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Cover Reveal
 Newbery Medalist Meg Medina Changes Gears Meg Medina, winner of the 2019 Newbery Medal for Merci Suárez Changes Gears, spoke with us about her as-yet-untitled Merci sequel and a new picture book, Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez, the cover of which is revealed here. "There’s just so much to do," Medina said. more 
Book News
 The Ongoing Journey of M.B. Goffstein's Oeuvre After a hiatus of more than a decade, English-language editions of two picture books written and illustrated by the late Brooke Goffstein, published under the name M.B. Goffstein, will be back in print next year. New York Review Books will reissue Brookie and Her Lamb, a 1967 release from FSG; and Fish for Supper, which won a Caldecott Honor after its 1976 publication by Dial Press. more   IDW and Smithsonian Partner for Illustrated Books IDW Publishing has secured global rights to publish illustrated books, primarily graphic novels but also other formats such as coloring and picture books, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution. more 
Reading
Report
 Noteworthy Picture Book Sequels: January 2020 Picture book sequels hitting shelves this month include a biography of Martin Luther King Jr.; more onomatopoeia-filled adventures of snakes; a close-up on an Impressionist artist; and more. more
Q & A
 Adam Silvera YA author Adam Silvera has published three solo novels, one collaboration with Becky Albertalli, and has contributed to anthologies, but his newest book is a different endeavor: the launch of a fantasy series. Infinity Son follows twins through an alternate, magic-filled New York City. Silvera spoke with us about the book and his worldbuilding process. Q: Infinity Son is a bit of a departure from the realistic fiction fans have come to expect from you. What appealed to you about writing a fantasy series? A: Personally, I consider it less of a departure and more coming home. I got my start writing fanfiction for Harry Potter and shows like Charmed, Supernatural, and, of course, the X-Men series. I’ve always been interested in all things magical and superpowers and such. I had so much fun referring to some of these influences while crafting my own universe. more
Out Next Week
 Hot Off the Presses: Week of January 13, 2020 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book biography of Mr. Rogers, a middle grade book about an ambitious girl facing family truths, and a YA romance tackling difficult themes. more
In Brief
 In Brief: January 9, 2020 This week, Kwame Alexander speaks in Istanbul; Monica Hesse dines in D.C.; Matt Tavares signs books in Massachusetts; and New York elementary schoolers get inspired by Michelle Edwards. more
Rights Report
 Stacey Barney at Putnam has bought world
English rights to African Town by Irene Latham and Charles
Waters, a YA historical fiction novel-in-verse told in multiple voices.
Chronicling the story of the last Africans brought illegally to America
aboard the slave ship Clotilda in 1860, the book follows their
struggle to maintain their lives, humanity, and culture while enduring
capture, the Middle Passage, enslavement, and Emancipation—leading them to
build their own community called Africa Town, which exists to this day.
Publication is set for spring 2022; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary
Studio brokered the deal.  Jenny Bak at Viking has acquired, in a
six-figure auction, Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom by Sangu Mandanna
(the Celestial series). Pitched as Inkheart meets Aru Shah and the
End of Time, the middle grade debut follows an 11-year-old girl, coping
with anxiety through art, who steps into the Indian mythology-inspired world
in her sketchbook to stop a demon king from escaping into the real world.
Publication is scheduled for fall 2021; Penny Moore at Aevitas Creative
Management negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.  Katherine Harrison at Knopf has acquired the
first three books in the husband-wife, author-illustrator duo Matthew
Swanson and Robbi Behr's hybrid middle grade series Cookie
Chronicles, in which third-grader Ben's overly literal interpretations of
fortune cookie wisdom spur off-balance adventures and questions about
friendship, responsibility, and how to change your fortune when your cookie
starts to crumble. The first book, Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom,
will publish in spring 2021; Meredith Kaffel Simonoff at DeFiore and Company
did the deal for world rights.  Lynne Polvino at Clarion has bought world
rights to Kenan Trebincevic and Susan Shapiro's Losing Home,
a middle grade memoir of a Bosnian Muslim boy's refugee journey to America
that celebrates tolerance and kindness. Publication is planned for fall 2021;
Samantha Wekstein at Thompson Literary Agency handled the deal.  Calista Brill at First Second has acquired
world rights to The Infinite Adventures of Supernova, Landry Walker
(l.) and Eric Jones' middle grade graphic novel series about a girl
from the future. Sent back in time to the present day, she discovers the
truth about her favorite classic superhero, Supernova. Publication is slated
to begin in 2021; the author and the illustrator were unagented.  Amy Fitzgerald at Carolrhoda has bought world
rights to Hannah Voskuil's middle-grade novel The Art of Magic.
When ZuZu and Andrew discover that they can create art that comes to life,
the two must use their abilities to protect their town from a vengeful ghost
who has magical creations of his own. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021;
Mary Cummings at Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises negotiated the deal.  Brian Geffen at Holt has acquired Rabbit!
Rabbit! Rabbit! by author-illustrator Lorna Scobie. In this
picture book, Rabbit loves being an only child and having everything—flower,
carrots, and stretching area—to itself. But Rabbit's life is upended when its
parents announce that they have big news... Rabbit now has siblings!
Publication is set for spring 2021; Antonia Pelari at Scholastic UK
negotiated the deal for North American rights.  Molly Cusick at Sourcebooks has bought, in a
two-book preempt, world rights to What Can You Do with a Rock? by Pat
Zietlow Miller (l.), illustrated by Katie Kath. The picture book
is an ode to the fun one can have with a rock. Of course, the best thing one
can do with a rock is share it. Publication is slated for fall 2021;
Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and Justin
Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.  Katie Cunningham at Candlewick has preempted
world rights to Elizabeth Shreeve's (l.) Out of the Blue,
illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon, a nonfiction picture book that
explains how animals have transitioned and adapted over the millennia from
the ocean to living on the land. Publication is planned for winter 2021;
Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and
Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.  Erik Anderson at University of Minnesota Press
has acquired world rights to Shannon Gibney's debut picture book, Sam
and the Incredible African and American Food Fight, about a boy who feels
pressured to choose between his African American and Liberian heritage and
ultimately learns to embrace them both. Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe
Illustrator Award for New Talent artist Charly Palmer will illustrate.
Publication is set for spring 2022; Tina Dubois at ICM Partners represented
the author, and the illustrator represented himself.  Nina Gruener at Cameron Kids has bought world
rights to And I Paint It by Beth Kephart (l.), illustrated by Amy
June Bates, a picture book about Henriette Wyeth, the daughter of N.C.
Wyeth, who became an artist in her own right. Publication is scheduled for
spring 2021; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and
Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt Agency represented the illustrator.
To see all of this week's deals, click here.
