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Awards News
 Medina, Blackall, Acevedo Win Newbery, Caldecott, Printz Awards
Click through to see the complete list of winners and honorees for the American Library Association's 2019 Youth Media Awards, which were announced on Monday at ALA Midwinter. more    Meg Medina on Her Newbery Win Meg Medina has gotten “the call” before. In January 2014, the ALA's Pura Belpré committee telephoned to say that her YA novel, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, had won its gold medal for narrative. Still, Medina was overcome with emotion when the phone rang this Monday morning and she learned she was the winner of the Newbery Award for her novel Merci Suárez Changes Gears. “Just to join the amazing authors who have already won, that my name is going to be part of that list, that is why my knees buckled, why I wept,” she said. more  Sophie Blackall Celebrates Her Second Caldecott Sophie Blackall was literally half a world away from Seattle when she heard from the Caldecott committee that her picture book Hello Lighthouse had been selected as the winner of this year’s Caldecott Medal. She recently finished up a residency working with students in Singapore and was enjoying some downtime in Myanmar—14 1/2 hours ahead of Seattle time—before embarking on her journey home to Brooklyn. When the phone rang, Blackall said, "I could not have been more surprised. This is quite a surreal place to begin with, and I’m not entirely sure any of this is real.” more  Elizabeth Acevedo 'Honored' by Her Printz Award When the phone rang in her Washington, D.C. home on Saturday evening, Elizabeth Acevedo saw that it was from an unfamiliar number, and chose not to pick up. The debut author of The Poet X was preparing to go out to dinner with her family. But the caller persisted, and eventually left a voice mail. "The reception was a bit fuzzy," Acevedo recalled, "but I did pick up on the words, 'ALA Midwinter,' and I told my family, 'I have to return this call.' " Upon learning that she had won the Printz Award, she said, "I entirely lost my words. All I could think was, ‘Here I am a writer, so I should have words, but I have zero words.' " more
In the News
 Jay Asher Sues SCBWI for Defamation The Thirteen Reasons Why author has filed a lawsuit against the Society of Children’s Book Writers, as well as the group’s executive director, Lin Oliver, over their allegations of sexual harassment. more  Amazon Publishing Launches Amazon Crossing Kids The new imprint will publish English-language translations of picture books from around the world. more
Report from
Children's Institute
 Children's Books, Authors Create a Buzz; A New Publisher Arouses
Controversy Children’s authors and publishers were hitting above their weight at Winter Institute 14: while approximately one-third of the 150 authors and illustrators in attendance were children’s book creators, it seemed like everybody PW spoke with was buzzing about forthcoming kids' books. more  Kobe Bryant Receives a Mixed Reception from Booksellers Basketball star Kobe Bryant introduced Winter Institute attendees to his new children's imprint, Granity Studios. While some were excited to meet him, others said they may not sell his books, recalling his being charged with sexual assault in 2003. more 
Four
Questions
 Gary D. Schmidt Gary Schmidt's acclaimed novels for young readers include Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, which garnered Newbery and Printz Honors. His new novel kicks off as middle schooler Carter opens the door to find a dapper British butler, who has unexpectedly arrived to offer his services. We spoke with Schmidt about his new book. Q: What sparked the premise of Pay Attention, Carter Jones? A: An image came to me of a formal butler standing on the stoop of a boy’s chaos-filled house on the first day of his sixth-grade year. I knew right away that this was a fertile image that had a lot of potential. The obvious comparison to the butler is Mary Poppins, but I wanted my novel to have a somewhat different mix of elements. I didn’t want to write magical realism or flat-out realism. In the end, I knew that the story, and the butler, should be more real than not. more
Rights Report
 Jess Harriton at Razorbill has acquired, at
auction, Cosmopolitan senior editor Jessica Goodman's YA debut,
The Players' Table. In the story set at an exclusive prep school, high
school senior Jill Newman works to uncover the truth about her best friend's
death three years ago and the role she and her fellow “players”—members of
the secret society that rules the school—may have had in it. Publication is
slated for summer 2020; Alyssa Reuben at Paradigm negotiated the two-book
deal for world rights.  Wendy Loggia at Delacorte has bought world
rights to three standalone YA novels by Natasha Preston (author of The
Cellar and The Cabin), pitched as tense psychological thrillers.
