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In the Spotlight
We take a closer look at the ever-shifting and expanding middle
grade category, including some of the latest developments in fiction,
nonfiction, graphic novels, and more.
  Navigating Middle Grade Books A number of editors, agents, booksellers, and librarians share their views on everything from how they define middle grade to trends in the market and which new titles they are most excited about. more   Diversifying Middle Grade Books Spurred on by the We Need Diverse Books movement, a crop of new imprints and initiatives reflect publishers’ ongoing efforts to expand the middle grade category, seeking out traditionally underrepresented voices and stories. more  Marketing Middle Grade Books We asked editors and marketing and publicity teams for their insights on middle grade marketing trends and some recent successful campaigns. more  Middle Grade Storytelling Goes Graphic From new imprints to school book clubs and fairs—publishers, teachers, and librarians are getting graphic novels into the hands of more young readers than ever before. more 
In
the News
 Triangle Interactive Looks To Grow Kids’ Read-Along E-book Market Targeting a niche in the thriving audiobook market, Triangle Interactive has released an initial list of 1,000 English and Spanish-language children's e-books from a variety of publishers. more  HarperCollins Brings Roblox Books to North America HarperCollins has been named the publishing licensee in the U.S. and Canada for Roblox, an online entertainment platform that draws more than 60 million fans of all ages each month. more  Jumpstart, HMH Partner on Read for the Record Jumpstart has partnered with HMH Books for Young Readers on its 13th annual Read for the Record campaign. This year's book selection is Maybe Something Beautiful by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell, illustrated by Rafael López. Click through for more information about the program. more
On the Scene
 2018 Los Angeles Times Festival in Photos This year’s Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, which took place April 21–22, brought together more than 150,000 attendees for a weekend of readings, signings, panels, and more. Click through to see a selection of children's book-related highlights from the celebration. more
Q & A
 Hope Larson Hope Larson’s new graphic novel, All Summer Long, follows a girl named Bina as she copes with a shifting friendship and finds solace in music. After Larson’s A Wrinkle in Time adaptation, and a series of fantasy novels co-created with Rebecca Mock, this contemporary story marks something of a departure. We spoke with Larson about how the project took shape. Q: What was the original impetus for the book? A: I was finishing up Knife’s Edge and I was figuring out where to go next. “Drawing myself” and “contemporary” were the two things I came up with. The theme of being an artist is really what the whole book is about for me. I’ve played with it and written about it before, but I haven’t faced it head-on. more
Out Next Week
 Hot Off the Presses: Week of April 30, 2018 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book about the amazing methods of transport some children employ to make it to school, a middle grade novel about a girl discovering her roots, and the launch of a high fantasy YA series. more
In Brief
 In Brief: April 26, 2018 This week, fans show some love for Erin Entrada Kelly; authors and illustrators accept their Ezra Jack Keats book awards; Eloise Greenfield is honored; Melissa de la Cruz gets chummy with Descendants fans; and Kate Beasley enjoys a warm elementary school welcome. more
Rights Report
 Julia Maguire at Knopf has acquired The
Montague Twins, a YA graphic novel series by Nathan Page (l.) and Drew
Shannon, in a two-book deal. Twins and amateur detectives Alastair and
Pete encounter supernatural forces in their small town. Publication is
scheduled for fall 2019; Maria Vicente at PS Literary represented both Page
and Shannon in the deal for world rights.  Sara Bierling at Blink has bought Every
Stolen Breath, a YA thriller by debut author Kimberly Gabriel. In
suburban Chicago, a rotating cast of teenagers has been attacking their
victims in packs. No one knows why the swarm attacks or where they come from;
all 16-year-old Lia knows is that the next target is her. The story is
inspired by the real-life "flash mob" violence that has been taking
place in Chicago since 2011. Publication is planned for fall 2019; Jennifer
Herrera at the David Black Agency brokered the deal for world rights.  Erin Stein at Macmillan/Imprint has acquired Awful
Girl, a YA novel by Barbara Bottner set in the Bronx in 1961.
Fourteen-year-old Maisy, left with an abusive mother after her father's
abandonment, must protect her brother, survive, and somehow find love. The
book is slated for spring 2020; Rick Richter at Aevitas Creative Management
negotiated the deal for world English rights.  Kate Meltzer at Putnam has bought Katharyn
Blair's speculative YA novel The Breath of Bones and an untitled
sequel. In a world where humans' darkest secrets are reborn as Hushed, flesh
and blood beings tasked with exposing what should remain hidden, 17-year-old
Eerie is swept up in a web of deception as she tries to escape the fatal
threat of her secret. Publication is scheduled for fall 2019 and fall 2020;
Brianne Johnson at Writers House did the deal for world rights.  Georgia McBride at Month9Books has acquired Clare
Di Liscia Baird's debut YA fantasy, Neliem, in which a teen,
spurned by her own people, must go from victim to warrior after being given a
mysterious dagger as she fights to win her independence and chooses between
two suitors. Publication is slated for 2019; Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce
Agency brokered the deal for world rights.  Ken Wright and Sheila Keenan at Viking have
bought The Young Pathfinders, a middle-grade graphic novel series by Penguin
Workshop publisher Francesco Sedita (l.) and children's video producer
and educator Prescott Seraydarian (center). The book will be
illustrated by Steve Hamaker, Eisner Award-winning colorist of Bone
and creator of the Plox webcomic. The Young Pathfinders is an
adventure story featuring a diverse group of kids thrown together in a summer
camp project. Researching their town's history leads to a mysterious,
abandoned castle that was once home to an eccentric inventor, and may still
be home to great treasure. The first book in the series, The Mystery of
the Moon Tower, will publish in spring 2020, followed by book two in fall
2020. Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret handled the two-book
deal for world rights on behalf of the authors, and the artist represented
himself.  Karen Wojtyla at S&S/McElderry has
acquired, in a preempt, world rights to the first two graphic novels in the
Manifester series, written and illustrated by Brian Alexander Prince.