IN THE MEDIA
SHELFTALKER
Kenny Brechner An Interview with the Year 2020
The New Year shares her book picks with us.
more »
Cynthia Compton Quick Cash Flow Ideas for January
Some ideas from a seasoned bookseller on events to generate
business in the slow month of January.
more »
Cynthia Compton Dear Publishers: A Bookseller Wish List
A wish list from a bookseller to her publisher partners for the
new year.
more »
Meghan Dietsche Goel What Austin Teens Want Publishers to Know in 2020
Teen readers seek surprises, less trend following, and more new
releases in December!
FEATURED
REVIEWS
  Paolo,
Emperor of Rome Mac Barnett, illus. by Claire Keane. Abrams, $17.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-4197-4109-8 In Barnett's bighearted tale, Paolo the dachshund is trapped in a hair salon on Rome’s Via Torino, unable to see for himself the wonders he suspects lie beyond its glass door. But one lucky day, the door is left open, and what he finds is even better than he had dreamed. The classic architectural lines of the ancient city provide scope for imagination. more  On Wings
of Words: The Extraordinary Life of Emily Dickinson Jennifer Berne, illus. by Becca Stadtlander. Chronicle, $18.99 (52p) ISBN 978-1-4521-4297-5 Butterflies flutter through this exploration of poet Emily Dickinson’s singular spirit. Lines from Dickinson’s poems punctuate Berne’s text, reflecting themes of nature, wonder, and joy. And Stadtlander’s modern folkloric gouache and watercolor illustrations seamlessly merge realism and fantasy. more  Lizzie
Demands a Seat! Elizabeth Jennings Fights for Streetcar Rights
Beth Anderson, illus. by E.B. Lewis. Calkins Creek, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-62979-939-1 On July 16, 1854, “Lizzie Jennings was in a hurry. A big hurry. The kind of hurry she couldn’t hold back.” When a New York streetcar conductor tries to stop her from entering a car reserved for whites, she protests. “Despite being born a ‘free black’ in a ‘free state,’ she’d never been treated as equal... Suddenly, late-for-church wasn’t as important as late-for-equality.” After Jennings is thrown off the streetcar, a white witness steps forward, and Jennings decides to take her case to court. more  Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor Ally Carter. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $16.99 (336p) ISBN 978-0-358-00319-9 In this entertaining adventure reminiscent of Annie, five precocious foster siblings discover secrets in their sprawling new home. In her middle grade debut, Carter offers up mystery, intrigue, and swashbuckling action in a rollicking story of long-lost secrets and found family. more  Bloom (The Overthrow #1) Kenneth Oppel. Knopf, $16.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-5247-7300-7 In the aftermath of a hard rain, everything changes for three teens living on small Salt Spring Island near Vancouver. Oppel steadily adds new horrors, potently escalating the story’s pace, stakes, and anxiety as the plants crowd out food crops, explosively release allergy-causing pollen, and begin exhibiting carnivorous tendencies. more
TALES FROM THE
SLUSH PILE
 |
January 9, 2020
    
People
 Penguin Young Readers has a new hire and four promotions. Zareen Jaffery (pictured) will join the Kokila imprint as executive editor on January 13, and will acquire and edit books across age groups. She was previously executive editor at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, and co-founder of the Salaam Reads imprint. Draga Malesevic has been promoted to associate director, subsidiary rights for Penguin Young Readers and World of Eric Carle, from senior manager. Siaurui Goh has been promoted to senior manager, subsidiary rights, Penguin Young Readers, from manager. Peter Facente has been promoted to assistant director, business management, from business manager. Jasmin Rubero has been promoted to art director at Kokila; she was previously associate art director at Kokila and Dial.
Christina Quintero has joined Odd Dot as creative director; previously she was
executive art director at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Nancy Brennan is joining Candlewick as executive art director later this
month; she has worked at Viking Children's Books for the past 18 years, most
recently as art director.
Random House Children's Books has one promotion and one new
hire. Emily Duval has been promoted to manager, library marketing,
from assistant manager. Natalie Capogrossi has joined as assistant
manager, school marketing; she was formerly a teacher and intern at Writers
House.
Abrams has two new hires in the children's department. Megan
Carlson has joined as associate managing editor; she was previously
assistant editor in the higher education division at Oxford University Press.
Megan Kelchner has joined as junior designer; most recently she worked
at Carrot New York, designing and illustrating educational materials.
ICYMI
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In Conversation
 Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed Becky Albertalli (r.) is the YA author of William C. Morris Award winner Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, which was adapted into the film Love, Simon, among other novels. Aisha Saeed is the author of Amal Unbound, a PW Best Book of 2018, and more. Albertalli and Saeed's forthcoming collaborative YA novel, Yes No Maybe So, is about two teens who fall in love through political canvassing. We asked the authors to interview each other about their new book. more
In the News
 Sourcebooks Acquires Dawn Publications Sourcebooks announced today that it has acquired Dawn Publications, a 40-year-old publisher of nature and environmental titles for children. The move builds upon Sourcebooks' expansion into the school and library markets. more
Obituary
 Clay Winters Longtime publishing executive Clay Winters, former president of the Putnam & Grosset Group and co-founder of Boyds Mills Press, who worked in nearly every facet of the industry over his career, died on December 22 at his home in Sherman, Conn. He was 85. Author-illustrator Tomie dePaola called him "a joy to work with." more
Black History
Month
 African-American Titles For Young Readers In anticipation of Black History Month in February, we’ve compiled a list of some of the new and forthcoming African-American books for children and teens. more
Q & A
 Daniel Bernstrom Author Daniel Bernstrom turns his attention to his family history in his new picture book, Big Papa and the Time Machine, a tale about a boy and his grandfather traveling through time, celebrating the moments of bravery that shape our lives. Bernstrom spoke with us about how he draws from deeply personal experiences. Q: What inspired this story? A: As an adopted child, I grew up missing a piece of my heritage. When I was 18, I was able to meet my biological father, and he explained why he put me up for adoption. So, as a writer, I wondered, what if we could go back in time? What if that choice could be changed? I was also thinking about how books about African Americans are often on big moments and the titans in our history, but there are equally wonderful stories about regular people that go untold. more
Rights Report
 Kristen Pettit at HarperTeen has acquired Sarena
(l.) and Sasha Nanua's YA fantasy duology in a two-book deal. The
first book, Ria & Rani, follows two twins separated at birth—one
now a princess, the other a street thief—who switch places, only to discover
that their destinies may be to join together in a bid to stop their kingdom
from falling apart. Publication is scheduled for summer 2021; Peter Knapp at
Park & Fine Literary and Media brokered the deal for world English
rights.  Kate O'Sullivan at HMH has bought Erin
Bowman's Dustborn. With flavors of Mad Max, The 100,
and the author's Western works, the genre-blending novel follows 17-year-old
Delta of Dead River, who, after a raid on her village, sets out to rescue her
family from a ruthless dictator and discovers a secret that will reshape her
world. The novel is set for spring 2021; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties
negotiated the deal for North American rights.  Trisha de Guzman at FSG has acquired world
English rights to These Precious Stones by Michael Barakiva (Hold
My Hand). Pitched as Sailor Moon meets Simon vs. the Homo
Sapiens Agenda, the contemporary YA fantasy features an eclectic group of
queer and international teens who learn that they must bear the magical gems
that will save the universe from an ancient galactic threat. Publication is
slated for fall 2021; Josh Adams at Adams Literary handled the deal.  Carolina Ortiz at HarperCollins has bought
world English rights to Ashanti Fortson's debut, Cress & Petra.