The first book is tentatively scheduled for early 2020; Jon Elek at United
Agents brokered the deal.  Mabel Hsu at HarperCollins/Tegen has acquired,
in a six-figure auction, Lyla Lee's YA romantic comedy celebrating
body positivity, I'll Be the One. Pitched as Dumplin' meets When
Dimple Met Rishi, the book follows a bisexual Korean-American teen girl
who competes on a reality TV show to become the first plus-sized K-pop star,
while falling in love with her competitor, Henry Cho, who happens to be a world-famous
celebrity. Publication is set for fall 2020; Penny Moore at Aevitas Creative
Management did the two-book deal for North American rights.  Anna Roberto at Feiwel and Friends has bought Adrienne
Kisner's Six Angry Girls, a story of Mock Trial, feminism, and the
inherent power found in a pair of knitting needles. Publication is planned
for spring 2020; Catherine Drayton at InkWell Management negotiated the deal
for world English rights.  Hannah VanVels at Blink has acquired Laurie
Boyle Crompton's YA novel, Freaky in Fresno, about a geeky horror
movie buff and a YouTube makeup celebrity who switch bodies during a road
trip and have to scramble to make things right, not to mention learn how to
get along. Publication is slated for May 2020; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin
Murphy Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.  Stacy Abrams at Entangled has bought Die
for You and Fall of Grace author Amy Dominy's Announcing
Trouble, a contemporary YA romance in which a high school senior who grew
up with a father consumed with playing baseball wants nothing to do with the
game ever again. When she meets Garrett, a baseball player sidelined with an
injury, she must decide whether to help him achieve his dreams, even if it
means giving him up forever. Publication is set for summer 2019; Caryn
Wiseman at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.  Elise Howard at Algonquin has acquired, at
auction, the first three books in Newbery Honor author Amy Timberlake's
Skunk & Badger, a middle grade series about an odd-couple friendship
between joyful and easygoing Skunk and analytical and set-in-his-ways Badger,
who change each other's lives forever. Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen
will illustrate. The first book is scheduled for fall 2020; Steven Malk at
Writers House represented author and illustrator in the deal for world
English rights.  Beverly Horowitz at Delacorte has bought a
middle grade adaptation of Mike Massimino's Spaceman: An
Astronaut's Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe. The
book details Massimino's life growing up in a working-class family and his
determination to get the education and experience that would lead to his
challenging but successful rise to become a NASA astronaut. Publication is
planned for spring 2020; Peter McGuigan at Foundry Literary + Media handled
the deal for U.S./Canadian/open market rights.  Candice Keimig at Abdo has acquired rights to
a four-book chapter book series by Mike Allegra, called Kimmie Tuttle,
starring the curious inventress Kimmie Tuttle. Each book will show Kimmie
saving the day with her inventions as she faces problems from some mythical
sources. The books are all slated for fall 2021; Natalie Lakosil at Bradford
Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.  Rachel Matson at Scholastic has bought for the
Acorn line, in a three-book deal, world rights to author-illustrator Janee
Trasler's Frog and Dog, an illustrated early reader series. Publication
will begin in summer 2020 with Frog Meets Dog; Jamie Weiss Chilton at
Andrea Brown represented the author.  Jen Besser at Roaring Brook has acquired
author-illustrator Andrew Arnold's Marlo, a picture book about
best friends that explores big emotions for little readers, including anger
and sadness, and reminds us that these aren't feelings to run away from, but
instead to help each other through. Publication is set for spring 2020; Judy
Hansen at Hansen Literary Management brokered the deal for world rights.  Katherine Tegen at HarperCollins/Tegen has
bought world rights to Newbery Medal-winning author Patricia MacLachlan's
The 100 Year Barn, illustrated by Kenard Pak. The picture book
tells the story of a beautiful red barn, the people who call it home, and the
simple moments that make up a lifetime. Publication is scheduled for fall
2019; Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the author, and
Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.  Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Paulsen has acquired
world rights to author Tracey Baptiste's debut picture book, Super
Goat Girl, featuring a superhero in a superhero school who is not like
the others and feels super strange. Dapo Adeola will illustrate;
publication is planned for fall 2021. Marie Lamba at the Jennifer De Chiara
Literary Agency represented the author, and Max Edwards at MMB Creative in
London represented the illustrator.  Wendy McClure at Albert Whitman has bought
world rights to a nonfiction picture book by 2018 South Asia Book Award
winner Nancy Churnin (l.), illustrated by Olga Baumert. For
Spacious Skies tells the story of how Katharine Lee Bates, determined to
heal the Civil War wounds and gender inequities that tore people apart when
she was a child, grew up to create a poem, “America the Beautiful,” that
united the country from sea to shining sea. Publication is slated for spring
2020; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Alexandra
Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.  Jennifer Newens at West Margin Press has
acquired world rights to Odin: Dog Hero of the Fires by Emma Bland
Smith (l.), author of Journey: Based on the True Story of OR7, the
Most Famous Wolf in the West. Carrie Salazar will illustrate. The
nonfiction picture book details the true story of the fearless and faithful
dog, who refused to leave his home when his family fled a devastating
wildfire, choosing to stay behind to guard his herd of goats. Publication is
set for May 2020; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the
author, and Janet DeCarlo at Storybook Arts represented the illustrator.
To see all of this week's deals, click here.
IN THE MEDIA
SHELFTALKER
Elizabeth Bluemle Hits, Misses, a Different List, and Some Award Stats
A quick look at award stats, plus handy lists arranged
differently.
more »
Meghan Dietsche Goel “Every Good Book Is at Least a Little Bit Strange”
Making room for big ideas in an inspired picture book biography
of Margaret Wise Brown.
more »
Kenny Brechner Wednesday at WI 14!
A bookseller’s eye view of yesterday at Winter Institute.
more »
Cynthia Compton A Round of Rep Visits
One children’s bookseller preps for the new season’s sales
appointments.
FEATURED
REVIEWS
  ¡Vamos!