The series is a Mediterranean-inspired action/adventure story about an
audacious kid searching for his missing father, while begrudgingly
accompanied by a risk-averse courier who hides his mysterious powers and
sordid past. Publication is planned for fall 2020 and 2021; Bernadette
Baker-Baughman at Victoria Sanders & Associates negotiated the deal.  Shana Corey at Random House has bought books
one and two in J.C. Phillipps's illustrated middle-grade graphic novel
series, Pacey Packer Unicorn Tracker. The series follows the adventures of
Pacey, Pacey's little sister Mina, and Slasher the Unicorn (who, it turns
out, is not the innocent stuffed toy Pacey always thought). Publication is
slated for spring 2020 and summer 2020; Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich
and Bourret brokered the deal for world rights.  Calista Brill at First Second has acquired Dungeon
Critters by Sarah Goetter (l.) and Natalie Riess. The
middle grade fantasy/adventure graphic novel is about a tight-knit squad of
animal companions investigating a sinister botanical conspiracy among the
furry nobility. Publication is scheduled for 2020; Sarah Goetter and Natalie
Reiss represented themselves in the deal for world rights.  Julia McCarthy at Atheneum has bought Aliza
Layne's untitled debut middle grade graphic novel, about a young goblin
witch named Beetle, her ghost friend who haunts the local mall, and the old
childhood friend and crush whose return sparks a mission to save the town
from a malevolent force. Publication is set for fall 2020; Susan Graham at
Einstein Literary did the deal for world English rights.  Stacey Barney at Putnam has acquired world
rights to Caroline Starr Rose's Miraculous, a historical middle
grade novel starring Jack and Cora, who learn that it takes more than faith
in a charlatan doctor and the magic of his medicine show tonic to fix things
that are broken. Publication is set for spring 2020; Tracey Adams at Adams
Literary handled the deal.  Keith Garton at Red Chair Press/One Elm has
bought world English rights to Trevor Lee and the Big Uh Oh, first in
a planned trilogy by Wiley Blevins. The novel follows Trevor and his
classmates' plans for third grade Parents Night. Publication is planned for
2019; the author represented himself.  Kate Fletcher at Candlewick has acquired world
rights to author-illustrator Jennifer K. Mann's new picture book,
about a city girl on her first camping trip, where she shares her excitement
and fears with her friend. The book is set for publication in 2019; Holly
McGhee at Pippin Properties negotiated the deal.  Robyn Chapman at First Second has bought the
first two volumes in Kitty Sweet Tooth, Abby Denson (l.) and Utomaru's
graphic novel series about a cat who manages a movie theater where she serves
the audience special desserts. Publication is scheduled for 2020; Seth
Fishman brokered the deal for world rights, excluding Japan.  Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Paulsen has acquired
world rights to Rebecca Kraft Rector's (l.) debut picture book, Squish
Squash Squished, a playful look at what happens when there's a bit too
much complaining to Mom from the car's backseat. Dana Wulfekotte will
illustrate; publication is scheduled for spring 2021. Erica Rand Silverman at
Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Sean McCarthy at Sean
McCarthy Literary Agency represented the illustrator.  Amy Novesky and Tom Peterson at the Creative
Company have bought world rights to J. Patrick Lewis's picture book, I
Am Polar Bear, a poem centered on the names of polar bears in languages
around the world. Miriam Nerlove will illustrate; publication is set
for fall 2019. Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown represented the author, and
Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the illustrator.
To see all of this week's deals, click here.
IN THE MEDIA
SHELFTALKER
Kenny Brechner Considering the Great American Read
Any top 100 books list will by necessity have grievous omissions
and please some people more than others. Yet here among our book industry
selves it is still well worth considering the enterprise critically.
more »
Cynthia Compton Family Treasures
Remembering our parents through the books they read as children.
more »
Leslie Hawkins A Newbie Heads to NOLA
Children’s Institute will be in New Orleans this year, and a
bookseller looks forward to the highlights (including the costume party).
more »
Meghan Dietsche Goel Meeting the Authors in Our Neighborhood
Working with the SCBWI to build strong relationships with local
writers.
FEATURED
REVIEWS
 How to Be a Lion Ed Vere. Doubleday, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-525-57805-5 Some people think there’s only one way to be a lion, but Leonard is different. A gentle, Ferdinand-like soul, he’s likely to be found on his “thinking hill,” pondering and making poems. Lions usually devour ducks, but when Leonard meets web-footed Marianne, he asks for help with a poem he’s writing, and the two become close friends. Vere’s fable makes a charming case for ignoring the pressures of conformity. more  What Do They Do with All That Poo? Jane Kurtz, illus. by Allison Black. Beach Lane, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-4814-7986-8 Kurtz playfully delves into the diversity of dung found at the zoo in her latest picture book. Simple rhyming couplets deliver the facts, with accompanying sentences providing additional detail. The brightly colored, cartoon-style illustrations by Black add levity, as hippos grin, sloths smile, and bats beam. more  Lions & Liars Kate Beasley, illustrated by Dan Santat. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $16.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-374-30263-4 Not much is likely to go well for a boy whose own parents named him Frederick Frederickson: even Frederick’s best friend, Joel, tells him, “You need to accept that life is going to be horrible for you.” So when an impending hurricane cancels Frederick’s favorite event of the year—a family cruise—he is not overjoyed he’ll be home to attend Joel’s birthday party after all. more  House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery Liz Rosenberg, illus. by Julie Morstad. Candlewick, $17.99 (352p) ISBN 978-0-7636-6057-4 Rosenberg’s comprehensive biography of the author of the beloved Anne of Green Gables series presents a multidimensional portrait of a complicated and conflicted writer. Opening with 30-year-old Montgomery starting to write the book that brought her international fame and wealth, this illuminating and satisfying biography takes on life and depth as Montgomery’s own voice grows more prominent. more  Fat Girl on a Plane Kelly deVos. Harlequin Teen, $18.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-373-21253-8 Cookie Vonn, a 19-year-old aspiring clothing designer, has spent years advocating for girls who don’t fit the stereotypical standard of beauty. Before her own significant weight loss, she was often dismissed and ridiculed for her size. Chapters alternate between the period before Cookie’s weight loss—including the humiliating flight when she was told that she was too large for one plane seat—and after. more
TALES FROM THE
SLUSH PILE
 |
April 26, 2018
    
People
Amanda Bruns has
been named children's reviews editor at Publishers Weekly, effective
May 15. Most recently she was the children's book specialist and buyer at
Community Bookstore in Brooklyn, and before that was managing editor for Aite
Group.