Set in the near future, the YA graphic novel follows the friendship between
Cress Orozco, an autistic teenager with plenty of problems and big thoughts
about life, and Petra, a lab-made AI looking for adventure. Their
intertwining experiences raise the question: what does it mean to be human?
Publication is planned for fall 2022; Susan Graham at Einstein Literary
Management negotiated the deal.  Annie Berger at Sourcebooks Fire has acquired Rachel
Griffin's debut YA, The Nature of Witches. Set in a world where
witches have long maintained the climate but are now losing control, Clara
Densmore, an Everwitch whose magic is tied to all four seasons, is the
world's only hope—despite a curse that could cost her everything. Publication
is scheduled for spring 2021; Elana Roth Parker at Laura Dail Literary Agency
brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.  Holly West at Feiwel and Friends has bought
world rights to Mike Thayer's Danny Double Day and a second
untitled work in a two-book deal. This middle grade contemporary fantasy
follows Danny, who lives every day twice, once as a discard day that no one
remembers followed by a sticky day when everything counts. Danny uses his
unique ability to help his new friends and take down bullies one day at a
time. Publication for the first book is set for spring 2021, with the second
following a year later; Lauren Keller Galit at LKG Agency did the deal.  Stacy Whitman at Tu Books has acquired North
American rights to The Shadow Prince by David Anthony Durham (The
Risen). Set in ancient Egypt, the story follows Ash, one of 10 children
competing in a series of trials designed by demons to determine who is worthy
of being the lifelong confidant and protector of the next pharaoh.
Publication is slated for spring 2021; Tina Dubois at ICM Partners handled
the deal.  Cecily Kaiser at Penguin Workshop has bought
world rights to Three Ways to Be Brave, written by Karla Clark
and illustrated by Jeff Östberg. This rhyming three-story collection
delivers relatable unease and the relief of conquering it, encouraging
bravery in young readers and their parents alike. Publication is planned for
summer 2021; Conner Eck at Lucinda Literary represented the author, and the
illustrator represented himself.  Tamar Brazis at Viking has acquired world
rights to debut author Laura Lavoie's Vampire Vacation, about a
young vampire who is tired of the same old family trips to Transylvania and
wants to go to the beach. Micah Player will illustrate. Publication is
scheduled for summer 2022; James McGowan at BookEnds represented the author,
and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.  Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has bought world
rights to Carole Boston Weatherford's Dreams for a Daughter,
illustrated by Brian Pinkney, a picture book about a black mother's
wishes for confidence, self-esteem, love, and a spirit of wonder for her
daughter. Publication is set for spring 2021; Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer
Content represented the author, and Rebecca Sherman at Writers House
represented the artist in the deal.
To see all of this week's deals, click here.
IN THE MEDIA
SHELFTALKER
Cynthia Compton Dear Publishers: A Bookseller Wish List
A wish list from a bookseller to her publisher partners for the
new year.
more »
Meghan Dietsche Goel What Austin Teens Want Publishers to Know in 2020
Teen readers seek surprises, less trend following, and more new
releases in December!
more »
Kenny Brechner Six Things About ‘Three Things I Know Are True’
An interview with debut author Betty Culley.
more »
Cynthia Compton A Bookseller Reading Challenge for 2020
Some suggestions of what booksellers should read this year, and
what they might avoid.
FEATURED
REVIEWS
 Hike
Pete Oswald. Candlewick, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-5362-0157-4 Nature forms the backdrop of this largely wordless picture book. With a gentle, misty palette, this journey by Oswald follows a father-child duo into the forest, capturing small dramas along the way—fear of crossing a log over a river made easier with an outstretched hand, a snack overlooking a magnificent vista, a final shared task. The beauty of the natural world is viewed through the lens of their relationship. more  The Next
President: The Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of America’s
Presidents Kate Messner, illus. by Adam Rex. Chronicle, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-4521-7488-4 Messner and Rex open with a flyleaf bookplate that reads not “This Book Belongs to” but rather “This Country Belongs to.” It’s emblematic of their core idea that “the presidents of tomorrow are always out there somewhere.” Ingeniously structured around inaugural years, the book's timeline treatment shows how some future presidents have clearly and intently waited in the wings, while others could not seem further from the Oval Office. more  Prairie
Lotus Linda Sue Park. Clarion, $16.99 (272p) ISBN 978-1-328-78150-5 Newbery Medalist Park explores prejudice on the American frontier in this sensitively told story about a multiracial girl and her white father in Dakota Territory. Strongly reminiscent of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s novels in its evocative, detailed depictions of daily frontier life, the book includes an author’s note acknowledging Park’s efforts “to reconcile my childhood love of the Little House books with my adult knowledge of their painful shortcomings.” more  Dragon
Hoops Gene Luen Yang. First Second, $24.99 (448p) ISBN 978-1-62672-079-4 As a comic book enthusiast and graphic novelist, Printz Medalist Yang has always been more partial to superheroes than to sports. But in 2014, as a teacher at a Catholic high school in Oakland, Calif., Yang is drawn to a story about the school’s basketball team—the Dragons. Rumor has it that under the current coach, a former player at the school, this year’s team will surely grab the state championship. Yang has crafted a triumphant, telescopic graphic memoir that explores the power of taking a single first step, no matter the outcome. more |
January 7, 2020
People
Kathy Ishizuka has been promoted to editor-in-chief of School Library
Journal, and will take on the additional title of partnerships and
innovation director at Library Journal and School Library Journal.
She was formerly executive editor of SLJ.
Noa Wheeler has
joined Bloomsbury Publishing as executive editor, responsible for the Sarah
J. Maas publishing program, and will continue her freelance editorial work. Alexa
Higbee will join Bloomsbury Children's Books as publicist on January 8. She
was previously associate publicist at Holiday House.
Jalissa Corrie has been promoted to marketing and publicity manager at Lee
& Low Books, from marketing associate.
In the Winners'
Circle
 Debut author Jasbinder Bilan has won the Costa Children’s Book Award for her novel, Asha & the Spirit Bird, an adventure set in contemporary India. Chicken House will be publishing the book in the U.S. in June. The Costa Book Awards is one of the U.K.'s most prestigious and popular book prizes. For the complete list of 2019 winners in all five categories, click here. The overall Costa Book of the Year winner will be announced at the awards ceremony on January 28.
Bestsellers
 Children's
Frontlist Fiction #1 Fetch-22 (Dog Man #8) by Dav Pilkey. Click here  Picture Books
#1 The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, illus. by Christian Birmingham. Click here
Follow Us
 Children's Bookshelf is on Instagram! Please follow us @pwkidsbookshelf.