Let’s Go to the Market! Raúl the Third. Versify, $14.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-328-55726-1 This picture book graphic novel by Raúl the Third celebrates the richness of border-town culture. The artist shows Little Lobo and his dog Bernabé as they make deliveries to Mercado de Chauhtémoc la Curiosidad, “a maze of pathways, shops, and booths.” Witty, stylish panel artwork crackles with funky comic energy. more  Most Marshmallows Rowboat Watkins. Chronicle, $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-4521-5959-1 Marshmallows, with their uniform appearance and soft outlines, make fine stand-ins for average citizens. Watkins draws black hair on their heads, gives them big eyes that blink and stare, and in constructed mixed-media sets, supplies them with winsome furnishings. Close-ups of this marshmallow universe will draw readers back for another look. more  The True
History of Lyndie B. Hawkins Gail Shepherd. Penguin/Dawson, $16.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-525-42845-9 Which is more important: telling the truth or “honorable lying” out of loyalty to family? In 1985, this question plagues 11-year-old Lyndon Baines Hawkins, especially now that she and her parents have been living with her grandparents in Love’s Forge, Tenn., since her father, a troubled Vietnam vet, lost his job. Shepherd’s crackling debut is noteworthy for its strong narrative voice and dramatic character development. more  King of Scars Leigh Bardugo. Imprint, $19.99 (528p) ISBN 978-1-250-14228-3 In this sweeping dramatic fantasy, Bardugo returns to her Grishaverse and the events in both the Shadow and Bone trilogy and the Six of Crows duology. Young King Nikolai struggles to maintain order in the kingdom of Ravka following war against the malevolent Darkling. Nikolai’s efforts are complicated by the nocturnal emergence of a demon residing within him. more |
January 29, 2019
    
People
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group has three promotions. Carol
Ly has been promoted to senior designer, from designer. Sophie Erb
has been promoted to associate designer, from assistant designer. Emily
Settle has been promoted to associate editor at Feiwel and Friends/Swoon
Reads, from assistant editor.
Bestsellers
 Children's
Frontlist Fiction #1 Brawl of the Wild (Dog Man #6) by Dav Pilkey. Click here  Picture Books
#1 The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith, illus. by Katz Cowley. Click here
MARK YOUR
CALENDAR
 Western Libraries at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., is currently hosting an exhibition of picture book artwork showcasing provocative themes such as war and peace. “Hello, Dear Enemy: Picture Books for Peace and Humanity” will be on view through March 22. The traveling exhibit is on loan from the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany, and has been around the world. For more information, click here.
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in the Spotlight
 Children's Authors Cope with Award Season Jitters Before sunrise next Monday, the careers of some talented authors and illustrators will change in profound ways with a ring of their telephone. It’ll be "the call" from one of the committees charged with selecting the winners of the ALA's Youth Media Awards. We spoke with a number of authors about their strategies for keeping calm and carrying on amid all the award buzz and anxiety. more
In Conversation
 Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan Renée Watson is a bestselling author and activist; her YA novel Piecing Me Together received a Newbery Honor and a Coretta Scott King Award. Ellen Hagan is a writer, performer, and educator whose poetry collections include Hemisphere and Crowned. We asked the two authors to interview each other about their new collaborative novel, Watch Us Rise. more 
In
the News
 Wattpad Launches Publishing Division Wattpad, the Toronto-based online reading and writing community, is starting its own publishing division, Wattpad Books. The debut list, which will be released this fall, will feature six young adult titles. more  WI14 Draws Booksellers to Albuquerque to Talk Shop and Talk Books
This week, more than 700 indie booksellers have gathered in Albuquerque, N.M., for the 14th annual Winter Institute, which features a full slate of panels, presentations, and opportunities to connect with authors, including about 50 children's and YA writers. "There’s more diversity here than ever before," said Jeannie Costello of Maria’s Bookshop. more  Christopher Myers's Make Me a World Imprint Launches This Fall Helmed by author and artist Christopher Myers, this Random House imprint kicks off this fall with three titles that exemplify the line’s range of genres, storylines, and age levels. more  Greystone Books Expands into Children's Publishing Vancouver, B.C., nonfiction publisher Greystone Books is launching Greystone Kids, an imprint to publish picture and middle grade books. more 
On
the Scene
 'Roots of Rap' Launch In Photos This month, author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrator Frank Morrison celebrated the release of their new picture book in verse, Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop. Click through to see our selection of photo highlights from the launch events, which took place in New York City. more
Reading Report
 Winter 2019 Picture Book Sequels Picture book sequels being released this season feature a misunderstood shark, a bespectacled egg, a mischievous monkey, and more. more
Q & A
 Lynne Kelly Author Lynne Kelly’s experience as a sign language interpreter helped inspire her new middle grade novel, Song for a Whale. The book tells the story of a deaf girl who, upon learning of a whale that sings at a frequency no other whales can hear, decides to share a song with him. Kelly spoke with PW about being drawn to stories of people and animals. Q: From where did the idea for Iris and Blue 55’s stories begin? A: The whale came first. I was on Twitter one day and saw a photo of a whale and a caption about the 52-hertz whale, which I had never heard of before. This was a whale that sings at a frequency unlike other whales. I was so intrigued; it was an idea that wouldn’t let go. Then I started thinking, "Who would be the kid who was compelled to find this whale?" more
Out Next Week
 Hot Off the Presses: Week of January 28, 2019 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book biography about an influential African-American leader, a middle grade novel about a precocious family, and the first novel in a YA duology that blends love and suspense. more
In Brief
 In Brief: January 24, 2019 This week, Marietta Collins and Marianne Celano speak about racial healing in Charlottesville; Kenneth and Sarah Jane Wright visit a Georgia school; and an author celebrates her book at the American Museum of Natural History. more
Rights Report
 Katherine Tegen at HarperCollins/Tegen has
acquired North American rights for two standalone fantasy novels by Garth
Nix, author of the Old Kingdom series. The first book, Angel Mage,
is set in an alternative 19th-century Europe with beastlings, angels, and an
ageless young woman with angelic powers, who is bent on reuniting with her
lover—no matter the cost to anyone else. The book is set to publish
simultaneously around the world in October 2019. In the second book, The
Left-Handed Booksellers of London, young art student Susan comes to
London in 1983 in search of the father she never knew and is drawn into the
arcane business of the booksellers whose secret sideline is to ensure that
mythic entities and dormant legends do not disastrously intrude into the
modern world. The book is slated for publication in 2020. The novels were
acquired by Gillian Redfearn at Gollancz for the U.K.; and Eva Mills at Allen
& Unwin for Australia/N.Z. The U.S. and U.K. deals were made by Jill
Grinberg of Jill Grinberg Literary Management; and ANZ by Fiona Inglis of
Curtis Brown Australia.  Hali Baumstein at Bloomsbury has preempted The
Dragon Warrior author Katie Zhao's YA debut, How We Fall Apart.
