PW Children's Books newsletters

 Here are the latest newsletters:

In the Spotlight Children's Starred Reviews 2022 Our Children’s Starred Reviews Annual features nearly 400 reviews of exceptional books for young readers, a selection of interviews with some of today’s top authors and illustrators, our 50 Best Books of 2022, and a cover by Felicita Sala. MORE In the News Publishers Discuss Ways to Serve a Diverse Market We spoke with a number of publishers about what they're doing to reach a more inclusive range of readers of all ages. more WNDB Launches #BooksSaveLives Initiative Against Censorship WNDB is launching the #BooksSaveLives campaign, which will give as much as $10,000 in grants to schools and libraries in underserved communities so that they can purchase challenged and banned books for their collections. more Bookstore News YA Does YA at Annabelle's Book Club L.A. Teen books attract an avid school-age readership, but seldom does an actual teenager establish a bricks-and-mortar bookstore. Annabelle's Book Club L.A., which opened on Black Friday in Los Angeles's Studio City neighborhood, stands out for its hot pink façade, its YA-focused inventory, and its 16-year-old proprietor, Annabelle Chang. more Licensing News Mercer Mayer Co-Founds New Entertainment and Licensing Company Mercer Mayer, author of 300 books including the long-running Little Critter series, has partnered with digital media developer John Sansevere to form a new company, Twelve/30. The organization will handle licensing and media extensions, including new publishing, for all of Mayer’s published works. more Licensing Hotline: November 2022 Studio Fun, an imprint of Printers Row Publishing Group's children's unit, has sold more than 1.5 million copies of the 41 Blippi books it has published since October 2019. Blippi (aka Stevin John) is a blue and orange-clad educator-character known for his YouTube content that helps preschoolers explore their world and get excited about learning. Read on for news about Abrams’s middle grade and graphic novels tied to the classic Nickelodeon horror series Are You Afraid of the Dark?, 80th anniversary tie-ins for The Little Prince, and more. more Books for the Holidays 2022 Holiday Books for Kids and Teens Young readers can get into the holiday spirit with these seasonal titles that would make it onto anyone's nice list. more For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new PW JobZone, now with resume hosting and more! ·  Graphic Designer, Childrens and Teen books - American Psychological Association - Washington D.C., DC. ·  Contracts Assistant - The Bright Agency - Jersey City, NJ. ·  Store Manager/Sales Associate - Zibby's Bookshop - Santa Monica, CA. ·  Regional Sales Manager - Publishers Weekly. ·  Digital Marketing Manager - Ingram Content Group - New York, NY. Rights Report Rebecca Kuss at Disney/Rick Riordan Presents has acquired, in an exclusive submission, two untitled YA horror novels by Judy I. Lin (A Magic Steeped in Poison). Pulling from the darkest corners of Taiwanese folklore and urban legend, the first story follows a Taiwanese Canadian teenager in Vancouver's Chinatown who gets caught up in an epic battle of monsters, power, and destiny as she fights to save her sister from possession by an otherworldly evil spirit. Publication is slated for October 2024; Rachel Brooks at BookEnds Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights. Ardi Alspach at Union Square Kids has bought, in a preempt, YA contemporary novel Red by Annie Cardi (The Chance You Won't Return). Pitched as a nod to The Scarlet Letter in the #MeToo era, for readers of Speak and Grown, Red follows teenager Tess as her very personal decision goes public and, rejected and harassed, she seeks solace in music and uses her voice to end the cycle of abuse in her small town. Publication is planned for January 2024; Laura Crockett at TriadaUS did the deal for world rights. Kiara Valdez at First Second has acquired at auction Michelle Wong's debut YA graphic novel Terminal Hope, for fans of Marissa Meyer and Marie Lu, about an orphaned teen who must team up with a rogue android to survive the underbelly of mankind's last remaining sanctuary and thwart city enforcers when he becomes a target for powers he unwillingly received. Publication is scheduled for 2026; Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency sold world rights. Camille Kellogg at Bloomsbury has bought debut author Kelsea Yu's It's Only a Game, a YA thriller in which Marina Chan and her friends are blackmailed into playing a video game with deadly consequences that forces them to lie, trespass, and steal in real life. But the deeper into the game they get, the more Marina realizes that whoever is pulling the strings knows too much about the past she's tried to leave behind. Publication is set for spring 2024; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary sold world rights. Meg Gaertner at Flux has acquired The Merciless King of Moore High, a YA contemporary fantasy pitched as Riverdale meets Game of Thrones by Lily Sparks (Teen Killers Club). After adults morph into monsters and everyone under 18 barricades themselves inside their schools to survive, Kay is cast out when she learns a dangerous secret and must seek asylum at her school's hard-partying rival, which has adopted the neo-feudal trappings of a popular video game and is ruled by the charismatic but ruthless King Max. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Stacia Decker at Dunow, Carlson, & Lerner brokered the deal for world English rights. Lydia Gregovic at Delacorte Press has bought debut author Keshe Chow's The Girl with No Reflection, a dark YA fantasy inspired by Chinese folklore in which a young woman travels to the royal palace for her betrothal to the crown prince, only to discover an eerie parallel world existing in secret within the palace mirrors—and a host of living reflections dwelling inside it. Publication is planned for summer 2024; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency handled the deal for world rights. Karen Lotz at Candlewick Press has acquired three books by Oscar-winning animator, writer, and director Alan Barillaro. The first, a middle-grade novel called Where the Water Takes Us, is a coming-of-age story about a girl who learns to confront her anxiety and fears, rely on her own strength, and accept the friendship of a new boy in her life when she is sent to stay with her grandparents during her mother's difficult pregnancy. Publication is set for May 2023; Janine Kamouh at William Morris Endeavor sold North American and U.K. rights. David Saylor and Cassandra Pelham Fulton at Scholastic/Graphix have bought, in an exclusive submission, Bone: More Tall Tales, a graphic novel set in Jeff Smith's world of Bone. In stories written by Jeff Smith (l.) and Tom Sniegoski, and illustrated by Jeff Smith, Stan Sakai, Katie Cook, Matt Smith, and Scott Brown, the Bone cousins and their Rat Creature pal share stories around a campfire with a group of young scouts. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Vijaya Iyer at Cartoon Books negotiated the deal for U.S., Canadian, and Philippine rights. Suzy Capozzi at Union Square Kids has acquired, in a preempt, Rhonda Roumani's middle grade novel Tagging Freedom. The story follows a 13-year-old Syrian graffiti artist at the beginning of the Syrian Revolution, who, after a close call with the secret police, is sent to live with his Syrian-American cousin in a small town in Massachusetts. Together, they discover the power of activism and the courage it takes to stand up for freedom of speech everywhere. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Brent Taylor at Triada US sold world rights. Maya Marlette and Sam Palazzi at Scholastic have bought Nikki Shannon Smith's Stranded, pitched as a contemporary My Side of the Mountain, a middle grade survival story in which an 11-year-old girl must learn the skills needed to stay alive after a winter storm leaves her stranded alone in the Adirondack mountains. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the deal for world rights. Grace Scheipeter at Oni Press has acquired world rights to Dracula's Brunch Club, a debut middle grade graphic novel by Brian Gonsar (l.), illustrated by Keenan Gaybba. In this origin story of why vampires crave blood, Count Dracula risks losing his prized brunch club when all the jelly in the land mysteriously disappears, robbing the vampires of his famous energy-giving, blood orange jelly donuts. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; Stacey Graham at 3 Seas Literary brokered the deal. Alison Deering at Capstone has bought the first four titles in Stephanie Faris's new chapter book series, Gabby Ghost Hunter, about a scientifically driven girl who doesn't believe in ghosts and sets out to disprove the "evidence" her father finds at each location on his ghost hunting show. Through her investigations, however, 10-year-old Gabby learns that not all things are able to be explained. Publication of the first title, The Ghost at the Inn, is set for fall 2023; Natalie Lakosil at Irene Goodman Literary Agency sold world rights. Winsome Bingham at Reycraft has acquired world rights for the chapter book series Martina by Mariana Llanos. Book one, Martina and Her Bright Star, follows six-year-old Martina as she learns how to make sense of life now that her beloved Papi is gone, and discovers that she doesn't have to fly to the stars to be with Papi. Publication is slated for spring 2025, with the second and third installments to follow in spring 2026 and spring 2027. Sera Rivers while at Martin Literary & Media Management negotiated the deal. Siobhan Ciminera at Simon Spotlight has bought Go Go Dino! by Kaz Windness, a rhyming book for emerging readers in which dinosaurs on roller skates, bikes, and trikes race for prehistoric glory; Lisa Rao will edit. Publication is planned for summer 2024; Timothy Travaglini at Transatlantic Agency handled the two-book deal for world rights. Jill Davis at Astra/Hippo Park acquired world rights to Rabbit's Feat by Barney Saltzberg (Beautiful Oops!), in which a rabbit overhears a conversation each spring between a cactus and rock who wish to be closer together but can't accomplish it on their own. It's scheduled for fall 2024; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal. Dana Chidiac while at Dial bought world rights to Little Bird Laila by Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature winner Kelly Yang (l.), illustrated by Xindi Yan; Nancy Mercado will edit. The picture book shows how Laila acts as a translator for her parents who speak Chinese, and how she begins to teach them English as well. Publication is set for summer 2024; Tina Dubois at ICM Partners represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator. Danielle Collins at S&S/Beach Lane Books has acquired world rights to Saturday Morning at the 'Shop, a picture book by debut author Keenan Jones (l.), illustrated by Ken Daley. When a boy spends the day at his local barbershop, he discovers the many important roles the 'Shop plays as a space for Black culture and community. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Savannah Brooks at KT Literary represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator. Katie Scott at Kids Can Press has bought world rights to What Lolo Wants by Cristina Oxtra (l.), illustrated by Jamie Bauza. Maria loves to spend her days drawing with her grandfather, Lolo. But when Lolo begins to forget things, Maria must come up with a creative way to figure out what Lolo wants. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Tracy Marchini at BookEnds represented the author, and Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator. Frances Gilbert at Doubleday has acquired world rights to Elijah's Easter Suit by Brentom Jackson (l.), illustrated by Emmanuel Boateng. Elijah is on a mission to find the perfect church outfit for Easter; failed attempts in his town's stores leave Elijah crushed, but a conversation with two community elders gives Elijah the courage to create his own Easter masterpiece that tells his story with style. Publication is set for spring 2024. Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator. Tracy Mack at Scholastic Press has bought world rights to Wash Day by Tanisia "Tee" Moore (l.), illustrated by Coretta Scott King Honoree Raissa Figueroa, a picture book about a sacred rite of passage in Black culture—the hair wash day routine—and on Saturday, it goes down in Tasha's house… if Momma can catch her. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Natascha Morris at the Tobias Agency represented the illustrator. To see all of this week's deals, click here. IN THE MEDIA From the Darien Times: Darien, Conn., school board says Julián Is a Mermaid is appropriate for second graders despite some parents upset by gender message. CLICK HERE From the Washington Post: Jacqueline Woodson stretches her creativity with a new play at Kennedy Center. CLICK HERE From Mental Floss: First It Was Winnie the Pooh—Now Bambi Is Being Turned into a Bloodthirsty Killer in Bambi: The Reckoning. CLICK HERE From Literary Hub: ''In My Opinion, Seven Is the Pinnacle of Life'': Annie Barrows on Creating Ivy and Bean. CLICK HERE From Book Riot: The Controversy of The Rabbits' Wedding by Garth Williams. CLICK HERE From Book Riot: The Most Popular U.K. YA Books as Chosen by Students. CLICK HERE VIEW ALL SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner The Return of Pajama Night! Prime Time Reading Night makes a triumphant return. more » Kenny Brechner ‘In Every Life’ Marla Frazee’s new tour de force. more » Kenny Brechner An Interview with Autumn Fall shares her surprising picture book picks. more » Kenny Brechner The Back to School Book of the Century The delightful heft of Rick the Rock, star of a new picture book. more » FEATURED REVIEWS Very Good Hats Emma Straub, illus. by Blanca Gómez. Rocky Pond, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-5935-2943-0 Straub throws her hat in the picture book ring with a gently comic clarion call to imaginations and creativity: “Anything can be a hat if you believe it is.” Tipping a chapeau to hats both conventional and less so, breezy encyclopedic text focuses most of its enthusiasm on examples that expand the definition of hats and who wears them. Digitally enhanced collage art from Gómez contributes bountifully to this book’s classic feel, offering an openhearted aesthetic playfulness that promises to inspire audiences’ love of categorization. more Jump In! Shadra Strickland. Bloomsbury, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-61963-580-7 Vibrantly rendered and warmly welcoming, this solo debut from Strickland portrays a lively metropolitan community engaging in a lengthy game of double Dutch. On a warm day shown in textural digital art, a group of children with various skin tones gathers on a neighborhood blacktop. As a reiterative “Jump in!” invites the next person in, fittingly metered, rhyming text describes each participant’s jumping style. It’s a celebration of intergenerational community and play whose turns spotlight the strengths of both individuals and an inclusive, supportive, tight-knit community. more Princess of the Wild Sea Megan Frazer Blakemore. Bloomsbury, $17.99 (256p) ISBN 978-1-5476-0956-7 At her christening, Princess Harbor Rose of Lapistyr is cursed by one of her aunts to prick her finger and bring about a mysterious enemy which “shall lay waste to the land” in this expansive “Sleeping Beauty” remix by Blakemore. A second aunt successfully alters the curse, which now foretells the rise of a hero to defeat the coming evil. Familiar fairy tales serve as the foundation for this intriguing volume, which Blakemore imbues with refreshing wildness and originality, resulting in a continually surprising adventure. more Play the Game Charlene Allen. HarperCollins/Tegen, $17.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-06-321279-4 Months after Black Brooklyn teenager Ed Hennessey is killed, Philip Singer—the white man who shot him and was not prosecuted—is found dead outside the same restaurant where the event occurred. The incident sparks a new wave of trauma and anger within the community. Informed by present-day events surrounding structural racism and oppression, and the author’s experience as a restorative justice advocate, Allen compassionately examines themes of community and criminal justice reform in this affecting, noirish debut. more Spice Road Maiya Ibrahim. Delacorte, $19.99 (464p) ISBN 978-0-593-12696-7 Ibrahim’s superbly written fantasy debut, the first in a series, follows 17-year-old Imani on a quest to find her missing, traitorous older brother. Imani is the youngest Shield in history, an individual who wields magic to combat djinn and other mythical beings threatening the safety of the hidden desert city, Qalia. But when her older brother, Atheer, flees with mystical Qalia secrets, labeling him a traitor, Imani’s reputation is tarnished. Overflowing with culturally specific details and set in a fictional, Arabian-inspired world, this high-octane adventure maintains a steady clip toward a scintillating conclusion. more	November 29, 2022 People Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing has two promotions. Katherine Devendorf has been promoted to v-p, director managing editorial, from executive managing editor. Chel Morgan has been promoted to managing editor for Aladdin and Simon Pulse, from associate managing editor. Nick Sweeney has joined Ameet Studio as managing editor of Lego Books; previously he had been associate production editor at Bloomsbury. Kelly Haberstroh has joined HarperCollins Children's Books as associate publicist; she was previously a freelance publicist. Janaea Eads has joined Candlewick Press as sales assistant; she was most recently a library assistant at the Turner Free Library. Abby Granata has joined Macmillan Children's Publishing Group as a junior designer. Bestsellers Children’s Frontlist Fiction #1 Diper Överlöde (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #17) by Jeff Kinney. Click here Picture Books #1 Little Blue Truck's Christmas by Alice Schertle, illus. by Jill McElmurry. Click here Follow Us Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram! 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.

In the Spotlight YALLFest 2022 in Photos Fans of YA literature flocked to Charleston, S.C., for a weekend of bookish fun at YALLFEST, held November 11­–­12. The 11th annual YallFest was filled with engaging panels featuring more than 70 authors, book signings, photo booths, giveaways, and more. Click through for highlights from the event. more In the News The Rabbit hOle Hops Closer to Completion The Rabbit hOle, the $15 million "explore-a-storium" project in Kansas City spearheaded by former children's booksellers Pete Cowdin and Deb Pettid, is moving closer to becoming a reality. more Charlesbridge Publishing Acquires Move Books Charlesbridge Publishing has acquired middle-grade book publisher Move Books, launched in 2011 by Eileen Robinson with the aim of increasing literacy rates among boys. Robinson has joined Charlesbridge and will form a new middle grade imprint called Charlesbridge Moves. more Obituary Ellen Wittlinger Ellen Wittlinger, whose YA novels have been praised for their depiction of memorable and realistic protagonists navigating provocative issues of adolescence, died on November 17 at 74. Justin Chanda at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers offered this tribute: "To say that Ellen Wittlinger was a trailblazer is beyond an understatement. For decades she wrote engaging, searing books that never shied away from showing all facets of love, identity, and sense of self." more Book News At 30, Brain Quest Expands and Refreshes Its Line In 2023, three decades after Workman first introduced Brain Quest, this curriculum-based, grade-leveled publishing program is further extending its reach with a move into the preschool market. more Movie Alert 'My Father's Dragon' My Father's Dragon, inspired by the 1948 children's novel of the same name by Ruth Stiles Gannett, is now a 2D-animated fantasy film streaming on Netflix. Ruth, who celebrated her 99th birthday in August, and her daughter, Louise, said of the movie, “It brought the story more up to date to the experience of many children around the world today." more Out Next Week Hot Off the Presses: Week of November 28 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book about a girl's failed knitting projects, a middle grade book following a girl attempting to return a foal to its herd, a YA thriller about stranded friends with secrets, and more. more For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new PW JobZone, now with resume hosting and more! ·  Publicist - Graywolf Press. ·  E-Commerce and Digital Partner Operations Assistant - Graphic Audio LLC - Rockville, MD. ·  Licensing Coordinator, Publishing - Smithsonian Enterprises - Washington, DC. ·  Project Assistant, Custom Proprietary & Value - The Quarto Group - Remote. ·  Senior Acquisitions Editor, Engineering (Synthesis) - Springer Nature - New York, NY. Rights Report Jennie Conway while at Wednesday Books acquired, in an exclusive submission, Our Cursed Love by Julie Abe (The Charmed List); Tiffany Shelton will edit. In this YA contemporary fantasy pitched as a magical Love and Gelato meets 50 First Dates, Remy and Cam are two childhood best friends who are totally "just friends"—at least, until a love potion goes wrong and Cam forgets Remy completely. To unravel their past and rewrite the future, they must travel through a wintry Tokyo for an antidote—and maybe even fall in love all over again. Publication is set for fall 2023; Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic did the deal for world rights. Tamara Grasty at Page Street has bought The Unboxing of a Black Girl by Angela Shanté, a memoir/cultural criticism of Black girlhood, a collection of short stories/vignettes and poetry inspired by the author's life. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Stephanie Hansen at Metamorphosis Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights. Kristie Choi at Atheneum has acquired The Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang, an upper middle grade graphic novel by debut author-illustrator Stan Yan, pitched as Turning Red meets Goosebumps. Eugenia's party has never been celebrated on her actual birthday, April 4, because of Mom's belief in the Chinese superstition that four is an unlucky number, which Eugenia thinks is ridiculous. But when she starts getting visions through her comic artwork of impending doom on 4/4, she may do something truly horrifying—admit Mom is right. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Ann Rose while at Prospect Agency handled the deal for world rights. Liz Kossnar at Little, Brown has bought Which Way to Anywhere and a second book in a new series from Cressida Cowell, bestselling author of the How to Train Your Dragon and Wizard of Once series, about a family with a magical secret and a boy with a powerful gift. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Caroline Walsh at David Higham Associates sold U.S. rights. Maya Marlette at Scholastic has acquired Sylvia Liu's middle grade novel, Near and Deer, in which a girl secretly cares for an orphaned fawn befriended by her dog, distracting her from helping to save her family's inn. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights. Grace Scheipeter at Oni Press has bought Goat Magic, a graphic novel by Washington Post and The Nib cartoonist Kate Wheeler, pitched for fans of Wolfwalkers and Mooncakes, about two girls on an adventure—one a reluctant goatherd, the other a goat who happens to be an enchanted princess—and how their friendship blossoms into something more amid treachery against the throne. Publication is set for spring 2025; Jennifer Mattson at Andrea Brown Literary Agency sold North American English rights. Mora Couch at Holiday House has acquired debut author Melinda Nichols Wendell's Light and Air, a middle-grade historical novel in which an isolated girl with a difficult father finds hope and healing in the closed world of a tuberculosis hospital in the 1930s. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Michelle Hauck at Storm Literary Agency did the deal for world rights. Siobhan Ciminera at Simon Spotlight has bought, in a three-book deal, Geisel Honor winner Jonathan Fenske's Try a Bite, Trilobite!, kicking off a new early reader series, in which Bug tries to get picky eater Trilobite to try a new snack. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Carrie Hannigan at HG Literary sold world rights. Renee Kelly at Penguin Workshop has acquired world rights to two books in a new illustrated chapter book series, Puggleton Park, from Please Don't Read This Book! author Deanna Kizis (l.), illustrated by Hannah Peck. The series follows Penelope the pug as she navigates Regency-era London after losing her Lady; Penelope dreams of finding a new Lady and a forever home, but how to keep herself from chasing squirrels and making a mess, ruining all hopes and dreams of tea parties and elegant balls? Publication of books one and two is set for spring 2024; Faye Bender at the Book Group represented the author, and Susan Penny at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator. Namrata Tripathi at Kokila has bought, at auction, world rights to Angie Kang's debut picture book, Our Lake, the story of two brothers who return to a lake that they have visited many times before, but this time after losing their father, which explores themes of healing after loss and the power of memory, reflection, and having a sibling to lean on through times of grief. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Anjali Singh at Ayesha Pande Literary brokered the two-book, six-figure deal. Nina Gruener at Cameron Kids has acquired political cartoonist Chris Britt's Books Can Be Trouble, in which things go hilariously from bad to worse as two friends take a leisurely stroll through a book that proves to be a lot of trouble. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Timothy Travaglini at Transatlantic Agency negotiated the deal for world rights. Justin Chanda at Simon & Schuster has bought, with Celia Lee editing, I Won't Dream of a Dragon, written by playwright and Pulitzer finalist Sarah Ruhl (l.), illustrated by Sally Deng. Inspired by the early work of Margaret Wise Brown, this is a fantastical and child-centered look at taking charge of bedtime fears as a child dreams of banishing their nightmares. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Dorian Karchmar at WME represented the author, and Tracy Marchini at BookEnds Literary Agency represented the illustrator. Sara Sargent at Random House has acquired world rights to the Always Anjali picture book series by Sheetal Sheth (l.), previously published by Mango and Marigold Press. Jessica Blank (r.) will illustrate the first book, and Lucia Soto will illustrate the second and third books. The books follow heart- and headstrong Indian American girl Anjali as she navigates bullies, prejudice, and gender norms—all while trying to find her own light. Publication for the first book is slated for spring 2023; Jane Startz at Jane Startz Productions represented Sheth, Carrie Hannigan represented Blank, and Soto represented herself. Elizabeth Lazowski at Chronicle has bought world rights to Too Many Golems by Jane Yolen (l.), illustrated by Maya Shleifer. Abi is not having a good week: he accidentally stole from the deli, some older kids tricked him into saying a bad word, his parents took his comic book collection away. And, perhaps worst, he accidentally summoned some golems from a scroll he stole from his synagogue's basement. He really didn't mean to do that last one, but now that the golems are here, they might prove useful. Publication is set for fall 2024; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself. Frances Gilbert at Doubleday has acquired world rights to Miss MacDonald Has a Farm by Kalee Gwarjanski (l.), illustrated by Elizabet Vuković. In this female-forward spin on the traditional children's song, readers meet Miss MacDonald on her vegetable farm. E-I-E-I-GROW! With a "weed-weed" here and a "pick-pick" there, this rhyming picture book celebrates themes of healthy eating, plant-based meals, gardening, seasons, and female farmers. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Jennifer Herrington at Harvey Klinger represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself. Megan Ilnitzki at HarperCollins has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Prince of Stars: The Story of Ulugh Beg by M.O. Yuksel (l.) (In My Mosque, One Wish), illustrated by Zelma Firdauzia, a picture book biography about the legendary Muslim astronomer and mathematician. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024. Jenna Pocius at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Aurora Barlam at Astound US represented the artist. Hilary Van Dusen at Candlewick/MIT Kids Press has acquired world rights to The Girl Who Tested the Waters by Patricia Daniele (l.), illustrated by Junyi Wu, a picture book biography about Ellen Henrietta Swallow, chemist, ecologist, and first woman at MIT; Kristin Zelazko will edit. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Sarah Stephens at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator. Alexandra McKenzie at Charlesbridge has bought world rights to Gingerbread Dreidels, a picture book by Jane Zalben (l.), illustrated by Thai Phuong. When Christmas and the first night of Chanukah occur on the same day (which it does in 2024), siblings Sophie and Max must figure out how to celebrate both Jewish and Christian traditions as an interfaith and diverse family. Publication is set for summer 2024; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator. Adria Haley at Tommy Nelson has acquired world rights to Wombat & the Family Tree by Marietta Apollonio, a picture book that starts as a family tree assignment, branches out, and connects Wombat to discover family members and ancestors he never knew about, and leads him to the joy—and sometimes frustration—of discovering new talents. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal. Amy Novesky at Cameron Kids has bought world rights to Every Peach Is a Story by Nikiko Masumoto (l.) and David Mas Masumoto (c.), a picture book about three generations of a Japanese American family and a year on their peach farm through the seasons and senses, illustrated by Lauren Tamaki (r.). Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; the authors represented themselves, and Charlotte Sheedy and Jesseca Salky at Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency represented the illustrator. To see all of this week's deals, click here. IN THE MEDIA From School Library Journal: Children's Literature World Mourns Author Marcus Sedgwick, Who Has Died at 54. CLICK HERE From Kansas Reflector: Alex Gino, author of book that sparked effort to close Kansas town's library, speaks out. CLICK HERE From Texas Highways: Texas Kidlit Showcases Diversity of Character and Place. CLICK HERE From AZ Central: How Stephenie Meyer's Twilight books started with a vivid dream and shaped a generation. CLICK HERE From NPR: Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Free to Be... You and Me. CLICK HERE From the Guardian: Recently discovered Wind in the Willows illustration to be sold at auction. CLICK HERE From Fuse#8: A Lost Hero: The Rediscovery of Mildred Batchelder. CLICK HERE From the LA Review of Books: Stine Still Scares: A Conversation with R.L. Stine. CLICK HERE From People: Questlove Announces Children's Book Debut with Middle-Grade Time Travel Novel. CLICK HERE From Book Riot: No, Books Should Not Have Content Ratings Like Movies. CLICK HERE From Literary Hub: Too Smart or Too Pretty? The Anne of Green Gables Paradox. CLICK HERE From Book Riot: 2023 YA Book Title Earworms. CLICK HERE VIEW ALL SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner The Return of Pajama Night! Prime Time Reading Night makes a triumphant return. more » Kenny Brechner ‘In Every Life’ Marla Frazee’s new tour de force. more » Kenny Brechner An Interview with Autumn Fall shares her surprising picture book picks. more » Kenny Brechner The Back to School Book of the Century The delightful heft of Rick the Rock, star of a new picture book. more » FEATURED REVIEWS Just Like Grandma Kim Rogers, illus. by Julie Flett. Heartdrum, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-06-304924-6 “More than anything,” young Becca wants to be “just like Grandma,” a refrain that follows the days as Becca watches Grandma beading a pair of buckskin moccasins, painting a glorious sunrise, and dancing Fancy Shawl at the weekend powwow. Textured, earth-toned art from Cree-Métis illustrator Flett foregrounds the two figures, who cue as Wichita, while the text emphasizes a love of family and sense of tradition that anchor this subtly told story’s world. more The Carrefour Curse Dianne K. Salerni. Holiday House, $18.99 (224p) ISBN 978-0-8234-5267-5 Twelve-year-old Garnet Carrefour returns to her family estate, the source of their ley-line-based nature powers, probing her family history, and hoping to dodge a curse by solving a decades-old mystery. Salerni enlivens classic horror tropes and gothic ambience, complete with a sentient