biography of
Brazilian-French inventor Alberto Santos-Dumont, whose early airship designs
made him the toast of 19th-century Paris, and who nabbed the Deutsche Prize
in a death-defying sky race around the Eiffel Tower. Brothers Rob (l.)
and Jef Polivka are co-authors; Rob Polivka will illustrate.
Publication is set for spring 2019. Jennifer Mattson at Andrea Brown Literary
Agency handled the deal for world rights.  Kira Lynn at Kane Miller has acquired U.S.
rights to Fox's Box, a picture book by London artist Emilia
Zebrowska that introduces prepositions, animals, and colors through a
rhyming text and patterns inspired by Zebrowska's Polish heritage. The pub
date is January 2019; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the
author-illustrator.  Anna Membrino at Random House has bought world
rights to Jonty Howley's picture book, Big Boys Cry. The book
offers a boy, who is bottling up his feelings, examples of healthy emotional
expression. Publication is planned for spring 2019; the author-illustrator is
unagented.
To see all of this week's deals, click here.
IN THE MEDIA
SHELFTALKER
Kenny Brechner Tools for Troubled Times
It is intellectual constructs, not hammers, that allow us to be
our best.
more »
Cynthia Compton Putting the Fun Back in Fundraisers
One store’s approach to donation requests from schools and
community groups increases both goodwill and the bottom line.
more »
Leslie Hawkins Let’s Talk About Racism
Using children’s books to up our game in combating racism.
more »
Meghan Dietsche Goel This Shelf Is Reserved for Diverse Voices
Spotlighting Lee & Low Books and the voices of small
presses.
FEATURED
REVIEWS
 I Want That Nut!
Madeline Valentine. Knopf, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-101-94037-2 When a “big, beautiful Nut” appears out of nowhere, Mouse and Chipmunk are instantly smitten. The friends are initially polite, before Chipmunk runs off with it. After an awkward tea for three, Mouse snatches the nut, and the battle is on. more  The Wolf, the Duck, and
the Mouse Mac Barnett, illus. by Jon Klassen. Candlewick, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-7636-7754-1 A sweet mouse with pink ears encounters a wolf in the forest. The wolf gobbles him up. Which is awful, right? Nope. It’s surprisingly comfortable inside the wolf. In fact, a duck is already in residence. It’s the wolf who suffers. “I feel like I’ll burst,” he moans, as the mouse and duck feast over a candlelit dinner. more  Silent Days, Silent
Dreams Allen Say. Scholastic/Levine, $21.99 (64p) ISBN 978-0-545-92761-1 Say tells the haunting story of outsider artist James Castle, a deaf and autistic man whose talent was not recognized until late in his life. Narrating in the voice of Castle’s nephew, Say describes how Castle was born in 1899 into an Idaho farm family with no resources to help their son. He never learned to speak or read, but he found consolation in drawing. more  The 57 Bus: A True
Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives Dashka Slater. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $17.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-374-30323-5 Both Sasha (a white, agender private school teenager) and Richard (an African-American public school student who had lost numerous loved ones to murder) rode the 57 bus every day in Oakland, Calif. One afternoon, Richard—egged on by friends—lit the sleeping Sasha’s skirt on fire, leaving Sasha with third-degree burns. Slater skillfully conveys the complexities of both young people’s lives, while exploring the challenges and moral ambiguities of the criminal justice system. more  That Inevitable
Victorian Thing E.K. Johnston. Dutton, $17.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-101-99497-9 What if the British Empire never fell, and its traditions of debutante balls and royal matchmaking survived into the 21st century? In Johnston's vividly imagined alternate history, set in the near future, the Church of the Empire runs a DNA-matching service to ensure that mates are biologically compatible, both for commoners and for royals such as Crown Princess Victoria-Margaret. more  Everything Must Go
Jenny Fran Davis. Wednesday, $18.99 (416p) ISBN 978-1-250-11976-6 Vintage-fashion queen Flora Goldwasser falls hard and fast for her private-school tutor, photographer Elijah. On a whim, Flora quits her exclusive New York City private school to attend the Quaker “upstate-New-York-hippie-school” where Elijah will be teaching the following year. But he doesn’t show up, and Flora is stuck. more  Meant to Be
Julie Halpern. Feiwel and Friends, $17.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-250-09498-8 Agatha “Aggy” Abrams, 18, has just received her Meant-to-Be: the name of a person’s true love, which magically shows up above his or her heart. When Aggy’s longtime crush Luke proposes a summer fling, she jumps at the opportunity, but matters get complicated when it becomes clear that Luke might be more serious about their romance than she is. more
TALES FROM THE
SLUSH PILE
 |
August 17, 2017
  
To Our Readers
For the rest of August, we'll be publishing Children's Bookshelf
once a week, on Thursdays. We'll resume our regular twice-weekly schedule
after Labor Day.