Pitched as One of Us Is Lying meets Crazy Rich Asians, the
thriller follows scholarship student Nancy Luo and her friends at an elite
Manhattan prep school after their best-friend-turned-rival Jamie Ruan is
found dead. But once Jamie's death is ruled a homicide, and an anonymous
figure threatens to expose everyone's deepest, darkest secrets on the
school's social media app, Nancy decides to find the real killer—even if it's
one of her friends. Publication is planned for winter 2021; Penny Moore at
Aevitas Creative Management negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.  Andrew Karre at Dutton has acquired, at
auction, debut author Candice Iloh's Ada. Set during freshman
year of college at an HBCU, the novel-in-verse follows a Nigerian-American
teen who must grapple with her family's expectations and her own childhood
trauma when she begins taking dance classes that cause her to reimagine how
she defines herself and what she wants from her future. Publication is
scheduled for fall 2020; Patricia Nelson at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency
brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.  Kate Farrell at Holt has bought world English
rights to Jen Larsen's novel The Big Reveal. Pitched as a
body-positive Fame for YA readers, the novel follows a talented,
proudly plus-sized dancer on scholarship at an elite boarding school, who
starts an underground burlesque club to finance her dreams. Publication is
set for spring 2020; Allison Hellegers at Rights People brokered the deal on
behalf of Lynn Weingarten and Marianna Baer at Dovetail Fiction/Working
Partners. The author was repped by Cheryl Pientka (now at Nancy Yost Literary
Agency) on behalf of Jill Grinberg Literary Management.  Holly West at Feiwel and Friends has acquired,
in a preempt, debut author, former CIA analyst, and disability rights
activist Cindy L. Otis's How Spies Spot Fake News, a YA
nonfiction book that covers the history of fake news and provides actionable
steps for readers to train their ability to find the truth. Publication is
expected in spring 2020; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency did
the deal for world rights.  Sarah McCabe at Simon Pulse has bought Sarah
Raughley's new fantasy, The Bones of Ruin. Set in Victorian
England, the book follows Iris, an African tightrope walker with a secret:
she cannot die. But when Iris gets involved with a mysterious society that's
convinced the world is ending, she's drafted in the fight-to-the-death
Tournament of Freaks where she learns the terrible truth of who and what she
really is. Publication is slated for summer 2021; Natalie Lakosil at Bradford
Literary Agency negotiated the three-book deal for world rights.  Beth Dunfey at Scholastic has commissioned Sarah
Rees Brennan to write Season of the Witch, a prequel novel
inspired by the Netflix original series The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
The summer before her fateful 16th birthday, the teenage witch casts an
enchantment on her crush, a move that goes terribly awry once a woodland
spirit gets involved. The novel will be published July 2019; Suzie Townsend
at New Leaf Literary & Media brokered the deal for world rights.  Susan Van Metre at Walker Books US has
acquired, at auction, The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel, a
three-book novelization of the Peabody Award-winning serialized mystery
podcast by the same name, created by Benjamin Strouse, David Kreizman, Chris
Tarry, and Jenny Turner Hall. The books will be written by Sheela Chari.
The story invites readers to join 11-year-old Mars and his friends as they
investigate the mysterious connection between disappearing kids and the
famous billionaire inventor, Oliver Pruitt. Publication is planned for fall
2020; Marietta Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency, in collaboration
with Steven Malk at Writers House, negotiated the deal for world English rights.
 Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has bought Irene
Latham's middle-grade dystopian novel in verse, D-39 & Me. The
story follows Klynt, a lonely 12-year-old girl living in a war-torn land who
finds a D-39 robodog, and with the neighbor boy and dog in tow, races for the
border to seek safety and reunite with her mother. Along the way, they meet
friends and foes, and Klynt learns that D-39 is carrying a secret.
Publication is scheduled for summer 2021; Rosemary Stimola at Rosemary
Stimola Studio did the deal for world rights.  Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has acquired
world rights to Out to Get You, a collection of horror stories by
debut author Josh Allen, illustrated by Sarah Coleman. Pitched
as a mashup of Stephen King and The Twilight Zone, with a dash of Jon
Scieszka's sensibility, the 13 tales feature a creepy, weird, and humorous
vibe. Publication is set for fall 2019; Rick Margolis at Rising Bear Literary
brokered the deal for the author, and Matthew Palizay at Bernstein &
Andriulli represented the illustrator.  Katie Carella at Scholastic has bought Anna
Staniszewski's Branches early chapter book series Once Upon a Fairy Tale,
in a four-book deal. The first book, The Magic Mirror, follows two
unlikely Enchanted Kingdom heroes as they track down missing mirrors and
broken glass slippers in search of that elusive happily ever after. The
series kicks off in fall 2019; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary
Agency did the deal for world rights.  Clarissa Wong at HarperCollins has acquired a
picture book from Found Dogs author-illustrator Erica Sirotich.