Holiday House has two new hires. Raina Putter has joined
as a managing editor; most recently she was a client relations manager at the
Ingram Content Group, and previously worked at Random House Children's Books,
Hyperion Books for Children, and Harlequin Books. Judy Varon will join
as production manager on May 1. She currently works part-time in production
at the company, and previously worked at Hachette Group USA, Quad Graphics,
and Bantam Doubleday Dell.
Mark Your
Calendar
 The New-York Historical Society in N.Y. will host a special exhibit in honor of the 20th anniversary of the U.S. publication of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Following the exhibit’s run at the British Library in London, Harry Potter: A History of Magic will be on view at the NYHS from October 5, 2018 through January 27, 2019. Advance tickets for the general public are now available. For more information, click here.
In Case You
Missed It
Sneak Previews
 Take a look ahead at some of the big titles for children and teens due out this fall, from picture books to YA novels, in our exclusive roundup.
Follow Us
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Archives
Looking for a previous issue of Children's Bookshelf? Click here for
our archives page!
CONTACT US
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suggestion? We'd love to hear from you. Click here to drop us a note.  |
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 Waterstones Sold, Daunt to Stay CEO Elliott Advisors, a U.S. investment firm, has agreed to buy U.K. bookstore chain Waterstones for an undisclosed sum. James Daunt will remain CEO. more »  Next George R.R. Martin Book Won't Be 'The Winds of Winter'
Ballantine Bantam Dell will publish George Martin's 'Fire and Blood' in the U.S. and Canada on November 20. The book, BBD said, is set 300 years before the events of Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. Martin said he is back at work on 'The Winds of Winter,' the next book in the series. more »  Five Veteran Industry Tech Consultants Form New Firm Members of Publishing Technology Partners are Ken Brooks, Bill Kasdorf, Thad McIlroy, Bill Rosenblatt, and Bill Trippe, all of whom have over 25 years’ experience working in the publishing industry. more »  Win a VIP Trip to BookCon in New York City! One lucky winner and a guest will receive 2 VIP passes to BookCon (THE convention for book lovers) 2018, 2 round-trip flights to NYC, a two-night hotel stay, and dinner at Lidia Bastianich’s restaurant, Becco! Plus, you’ll receive swag bags with ARCs of books such as 'Social Creature' by Tara Isabella Burton, 'Spinning Silver' by Naomi Novik, and 'Warcross' 2 by Marie Lu! (Sponsored) Learn More » 
Maria Peroni has joined the American
Booksellers Association in the newly created position of advocacy and public
policy coordinator.
John Fagan, formerly v-p and marketing
director at Penguin Books, has joined University of Pittsburgh Press as
director of marketing and sales.
 Triangle Interactive Looks to Grow Kids’ Read-Along E-book Market
Triangle Interactive, a subsidiary of Book Buddy Media, specializes in the production and distribution of children's read-along e-books. more » »
Hannigan Salky Getzler and Wells Arms Wed Agencies Victoria Wells Arms is joining HSG agency effective May 1, 2018, creating a new association between her eponymous agency and HSG. more » »
Trump Book
Frenzy Gaining Momentum: As James Comey’s memoir tops the
bestseller lists, more books like it continue to come.
Nasrallah Wins
Arabic Fiction Prize: Ibraham Nasrallah's 'The Second War of
the Dog' has won the International prize for Arabic Fiction, and will be
translated into English.
Oswalt Has
Questions for DeAngelo: Author Michelle McNamara died pursuing
the Golden State Killer. Her husband, Patton Oswalt, has questions for him.
Marin County
Bookstore Up for Sale: Diesel, the California bookseller, has
announced that it is selling its Bay Area store.
Poets Beyoncé
Should Pick: Rounding up 11 spoken word poets the singer
should feature on her next visual album.
 Trade Paperback Bestseller List 'Killers of the Flower Moon' by David Grann is the #1 title on PW's trade paperback bestseller list. See the full list » »
  'The Pope Who Would Be
King: The Exile of Pius IX and the Emergence of Modern Europe' by David I.
Kertzer "Kertzer, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his biography of Pope Pius XI, expertly captures the tension of a deeply devout population, loyal to their church but receptive to the stirrings of both liberalism and nationalism." Read more » »
Considering the Great American Read Kenny Brechner
Any top 100 books list will by necessity have grievous omissions
and please some people more than others. Yet here among our book industry
selves it is still well worth considering the enterprise critically.