manor house, blending wry humor with atmospheric descriptions to create Garnet’s compulsively readable first-person voice. more The Many Fortunes of Maya Nicole D. Collier. Versify, $16.99 (240p) ISBN 978-0-358-43464-1 In Georgia, Black middle schooler Maya “MJ” Jenkins juggles her passions as a flautist and a soccer player, and when her dreams of being crowned soccer team's MVP are crushed when her best friend wins instead, their bond takes a turn for the worse. Beginning each chapter with a fortune, Collier delivers another immersive novel, and its emotionally tinged first-person voice offers fresh observations about parental tensions and changing friendship dynamics. more World Made of Glass Ami Polonsky. Little, Brown, $16.99 (280p) ISBN 978-0-316-46204-4 People at seventh grader Iris’s private New York City school know her father is gay, but Iris hasn’t told her friends, that he’s dying of AIDS. Alongside emotional first-person prose peppered with mentions of era-specific entities and people—ACT UP, Indiana teen Ryan White—acrostic poems exchanged by Iris and her father address themes of life’s fragility as well as managing grief and rage. more Song of Silver, Flame Like Night Amélie Wen Zhao. Delacorte, $19.99 (480p) ISBN 978-0-593-48750-1 Lan, a singer in Haak’gong’s popular Rose Pavilion Teahouse, and Zen, a magic practitioner, uncover their nation’s darkest secrets in this electrifying fantasy series starter by Zhao, inspired by Chinese mythology, philosophy, and xianxia writing, as outlined in an author’s note. The epic novel’s substantial length provides readers with abundant opportunities to luxuriate in Zhao’s lush worldbuilding and gorgeous visuals. Deliberately crafted, well-timed plot beats come at a steady clip, easily investing readers ahead of the planned sequel. more	November 22, 2022 To Our Readers Because of the holiday, we won't have an issue of Children's Bookshelf on Thursday. See you next Tuesday! People Random House Children's Books has two promotions. Katherine Harrison has been promoted to executive editor, from senior editor. Hannah Hill has been promoted to senior editor, from editor. Scholastic has several new hires and promotions. Yaffa Jaskoll has been named creative director, licensing, brands and media; previously she was executive art director at Scholastic Trade. Salena Johnson has been promoted to designer, licensing, brands and media, from junior designer. Martha Maynard has joined as designer, licensing, brands and media; previously she was assistant designer at HarperCollins. Ashley Vargas has joined as junior designer, licensing, brands and media; previously she was a freelance designer. Rachel Weinert has been promoted to senior manager of foreign rights, from manager. Tori Simpson has joined as rights assistant. Mona Tavangar has joined as cross channel assistant. ICYMI Sabaa Tahir Wins National Book Award for Young People's Literature more Freedom to Read Advocates Warn of Proposed ‘Book Rating’ Bill in Texas more The State of STEM/STEAM Publishing more Holt Acquires Sought-After Debut YA Horror Duology more Bestsellers Children’s Frontlist Fiction #1 Diper Överlöde (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #17) by Jeff Kinney. Click here Picture Books #1 Little Blue Truck's Halloween by Alice Schertle, illus. by Jill McElmurry. Click here Follow Us Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram! 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.

In the Spotlight Sabaa Tahir Wins National Book Award for Young People's Literature The life-changing power of literacy was front and center at the 73rd National Book Awards, which took place in-person in New York City for the first time since 2019. Sabaa Tahir received the Young People's Literature prize for her YA novel All My Rage. During her tearful acceptance speech, Tahir noted, "I am the first Muslim and Pakistani American woman to win this award.” more 2022 National Book Awards for Young People's Literature in Photos Our photographer caught up with the finalists for the Young People’s Literature prize, along with their editors, and also captured the award announcement. more NBA Teen Press Conference Centers Conversations with Young Readers In advance of the National Book Awards, the finalists for Young People’s Literature gathered on Tuesday morning at the Teen Press Conference in New York City, an opportunity for the authors to share their works with local students. more In the News Freedom to Read Advocates Warn of Proposed ‘Book Rating’ Bill in Texas While still in the early stages of the legislative process, the proposed bill in Texas would require publishers to develop a new "age appropriate" rating system for books, and would give Texas state officials the power to bar schools from doing business with publishers who do not comply with the state’s directives. more Bookselling News Indie Bookstores Adopt New Strategies for Growth At the beginning of the pandemic, many booksellers were forced to close their doors and shift the way they do business. Two and a half years later, pivots have become a fact of life. To find out what changes independent bookstores—including children's stores and those with strong kids' sections—have made and are planning to keep, PW reached out to several. more Book News Holt Acquires Sought-After Debut Horror Duology Last month, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers editor Jess Harold won a seven-house auction for YA author Jamison Shea's debut novel I Feed Her to the Beast plus a follow-up title. Described as “equal parts scintillating and spine-tingling in the vein of Black Swan and White Smoke,” the first book, set within the world of Parisian ballet, is slated for publication in fall 2023. Shea said they were inspired to explore the trauma of "dedicating yourself—mind and body—to a space built on your exclusion. Is that validation really worth it?” more In the Winners' Circle Hrab, Kazemi, and Ferguson Selected as 2022 Governor General's Literary Awards Winners The winners of the 2022 Governor General's Literary Awards were announced on November 16 by the Canada Council for the Arts. more Out Next Week Hot Off the Presses: Week of November 21 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book spotlighting the beauty of bioluminescent creatures, a small-town middle grade mystery, a vengeful YA fantasy, and more. more In Brief In Brief: November 17, 2022 Writers come together to highlight French literature; a ballet dancer is a special guest at a reading; an author reads at a book festival; and an author is welcomed at a sold-out tour stop. more For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new PW JobZone, now with resume hosting and more! ·  Children's School and Library Marketing Manager - Hachette Book Group - New York, NY. ·  Educational Sales Consultant, USA, Hodder Education - Hachette Book Group. ·  Publicity Assistant - Soho Press - New York, NY. ·  Inside Sales Executive - Taylor and Francis. ·  Publicist - MIT Press - Cambridge, MA. Rights Report Nick Thomas at Levine Querido has acquired Alebrijes, the next novel from Donna Barba Higuera, author of the Newbery and Pura Belpré Medal-winning The Last Cuentista. 400 years into a post-apocalyptic Earth, 13-year-old pickpocket Leandro takes the fall for his little sister and has his consciousness placed in an ancient drone, exiled from the lone surviving human settlement. Outside the walls lie mutant monsters, wasteland pirates, a hidden oasis, and the truth. Publication is set for fall 2023; Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio did the deal for North American English and Spanish and world Dutch rights. Caitlyn Averett at Little, Brown has bought Instafamous by Erika J. Kendrick, a contemporary middle grade novel about 12-year-old Lyric, who secretly auditions for a TV singing competition so she can make it big like her famous mother, but she'll have to decide whether she's willing to sacrifice relationships with her family and friends for a chance in the spotlight. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Marcy Posner at Folio Literary Management negotiated the deal for world rights. Ben Rosenthal at HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books has acquired Kristin O'Donnell Tubb's middle-grade novel, Fowl Play, in an exclusive submission. Pitched as Nancy Drew meets Knives Out for readers who like humor with their (suspected) homicide, the novel follows 13-year-old Chloe Alvarez, who inherits her uncle's prized possession—an African grey parrot with a bad English accent—who, Chloe soon discovers, may have been witness to some serious foul play. Publication is planned for winter 2024; Josh Adams at Adams Literary brokered the deal for North American rights. David Saylor at Scholastic/Graphix has bought, in a six-figure deal, world rights to Jaimal Yogis (l.) and Vivian Truong's City of Dragons: The Journey East and City of Dragons: Underworld. As dangers mount, Grace, Nate, and friends go on the offensive and wake the other Dragon Kings, but as they fly to wake the eastern king, miscommunication leads to disaster—as they deal with death, grief, and healing. Publication is slated for 2024 and 2025; Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group handled the deal. Shawna Gore while at Oni Press acquired the graphic novel The Happy Shop from self-published graphic novelist and webcomics creator Brittany Long Olsen; Grace Scheipeter will edit. This middle-grade story follows 11-year-old Darcy in a new town, who wanders into a strange shop and breaks an expensive jar that she can't pay for. She makes a deal to help clean the place to pay off her debt, and learns this is no ordinary shop: the shopkeepers collect and re-sell very specific happy feelings in the jars—a skill they teach Darcy. Publication is set for spring 2024; Christa Heschke at McIntosh & Otis sold world rights. Mora Couch at Holiday House has bought debut author Sandra W. Headen's historical middle-grade novel, Warrior on the Mound, about a Black boy living in the tinderbox environment of prewar North Carolina, whose dream to become a legendary pitcher must withstand the realities of segregation and injustice. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Victoria Selvaggio at Storm Literary Agency negotiated the two-book deal for world rights. Rebecca Baines at National Geographic Kids Books has acquired world rights to a five-book series with young explorers in Trudi Trueit's Explorer Academy series, a new set of adventures from a new character's perspective, along with exposure to the work of real-life National Geographic Explorers who inspired the series. The first book is scheduled for spring 2024; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal. Jessica Garrison at Dial has bought, in a preempt, world English rights to How to Make Your Mark, a picture book memoir by America's first known Black female tattoo artist and shop owner Jacci Gresham (l.) and co-author Sherry Fellores (c.), illustrated by David Wilkerson (r.). First-person vignettes chronicle how, starting from her childhood in Detroit, Jacci expressed herself through an "outside the lines" style, made art that countered stereotypes, helped her New Orleans community for decades, and developed better techniques for melanated skin. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Miranda Paul at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the co-authors, and James Burns at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator. Justin Chanda at Simon & Schuster has acquired world rights to Emilio Sloth's Modern Manners by Renée Ahdieh (l.), illustrated by Alea Marley. Emilio the Sloth may take a long time to tie his cravat, but he always arrives on time and gives his friends his full attention because he knows the value of being on time, being polite, and truly listening. Publication is set for summer 2024; Barbara Poelle at Irene Goodman represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator. Jill Davis at Astra/Hippo Park has bought Bill the Dog by author-illustrator and political cartoonist Chris Britt (The Most Perfect Snowman), about a dog named Bill who, worried he's not good at being a dog, sets out to discover what he might be better at. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Timothy Travaglini at Transatlantic Agency negotiated the deal for world rights. Kelsey Skea at Amazon/Two Lions has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Ged Adamson's picture book Brianosaurus, about a frog who decides he's a dinosaur and learns to be true to himself. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Isabel Atherton at Creative Authors sold world rights. Luyang Xue at Yeehoo Press has bought world rights to Cynthia Mackey's (l.) debut picture book, If A Bumblebee Lands on Your Toe, illustrated by Vikki Zhang, a story of mindfulness and our connectedness with all creatures in nature and how we can overcome fear and uncertainty. Publication is planned for summer 2024 in the U.S. and mainland China; the author and the illustrator represented themselves. Stephanie Mulligan at McSea Books has acquired world rights to Space Girl: The Journey of Jessica Meir by Suzanne Buzby Hersey (l.), illustrated by Inbal Gigi Bousidan. This picture book biography follows Jessica, who may become one of the first women on the moon, and her astronaut career, including her participation in the first all-woman spacewalk. Publication is set for spring 2024 Jennie Kendrick at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself. To see all of this week's deals, click here. IN THE MEDIA From the Guardian: Marcus Sedgwick, celebrated children's author, has died at 54. CLICK HERE From the Hollywood Reporter: New Princess Diaries Movie in the Works at Disney. CLICK HERE From the Guardian: Inspirational passion or paid-for promotion: can BookTok be taken on face value? CLICK HERE From Literary Hub: Black Culture as Design and Lifestyle: At Home with Jason Reynolds. CLICK HERE From the New York Times: Lit Trivia: Do You Know These Award-Winning Picture Books? CLICK HERE From Book Riot: YA and Middle Grade Native and Indigenous Graphic Novels and Comics. CLICK HERE From Brightly: Note-Worthy Children's Books About Music and Musical Instruments. CLICK HERE From Book Riot: 10 Picture Book Biographies of Authors to Show Kids How to Use Their Words. CLICK HERE VIEW ALL SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner The Return of Pajama Night! Prime Time Reading Night makes a triumphant return. more » Kenny Brechner ‘In Every Life’ Marla Frazee’s new tour de force. more » Kenny Brechner An Interview with Autumn Fall shares her surprising picture book picks. more » Kenny Brechner The Back to School Book of the Century The delightful heft of Rick the Rock, star of a new picture book. more » FEATURED REVIEWS Nell Plants a Tree Anne Wynter, illus. by Daniel Miyares. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-06-286577-9 Toggling between two timelines, Wynter tells a warm, affectionate story behind a cherished pecan tree and an intergenerational family. Pen and ink, gouache, and collage artwork by Miyares exudes the golden light of autumn, and prose by Wynter shimmers with evocative sense words—it’s almost possible to smell the pie. more This Is Not My Home Vivienne Chang and Eugenia Yoh. Little, Brown, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-0-316-37710-2 When her mother tells her that they’re moving to Taiwan, Lily struggles to acclimate to her new environment. Digitally sketched and colored spreads play with the panel format to spotlight the passing of time and bonds forged as Lily slowly transitions to a new home. Debut author-illustrator duo Chang and Yoh offer a take by turns moving and funny, capturing the heartfelt struggles that come with a significant change. more The Superteacher Project Gordon Korman. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $17.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-06-303279-8 When new teacher Mr. Aidact arrives at Brightling Middle School and quickly becomes the school’s most popular teacher, dedicated rule-breaker Oliver Zahn and his partner-in-crime Nathan Popova discover that he’s actually a robot created by the United States Department of Education, who was secretly assigned to Brightling for training and research development. Korman lends ample space to the supporting cast and their myriad interpersonal trials and triumphs, making for a keenly rendered, fast-paced read. more Another Dimension of Us Mike Albo. Penguin Workshop, $18.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-593-22376-5 Two teens, Tommy Gaye living in 1986 and Pris living in 2044, connect through dreams to battle a mysterious evil in this ambitious speculative romance by Albo. The narrative’s myriad alternating perspectives and well-plotted timeline smartly propel intense action, and references to the AIDS crisis and an unnamed 2044 virus grounds this imaginative telling in contemporary reality. more The Davenports Krystal Marquis. Dial, $19.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-593-46333-8 This stunningly wrought historical fiction debut follows a group of Black teens navigating classism, familial expectations, gender norms, and racism in 1910 Chicago. Marquis perceptively explores the history and momentous impact of Black achievements and wealth during an underreported period in U.S. history. Employing expert characterization and complex dynamics, the author presents a cast of take-charge women, undeterred by their struggles and pursuing their passions regardless of expectations. more	November 17, 2022 People Hannah Babcock has joined Random House Children's Books as director, subsidiary rights; previously she was rights and co-editions manager at Scholastic. ICYMI Delacorte Announces Holly Jackson Prequel and First Standalone more Cover Reveal: 'Throwback' by Maurene Goo more NYT, NYPL Announce Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2022 more 'The Little Prince' Comes of Age more Best Books Best Children's and YA Books 2022 Our selections for the top 50 books of the year, for readers of all ages. MORE Follow Us Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram! 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.

In the Spotlight The State of STEM/STEAM Publishing The STEM/STEAM category of children’s publishing has seen increased sales and attention in recent years, notably at the height of the pandemic, which dictated new virtual, at-home learning strategies for teachers, parents, and students. Circumstances have shifted again for publishers of these books in light of the return of students to classrooms. PW asked editors for their views on the current landscape for STEM/STEAM books. more New and Noteworthy STEAM Books and Initiatives The editors we spoke with in our STEM/STEAM feature highlighted some of their standout titles in the category, and we’ve collected them here. more In the News Ken Wright to Retire from Penguin Young Readers Penguin Young Readers has announced that Ken Wright, president and publisher of the Viking, Philomel, and Flamingo Publishing Group, will retire at the end of January 2023. more Concerns Linger for Libraries After Mixed Election Results While several major cities approved municipal funding or bonds to support library operations, at least two libraries were defunded in the wake of book ban campaigns, raising significant concerns. more SPONSORED Rethinking Gender by Louie Läuger Rethinking Gender offers a real-world take on what it means to be yourself, see yourself, and see someone else for who they are, too. This lively, informative, and engaging illustrated guide is the perfect toolbox for empathy, understanding, and self-exploration for readers ages 12 and up, along with parents, educators, and activists. MORE ► Book News Lauren Tarshis Leads a Virtual 'I Survived' Field Trip On November 10, an estimated 88,000 students from 30 countries participated in a "virtual field trip" based on Lauren Tarshis's latest I Survived historical adventure, I Survived the Wellington Avalanche, 1910. Tarshis said the goal is "to bring geography, history, and science to life” for her readers. more New Releases New and Noteworthy Children's and YA Books: November 2022 We could all go for a second helping of new books out this month, including a picture book about sibling rivalry, a middle grade tale featuring a nonbinary knight-in-training tackling gender norms, a YA book following two sisters’ emotional journey at an exclusive prep school, and more. more Q & A Valerie Bolling Valerie Bolling carefully observes teachers to help them increase student performance as an instructional coach in Greenwich Public School’s middle schools in Greenwich, Conn. She also writes books for children, including Let's Dance! and Together We Ride. We spoke with Bolling about how she uses her skills and intuition in her dual roles. Q: What advice would you give other educators who might like to write their own stories? A: Be an observer in your classroom. Look at what students are doing. Listen to what they’re saying. You are surrounded by a field of story ideas ready to be brought to life. more For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new PW JobZone, now with resume hosting and more! ·  Publicist - MIT Press - Cambridge, MA. ·  Editor-in-Chief, Guilford Press - Guilford Press - New York, NY. ·  Director, Shoppers Marketing - ReaderLink - Oak Brook, IL. ·  enior Publicist, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - Hachette Book Group - New York, NY. ·  Foreign Rights Director, Agent: Fiction, Agent: Children's, Bookeeper - Ultra Literary - Brooklyn, NY. Rights Report Justin Chanda at Simon & Schuster has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Emmy-winning journalist and What the Fact?! author Seema Yasmin's debut YA novel, Unbecoming, the coming-of-age tale of Muslim girls in Texas forced to navigate bodily autonomy in a post-Roe landscape, while uncovering secrets within their family and community. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Lilly Ghahremani at Full Circle Literary brokered the deal for world rights. Britny Brooks-Perilli at Running Press Kids has bought Queer Beasties, a speculative YA anthology that celebrates the monster as a positive and empowering metaphor for the otherness of being queer. Edited by Rob Costello (Dancing Bears), the anthology features contributions from Costello, Kalynn Bayron, David Bowles, H.E. Edgmon, Michael Thomas Ford, Naomi Kanakia, Claire Kann, Sam J. Miller, Alexandra Villasante, and others. Publication is slated for May 2024; Marie Lamba at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency sold world English rights. Mora Couch at Holiday House has acquired Joined at the Joints by Marissa Eller, a YA rom-com debut about Ivy, a socially anxious, baking-obsessed teen more comfortable with pies than people, who meets a charismatic and super-attractive boy with the same diagnosis as her (juvenile arthritis) at a support group for sick kids. Publication is planned for summer 2024; Emmy Nordstrom Higdon negotiated the deal for world rights. Ashley Hearn at Peachtree Teen has bought, at auction, Before the Devil Knows You're Here by Autumn Krause, a folk horror YA novel for fans of Maggie Stiefvater and Erin Craig, blending the tall tales of Johnny Appleseed and Paul Bunyan with Faustian elements, starring a fierce Mexican-American poet on a journey through the Wisconsin wilderness to free her brother from the mysterious Man of Sap and confront her destiny written long ago in cursed seeds. Publication is set for fall 2023; Susan Hawk at Upstart Crow Literary did the two-book deal for world rights. Lisa Sandell at Scholastic has acquired Gut Reaction, the first contemporary middle grade novel from Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson (r.) (Hattie Big Sky), co-written with her daughter, Quinn Wyatt. The book follows Tess, a gifted baker looking to take the crown in a local baking competition, who must learn to navigate a new normal after being diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management represented the authors in the deal for world English rights. Meg Gaertner at Jolly Fish Press has bought debut author Lucille Abendanon's The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree, a middle grade historical fiction set in the Dutch East Indies in 1942. When the Japanese army invades Batavia in WWII and sends women and girls to the Tjideng internment camp, 11-year-old Emmy must overcome a tragedy in her past to reclaim her voice and freedom. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Thérèse Coen at Susanna Lea Associates London brokered the deal for North American English rights. Erinn Pascal at Andrews McMeel has acquired world rights to author-illustrator Adam Foreman's Slice of Mallow, a young middle grade graphic novel series based on the webcomic of the same name, about an excitable but pessimistic marshmallow who has slice-of-life adventures with his friends Pizza, Doughnut, Potato, and Ghost. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Maria Vicente at PS Literary negotiated the two-book deal. Andrew Arnold at HarperAlley has won at auction, in a six-figure, two-book deal, world rights to Drawn Onward by Printz winner Daniel Nayeri (l.) (Everything Sad Is Untrue), illustrated by Matt Rockefeller. The palindromic picture book follows the fantastical yet heartfelt journey of a boy mourning the loss of his mother. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media represented the author and illustrator. Erika Turner while at Versify bought North American English rights to Juneteenth by Van G. Garrett (l.) (Kicks), illustrated by Reginald Adams (c.) and Samson Adenugba (r.), creators of the "Absolute Equality" mural in Galveston, Tex., celebrating the holiday; Weslie Turner will edit. The picture book traces a Black boy's trip with his family to the Juneteenth parade in Galveston, weaving contemporary celebrations with historical context of the Black experience in the U.S. Publication is set for summer 2023; Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt Agency represented the author, and the illustrators represented themselves. Sara Schonfeld at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to Martina's Muy Bad Day and a second untitled picture book by Melanie Wick Singer (l.), at auction. Natalia Jiménez Osorio will illustrate the first book, which follows a girl as she returns home after a bad day. While searching for a distraction, she finds Abuela making magic en la cocina and realizes that bad days are worth celebrating, too. Publication is planned for summer 2024; Ramona Pina and Naomi Davis at BookEnds represented the author, and Aurora Barlam at Astound US represented the illustrator. Kate Farrell at Henry Holt has bought It's Holi! by Courtney Pippin-Mathur (l.) and Sanyukta Mathur, illustrated by Pippin-Mathur. The picture book is about a boy and his family celebrating Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors. Publication is scheduled for winter 2024; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented both authors in the deal for world rights. Luana Kay Horry at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to Kellie DuBay Gillis's (l.) debut picture book Big Bike, Little Bike, illustrated by Jacob Souva, about an old bike (or is it new?) that takes readers on a journey exploring perspective and opposites, and encouraging kids and adults alike to restore and reuse. Publication is planned for winter 2025; Ana Crespo at East West Literary Agency represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator. To see all of this week's deals, click here. IN THE MEDIA From USA Today: Only library in Michigan town to close after voters defund it for refusing to ban LGBTQ books. CLICK HERE From the Guardian: Mindfulness books for children are a runaway publishing trend. CLICK HERE From People: Mary J. Blige Announces Her Debut Children's Picture Book, Mary Can!: 'Nothing Is Impossible' CLICK HERE From Gothamist: The Brooklyn Public Library announced its most borrowed books of all time. CLICK HERE From Electric Literature: Betsy Cornwell on writing her Jane Eyre-inspired revenge YA novel Reader, I Murdered Him in the wake of the Brett Kavanaugh hearings. CLICK HERE From ABC News: Six popular Black authors co-write teen romance Whiteout. CLICK HERE VIEW ALL SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner The Return of Pajama Night! Prime Time Reading Night makes a triumphant return. more » Kenny Brechner ‘In Every Life’ Marla Frazee’s new tour de force. more » Kenny Brechner An Interview with Autumn Fall shares her surprising picture book picks. more » Kenny Brechner The Back to School Book of the Century The delightful heft of Rick the Rock, star of a new picture book. more » FEATURED REVIEWS All the Beating Hearts Julie Fogliano, illus. by Cátia Chien. Holiday House/Porter, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-8234-5216-3 At night, Fogliano observes in incantatory lines, the bustle of the world grows quiet enough to reveal the hearts of the world’s people, “beating in the darkness/ strong and steady and sure.” A coda acknowledging the power of daytime concerns to distract humans from their essential value sustains the sense of inner reflection, and a lulling voice and shining, jewel-toned spreads have the power to enchant. more Sincerely Sicily Tamika Burgess. HarperCollins, $17.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-06-315960-0 Sicily Jordan, who is Panamanian American, is tasked with educating her classmates about her heritage, and struggles with their intrusive questions. Despite her strained relationships, Sicily stays focused on learning more about her Black and Latina roots; her research inspires her to stand up to her bullies, including her beloved abuela. Timely and refreshing, Burgess’s vulnerably rendered debut empathetically tackles colorism and highlights the courage it takes to confront the hurtful words of strangers and loved ones alike. more As You Walk On By Julian Winters. Viking, $18.99 (336p) ISBN 978-0-593-20650-8 After queer Black 17-year-old Theo’s public promposal goes sideways, he must reconsider his past actions, current relationships, and future goals in this earnest romance by Winters. Creating an outstanding, intersectionally diverse supporting cast whose personalities glimmer with dynamic energy, Winters skillfully centers showing up for oneself and communicating honestly amid an infectious celebration of queer romantic gestures. more Friday I’m in Love Camryn Garrett. Knopf, $18.99 (288p) ISBN 978-0-5934-3510-6 Music enthusiast Mahalia Harris’s mother couldn’t afford the sweet 16 party she promised to throw her, but Mahalia is determined to make up for it by secretly saving up for an epic coming-out extravaganza. Despite Mahalia’s drive, however, her plan falters under the weight of interpersonal struggles. Mahalia’s determination to give herself a happy ending and overcome her internal turmoil, compounded by class struggles and experiences of homophobia and racism, propels this fresh and wise narrative. Both piercingly observant and joyful, this uplifting read stands out. more 16 & Pregnant LaLa Thomas. MTV, $19.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-66591-727-8 Black 16-year-old best friends Erykah and Kelaya, who live in Lynwood Heights, Nev., have big plans for their futures, but Erykah's unplanned pregnancy imperils her goals. Via the girls’ alternating perspectives, Thomas expertly balances Erykah and Kelly’s vastly different home lives to compassionately dissect themes of class and misogynoir around life-changing decisions. Believably peppered with facts about Black maternal healthcare, this thought-provoking debut inspired by the reality TV show of the same name is an authentic exploration of the right to choose. more	November 15, 2022 People Scholastic has three promotions and one new hire. Beth Dunfey has been promoted to associate publisher, licensing, brands and media, from editorial director. Michael Petranek has been promoted to editorial director, AFK and Graphix Media, from executive editor. Conor Lloyd has been promoted to associate editor, licensing, brands and media, from assistant editor. Andrea Mosqueda has joined as associate editor; previously she was an assistant editor at Macmillan. Random House Children's Books has two promotions. Amy Bowman has been promoted to senior director of production, brands and four-color trade books, from director. Patty Collins has been promoted to senior director of production, licensed books and compliance, from director. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing has one new hire and one promotion. Trey Glickman has joined the digital marketing team as graphic designer. Jennifer Rothkin has been promoted to senior demand planner/special projects for Little Simon, Simon Spotlight, Aladdin, Simon Pulse and Boynton Bookworks, from manager, demand planning. Lex Higbee has been promoted to publicity manager of children's and YA titles at Bloomsbury US, from senior publicist. Bestsellers Children’s Frontlist Fiction #1 Diper Överlöde (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #17) by Jeff Kinney. Click here Picture Books #1 The Sour Grape by Jory John, illus. by Pete Oswald. Click here Follow Us Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram! 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.