Can We Be Friends? features unusual animal pairs, from famous hippo
and tortoise Owen and Mzee to less well-known real-life animal besties.
Publication is slated for summer 2020; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown
Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.  Margaret Ferguson at Holiday House/Ferguson
has bought world rights to April Jones Prince's (l.) You Are a
Reader/You Are a Writer, a double-sided picture book that begins from
each side and meets in the middle, illustrated by Christine Davenier.
The book celebrates all kinds of readers and writers and the way the reading
and writing processes are intertwined. Publication is set for summer 2021;
Studio Goodwin Sturges represented both the author and the illustrator.  Andrea Tompa at Candlewick has acquired world
rights to How to Apologize by David LaRochelle (l.),
illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka, who previously collaborated on Moo!
The introduction to the art of the apology uses humorous examples and
straightforward language to introduce the very young to the importance of
saying "sorry." Publication is planned for spring 2021; both the
author and the illustrator were unagented.  Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane has bought
world rights to Hannah Barnaby's (l.) Home Is..., an
exploration of the variety of animal homes found throughout the natural
world. The picture book will be illustrated by Maurice Sendak Fellow Frann
Preston-Gannon; publication is scheduled for fall 2020. Linda Pratt at
Wernick & Pratt represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird
Productions represented the illustrator.  Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Paulsen has acquired
world rights to Talia Aikens-Nuñez's (l.) bilingual picture book, Sueñito/Little
Nap, illustrated by Argentinian artist Natalia Colombo. The book
is about the simple activities that tire baby out and lead to a small, sweet
nap. Publication is set for spring 2021; Susan Graham at Einstein Literary
Management represented the author, and Mela Bolinao at MB Artists represented
the illustrator.
To see all of this week's deals, click here.
IN THE MEDIA
SHELFTALKER
Kenny Brechner Wednesday at WI 14!
A bookseller’s eye view of yesterday at Winter Institute.
more »
Cynthia Compton A Round of Rep Visits
One children’s bookseller preps for the new season’s sales
appointments.
more »
Elizabeth Bluemle The Trembling Edge of an Author’s Career
Sometimes, you just have a feeling about a new author.
more »
Kenny Brechner Favorite Fictive Books – A Call for Assistance
What are your favorite imagined or vanished children’s books?
FEATURED
REVIEWS
 Tomorrow Most Likely Dave Eggers, illus. by Lane Smith. Chronicle, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-4521-7278-1 On the title page of this meditation by Eggers, a child is seen lying in bed, hands folded expectantly. Eggers makes a small, safe promise: “Tomorrow most likely/ there will be a sky./ And chances are it will be blue.” Line by line, the possibilities grow as Smith shows the boy, a child of color, waking, finding breakfast, and exploring city streets. more  The Sun Shines Everywhere Mary Ann Hoberman, illus. by Luciano Lozano. Little, Brown, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-316-52384-4 Former children’s poet laureate Hoberman celebrates the stalwart star that makes life possible and connects people regardless of where they live: “The world takes turns at day and night/ And each side has its share./ The sun is shining all the time!/ The sun shines everywhere!” Illustrations by Lozano are rendered in soft colors and populated by rosy-cheeked folks and happy animals under a smiling sun. more  Catwad: It’s Me. Jim Benton. Graphix, $8.99 paper (128p) ISBN 978-1-338-32602-4 This playful collection of graphic-format short stories follows the adventures of two dissimilar cats—grumpy and cynical Catwad and happy-go-lucky Blurmp—who also happen to be best friends. From mistaking mosquitos for fairy unicorns to naming a virus, Blurmp’s optimistic take on everything can be too much for Catwad. Humorous prose and bright illustrations by Benton add to the amusement for each tale. more  Two Men and a Car: Franklin Roosevelt, Al Capone, and a Cadillac V-8
Michael Garland. Tilbury House, $17.95 (64p) ISBN 978-0-88448-620-6 Garland uses a car to link two men who made very different headlines during the first half of the 20th century. Legend has it that President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on his way to deliver his “Day of Infamy” speech to Congress in 1941, rode in mobster Al Capone’s bulletproof Cadillac, 10 years after it had been confiscated by the U.S. government. A compare-and-contrast narrative describes how the two intelligent and ambitious New Yorkers, born 17 years apart, chose divergent paths. more  Once &
Future Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy. Little, Brown/Patterson, $18.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-316-44927-4 Set in the future, this inclusive, refreshing take on the Arthurian mythos by Capetta and McCarthy stars an impulsive teen female incarnation of Arthur who faces a heartless intergalactic commercial monopoly. A marvelous mythology remix for teens who enjoy action-packed speculative fiction and genderqueer romance. more  Voices:
The Final Hours of Joan of Arc David Elliott. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $17.99 (208p) ISBN 978-1-328-98759-4 This collection of poems, each told from the perspective of Joan of Arc and the people and objects central to her life, creates a remarkable portrait of a person whose legend continues to fascinate. The narrative begins from Joan’s perspective as she stands bound to the pyre, awaiting her death. Elliott builds the story of her visions and mission “to lift the siege at Orléans,” reactions to her wearing men’s clothing, and sentencing. more
TALES FROM THE
SLUSH PILE
 |
January 24, 2019
 
People
Kyra Ostendorf has joined Free Spirit Publishing as publisher. Most recently
she was v-p of education at Kaplan Early Learning Company.