Bookshelf
Archives
Looking for a previous issue of Children's Bookshelf? Click here for
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Flying Starts
We interviewed the authors of six of the fall season's most
promising debuts about their path to publication.
 Brittney Morris Seeing Black Panther on opening night in early 2018 inspired Brittney Morris to shift careers and write her debut YA novel, Slay. The book—which sold at auction in a six-figure, two-book deal—stars a black girl who creates an online role-playing game celebrating black culture. “Slay has definitely changed my life,” Morris says. more  Julia Drake Julia Drake knew early on she wanted to write for teens, but it wasn’t until she began pursuing her MFA that the idea for The Last True Poets of the Sea, her YA retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, emerged. Drake says, “I thought the women in the play were so well matched. I wanted to explore that relationship through a queer lens.” more  Christine Day A contest for diverse storytelling gave Christine Day the “epiphany” that led her to write I Can Make This Promise, an #OwnVoices contemporary novel about an adopted girl who is exploring her Native American identity. “I knew right away that this was the story that I would keep fighting for,” Day says. more  Joowon Oh South Korean artist Joowon Oh’s passion for illustration led her all the way to the School of Visual Arts in New York, where a class project grew into her first picture book. Our Favorite Day tells a quiet story about a grandparent and grandchild —and dumplings. more  Katy Rose Pool Katy Rose Pool’s lifelong ambition to write professionally has come to fruition with the release of her debut fantasy, There Will Come a Darkness. Pool says it was her agent’s idea to reframe the book as teen fiction. “I’m super grateful that she nudged me in that direction, because I love writing YA, and I love the whole YA world,” she says. more  Kwame Mbalia Kwame Mbalia uses both sides of his brain as an author and a pharmaceutical metrologist. Writing is a calling, he says; “I just want to put stories out into the world.” Mbalia’s middle-grade debut, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, incorporates his fascination with African-American culture and mythology. more
In the News
 Dav Pilkey: PW’s Person of the Year for 2019 The creator of the wildly popular Captain Underpants and Dog Man series, Dav Pilkey, has written and drawn more than 60 books that have gotten millions of children excited about reading with goofy, gross-out humor and genuine empathy. more
Obituary
 Da Chen Da Chen, whose memoirs for both adults (Colors of the Mountain) and young readers (Girl Under a Red Moon) chronicled his experiences growing up in a family that was persecuted during China's Cultural Revolution, died of lung cancer on December 17 in Temecula, Calif. He was 57. Lisa Sandell, editorial director of Scholastic Press, said, "It was an honor to work with him to bring the story of his extraordinary childhood to young readers. He was an incredible writer." more
Out Next Week
 Hot Off the Presses: Weeks of December 30, 2019 and January 6, 2020 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book biography of a tennis trailblazer, the launch of a middle-grade fantasy series, and a YA title to help combat racism. more
Rights Report
 Megan Ilnitzki at HarperTeen has won at
auction Jason June's debut YA novel, Jay's Gay Agenda, and a
second book. The story follows the titular character after he moves to
Seattle from his rural high school, introducing him to other queer teens for
the very first time, and allowing him to finally cross items off his gay
romance to-do list. Publication is scheduled for summer 2021; Brent Taylor at
Triada US brokered the deal for world English rights.  Mary Kate Castellani at Bloomsbury has bought
world rights to Arnée Flores's debut novel, The Firebird Song.
The middle-grade fantasy follows a 12-year-old bargeboy and a lost princess
on a dangerous quest to unravel clues left by the Firebird Queen, and call
the Firebird back to their kingdom before all hope is extinguished. Sara
Crowe at Pippin Properties negotiated the two-book contract; publication is
slated for spring 2021.  Heidi Kilgras at Random House has acquired
world rights to two titles in the new Stepping Stones line of Graphic Chapter
Books, Bobo and Pup-Pup: We Love Bubbles and Bobo and Pup-Pup: Bake
a Cake by Vikram Madan, illustrated by Nicola Slater. The
books feature two friends who do things in very different ways, but still
manage to have fun. Publication is planned for summer 2021 and fall 2021;
Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and
Doreen Thorogood at Good Illustration represented the illustrator.  Kate Farrell at Holt has bought, on exclusive
submission, world rights to author of the forthcoming Why We Swim Bonnie
Tsui's (l.) Sarah and the Big Wave, illustrated by Sophie Diao.
The picture book is about one of the first female big-wave surfers. Publication
is scheduled for spring 2021; Danielle Svetcov at LGR Literary represented
the author, and Alexandra Penfold at Upstart Crow Literary represented the
illustrator.  Anne Schwartz at Random House/Schwartz &
Wade has acquired world rights to The Queen's Pangolin by Melinda
Beatty (l.), author of the Heartseeker series, and illustrated by Paola
Escobar, illustrator of Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and
Storyteller Pura Belpré. In this picture book, a pangolin breaks his
queen's swing, and struggles with telling her the truth about what happened.
Publication is set for fall 2022; Jennifer Linnan at Linnan Literary
Management represented the author, and Amy Kitcherside at Pickled Ink
represented the illustrator.  Wendy McClure at Albert Whitman has bought
world rights to Sometimes It's Hard to Be Nice by Maggie Rudd
(l.), illustrated by Kelly O'Neill. The picture book is about the
challenges of being nice to cousins who hoard toys, to grandmothers who bake
strange foods, and to kids who nobody else likes. Publication is planned for
spring 2021; Mary Cummings at Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises represented
the author, and Christina Barratt at Beehive Illustration represented the
illustrator.  Nina Gruener at Cameron Kids has acquired
world rights to Herbert & Dorothy: The Story of a Postal Clerk and a
Librarian and Their Extraordinary Collection of Art by Jackie Azúa
Kramer (l.), illustrated by Julie Breckenreid, a picture book
about the New York couple who loved art, collected it, and gave it all away
to museums across the country. Publication is slated for fall 2021; Stephen
Fraser at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency represented the author, and
the illustrator represented herself.
To see all of this week's deals, click here.
IN THE MEDIA
SHELFTALKER
Kenny Brechner Six Things About ‘Three Things I Know Are True’
An interview with debut author Betty Culley.
more »
Cynthia Compton A Bookseller Reading Challenge for 2020
Some suggestions of what booksellers should read this year, and
what they might avoid.
more »
Josie Leavitt Quick Thoughts About the Holidays
Looking back on the holiday season from a part-timer who used to
co-own the store.
more »
Cynthia Compton The Bookselling Season of Limbo
A bookseller’s reflections on the trends and challenges of the
2019 holiday selling season.