 The Minnesota Book Award WinnersThe winners of the Minnesota Book Awards posed for a group photo after a gala awards ceremony that drew 800 people on Saturday evening at the Intercontinental Hotel in Saint Paul, Minn. Photo: Claire Kirch |
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In the Spotlight
 Summer Reads 2018 Check out our picks for the best summer books for children and teens of all ages and interests, from magic-infused picture books to topical stories for older readers—and much more. MORE
In the News
 Gauging the Impact of Sexual Misconduct Charges in Publishing To get a sense of how readers have reacted to the news of accusations against authors Sherman Alexie, Jay Asher, and James Dashner, PW examined sales of a selection of their books. more 
In
Conversation
 Stephanie Tromly and Kathy Dawson YA author Stephanie Tromly's Trouble series kicked off in 2015 with Trouble Is a Friend of Mine, a contemporary screwball mystery. The final book in the series, Trouble Never Sleeps, is out today from Penguin’s Kathy Dawson imprint. We asked Tromly and her editor, v-p and publisher Dawson, to interview each other about wrapping up the trilogy. more
Looking Ahead
 Four Questions with Martha Brockenbrough Martha Brockenbrough is the author of YA novels as well as picture books and nonfiction for young readers, including Alexander Hamilton: Revolutionary. We spoke with her about the impetus for her new project, Unpresidented, a YA biography of President Donald Trump; just announced by Feiwel and Friends, the book is due out November 13. Q: What do you hope your book will accomplish? A: I hope that it fascinates people and gets readers who are on the cusp of registering to vote to feel engaged in the process and that history happens with their participation. This is a book that can feel desolate at times but it is ultimately meant to empower people with knowledge and with perspective. more
On the Scene
 On Tour with Peter Brown Last month, Caldecott Honor recipient Peter Brown embarked on a two-week, 10-city tour in celebration of The Wild Robot Escapes, sequel to his debut middle grade novel, The Wild Robot. Click through for a selection of photo highlights from the events, which included readings, drawing demonstrations, and more. more
Interview
 Lee Bennett Hopkins Celebrates Eight Decades And Two New Anthologies April is National Poetry Month, a fitting birth month for Lee Bennett Hopkins, whose 100-plus books of poetry for children encompass his own work and that of other poets. This has been a busy season for Hopkins, who celebrated his 80th birthday on April 13, and has just added two anthologies to his oeuvre. more
Rights Report
 Ann Kelley at Schwartz & Wade has acquired
She the People, compiled by Molly Dillon. The YA anthology
features stories from 10 young women, former Obama White House staffers, who
came of age in the Obama era and were inspired to enter the world of
government by his administration's inclusive, feminist policies. Each story
leads the reader through her most unforgettable moment working for Obama; the
anthology includes contributions from Jenna Brayton, Eleanor Celeste, Nita
Contreras, Kalisha Dessources, Molly Dillon, Andrea Flores, Vivian Graubard,
Noemie Levy, Taylor Lustig, and Jaimie Woo. Publication is scheduled for
spring 2019; Wendi Gu at Janklow & Nesbit Associates negotiated the deal
for world rights.  Zareen Jaffery at Simon & Schuster has
bought world rights to Sarvenaz Tash's Virtually Yours, a
futuristic rom-com about a college freshman who tries out a virtual reality
dating app, only to be matched up with the high school ex she's still not
over. Publication is tentatively set for spring 2019; Victoria Marini at the
Irene Goodman Agency brokered the deal.  Alvina Ling at Little, Brown has acquired Roseanne
Montillo's The Atomic Women. The YA nonfiction book tells the
stories of the little-known female scientists who were critical to the
invention of the atomic bomb and an examination of the moral implications of
their work. Publication is planned for fall 2019; Rob Weisbach at Rob
Weisbach Creative Management did the deal for world rights.  Zachary Clark at Scholastic has bought Rated,
by Girl at Midnight author Melissa Grey, in which teens
navigate a hierarchical ranking system in a Black Mirror-esque future.
Publication is slated for 2019; Catherine Drayton at InkWell Management
negotiated the deal for world rights.  Jenne Abramowitz at Scholastic has acquired,
in a preempt, Jess Keating's middle grade series Genius Academy,
starting with Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray. Pitched as
the X-Men meets Geek Squad, Genius Academy centers around Nikki
Tesla, a young inventor on the brink of causing a global meltdown, who must
team up with a ragtag group of re-imagined figures of history to outwit a
mysterious villain from her past. Publication is set for summer 2019;
Kathleen Rushall at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the two-book
deal for world English rights.  Sonali Fry at Yellow Jacket has bought Ching
Yeung Russell's middle grade novel-in-verse, House Without Walls,
based on the account of 11-year-old Lam, who escapes from Vietnam with her
younger brother during the Boat People Exodus in 1979. Publication is
scheduled for summer 2019; Adria Goetz at Martin Literary Management handled
the deal for world rights.  Ariane Szu-Tu at National Geographic Kids has
bought Michael Cottman's new middle grade nonfiction book, Segregated
Skies. Presented against the backdrop of landmark civil rights
legislation, race riots, and the racial injustices of the 1960s, the book follows
the story of David Harris and his turbulent path to become the first
African-American commercial airline pilot, and how he used his success to
become an advocate for people of marginalized communities. Publication is
slated for fall 2020; Jennifer Herrera at the David Black Agency negotiated
the deal for world rights.  Carol Hinz at Lerner/Millbrook has acquired
world English rights to author-illustrator Carlyn Beccia's Ten at
Ten, a middle grade nonfiction anthology that presents 10 cultural icons,
focusing on their lives at the age of 10. Publication is planned for spring
2020; Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary represented Beccia.  Christina Pulles at Sterling has acquired the
first two books in authors Katie and Kevin Tsang's Sam Wu
chapter book series, Sam Wu Is Not Afraid of Ghosts and Sam Wu Is
Not Afraid of Sharks. The series features a boy facing his many fears in