People
Kathryn Little has been promoted to director of marketing at Macmillan
Children's Publishing Group; she was previously associate director.
Putnam Books for Young Readers has two promotions. Stacey
Barney has been promoted to executive editor; she was formerly senior
editor. Kate Meltzer has been promoted to associate editor, from
assistant editor.
Hannah Babcock has joined Abrams in the newly created position of assistant
manager, subsidiary rights; previously she was assistant scout at Baker
Literary Scouting. Mercedes Padro has joined Abrams Children's as
assistant designer; she had been an intern at HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Laura Peraza has
joined the Children's Book Council as content and design manager; most
recently she was social media manager for World Book Night U.S. She replaces
Alexa Frank, who has been accepted to the MFA program at the Iowa Writers'
Workshop.
SNEAK PREVIEWS
Have you checked out our Spring 2018 Sneak Previews? Take a look ahead at some of the big titles for young readers due out next season, in our exclusive roundup.
In Case You
Missed It
Bestsellers
Children's
Frontlist Fiction #1 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts 1 and 2 by J.K. Rowling et al. Click here Picture Books
#1 What Do You Do with a Problem? by Kobi Yamada, illus. by Mae Besom. Click here
Follow Us
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Archives
Looking for a previous issue of Children's Bookshelf? Click here for
our archives page!
CONTACT US
Have a comment or
suggestion? We'd love to hear from you. Click here to drop us a note. |
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 HCCP Launches a Self-Publishing Imprint HarperCollins Christian Publishers has announced the launch of Elm Hill, a new self-publishing imprint created in collaboration with Accurance, a digital production company. more »  Electric Literature Serializes Joe Meno’s ‘Star Witness’ Online
The serialized story is part of Electric Literature's ongoing experiments with distributing literary works online, as well as an effort to grow its paying membership. more »  Australian Authors Start Online Marketplace The Australian Society of Authors has launched a digital marketplace, showcasing and selling the work of writers to publishers, agents, and literary scouts throughout the world. more » 
Liza Darnton, formerly freelance editor
at Darnton Literary and editor at Penguin, has joined AmazonCrossing as
senior editor.
Kaitlyn Coddington, formerly
contracts assistant at HarperCollins Publishers, has joined Pearson as
assistant permissions editor.
Kathryn Little has been
promoted to director of marketing at Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.
 TitleTown Adds Two Imprints The small press in Green Bay, Wisc., which specializes in true crime and survivor stories, is moving in new directions with the launches of a children’s imprint and an imprint focusing on books with religious themes. more » »
Maine Bookstore Launches Donation Drive for Charlottesville Nonprofit From now until the end of the year, Print Bookstore in Portland will donate $5 from every purchase of Ta-Nehisi Coates' new book, We Were Eight Years in Power, to a Virginia-based nonprofit African American Teaching Fellows. more » »
Chinese
Novelist Charged With Murder: Liu Yongbiao has been arrested
on accusations of bludgeoning four people to death 22 years ago.
ABA Deal
Brings U.K. to the U.S.: The American Booksellers Association,
Ingram, and Gardners will bring a range of British titles to U.S. independent
bookstores.
True Crime
Gets Literary: Once trashy and compelling, true crime is now
the realm of credentialed literary writers. Is that an improvement?
D.C. Small
Presses Make Their Mark: Such indies as Strong Arm Press and
Barrelhouse Books have found a literary niche in the political landscape of
the nation's capital.
The Joys of
the Silent Book Club: Reading alone, together, at a table of
introverts can help bring some readers back to the reading life in an era of
distraction.
Trade Paperback Bestseller List 'Two by Two' by Nicholas Sparks is the #1 title on PW's trade paperback bestseller list. See the full list » »
 'Notes on a Foreign
Country: An American Abroad in a Post-American World' by Suzy Hansen
"A revelatory indictment of American policy both domestic and foreign, made gripping by Hansen’s confident—if overreaching—distillation of complicated historical processes." Read more » »
Tools for Troubled Times Kenny Brechner
It is intellectual constructs, not hammers, that allow us to be
our best.
 A New Sci-Fi Master Reads In New YorkThe Housing Works Bookstore and Café in Manhattan hosted a launch event for N.K. Jemisin’s 'The Stone Sky' (Orbit Books)—the sequel to 'The Obelisk Gate,' which won the Hugo Award last week, as well as last year’s Hugo Award-winner 'The Fifth Season.' A crowd of more than 200 showed up to see the author (r.) read and discuss the book with geophysicist Mika McKinnon. Photo: Ellen Wright |
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