FEATURED
REVIEWS
 Child of
the Universe Ray Jayawardhana, illus. by Raul Colón. Make Me a World, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-5247-1754-4 Accompanying inspirational words from astrophysicist Jayawardhana, luminous illustrations by Colón imagine a magnificent journey through the cosmos. “My father says I am made of stars,” a girl with dark curly hair says. The two sit on her bed together, gazing at the full moon. Colón represents the child as the actual embodiment of elemental science. more  Green on
Green Dianne White, illus. by Felicita Sala. Beach Lane, $17.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-4814-6278-5 “Lemonade petals./ Sunflakes between./ Lemonade, sunflakes, and yellow on green.” Sala anchors this serene, incantatory poem by White with a family she follows through the seasons. As the weather grows colder, it becomes clear that the family is expecting a baby. White’s words beat at the same slow pace as time lived by the seasons, and Sala’s paintings celebrate lives immersed in nature’s wealth. more  Wayside
School Beneath the Cloud of Doom (Wayside School #4) Louis Sachar, illus. by Tim Heitz. HarperCollins, $17.99 (192p) ISBN 978-0-06-296538-7 Sachar’s snappy comedic stride doesn’t miss a beat in his series’ fourth installment—the first since 1995’s Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger—as the curiosities of Mrs. Jewls’s 30th-floor classroom multiply more quickly than ever. Wayside gets even wonkier after an ominous cloud settles over the building. Into the regaling levity, Sachar characteristically slips worthy nuggets about the rewards of kindness and friendship. more  The Rise
and Fall of Charles Lindbergh Candace Fleming. Schwartz & Wade, $18.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-525-64654-9 Fleming skillfully crafts a layered portrait of a controversial figure: Charles Lindbergh. Her account finely hones the stark contrast between Lindbergh’s rise and his fall from grace after he became fascinated with eugenics, sympathized with Hitler and the Nazis, and involved himself in America-first isolationist politics. A compelling biography of a flawed, larger-than-life man. more
TALES FROM THE
SLUSH PILE
 |
January 2, 2020
People
At Scholastic, Cassandra Pelham Fulton has been promoted
to editorial director of Graphix, from executive editor.
For a look at all of December's job moves, including new hires
and promotions, click here.
On-Sale Calendar
 January titles for young readers are ready to ring in the new year, including bestselling author Maureen Johnson’s The Hand on the Wall, which concludes her Truly Devious trilogy; Adam Silvera’s latest YA novel, Infinity Son; and a graphic novel memoir from Robin Ha, Almost American Girl. Black Is a Rainbow Color, a picture book from Angela Joy, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, is released, and some longstanding series gain new volumes, including Fancy Nancy, Pinkalicious, Mercer Mayer’s Little Critter, My Weird School, and the Magic Tree House. For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of January, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
Bestsellers
 Children's
Frontlist Fiction #1 Fetch-22 (Dog Man #8) by Dav Pilkey. Click here  Picture Books
#1 How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr Seuss. Click here
Follow Us
Children's Bookshelf is on Instagram! Follow us @pwkidsbookshelf.
Bookshelf
Archives
Looking for a previous issue of Children's Bookshelf? Click here for
our archives page!
CONTACT US
Have a comment or
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In the Spotlight
 Children’s Authors on Their Happy Surprises We asked a number of authors whose books were starred by PW this year to tell us about something pleasantly unexpected that has transpired for them over the course of their writing lives—from reunions with childhood librarians to finding new fans on airplanes and discovering forgotten family history, and more. more
Book News
 Scholastic Bets on a YA Book in Translation In August 2018, Scholastic editorial director David Levithan placed a new YA book from Brazil in the hands of fellow editor Orlando Dos Reis: Where We Go from Here, the debut novel by Brazilian writer Lucas Rocha. From the beginning, Dos Reis, who was born in Brazil and speaks Portuguese, was hooked by the story of two teen boys’ friendship following the discovery that one has contracted HIV. We spoke with Dos Reis about acquiring the book for U.S. publication. more  Next Dog Man Title Revealed The next book in Dav Pilkey's bestselling series, Dog Man: Grime and Punishment, will be published on September 1, 2020. The latest title, Dog Man: Fetch-22, was released today, with a 5 million copy first printing. MORE
Literary Report
 Bernie's Book Bank Enriches Chicagoland Children We take a look at Bernie’s Book Bank, the literacy nonprofit organization founded by Brian Floriani in December 2009. At the book bank, volunteers pack new and gently used books for distribution to underserved children in the six-county Chicago metro area. more
School and
Library Spotlight
 Beanstack and PRH Issue Winter Reading Challenge For the third year in a row, Random House Children's Books and Penguin Young Readers will sponsor the Beanstack Winter Reading Challenge, set to kick off in schools and public libraries nationwide on January 1. Participants will use the Beanstack software platform to track the number of minutes spent reading and the number of books completed, for a chance to win prizes. more
Q & A
 Brigid Kemmerer Brigid Kemmerer has been publishing novels for teens and adults for years, but her most recent series, a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling, landed her on the NYT bestseller list this year. The sequel, A Heart So Fierce and Broken, hits shelves in January and has garnered plenty of prepublication buzz. Kemmerer spoke with PW about rewriting a favorite tale. Q: What draws you to writing stories for teens? A: I love stories and gossip. My father used to joke that everyone told me everything because I was a good listener. He always said I would grow up to be a therapist, but I became a writer instead. I think there’s something amazing about stories that brings people together. Teens are the audience I connect with the most. They feel the same emotions adults feel, they’re just feeling them for the first time. more
Rights Report
 Benjamin Rosenthal at HarperCollins/Tegen has
acquired Edgar Award-winning author Mindy McGinnis's YA duology, The
Initial Insult and The Last Laugh, which blends retellings of
Edgar Allan Poe stories in a contemporary Appalachian Ohio setting.
Publication for The Initial Insult is scheduled for winter 2021, and The
Last Laugh is slated for winter 2022; Adriann Ranta Zurhellen at Foundry
Literary + Media brokered the deal for North American rights.  Catherine Wallace at HarperTeen has bought
North American rights to Kathleen Peacock's You Were Never Here,
a YA psychological thriller about a 17-year-old girl with an unusual ability
who returns to the small town where she was born, only to discover her childhood
best friend has gone missing. When another teen is found floating in the
river barely alive, Cat must decide whether to use her ability to find out
the truth about her missing friend, even if it puts her in a killer's
sights—or keep running from a power she can't control. Publication is set for
October 2020; Emmanuelle Morgen at Stonesong represented the author.  Jessica Smith at Simon Pulse has acquired
world rights to debut author G.F. Miller's Glimpsed. In this YA
contemporary romantic comedy, Charity, a teenage fairy godmother who grants
the wishes of her classmates, finds out her wish granting rarely ends in
Happily Ever After, all while falling for her most reluctant client.
Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Kim Lionetti at Bookends Literary
Agency negotiated the deal.  Mallory Kass at Scholastic Press has bought Sam
Subity's middle-grade contemporary fantasy debut, Vale of Secrets,
pitched as a modern retelling of the Beowulf epic, in which a
12-year-old Viking girl must face down foes like a ping-pong playing sea
monster with a wicked backhand and a dark Valkyrie with killer oven mitts to
save her father and her school. Publication is planned for February 2021;
Maura Kye-Casella at the Don Congdon Agency handled the deal for world
English rights.  Brian Geffen at Henry Holt has acquired, in an
exclusive submission, Pawcasso, a middle-grade graphic novel by Remy
Lai (Pie in the Sky). Pawcasso is a basket-toting dog who does his
family's grocery shopping on his own. When 11-year-old Jo is mistaken for his
owner by a group of kids, she goes along with the lie in the hopes of making
new friends. Soon the town becomes divided over whether Pawcasso should be
allowed to roam free, and Jo worries that her lie will be exposed—and
endanger Pawcasso and her new friendships. Publication is slated for spring
2021; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret did the deal for world
rights.  Lily Kessinger at HMH has acquired North
American rights to The Deepest Breath by Meg Grehan, a
middle-grade novel-in-verse about Stevie, a girl reckoning with anxiety about
the many things she has yet to understand—including her feelings about her
friend Chloe. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Karyn Fischer at
Bookstop Literary brokered the deal on behalf of Little Island Books.  Grace Kendall at FSG has bought North American
rights, in a preempt, to Zetta Elliott (l.) and Lyn Miller-Lachmann's
Moonwalking, a middle grade novel-in-verse about an unlikely
friendship that forms between white, undiagnosed autistic new kid
"JJ" Pankowski and "Pie" Velez, an Afro-Latinx science
geek by day and graffiti artist by night, when they discover a shared love of
punk music and start a band in 1980s Brooklyn. Publication is set for fall
2021; Johanna Castillo at Writers House represented Elliott, and Jacqui
Lipton at Storm Literary Agency represented Miller-Lachmann.  Emily Seife at Scholastic Press has bought Mary
E. Lambert's middle grade novel Distress Signal, where four
classmates are stranded in a desert wilderness after a flash flood separates
them from the rest of their grade. Publication is planned for 2020; Linda
Camacho at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency negotiated the deal for North
American rights.  Siobhan Ciminera at Simon Spotlight has
acquired, in a multi-book deal, at auction, author-illustrator Maggie P.
Chang's debut, Geraldine Pu (and Her Lunchbox, Too!), first in a
new series in the Ready-to-Read early reader line. The story follows a
confident girl and her beloved lunchbox, the vestibule for her grandmother's
delicious lunches, as she uses bravery, ingenuity, and even some stinky tofu
in order to right her wrongs and create a sense of openness and community
among her classmates. Publication is set for summer 2021, with Elizabeth
Barton and Sally Hosokawa editing; Wendi Gu at Sanford J. Greenburger
Associates did the deal for world English rights.  Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane has bought
world rights to Cougar Crossing!: How Hollywood's Celebrity Cougar Helped
Build a Bridge for Wildlife by Meeg Pincus, illustrated by Alexander
Vidal. The nonfiction picture book tells the story of P-22, a mountain
lion that has inspired the city of Los Angeles to start building the world's
largest wildlife crossing. Publication is slated for spring 2021; Jenna
Pocius at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Stefanie Sanchez Von
Borstel at Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator.  Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has acquired world
rights to RESPECT: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul by Carole
Boston Weatherford, to be illustrated by Frank Morrison. The
picture book honors Aretha's roots, spirituality, influences, leadership, and
cultural impact. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Rubin Pfeffer at
Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the author, and Lori Nowicki at Painted
Words represented the illustrator.  Talia Benamy at Philomel has bought world
rights to 12x12 Picture Book Writing Challenge founder Julie Hedlund's
Over, Bear! Under, Where?, a wordplay picture book about unlikely
friendship, featuring two friends at a playground and a bear that interrupts
their fun—or so they think. Michael Slack will illustrate; a fall 2021
publication is planned. Erzsi Deak at Hen&Ink Literary Studio represented
the author, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.  Mabel Hsu at HarperCollins/Tegen has acquired
world rights to Oona, a picture book by Kelly DiPucchio (l.),
illustrated by Raissa Figueroa, based on an original character created
by Figueroa, about a mischievous little mermaid who can't quite reach the one
treasure she desires. Publication is slated for winter 2021; Steven Malk at
Writers House represented the author, and Natascha Morris at BookEnds
Literary Agency represented the illustrator.  Samantha Swenson at Tundra has bought world
rights to Riel Nason's The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt, a
picture book about a ghost whose unusual fabric excludes him from typical
ghostly fun until one particular Halloween. Byron Eggenschwiler will
illustrate. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Hilary McMahon at
Westwood Creative Artists represented the author, and the illustrator
represented himself.  Christopher Robbins at Familius has acquired
world rights to Cathy Fishman's (l.) Winter Hike in the City,
which uses the numbers one through 10 to highlight the diversity of an
inner-city neighborhood by showing holidays such as Hanukkah, Christmas,
Mawlid-al-Nabi, Dia de Reyes, and Kwanzaa. Melanie Hall will
illustrate. Publication is set for October 2020; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger
Literary represented both the author and the illustrator.  Samara Klein at PJ Library has bought world
rights to Hanukkah with Friends, written by Chris Barash (l.); Maya
Shleifer will illustrate. In the branches of a tree lives a bird; in the
trunk of the same tree lives a squirrel; and underneath the tree lives a
mouse. These three woodland animals share a home, a friendship, and a
Hanukkah celebration. Publication is planned for November 2020; the author
represented herself, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency
represented the artist.
To see all of this week's deals, click here.
IN THE MEDIA
SHELFTALKER
Josie Leavitt Change Is Definitely Good
Taking in the bookstore with the fresh eyes of a former owner.
more »
Cynthia Compton It Might Be Getting Busy Soon
Hectic holiday shop afternoons make us wonder when it’s going
look as busy to customers as we feel.
more »
Meghan Dietsche Goel Falling in Love with ‘Birdsong’
A child’s-eye view of a contemplative picture book masterpiece.
more »
Kenny Brechner On the Book in 2039
A consideration of Alix Harrow’s op-ed from the future, ‘Books
May Be Dead in 2039 but Stories Live On.’