humorous ways. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018 for the first book, and
spring 2019 for the second; Tracy Phillips at Egmont U.K. represented the
authors in the deal for North American rights.  Frances Gilbert at Doubleday has signed a
two-book deal, at auction, for Mike Boldt's Bad Dog and Find
Fergus. In Bad Dog, a girl believes her new cat to be a dog and
wonders why it doesn't act more doglike; the book is due out in fall 2019. Find
Fergus features a giant bear who's really, really bad at hide-and-seek;
publication is set for summer 2020. Jennifer Rofé at the Andrea Brown
Literary Agency represented Boldt in the deal for world rights.  Talia Benamy at Philomel has bought
author-illustrator Sarah Brannen's picture book, Perfect, about
a sea gull and a crab who have differing views on what makes for a perfect
day. Publication is planned for summer 2020; Steven Chudney at the Chudney
Agency handled the deal for world rights.  Julie Matysik at Running Press Kids has
acquired Troy Wilson's Little Red Reading Hood and the Misread Wolf,
a celebration of the love of reading and a reminder you can't judge a
book—er, wolf—by its cover. Ilaria Campana will illustrate;
publication is slated for July 2019. Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative
Artists brokered the deal for world rights for the author, and Aurora Meyer
at Astound Us brokered the deal for the illustrator.  Julia Sooy at Godwin has bought world rights
to Cats Are a Liquid by Rebecca Donnelly (l.), a picture book
that examines the unusual physical properties of felines. Misa Saburi
will illustrate; publication is scheduled for fall 2019. Molly Ker Hawn at
the Bent Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Agency
represented the illustrator.  Jennifer Newens at Graphic Arts has acquired
world rights to Eric A. Kimmel's picture book, Why Worry, the
story of two friends, fretful Cricket and easygoing Grasshopper, who
accidentally embark on an adventure together. Aiko Ikegami will
illustrate; publication is set for May 2019. Jennifer Laughran at the Andrea
Brown Agency represented the author, and Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary
represented the illustrator.  Mary Colgan at Boyds Mills has bought world
rights to Heather Lang's (l.) The Leaf Detective: How Scientist
Margaret Lowman Explored and Protected the Treetops, a biography of the
trailblazer who climbed trees and pioneered canopy exploration around the
world. Jana Christy will illustrate; publication is planned for March
2020. Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Justin
Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.  Wendy McClure and Andrea Hall at Albert
Whitman have acquired City Street Beat author Nancy Viau's (l.)
First Snow, a picture book celebrating the first snowfall of the
season. Talitha Shipman (Applesauce Day, Everybody Says
Shalom) will illustrate; publication is slated for fall 2018; the author
represented herself, and Emily Coggins at Astound represented the
illustrator.
To see all of this week's deals, click here.
IN THE MEDIA
SHELFTALKER
Leslie Hawkins A Newbie Heads to NOLA
Children’s Institute will be in New Orleans this year, and a
bookseller looks forward to the highlights (including the costume party).
more »
Meghan Dietsche Goel Meeting the Authors in Our Neighborhood
Working with the SCBWI to build strong relationships with local
writers.
more »
Kenny Brechner The Delightful Clare Fournier
Meet a young bookseller who is truly a book person to her core.
more »
Cynthia Compton Many Unhappy Returns
One retailer’s stories of returns and exchanges, and the range
of reasons offered by customers.
FEATURED
REVIEWS
 Don't Eat That!
Drew Sheneman. Viking, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-101-99729-1 The latest from Sheneman reads like a classic Sunday comic. His story has two protagonists: an unflappable girl determined to get a nature merit badge and the hulking brown bear she encounters in the woods. But this is no ordinary bear; even though he’s famished, he’s incapable of feeding himself. more  Niblet & Ralph Zachariah Ohora. Dial, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-7352-2791-0 Dilla lives with his cat Niblet. Gemma lives with her cat Ralph. The kids don’t know each other, but the cats do; they meow to each other as they sit in their windows. When both apartment doors stand open one day, an unplanned cat exchange ensues. Ohora is in top form, particularly in scenes depicting the two cat owners anxiously trying to work out what’s happened. more  Flor and Miranda Steal the Show Jennifer Torres. Little, Brown, $16.99 (192p) ISBN 978-0-316-30689-8 Eleven-year-olds Flor and Miranda both help out with their families’ acts at a traveling carnival: Miranda sings in a ranchera band with her siblings, and Flor helps out in her own family’s petting zoo. But while Miranda’s star is on the rise, interest in the petting zoo is dwindling. From the fried-pickle stand to the Cloud Chaser swing ride, the spot-on details in this lively, fast-paced adventure help bring readers into the intriguing life of carnival workers. more  A Stitch in Time
Daphne Kalmar. Feiwel and Friends, $16.99 (176p) ISBN 978-1-250-15498-9 Tautly written yet surging with emotion, this debut novel is set in 1927 Vermont, where an 11-year-old girl contends with wrenching past, present, and (she fears) future loss. After her mother died in childbirth, Donut was raised by her father, whose recent death brings a double-edged sadness: not only does Donut miss him immensely, but without the memories he shares, “She’d lost her mother for good, now.” more  Monday’s Not Coming
Tiffany D. Jackson. HarperCollins/Tegen, $17.99 (448p) ISBN 978-0-06-242267-5 Jackson’s sophomore novel, following 2017’s acclaimed Allegedly, features another ripped-from-the-headlines premise that will keep readers guessing through the final pages. After a summer in Georgia with her grandmother, Claudia returns to Washington, D.C., ready to take on eighth grade with her best friend, Monday, even though Monday didn’t respond to any of Claudia’s letters over the past two months. Claudia soon finds, though, that Monday is gone. more |
April 24, 2018
  
People
Lindsay Wagner has joined Macmillan Children's Publishing Group as managing
editor; previously she was a project manager at Hal Leonard Performing Arts
Publishing Group.
Elizabeth Stranahan has been promoted to assistant editor at Crown Books for Young
Readers, from editorial assistant.