Michele Wells has been promoted to v-p and executive editor, DC Books for
Young Readers; she was formerly v-p, content strategy, DC Entertainment.
Chronicle Books has two promotions in its children's division. Madison
Killen has been promoted to digital marketing manager, from marketing
manager. Jennifer Yim has been promoted to marketing and publicity
coordinator, from marketing and publicity assistant.
Random House Children's Books has five promotions. Kelly
McGauley has been promoted to associate director of trade marketing, from
assistant director. Sharon Burkle has been promoted to senior art
director, from art director. Tara Grieco has been promoted to
marketing manager, from associate marketing manager. Jena DeBois has
been promoted to marketing associate, from marketing coordinator. Sarah
Murphy has been promoted to marketing coordinator, from marketing
assistant.
In the Winners'
Circle
 Lesa Cline-Ransome’s middle grade novel, Finding Langston, has won the 2019 Scott O’Dell Award for excellence in historical fiction for children and young adults. The annual award comes with a $5,000 prize. For more information, click here.
Bestsellers
 Children's
Frontlist Fiction #1 Brawl of the Wild (Dog Man #6) by Dav Pilkey. Click here  Picture Books
#1 The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith, illus. by Katz Cowley. Click here
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in the Spotlight
 Children's Authors and Books to Watch for at Winter Institute 14 Click through to see our roundup of some of the well-known and up-and-coming children's authors to meet at this year's institute, which kicks off on January 22 in Albuquerque—from picture book creators to YA novelists and more. more
In Memoriam
 Donne Forrest Remembered Donne Forrest, longtime rights director at Dutton Children's Books and Dial Books for Young Readers, died on January 7 at age 80. We've gathered a selection of tributes from some of her friends and colleagues. "Never has there been a more lovely, warmhearted, and pleasant person to buy books from," said Klaus Flugge, publisher of Andersen Press. more
In the News
 Little Bee Books Acquired by Founding Execs Little Bee Books, the U.S. children’s publishing unit of Bonnier, has been purchased by the Little Bee executive team of CEO Shimul Tolia and CFO Thomas Morgan, who founded the company in 2014. more  Melanie Nolan Named V-P and Publisher at Knopf Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers announced today that Melanie Nolan is taking on the role of v-p and publisher of the imprint, effective immediately. Previously, Nolan served as v-p and associate publishing director. more  Magination Press Cements New Sales Partnerships The American Psychological Association has announced new sales teams for APA Publishing’s Magination Press children’s book imprint. Effective January 2019, the titles will be sold from coast to coast by a number of independent rep groups. more 
Book
News
 Tundra's Narwhal Series Hits One Million Copies Tundra Books, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers, has signed a new contract for six more titles in author-illustrator Ben Clanton's Narwhal and Jelly series. The first three books in the series, Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea, Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt, and Peanut Butter and Jelly, have reached one million copies in print. more  Joanna Gaines Debuts a Children’s Book HGTV’s Fixer Upper star Joanna Gaines has written a children’s book due out from Tommy Nelson Books in March. We Are the Gardeners will follow the story of the Gaines family, including Joanna’s husband Chip as well as their five children, and the growth of their garden. more
Licensing News
 Licensing Hotline: January 2019 Titan Books is publishing tie-ins to Alita: Battle Angel, a movie based on the manga series by Yukito Kishiro. The film hits theaters globally on February 5 and in the U.S. on February 14. Read on for a reboot of IDW's Transformers comic books, new titles in Insight Editions' licensed cookbook program, literary licensing programs from new agency FanGirl, and a wrap-up of other recently signed deals. more
Q & A
 Henry Lien In the Peasprout Chen series, Henry Lien introduces a 14-year-old girl studying martial arts figure skating, in the fabled city of Pearl. The headstrong Peasprout has to deal with bullies, prejudice, academic pressure. PW spoke with Lien about the newest book in the series, Battle of Champions, and his creative influences. Q: What was your inspiration for the Peasprout series? A: It started with me writing to entertain myself. I was interested in figure skating, because of the Olympics, and I also love martial arts films, especially arthouse films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I’m also very much into architecture. So I mashed together all of the things I enjoyed, and this was the result. more
Out Next Week
 Hot Off the Presses: Week of January 21, 2019 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book about a pensive elephant who takes on new responsibilities, a celebration of raising hands, and an anthology of essays by the teenage survivors of the Parkland shooting. more
In Brief
 In Brief: January 17, 2019 This week, booksellers have a spot of afternoon tea; Little, Brown presents the Emerging Artist Award; author Kheryn Callender visits St. Thomas; Lincoln Peirce draws a crowd; and authors honor a civil rights activist with their new book. more
Rights Report
 Erica Sussman at HarperTeen has acquired three
comedic, fantastical, and historical YA novels from the bestselling authors
of My Plain Jane, My Lady Jane, and the forthcoming My
Calamity Jane: (from l.) Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi
Meadows. This time, the Lady Janies will be helping various Marys get
better endings to their stories. Books include My Contrary Mary, about
Mary, Queen of Scots, set in the world of My Lady Jane; My Atomic
Mary, about Marie Curie; and My Typhoid Mary, about Mary Mallon. The
books will publish in 2021, 2022, and 2023; Katherine Fausset at Curtis
Brown, Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Lauren MacLeod
at the Strothman Agency did the deal for North American English rights.  Ashley Hearn at Page Street has bought An
Affair of Poisons author Addie Thorley's YA fantasy duology, Night
Spinner. Set in a world inspired by the Arctic tundra, this reimagining
of The Hunchback of Notre Dame follows a girl who used to be one of
the greatest warriors in the Sky King's army, but after losing control of her
ability to wield the threads of darkness, she is imprisoned in a monastery.