FEATURED
REVIEWS
 My Best
Friend Julie Fogliano, illus. by Jillian Tamaki. Atheneum, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-5344-2722-8 Fogliano captures the feeling of giddy infatuation when a child first meets another and feels an instant bond—it’s an early form of falling in love. Swinging, dancing in dizzy spirals, and games of chase lead to a string of new discoveries. Rust and olive vignettes by Tamaki burst with energy that seems boundless, and closer inspection reveals elegantly controlled draftsmanship. more  Being Frog
April Pulley Sayre. Beach Lane, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-5344-2881-2 Focused on frogs’ essential frog-ness rather than anthropomorphized interpretations of amphibian life, Sayre uses rich photographs and evocative language to explore how frogs might understand and experience their environments. Simple questions invite readers to consider how the world may look and feel to a frog. more  A Home for
Goddesses and Dogs Leslie Connor. HarperCollins/Tegen, $16.99 (400p) ISBN 978-0-06-279678-3 After her single mother’s protracted illness and death, 13-year-old narrator Lydia moves to a rural Connecticut town to live with her matter-of-fact aunt, her buoyant wife, their greyhound, and their elderly landlord. Soon after she arrives, they adopt a rambunctious rescue dog, but Lydia isn’t a dog person, and it takes time for her to warm to him. What stands out is the narrative’s essential kindness, as Lydia heals and rediscovers the meaning of home and family. more  Red Hood
Elana K. Arnold. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $17.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-06-274235-3 "There isn’t always a wolf... but there is always the threat of one.” Arnold artfully spins a dark, magic-tinged “Little Red Riding Hood” retelling in which a young woman discovers the power that is her birthright. At once a sharp critique of male entitlement and a celebration of sisterhood and feminine power, this story will linger with readers long after the final page. |
December 10, 2019
 
People
Scholastic has several new hires and promotions. Cormac
McEvoy has joined Klutz as senior product manager, leading the Klutz
Maker Lab line; he was previously at Alex Brands. Lynnette Munoz has
joined as junior designer for Klutz; she was previously at Canal Toys and was
also a freelance illustrator. Emily Nguyen has joined Graphix as
editorial assistant; she was previously an intern at FSG Books for Young
Readers and HMH Books for Young Readers. Teresa Malik has been
promoted to senior brand manager, global licensing, brands and media, from
brand manager, global licensing, brands and media. Jessica Meltzer has
been promoted to senior designer, licensing, brands and media, from designer,
licensing, brands and media. Vanessa Han has been promoted to
associate art director, Klutz, from senior designer. Courtney DeVerges
has been promoted to national account manager, Klutz, from national account
sales representative. Zachary Clark has been promoted to senior
editor, from editor. Rachel Matson has been promoted to associate
editor, from assistant editor. Olivia Valcarce has been promoted to
associate editor, from assistant editor. Jonah Newman has been
promoted to assistant editor, from editorial assistant. Shelly Romero
has been promoted to assistant editor, from editorial assistant. Talia
Seidenfeld has been promoted to assistant editor, from editorial
assistant.
Aria Balraj has
joined Little, Brown Books for Young Readers as editorial assistant, graphic
publishing, reporting to Andrea Colvin. She was previously an editorial
assistant at Scholastic Book Clubs.
Bestsellers
 Children's
Frontlist Fiction #1 Wrecking Ball (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #14) by Jeff Kinney. Click here  Picture Books
#1 #1 The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Click here
Follow Us
Children's Bookshelf is on Instagram! Please follow us @pwkidsbookshelf.
Bookshelf
Archives
Looking for a previous issue of Children's Bookshelf? Click here for
our archives page.
CONTACT US
Have a comment or
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In the Spotlight
 Children's Publishers Celebrate Halloween 2019 Children's publishers from coast to coast hosted parties as staffers donned costumes based on their favorite characters and books—both classic and contemporary. Click through to check out our selection of photos from the festivities. more
Book News
 A 'Wonky Donkey' Begets A 'Dinky Donkey' New Zealand author Craig Smith's picture book The Wonky Donkey, illustrated by Katz Cowley, catapulted to fame in fall 2018 when a YouTube video went viral of a Scottish woman laughing irrepressibly while reading the book aloud to her infant grandson. Now, young readers can meet that donkey's offspring in The Dinky Donkey; we spoke with Smith about the sequel. more 
Audio
News
 'Hey, Kiddo' Comes to Audio When author-illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka's graphic memoir Hey, Kiddo was released in October 2018, it received wide and warm acclaim, including being named a National Book Award finalist. Now, a year after its publication, the book has been adapted for audio. Krosoczka shared some photos from the recording sessions, along with insight on transforming his memoir into a new medium. more
Q & A
 Maureen Johnson Wrapping up two big projects is how YA author Maureen Johnson will end this decade and start the next one. The film version of Let It Snow, which she co-wrote with John Green and Lauren Myracle, debuts tomorrow on Netflix, and her Truly Devious mystery trilogy concludes in January. We spoke with Johnson, who had just returned from the movie premiere in Los Angeles. Q: Who is your favorite detective? A: I certainly love Sherlock Holmes, and I was a big Agatha Christie reader as a kid. Before I started Truly Devious, I made a list not only of all my favorite detectives—who would be [main character] Stevie’s favorites, too—but a chart of all possible motives for a crime. I don’t know why I had never written a mystery before because my passion really is mysteries. Maybe there’s an aversion to doing the thing that’s closest to us, that means the most. more  Chris and J.J. Grabenstein After years of behind-the-scenes collaboration, husband-and-wife team Chris and J.J. Grabenstein have co-written Shine!, a standalone novel for middle graders. Following 12-year-old space-enthusiast Piper as she begins at a posh new school, the story explores the anxiety and joy of finding oneself. The Grabensteins spoke with PW about their creative process. Q: Is this the first time you two have collaborated? Chris: Not for me. J.J. has been my secret weapon! I think I have 58 different books and she always reads things first. We’ve written together. We do puppet shows sometimes for our church. I’ll do the first draft and J.J. will do the rewriting. But I would say this is our first major project together. more
Out Next Week
 Hot Off the Presses: Week of November 11, 2019 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book about influential Broadway performers, a middle grade mystery, a YA novel about race, religion, and identity, and more. more
In Brief
 In Brief: November 7, 2019 This week, Renée Watson speaks with Ta-Nehisi Coates; a California bookstore celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month; Oge Mora has a fitting event for her latest picture book; Heather Smith wins a Canadian prize; Peter H. Reynolds paints a mural with Manhattan students; and Sarah Glenn Fortson’s launch is a rootin' tootin' good time. more
Rights Report
 Alexandra Cooper at HarperTeen has acquired
North American rights to three novels from Kendare Blake, author of
the bestselling Three Dark Crowns series. All These Bodies, in the
vein of Anna Dressed in Blood, features a 15-year-old girl who is the
surviving victim-turned-suspect of a Midwestern murder spree in a standalone
that unspools like a speculative YA version of In Cold Blood. The
first two books of Blake's untitled fantasy series follow a mystical order of
female warriors. Publication for All These Bodies is scheduled for
fall 2021; the first fantasy novel is scheduled for fall 2022. Adriann Ranta
Zurhellen at Foundry Literary + Media negotiated the deal.  Dana Chidiac at Dial has bought world rights
to Navdeep Singh Dhillon's YA debut, Sunny G and a Series of Rash
Decisions. When Sunny Gill gets dumped by his prom date, he thinks the
night is going to be a disaster—but that's just the beginning. What follows
is a 24-hour romp as Sunny chases a pair of mislaid post-prom party tickets
and the girl who took them through his hometown of Fresno, Calif., and comes
to terms with life after high school. Publication is set for summer 2021;
Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman Literary Agency did the deal on behalf of CAKE
Literary.  Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollins has
acquired, at auction, YA author Sashi Kaufman's middle-grade debut, Sardines,
and an untitled second middle-grade book. Sardines follows 11-year-old
Lucas and a group of four other kids from disparate social and economic
circles as they are forced together each afternoon by the middle school's
aftercare program. As the group bonds, they create a game in which the group
works together to grant each kid a wish. Publication is slated for summer
2021; Lauren MacLeod at the Strothman Agency brokered the deal for world
English rights.  Howard Reeves at Abrams has bought World
Turned Upside Down: The Story of Yorktown by Tim Grove, YALSA
Award finalist and author of the forthcoming Star-Spangled. In the
middle grade book, the world literally changes when five vastly different
stories intersect at Yorktown during the American Revolution. Publication is
planned for fall 2021; Alexander Slater at Trident Media Group negotiated the
deal for world English rights.  Neal Porter at Holiday House/Porter has
acquired We Will Live in This Forest Again by author-illustrator Gianna
Marino. Inspired by Marino's experience during the Sonoma, Calif.,
wildfires of 2017, it depicts the animal residents of a forest during a fire
and the aftermath. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Deborah Warren at
East West Literary handled the deal for world rights.  Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has bought, at
auction, world rights to Roto & Roy: Helicopter Heroes, first in a
two-book deal for the Roto & Roy series by Sherri Duskey Rinker,
author of the Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site series.