In the Winners'
Circle
 The 38th annual Los Angeles Times Book Prizes have been announced. In the Young Adult Literature category, Jason Reynolds has won for Long Way Down (Atheneum/Dlouhy). The Book Prizes are given in honor of literary luminaries at all stages of their careers. For the complete list of winners, click here.
Bestsellers
 Children's
Frontlist Fiction #1 Dog Man and Cat Kid (Dog Man #4) by Dav Pilkey. Click here  Picture Books
#1 The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. Click here
Follow Us
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Archives
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see our archives page!
CONTACT US
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 Taking the Measure of Sexual Misconduct Charges in Publishing
Book sales of Dashner, Asher, and Alexie have taken some hits since they were accused of sexual and emotional harassment and abuse earlier this year. more »  The 'Believer' Wants Las Vegas To Believe... in Literature
Sin City built a playoffs-worthy NHL franchise in a year. Can it also build a literary oasis in the middle of the Mojave? If the 'Believer' Festival is any indication, that answer is yes. more »  HBG Reaches Out to the Community Hachette Book Group held its first community service day on April 18, with close to 600 HBG employees from across all of its locations volunteering with one of 42 partner organizations. more »  Great Scott! A Picture Book. More than 30 years after its theatrical debut, 'Back to the Future' remains a perennial favorite. This story illustrated by Kim Smith captures all the classic moments of the film. Complete with a time-traveling DeLorean, a mad scientist companion, and a lightning-fueled finale, this is the perfect book for parents to share with their kids. (Sponsored) Learn More » 
 Book Trailer for John Shepphird's New Novel 'Bottom
Feeders' As if in a B-movie only they could make, a low-budget film crew becomes prey when a mysterious killer with a unique weapon of choice targets everyone on set. (Sponsored) Watch Now » »
Sarai Pegram, formerly front end
developer and designer at Macmillan, has joined Hachette Book Group as web
producer.
Claudette Soriano has joined
Sourcebooks as accounts payable associate.
Lauren Dombrowski has joined
Sourcebooks as production editor.
Theresa Dooley, formerly publicist at
Gallery Books, has joined HarperCollins as senior publicist, and can be
contacted at theresa.dooley@harpercollins.com.
 Faith-Based Houses Are Here to Help Religion and spirituality publishers offer a plethora of books for people coping with problems. more » »  Open Book: A Siege, a Soldier, A Jihadi, a Love Story During the 1979 siege of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, a jihadi and a French officer she takes hostage form an unlikely bond in Raja Alem's new novel, 'Sarab.' more » »
Summer MacDowell Residencies Announced The incoming group of MacDowell Fellows includes 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning author Andrew Sean Greer and poet Monica Youn, among other writers. more » »
Gay, White to be Honored at 30th Lambda Literary Awards
Lambda Literary will award Edmund White with its Visionary Award and Roxane Gay with the Trustee Award at the 30th Annual Lambda Literary Awards in New York this June. more » »
Sexism Strikes
the Book Biz—Again: A study of more than two million books
published in North America found that books by women are priced 45% less than
those by men.
Alibaba's
'Unmanned' Store in Shanghai: The Chinese e-commerce giant
launched a bookstore with its "unmanned" or
"cashier-less" checkout system in the city on April 23.
U.K. Authors
Fight Plastic: 50 authors and illustrators have pledged their
support for a campaign encouraging the book industry to ditch plastic.
Encounters
with Shakespeare: 'New Yorker' writers share their experiences
of reading, watching, studying, performing, memorizing, and falling in love
with the work of the Bard.
Poetry Is
Alive and Well: Is poetry dead, too slow for our wired,
sound-bitten world? Even if poetry is no more—and it isn't—it still leaves
its DNA lying around.
 Hardcover Nonfiction Bestseller List 'Fascism' by Madeline Albright is the #1 title on PW's adult hardcover nonfiction bestseller list. See the full list » »
 'Property' by Lionel
Shriver "The wry and nimble novellas and stories in this collection by Shriver focus on how homes and objects shape the lives of those who own them." more » »
A Newbie Heads to NOLA Leslie Hawkins
Children’s Institute will be in New Orleans this year, and a
bookseller looks forward to the highlights (including the costume party).
 Thirty Years of TurnaroundA veritable who's who of independent publishing gathered on the closing night of the 2018 London Book Fair to celebrate Claire Thompson's thirtieth anniversary as marketing director of Turnaround Publisher Services in the U.K. From top left: Gabriel Wilmoth (SCB Distributors), Sean Concannon (Atypon Systems), Jason Kincade (Parson Weems), John Hays (Inner Traditions), Patrick Hughes (Central Recovery Press), Paul Harrington (Berghahn Books), Claire Thompson (Turnaround), and Valerie Killeen (Central Recovery Press). Courtesy Central Recovery Press |
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 Comey's Debut Sells More Than 600,000 In Its First Week Former FBI director James Comey's debut book, 'A Higher Loyalty,' has sold more than 600,000 copies since its publication last week, Flatiron Books president Bob Miller and publisher Amy Einhorn have reported. more »  Arts Groups Speak Out Against Travel Ban The National Coalition Against Censorship has joined more than 30 other prominent arts organizations in a friend of the court brief urging the Supreme Court to strike down the third version of the Trump travel ban issued in September 2017. The case is going before the court today. more »  E-book Sales Fell 10% in 2017 Unit sales of traditionally published e-books fell 10% in 2017, compared to 2016, according to figures released by PubTrack Digital, part of the NPD book group. The service tracks sales from roughly 450 publishers. more »  Win a VIP Trip to BookCon in New York City! One lucky winner and a guest will receive 2 VIP passes to BookCon (THE convention for book lovers) 2018, 2 round-trip flights to NYC, a two-night hotel stay, and dinner at Lidia Bastianich’s restaurant, Becco! Plus, you’ll receive swag bags with ARCs of books such as 'Social Creature' by Tara Isabella Burton, 'Spinning Silver' by Naomi Novik, and 'Warcross' 2 by Marie Lu! (Sponsored) Learn More »
Lena Moses-Schmitt is being
promoted to publicity manager at Catapult, Counterpoint Press, Soft Skull
Press.