When offered a chance at reinstatement in exchange for catching a rebel, she
eagerly accepts, only to discover that the tides of war have changed.
Publication is set for winter 2020; Katelyn Detweiler at Jill Grinberg
Literary Management negotiated the deal for world English rights.  Janine O'Malley at Farrar, Straus and Giroux
and Lynne Missen at Penguin Canada have acquired The Beauty of the Moment
author Tanaz Bhathena's fantasy duology, called Hunted by the Sky. Set
in a world inspired by medieval India, the story tells of a girl with a
star-shaped birthmark who is prophesied to be the downfall of a tyrant king,
the warrior women who come to her aid, and the boy she falls in love with.
Publication is projected for spring 2020, with an untitled sequel to follow;
Eleanor Jackson at Dunow, Carlson & Lerner brokered the deal for world
rights.  Nicole Frail at Sky Pony has bought world
rights to Kissing Ezra Holtz (and Other Things I Did for Science), a
contemporary YA novel by Art of French Kissing author Brianna Shrum.
Pitched as a YA The Rosie Project, the novel follows rebellious artist
Amalia and straight-laced academic Ezra after they are paired on an AP
psychology project that posits that anyone can fall in love with anyone under
the correct scientific circumstances. The hypothesis is put to the test when
the two—practically enemies since before their b'nai mitzvahs—accidentally
start to fall for one another. Publication is slated for summer 2019; Steven
Salpeter at Curtis Brown negotiated the deal.  Melissa Frain at Tor Teen has acquired Sarah
Henning's The Princess Will Save You, a feminist YA fantasy
inspired by The Princess Bride. The novel follows a princess who sets
off to rescue her true love—a stable boy—after he is kidnapped. Publication
is scheduled for summer 2020; Whitney Ross at Irene Goodman Agency handled
the two-book deal for North American rights.  Elise Howard at Algonquin preempted world
English and Spanish-language rights to Yamile Saied Méndez's Furia,
pitched in the vein of Bend It Like Beckham. Set in Argentina, the
story centers on Camila "Furia" Hassan, who longs to play
professional soccer in the United States and not only has to contend with
deeply disapproving parents, but with a blossoming love interest that
threatens to tempt her away from her dream. Publication is planned for 2020;
Linda Camacho at Gallt & Zacker Literary brokered the two-book deal.  Jenne Abramowitz at Scholastic Press has
bought, in a preempt, Cattywampus, a middle grade fantasy by debut
author Ash Van Otterloo. In the story, two young witches—one grappling
with the revelation that she is intersex, the other with her father's
abandonment—accidentally resurrect a graveyard full of feuding ancestors, and
must work together to perform a counter-curse to save themselves and the rest
of their Appalachian community. Publication is set for summer 2020; Lauren
Spieller at TriadaUS Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.  Allison Cohen at Running Press Kids has
acquired Alan Katz's Really Stupid Stories for Really Smart Kids,
a collection of stories about the ridiculous and the absurd. Publication is
scheduled for spring 2020; Rick Richter at Aevitas Creative Management
negotiated the deal for world rights.  Janine O'Malley at Farrar, Straus and Giroux
has bought North American rights to Helen Frost's All He Knew.
Inspired by true events, the middle grade novel-in-verse is set in the early
1940s and follows a boy who is institutionalized because he is deaf, the
sister who loves him, and the World War II conscientious objector who helps
bring about change. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Ginger Knowlton at
Curtis Brown represented the author.  Tara Walker at Tundra has acquired world
rights to The Barnabus Project, written and illustrated by the Fan
Brothers, Eric (l.) and Terry Fan, along with their younger
brother, Devin. The picture book, born from an idea they had decades
ago, tells the story of Barnabus, half-mouse, half-elephant, who decides to
escape along with an oddball assortment of friends from the secret laboratory
where they were engineered. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Kirsten
Hall at Catbird Productions represented the Fan Brothers, and Devin Fan
represented himself.  Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has
bought a picture book by muralist Katie Yamasaki, co-written with Ian
Lendler. Everything Naomi Loved tells the story of a girl whose
community is undergoing rapid change, for whom a mural serves to both anchor
her to the neighborhood and the people she loves, as well as provide her with
the seeds to make a new community. The publication date is fall 2020; Tanya
McKinnon at McKinnon Literary brokered the deal for world rights in all
languages.  Adonia Ripple and Katie Coit at Yosemite
Conservancy have acquired Little Muir's Song, which pairs
conservationist John Muir's prose and illustrator Susie Ghahremani's
paintings. The book invites children to ramble through rolling hills, climb
trees, and listen to birdsong on a journey of appreciation for our natural
world. Publication is set for August 2019; Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at
Full Circle Literary did the deal for world rights on behalf of the
illustrator. All sales of Yosemite Conservancy titles directly support
Yosemite National Park.  Paula Wiseman at S&S/Wiseman has bought
world rights to Adam Lehrhaupt's picture book, Book's New Adventure,
about the wondrous voyages of a book in the library. Rahele Jomepour Bell
will illustrate; publication is scheduled for fall 2020. Alexandra Penfold at
Upstart Crow Literary represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT
Agency represented the illustrator.  Mary Lee Donovan at Candlewick has acquired
world rights to Kim Norman's One-Osaurus, Two-Osaurus, a
counting book with rhythm and a prehistoric twist, illustrated by Pierre
Collet–Derby. Publication is planned for spring 2021; Jennifer Mattson at
Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Jennifer Rofe at
Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.  Rotem Moscovich at Disney-Hyperion has bought
world rights to Perkin's Purple: How One Boy Invented a Color and Created
a Revolutionary Rainbow by (from l.) Tami Lewis Brown and Debbie
Loren Dunn, illustrated by Francesca Sanna. The story follows
William Perkin's chance chemical creation of the color purple, previously the
hardest color to produce and reserved for royals and the very wealthy, thus
opening the brilliance of purple to all, and paving the way for other
life-enhancing chemical discoveries. Publication is slated for fall 2020;
Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary represented the authors, and Andrea
Morrison at Writers House represented the artist.