Author-illustrator Don Tate, co-founder of The Brown Bookshelf, will
illustrate the story about a heroic helicopter, her pilot, and their daring
adventures. Publication is set for spring 2021 and spring 2022; Lori Kilkelly
at LK Literary Agency represented the author, and Caryn Wiseman at Andrea
Brown Literary Agency represented the artist.  Tracey Keevan at Disney-Hyperion has acquired
world rights to Red Big, a picture book exploration of colors and
birds by author and poet David Elliott (l.), illustrated by Ezra Jack
Keats Award winner Evan Turk. Publication is slated for spring 2022;
Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and
Brenda Bowen at The Book Group represented the illustrator.  Joan Powers at Candlewick has bought world
rights to Jamie Michalak's (l.) Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter,
a picture book with seek-and-find elements about the secret
museum-within-a-museum hidden behind Dakota Crumb's mousehole. The book will
be illustrated by Kelly Murphy; publication is planned for March 2021.
Victoria Wells Arms at Wells Arms Literary/HG Literary represented the
author, and the illustrator represented herself.  Nancy Inteli at HarperCollins has acquired, at
auction, world rights to We Move the World, a nonfiction picture book
from debut author Kari Lavelle and illustrator Nabigal-Nayagam
Haider Ali that introduces readers to stories of big and small ways we
can make change through protest, exploration, celebration, and more.
Publication is set for winter 2021; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic
Literary Agency represented the author, and James Burns at The Bright Agency
represented the illustrator.  Allison Cohen at Running Press has bought
world rights to Debra Shumaker's (l.) debut picture book, Freaky,
Funky Fish, illustrated by Claire Powell. From zapping, stinging,
even singing, to playing dead or with a see-through head, fish do some freaky
funky things to survive in this nonfiction picture book. Publication is
scheduled for spring 2021; Natascha Morris at BookEnds Literary represented
the author, and Clare Wallace at Darley Anderson Children's Book Agency
represented the illustrator.  Sailaja Joshi of Bharat Babies has acquired
world rights to Monique Chheda's (l.) Bindiya in India, the
story of a girl's trip to India for a wedding. Set in the '90s and weaving
together Hindi and English, the picture book follows Bindiya as she takes in
the sights of India. The book will be illustrated by Singapore-based
illustrator Debasmita Dasgupta; publication is planned for fall 2020.
The author and illustrator were unagented.
To see all of this week's deals, click here.
IN THE MEDIA
SHELFTALKER
Kenny Brechner Fact Checking the Octopus
Early Bird predictions are tested for accuracy.
more »
Meghan Dietsche Goel Letting Kids Be Kids: A ‘Wrecking Ball’ Event for the Ages
In which Jeff Kinney oversees dumpster divers, sledgehammer
trivia, and a very surprising dance-off!
more »
Elizabeth Bluemle A New Kind of New-Baby Book
The first of its kind: a new-baby book that lovingly reflects
the trans experience, from an #OwnVoices author.
more »
Cynthia Compton Bookselling from the Bench
Bookselling while stationed behind the desk is the hardest
challenge of all for this shopkeeper.
FEATURED
REVIEWS
 Such a Good Boy Marianna Coppo. Chronicle, $17.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-4521-7774-8 Pairing a deadpan narrative with analogously wry, spare tempera and pastel art, this story introduces Buzz, a pampered pooch who “pretty much has it all.” But Buzz sometimes feels pressured “to keep up the family name,” a duty underscored by a wall showcasing portraits of his ancestors, all stylishly coiffed—and all named Buzz. more  Race to the Sun Rebecca Roanhorse. Disney-Hyperion/Riordan, $16.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-368-02466-2 In this fantasy inspired by Navajo legends, two siblings discover they’re the latest incarnations of the famed Hero Twins, just in time to combat a devious monster who plans to unleash his brethren upon the world. Nizhoni’s blend of snark, confidence, and humor proves as multifaceted as the satisfying tale’s focus on friendship, family, and cultural legacy. more  Playlist:
The Rebels and Revolutionaries of Sound James Rhodes, illus. by Martin O’Neill. Candlewick Studio, $29.99 (72p) ISBN 978-1-5362-1214-3 To counter the idea that “classical music is... dull [and] irrelevant,” Rhodes, a pianist, constructed a guided introduction to a Spotify playlist featuring pieces by seven composers: Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Ravel, and Schubert. O’Neill’s pleasingly trippy Sgt. Pepper-esque collages slyly reposition bewigged men as psychedelic revolutionaries. more  Not So
Pure and Simple Lamar Giles. HarperTeen, $17.99 (400p) ISBN 978-0-06-234919-4 High schooler Del Rainey has had a crush on Kiera Westing since kindergarten, but Kiera has “never been single. Nev. Er.” When she suddenly experiences a breakup, though, he’s determined to give things a go, inadvertently signing up for their church’s Purity Pledge group alongside her, an eight-week program offering “a thorough review of why Jesus wants me to abstain.” Giles’s thoughtful, hilarious read offers a timely viewpoint on religion, toxic masculinity, and teen sexuality. more
TALES FROM THE
SLUSH PILE
 |
November 7, 2019
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People
At Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Tiffany Liao
has been promoted to senior editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers,
from editor.
At Random House Children's Books, Polo Orozco has been
promoted to assistant editor, from editorial assistant. Ali Romig has
moved to Delacorte Press as editorial assistant; previously she was
publishing assistant at RHCB.
ICYMI
Follow Us
Children's Bookshelf is on Instagram! Follow us @pwkidsbookshelf.
Bookshelf
Archives
Looking for a previous issue of Children's Bookshelf? Click here for
our archives page!
CONTACT US
Have a comment or
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