Cara Coggins has been promoted to senior
director for publishing operations at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Lindsay Wagner, formerly project manager at
Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group, has joined Macmillan's Children
Publishing Group as managing editor.
 DC Marks 80 Years of ‘Action Comics’ and Superman DC will celebrate the 1000th issue of Action Comics—the 1938 comic book that debuted Superman—with the release of a hardcover commemorative anthology edited by Paul Levitz, former president of DC Comics. more » »
Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer Goes Graphic
'Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer' will be published as a graphic novel later this year by Titan Books’ Hard Case Crime imprint—in time for the 100th anniversary of the author’s birth. It’s the latest release in the Hard Case graphic novel list. more » » 
More To Come
Podcast 311: Retailer Summit, MoCCA 2018, Action Comics: This
week we discuss the Diamond Retailer Summit, the MoCCA Arts Fest, The
Vulture's 100 Pages that Shaped Comics, reveal the unknown artist for 'Martin
Luther King and the Montgomery Story', and highlight DC's tribute to the
1000th issue of Action Comics.
 Menace Beneath the Veneer: PW Talks with Jake Tapper CNN news anchor Jake Tapper makes his fiction debut with 'The Hellfire Club' (Little, Brown, Apr. 24), a thriller set in 1950s Washington, D.C. more » »  Pastor Accused of Sexual Assault See His Books Fall Into Limbo
At least two Christian publishing houses are halting the publication of books by Bill Hybels, the former pastor of a megachurch outside of Chicago, amid allegations against him of sexual misconduct. more » »  Four Questions for...Martha Brockenbrough PW spoke with YA author Martha Brockenbrough about the impetus for writing her Trump biography, 'Unpresidented,' due out from Feiwel and Friends on November 13. more » »  Lee Bennett Hopkins Celebrates Eight Decades and Two New Anthologies
April is National Poetry Month, a fitting birth month for Lee Bennett Hopkins, whose 100-plus books of poetry for children encompass his own work and that of other poets, and who just marked a memorable milestone—his 80th birthday. more » »  iBooks Bestsellers: Readers Stay Loyal to Comey Former FBI director James Comey's Washington, D.C., tell-all, 'A Higher Loyalty,' stayed on top of the iBooks Store's bestseller list in its first week on sale. more » »  Call for Information: War & Military Books For this feature we’re interested in (1) books on World War I, (2) books about women in wartime, (3) graphic novels about war, (4) books about antiterrorism efforts, and (5) books on ancient warfare. Pub. dates: summer 2018–spring 2019. New titles only, please; no reprints. Email pitches and links to artwork to features@publishersweekly.com by May 14 and put “Call for Info: War & Military” in the subject line. more » »
Brooke Warner Elected IBPA Chairperson The She Writes Press publisher takes over the position on July 1 for a 1-year term, which is renewable upon IBPA board approval for a second year. more » »
MPS to Acquire Tata Interactive Systems
Through this acquisition, MPS will acquire Tata Interactive Systems India, Tata Interactive Systems AG, and Tata Interactive Systems GmbH. The transactions are likely to close in the next several weeks. more » »
Verve Hires Liz Parker to Launch Publishing Division
Literary agent Parker comes to Verve from Inkwell, and was previously publishing director for Counterpoint and Soft Skull presses. more » »
Jumpstart, HMH Partner on Read for the Record
The national program promoting awareness for early literacy has chosen 'Maybe Something Beautiful,' by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell, and illustrated by Rafael López, as this year's selection. more » »
TV Show Notes
Indie Store Renaissance: 'CBS This Morning' interviewed
booksellers in Chicago and Boston about the revival of the independent
bookstore scene.
Lexington
College Bookstore Opens: The University of Kentucky bookstore
has opened in a new two-storey, 33,000-sq. ft. home.
U.K. Indie
Bookstores Vie for Prize: Eight regional store are competing
for the Independent Bookshop of the Year prize at The British Book Awards.
California
Bookstore Expands: Vallejo Bookstore in Vallejo, Calif., is
moving next door and tripling its retail space.
Amazon Workers
Are Hungry, Underpaid: The e-tailer continues to reap the
benefits of tax breaks while a number of its employees rely on food stamps
just to eat.
Bible Found
Behind the Qu'ran: The only recorded palimpsest in which a
Christian text has been effaced to make way for the Islamic holy text is soon
to go on sale.
Millay’s
Farmhouse Faces Closure: Twain had Quarry Farm. Neruda had his
Valparaiso home on the hill. And Edna St. Vincent Millay had Steepletop. But
not for long.
Andrew Sean
Greer Speaks: The Pulitzer Prize–winning author of 'Less'
shares how he wrote his award-winning novel.
Talking with
'Talk to Books': An interview with Google's new book-based AI
app, which uses the text of 100,000 books to answer questions.
 Children's Fiction Bestseller List 'Dog Man and Cat Kid' by Dav Pilkey is the #1 title on PW's children's frontlist fiction bestseller list. See the full list » »
 'Beyond the Map: Unruly
Enclaves, Ghostly Places, Emerging Lands and Our Search for New Utopias' by
Alastair Bonnett "Ranging from downright funny to deadly serious, each chapter in this guide from social geography professor Bonnett takes the reader on a journey to an unusual location." more » »
Family Treasures Cynthia Compton
Remembering our parents through the books they read as children.