To see all of this week's deals, click here.
IN THE MEDIA
SHELFTALKER
Kenny Brechner Favorite Fictive Books – A Call for Assistance
What are your favorite imagined or vanished children’s books?
more »
Cynthia Compton The Things That Count
One shopkeeper bemoans the task of her store’s annual inventory,
and shares some strategies to cope with the process.
more »
Elizabeth Bluemle ‘Twas the Best of Customer Days, ‘Twas the Worst….
On the bad days, you hold tight to the great ones.
more »
Leslie Hawkins You Break It…
Creative ways that booksellers ask customers to be careful with
their merchandise.
FEATURED
REVIEWS
 Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando Andrea Wang, illus. by Kana Urbanowicz. Little Bee, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-499-80703-5 Struck by the plight of civilians queuing miserably for food in postwar Japan, Taiwanese-born inventor Momofuku Ando has a revelation: “The world is peaceful only when everyone has enough to eat.” He vows to create food so inexpensive and easy to prepare that everyone can buy it—the food we know today as instant ramen. Wang outlines Ando’s methodical search, including his failures. Persistence is at the heart of this success story. more  The Wolf in Underpants Wilfrid Lupano, illus. by Mayana Itoiz and Paul Cauuet, trans. from the French by Nathan Sacks. Graphic Universe, $8 paper (40p) ISBN 978-1-5415-2818-5 Cozy knitwear changes lives in this graphic novel about a fear-mongering woodland populace. Stressing over the local wolf has become the community’s raison d’être and an engine of the local forest economy. Then the actual wolf shows up wearing striped red-and-white underpants and reveals that he was never a threat at all. Drawings by Itoiz and Cauuet’s are gems of comic timing and choreography. more  The Iliad
Gareth Hinds. Candlewick, $27.99 (272p) ISBN 978-0-7636-8113-5 In his latest graphic novel adaptation of a classic text, Hinds condenses Homer’s epic poem of gods and mortals at war. The Trojan War has been raging for nine years when King Agamemnon slights Achilles, his best warrior, beginning a feud. A cascade of resulting tragedies leads to ever more bitter battles. An accessible entrée to an enduring classic. more  Nick and June Were Here Shalanda Stanley. Knopf, $17.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-399-55658-6 “This town wasn’t a place for beginnings,” says high school senior June. She feels constricted by her small Arkansas hometown, but she’s not sure where to head instead. Nick, her childhood friend turned boyfriend, feels that he has no choices, and his only escape is through his art. Since Nick’s father went to prison two years earlier, and his mother left town with her boyfriend, Nick has begun to follow in his father’s footsteps. Alternating chapters in Nick and June’s intimate voices detail their joy, stress, and fear. more
TALES FROM THE
SLUSH PILE
 |
January 17, 2019
  
To Our Readers
Because of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, we won't have
an issue of Children's Bookshelf next Tuesday. Look for the next issue of
Children's Bookshelf on Thursday, January 24!
People
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group has eight promotions. Holly
West has been promoted to senior editor at Feiwel and Friends/Swoon
Reads, from editor. Kat Brzozowski has been promoted to senior editor
at Feiwel and Friends/Swoon Reads, from editor. Anna Roberto has been
promoted to senior editor at Feiwel and Friends, from editor. Julia Sooy
has been promoted to editor at Henry Holt/Godwin Books, from associate
editor. Robyn Chapman has been promoted to senior associate editor at
First Second Books, from associate editor. Jessica Anderson has been
promoted to associate editor at Henry Holt/Ottaviano Books, from assistant
editor. Mark Podesta has been promoted to assistant editor at Henry
Holt, from editorial assistant. Melissa Warten has been promoted to
assistant editor at FSG, from editorial assistant.
Random House Children's Books has several promotions. Janet
Foley has been promoted to director of managing editorial, from associate
director. Megan Williams has been promoted to managing editor of Crown
Books for Young Readers and Reprints, from associate managing editor. Kristen
Depken has been promoted to editor of Random House Books for Young
Readers, from associate editor. Samantha Gentry has been promoted to
associate editor of Crown Books for Young Readers, from assistant editor. Rachel
Chlebowski has been promoted to assistant editor of Random House Books
for Young Readers, from editorial assistant.
In the Winners'
Circle
 Author-illustrator Marla Frazee has won the 2019 Charlotte Zolotow Award for her picture book Little Brown (S&S/Beach Lane). Established in 1998, the award is given by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, a library of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in recognition of outstanding writing in a picture book. For more information on this year’s winner and honorees, click here.
Of Note
 Talking
Pictures Awards Submissions Open The contest, part of a cultural initiative of the New York Rights Fair celebrating excellence in book design in five categories, is now open for submissions for its 2019 awards. more
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Bookshelf
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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