 Book Biz Comes to TulsaKarl Jones, an assistant editor with Penguin Young Readers Group, strikes a pose in Oklahoma at the newly minted Tulsa Lit Fest, held last week. Courtesy PRH |
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International Hot Book Properties
This week's hot books include an Italian novel that got people talking at the just-wrapped London Book Fair, and a debut thriller by a Dutch film and TV producer. more » 
Book to Film Deals
Meg Wolitzer's latest is optioned by Nicole Kidman's production company, Universal Pictures nabs a 2018 graphic novel published by First Second, and more. more » 
U.S. Adult Deals Roundup
Bruce Lee’s daughter sells self-improvement book to Flatiron, Berkley buys three more Fiona Barton novels, and more in this week's notable book deals. more » 
U.S. Children's Book Deals Roundup
New deals for Alexandra Styron, Bryan Stevenson, Amanda Hocking, and more. more »  
The London Book Fair Carries On
The 2018 event, which wrapped up on April 13, was productive but low-key, with acquisitions and a growth in audiobooks on the minds of participants. more » 
London Book Fair 2018: Robert Darnton on Publishing
Then and Now
PW talks to the renowned historian and former Harvard University librarian about his new book, 'A Literary Tour de France,' and the publishing business then, and now. more » 
European Bestsellers: New Releases Dominate in March
Swiss author Joël Dicker returned to the French fiction bestseller list in March, landing in the top spot with The Disappearance of Stephanie Mailer, a thriller set in the Hamptons in the 1990s. more »  
Global Publishing Leaders: Kodansha Ltd.
Kodansha was founded by Seiji Noma in 1909 as a spin-off of the Dai-Nippon Yūbenkai (Greater Japan Oratorical Society). more »
From Our Partner
PubMatch Featured Member: Fox Chapel
For over 20 years, Fox Chapel Publishing has promoted the joy of creating, by working with talented artists to translate their gifts into books, DVDs, and magazines.
This Week's U.S.
Bestsellers
Hardcover Nonfiction
Hardcover Fiction
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 Pastor Accused of Sexual Misconduct Sees His Books Fall Into Limbo
At least two Christian publishing houses are halting the publication of books by Bill Hybels, the former pastor of a megachurch outside of Chicago, amid allegations against him of sexual misconduct. more   Faith-Based Houses Are Here to Help Religion and spirituality publishers offer a plethora of books for people coping with problems. more  2018 Festival of Faith & Writing ‘Mixes It Up,' Touts Diversity
Nearly 2,000 writers, literary agents, and publishers gathered in Grand Rapids, Mich. from April 12-14 for the Calvin College Festival of Faith & Writing, which featured speakers of color and panels on racial issues. more  Subject of ‘Boy Who Came Back from Heaven’ is Suing Tyndale
Alex Malarkey is alleging that his father acted alone in writing the false account of his near-death experience in 2010’s bestseller, 'The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven.’ He has filed a defamation lawsuit against Tyndale House Publishers. more 
 Why An Agnostic Philosopher Says We're All 'Religious' In his new book, philosophy professor Stephen Asma argues that religion is our brain's survival toolbox for managing our emotions -- the realm of sorrow and love, forgiveness, resilience, joy – and violence, too. more  Omid Safi Highlights Islam’s Poetic Teachings on Love Rather than explaining or defending his faith, Islamic scholar Omid Safi translates a collection of Sufi mystics’ poems that extol the ‘transformative and redemptive’ love of God. more  Religion Book Deals: April 25, 2018 Thomas Nelson’s two-book deal with Gary Sinise, a new graphic novel for Plough Publishing, plus more. more  Books Preview: May 2018 Life lessons from the former CEO of Dollar General and the first book on the band Journey by its keyboardist Jonathan Cain are among the big books coming from religion publishers in May. more
 Believe Me
John Fea, professor of American history at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pa., unpacks the historical roots of Trump’s support among evangelical Christians in this clear, concise, and convincing work more  The Spiritual
Mandela: Faith and Religion in the Life of Nelson Mandela This insightful investigation of an often downplayed side of Nelson Mandela from South African journalist Dennis Cruywagen provides a nuanced understanding of how faith influenced the renowned civil rights activist. more  Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again
Rachel Held Evans introduces readers to Biblical criticism in her gratifying work on approaching the Bible. more  Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out
Meditation instructor Ruth King draws on her long experience with meditation and diversity consulting for multinational companies (such as Levi Strauss and Intel) in this helpful overview of using meditation and mindfulness to work through pain and conflict rooted in structural racism. more
2018 Christian Indie Awards Announced
The Christian Small Publishers Association recognized 13 small publishers and independent authors with the Indie Awards on Monday.
Fordham Acquires Pope Francis’s Past Homilies
Fordham University Press is releasing ‘In Your Eyes Is My Word: Homilies and Speeches of Buenos Aires 1999-2013’ by Pope Francis during his time as Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina.
Baker Books Names New Editorial Director
Rebekah Guzman, previously senior acquisitions editor at Baker Books, is being promoted to editorial director following the departure of Chad Allen.
Call for Info: Spiritual & Religious Practices
Needed: Info on forthcoming adult nonfiction titles publishing from March through December 2018 (new titles only please, no reprints) about practices such as prayer, contemplation, inspirational readings, meditation, pilgrimages and retreats, etc. Include a description of each book and an author bio, pub month, BISACs, marketing/promo plans, and company contacts for interview. Quotes from the books and comments from publishers and editors on trends and titles are welcome. Email pitches to Lynn Garrett at religionfeatures@publishersweekly.com ; art directly to Clive Chiu at cchiu@publishersweekly.com by April 27. Please put “Call for Info: Spiritual & Religious Practices” in the subject line.
 IVP's Author Pays A Visit Dominique Gilliard, author of Rethinking Incarceration (IVP, Feb.), stopped by IVP's offices to discuss promotional opportunities for his debut book earlier this month. Pictured (l-r): Helen Lee (director of marketing), Gilliard, and Al Hsu (senior editor). Photo: Jack Galbraith |
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