In the Spotlight 'The Little Prince' Comes of Age While in some ways The Little Prince and its titular character remain forever young, time marches forward; 2023 will mark the 80th anniversary of the book’s publication. Celebrations are already underway in New York City, where Saint-Exupéry wrote his literary masterpiece. We spoke with the author's great-nephew about the book's history and legacy, which are being commemorated at a new exhibit at The Morgan Library & Museum. more In the News 'America's Next Great Author' Competition Films Pilot Seventy-five aspiring authors gathered on October 30 and 31 to tape the pilot for a reality show called America's Next Great Author. The brainchild of Arielle Eckstut and David Sterry, along with Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander, and NaNoWriMo founder Grant Faulkner, the event included workshops, critiques, and a pitch performance by the prospective authors. more SPONSORED Discover Little Simon Chapter Books! Level up and read independently with illustrated chapter books for ages 5-9! Including easy-to-read language, beloved characters, and delightful illustrations, these books are perfect for young readers! MORE ► Book News Delacorte Announces Holly Jackson Prequel and First Standalone British crime thriller writer Holly Jackson, whose A Good Girl's Guide to Murder YA series has sold more than two million copies in North America since its 2019 launch, has two new books due in the coming months. Jackson said of her storytelling approach, "I am looking specifically to be uncomfortable, to be tense, to be invested." more In the Winners' Circle NYT, NYPL Announce Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2022 Commemorating its 70th year of highlighting children's books, the New York Times Book Review and the New York Public Library announced the 10 winners of the Best Illustrated Children's Books Award. On this year's panel of judges were author Emily Jenkins, New York Public Library children's librarian Maggie Craig, and illustrator Raúl Colón. more Q & A Laura Weymouth In A Consuming Fire, Laura Weymouth's fourth YA historical fantasy, a young woman sets forth from her isolated village as the latest in a long line of sacrifices to the god of the mountain who rules over an alternate version of Britain. However, her true goal is to avenge the god's victims. We spoke with Weymouth about the emotions fueling this story, how it reflects real world events, and what makes this her darkest book yet. Q: Both of your lead characters are fundamentally broken people in some ways, but your story also includes opportunities for healing and hope. Why did you choose to balance these facets? A: I like to show both sides of this coin because as a writer for young people, I feel I have an obligation, if I explore darker themes and moments of hopelessness, to also provide a counterpoint of hope. In my own life, I’ve had darker moments and have always come out into the light at the end. more Out Next Week Hot Off the Presses: Week of November 14 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book featuring famous authors crossing paths, a dumpster-diving middle grade book, a YA book navigating a sibling relationship after the discovery of a harmful secret, and more. more In Brief In Brief: November 10, 2022 Recently, authors launched a haunting new book; started initiatives to support inclusive reading; invited guests to their studios; and appeared at a school to discuss evolution. more For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new PW JobZone, now with resume hosting and more! ·  enior Publicist, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - Hachette Book Group - New York, NY. ·  Foreign Rights Director, Agent: Fiction, Agent: Children's, Bookeeper - Ultra Literary - Brooklyn, NY. ·  Member Relations & Registration Coordinator - American Booksellers Association - White Plains/Remote, NY. ·  Reviews Editor - Publishers Weekly. ·  Sales Assistant - Ingram Content Group - New York City, NY. Rights Report Erika Turner at Little, Brown has acquired Everything Glittered by Robin Talley, pitched as Ellie Marney's None Shall Sleep meets Malinda Lo's Last Night at the Telegraph Club. In this sapphic YA thriller set at an elite boarding school in Washington, D.C., circa 1927, three young women become involved in the investigation of the murder of their controversial headmistress. Publication is planned for summer 2024; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret did the deal for world English rights. Eileen Rothschild at Wednesday Books has bought, in a preempt, Isabel Ibañez's What the River Knows and an untitled sequel, a historical fantasy duology set in 19th-century Egypt, described as part Death on the Nile, part The Mummy, in which Bolivian-Argentinean Inez Olivera investigates her parents' deaths while contending with her mysterious new guardian and his infuriatingly handsome assistant, who guard a secret that only magic can reveal. Publication is slated for fall 2023 and summer 2024; Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic sold world English rights. Alex Borbolla at Bloomsbury has acquired Nia Davenport's witchy YA rom-com Love Spells Trouble. Cayden wants nothing to do with Coven boys after the group excommunicated her mom for marrying her nonmagical dad, but when she realizes that fake dating it-boy warlock Khy Carter could be the one thing that saves her family's struggling bakery, Cayden finds herself in the middle of the world she'd shunned—and falling for the guy. Publication is set for spring 2025; Caitie Flum at Liza Dawson Associates handled the deal for world rights. Krista Marino at Delacorte Press has bought, in an exclusive submission, Lydia Gregovic's The Monstrous Kind, a YA fantasy inspired by Sense and Sensibility and set in an alternate England surrounded by a mysterious mist harboring terrifying creatures. When Merrick Darling's father dies, she must return to her ancestral home, only to discover family secrets far more dangerous than the monsters at her home's gates. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic negotiated the deal for North American rights. Nicole Ellul at Simon and Schuster has acquired debut author Erin Cotter's By Any Other Name, a YA historical romp set in Elizabethan England pitched as The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue meets The Boy in the Red Dress, in which young Shakespearean actor Will Hughes partners with the dashing Lord James Bloomsbury to solve the murder of Will's playwright friend, while trying to keep their budding romance a secret from the royal family. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Hilary Harwell at KT Literary sold world rights. Hannah Hill at Delacorte Press has bought Pitch Wars alum Kara A. Kennedy's debut I Will Never Leave You, pitched as Kara Thomas meets The Haunting of Bly Manor. This YA speculative thriller follows Maya, a teen girl haunted by the ghost of her emotionally abusive ex-girlfriend, who gives her a chilling ultimatum: help her possess another girl, or go down for her murder. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Chloe Seager at Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency brokered the deal for North American rights. Courtney Stevenson at Quill Tree has acquired Dinner at the Brake Fast by Renee Beauregard Lute, a contemporary middle grade novel in which foodie Tacoma, who works with her parents at the family's truck-stop diner, goes on a road trip adventure with new friends to steal back a prized possession from a bully, save the day, and cook the best dinner ever. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; Samantha Wekstein at Thompson Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights. Grace Scheipeter at Oni Press has bought world English-language rights for three volumes of graphic novel Quinnelope, co-created by Kayla Coombs (l.) and HF Brownfield. This debut story follows three friends, Quinnelope, Bub, and Star, who live in Pleasant Towne and join in a series of colorful and imaginative adventures. The first book is set for fall 2023; Alice Sutherland-Hawes at ASH Literary handled the deal. Luana Kay Horry at HarperCollins has acquired, in a preempt, world rights to Geisel Honoree Niña Mata's author-illustrator debut picture book, New. Based on Mata's own experience, the book follows a Filipina girl on her first days of school in America as she navigates her particular encounter with newness through a universal lens. Publication is planned for summer 2025; Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the author. Tara Walker and Samantha Swenson at Tundra have bought North American rights in a preempt to a debut picture book series by Juno-nominated filmmaker and writer José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço (l.), illustrated by Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning animator James Braithwaite, featuring Millie, a resourceful young character with the spirit of Olivia, the energy of Really Rosie, and a diverse Peanuts-esque gang of friends who will share in her adventures. It's slated to launch in spring 2025; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio did the two-book deal. Allyn Johnston and Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane Books have acquired world rights to the picture book The Towering Tree by Janna Matthies (l.) (Here We Come!), illustrated by Ashley Wolff (Wildfire!), a celebration of the interconnectivity between nature and the human spirit, told in cumulative rhyme. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself . Marilyn Brigham at Amazon Crossing Kids has bought What Happened on Thursday? A Nigerian Civil War Story by Nigerian author Ayo Oyeku (l.), illustrated by Lydia Mba. This picture book, told from the point of view of a child, follows a family through the experience of war as they lose their home, travel across the countryside, and eventually settle in a refugee camp until the war finally ends. Publication is set for spring 2024; the author represented himself, and Marzena Torzecka at Marlena Agency represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights. Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has acquired Insha'allah, No, Maybe So by Rhonda Roumani (l.) and Nadia Roumani (c.), illustrated by Olivia Aserr (r.). Ranya and her mother ponder the best way to talk about their hopes and dreams in this picture book about a common Arabic expression used by Muslims and Arabs around the world for life's uncertainties. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Brent Taylor at Triada US represented the authors, and Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator. Julia McCarthy at Atheneum has bought world rights to Lucas and the Capoeira Circle and an untitled second picture book by Joana Pastro (l.); the first book will be illustrated by Douglas Lopes. Lucas and the Capoeira Circle follows a boy as he overcomes his nerves about performing in his next capoeira ceremony—his batizado. Publication is planned for summer 2024. James McGowan at BookEnds represented the author, and Amy Milligan at Illo Agency represented the illustrator. Arthur A. Levine at Levine Querido has acquired On a Chariot of Fire, a picture book detailing the legendary origin of the Bene Israel Jews of India told by the character Nani Penkar, written by Erica Lyons (l.) and illustrated by Indian-Jewish fine artist Siona Benjamin. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights. Cherrita Lee at Beaming Books has bought world rights to The Simplest Song by CK Malone (l.), illustrated by Shelly Swann. Mara and her grandparents celebrated All Souls' Day every year by singing to those who lost loved ones; this year Popi isn't here to sing with them, and Mara comes up with a plan to honor him. Publication is set for fall 2024; Dan Cramer at Page Turner Literary Agency represented the author, and Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator. Autumn Allen at Barefoot Books has acquired world rights to Ayo's Adventure: Across the African Diaspora from Afro to Zulu by Ain Drew (l.) (Ari J's Kinky, Curly Crown), illustrated by Erin Robinson (A Library). An African American boy takes a magical journey through space and time to discover cultures and history throughout the African diaspora. Publication is planned for fall 2024; the author represented herself, and Marlena Torzecka at Marlena Agency represented the illustrator. To see all of this week's deals, click here. IN THE MEDIA From Deadline: The Beatryce Prophecy Film Based on Kate DiCamillo Novel in Works from Amazon. CLICK HERE From Variety: Netflix Orders Series Adaptation of Judy Blume Novel Forever from Mara Brock Akil. CLICK HERE From Collider: The Bad Guys Are Getting a Netflix Holiday Special in 2023. CLICK HERE From the New York Times: The 2022 New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Books Winners at Work. CLICK HERE From People: Jake Gyllenhaal Announces His Debut Children's Book The Secret Society of Aunts and Uncles. CLICK HERE From Vulture: The Velveteen Rabbit Was Always More Than a Children's Book. CLICK HERE From Literary Hub: “Let That Dream Die.” Veronica Roth on Watching Tennis and (Actually) Becoming the Best Writer You Can Be. CLICK HERE From Electric Literature: My Nostalgia for Enid Blyton Is Complicated. CLICK HERE From Reader's Digest UK: 5 Things You Never Knew About Astrid Lindgren. CLICK HERE From Book Riot: Timely Books About Young People Making an Impact. CLICK HERE From Ebony: 7 Children's Books on Racism That Help Kids Navigate the World. CLICK HERE From Book Riot: YA Books That Explore Social Media and Online Fame. CLICK HERE VIEW ALL SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner ‘In Every Life’ Marla Frazee’s new tour de force. more » Kenny Brechner An Interview with Autumn Fall shares her surprising picture book picks. more » Kenny Brechner The Back to School Book of the Century The delightful heft of Rick the Rock, star of a new picture book. more » Kenny Brechner The Waldo Party Returns and the Baby Departs A seance precedes the happy return of an annual tradition that was suspended by the pandemic. more » FEATURED REVIEWS Welcome to the World Julia Donaldson, illus. by Helen Oxenbury. S&S/Wiseman, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-66592-987-5 Capturing the joys and trials of caring for a new baby, the collaborators employ winning verse and sweetly rendered portraits of caregivers and infants. As consistently rhymed and metered lines unfurl, the children mature on every spread, growing from infancy to toddlerhood, entering a classroom setting invoking a binary “Welcome to the girls./ Welcome to the boys,” and receiving a welcome “to the earth below/ and to the sky above.// Welcome, little baby./ Welcome to our love.” more Groundhog Gets It Wrong Jess Townes, illus. by Nicole Miles. Dial, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-5933-2615-2 It’s February 2, and the furry scion of the Groundhog family is slated to make his inaugural weather proclamation. He confirms his lack of a shadow and proclaims, “Celebrate spring—for it starts today!” When the winter-weary town wakes up to a fresh snowfall, the shocked rodent faces furious residents. The book's cheery, animation-style digital cartooning makes an unmistakable point: there are no shortcuts to understanding one’s calling, one’s strengths, or the natural world. more One Last Shot: The Story of Wartime Photographer Gerda Taro Kip Wilson. Versify, $18.99 (416p) ISBN 978-0-0632-5168-7 In this well-researched historical volume told via diary-like free verse, Wilson recounts the inspiring journey of steadfast Gerda Taro (1910–1937) toward becoming a renowned wartime photojournalist. Wilson’s imagined Taro is fiercely independent and endlessly passionate about her vocation and its importance in preserving pivotal moments in history. This perceptive volume utilizes fluid, first-person present narration told with a joyful tone amid violent fascism to deliver a snapshot into an intriguing life. more All That It Ever Meant Blessing Musariri. Norton Young Readers, $18.95 (192p) ISBN 978-1-3240-3095-9 Mati’s family is imploding under the weight of her mother’s absence, and when Baba suddenly decides to take Mati and her siblings on an extended camping trip to visit family in their native Zimbabwe, each sibling must confront their grief while stuck in close quarters. Employing an ethereal atmosphere and intimate-feeling prose, Musariri explores belonging, grief, and love in this powerful homage to family set against an intricately detailed backdrop. more	November 10, 2022 People Nosy Crow Inc. has two new hires. Ally Russell has joined as marketing manager; most recently she was consumer and educational outreach manager at Candlewick Press. Avery Cook has joined as marketing associate; most recently she was sales and marketing assistant at Beacon Press. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing has four promotions. Greg Stadnyk has been promoted to art director for Atheneum and McElderry Books, from associate art director. Nick Sciacca has been promoted to executive director of design and emerging technology for Little Simon, Simon Spotlight and McElderry Books, from art director. Leslie Mechanic has been promoted to art director for Little Simon and Simon Spotlight, from associate art director. Tiara Iandiorio has been promoted to senior designer for Aladdin and Simon Pulse, from designer. Random House Children's Books has two promotions and one new hire. Sarah Reck has been promoted to assistant director, digital marketing, from senior manager, brand marketing. Debra DeFord Minerva has been promoted to senior copy editor, from copy editor. Jordan Bishop has joined as an associate, digital marketing; previously she was communications and marketing coordinator at Purpose Driven Publishing. Mark Your Calendar On November 30, the National Coalition Against Censorship and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators will partner for a virtual conversation on censorship with members of the NCAC’s latest initiative, Student Advocates for Speech. The discussion, Are You Free to Read What You Want?, will take place virtually at 8 p.m. ET and is free to the public. Authors Ellen Hopkins, Lesléa Newman, and Mike Curato will speak with SAS members, a nationwide network of high school free speech clubs, about book banning and how to mobilize change within their communities to fight censorship. For more information and to register for the event, click here. ICYMI Frankfurt from a Children's Book Perspective more Kwame Mbalia to Head New Imprint for Disney more Independent Bookstores Band Together to Discuss Gun Violence more Children's Books Are Dangerous—for Haters more Best Books Best Children's and YA Books 2022 Our selections for the top 50 books of the year, for readers of all ages. MORE Follow Us Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram! 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.

Cover Reveal 'Throwback' by Maurene Goo Time travel, romance, and mother-daughter issues—the laughs, tears, and insights in author Maurene Goo's upcoming novel Throwback made it one of the most sought-after YA acquisitions of last year, setting off a 10-house auction that was won by Tiffany Liao at Zando. Read on for a first look at the book Goo says "I always knew that I wanted to write." more In the News ABA Report Charts Damage Done to Retailers by Amazon's Expansion A new study backed by the ABA found that the movement of dollars to Amazon and away from retailers displaced 136,000 shops, occupying 1.1 billion square feet of traditional commercial space in 2021. A further 1.7 million retail jobs were displaced. more Wholesaling Online Via Faire Faire, the online B2B marketplace, is attracting bookstores with its convenience and items that can be hard to find elsewhere. more SPONSORED A YA Debut From a Zimbabwean Author Mati’s mother is dead, and her father uproots the family for an extended road trip. Along for the journey is Meticais, a fabulously attired, gender-neutral spirit whom only Mati can see. Guided by Meticais’s outrageous commentary, Mati explores grief, the ties that bind family, and the challenge of living between two cultures. MORE ► Milestones Toni and Slade Morrison Picture Book Celebrates 20 Years Nobel Medalist Toni Morrison left her mark on the world of literature, including children's publishing with her series of collaborations with her son Slade. Their picture book The Book of Mean People marks its 20th anniversary this month, with an enduring message of kindness to children navigating a hurtful world. We spoke with author Jewell Parker Rhodes, who wrote the afterword for the new edition. more On the Scene On Tour with Maggie Stiefvater Maggie Stiefvater set out on a six-city tour last month in celebration of the release of Greywaren, the third and final installment of The Dreamer Trilogy, a spinoff of her bestselling series The Raven Cycle. Click through for a selection of photos from the events. more SPONSORED Her Instagram Feed Is to Die For... Jessie Weaver pens the first YA thriller in the Melissa de la Cruz Studio program. Told in multiple POVs interspersed with social media posts and flashbacks, Live Your Best Lie has twists and turns that will keep readers turning the page and no one will be able to guess the ending. Perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying. MORE ► New Releases Noteworthy Picture Book and Novel Sequels: November 2022 There are plenty of new sequels and follow-ups to be thankful for this month, including the next entry in The Food Group series, a new adventure for an avid bicyclist, and the return to the Graceling Realm. more   For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new PW JobZone, now with resume hosting and more! ·  Sales Assistant - Ingram Content Group - New York City, NY. ·  Senior Acquisitions Editor - Zondervan Books - HarperCollins Christian Publishing. ·  Acquiring Editor/Editorial Director - Behrman House - Millburn, NJ. ·  Field Sales Representative-Mid Atlantic Region - Rowman & Littlefield - Lanham, MD. ·  Publishing and Business Manager - Frayed Pages Media - Los Angeles, CA. Rights Report Katherine Tegen at HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson, a YA contemporary mystery novel about a girl who finds herself in a house with a terrible secret and becomes obsessed by the place, the people, and the romance of it all—and ends up finding the darkness at its core. Erica Sussman will edit; publication is planned for winter 2024. Kate Testerman at KT Literary did the three-book deal for world rights, including two more Stevie Bell mysteries. Emilia Rhodes at Clarion Books has bought Kindling by NBA finalist Traci Chee, a YA reimagining of Seven Samurai. Set against a war-ravaged fantasy world where kindling warfare—the use of elite, magic-wielding teenage soldiers—has been outlawed, seven kindlings search for purpose and identity as they prepare for one final battle. Publication is slated for winter 2024; Barbara Poelle at Irene Goodman Literary Agency negotiated the two-book deal for world rights. Krista Marino at Delacorte Press has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Six of Sorrow by Amanda Linsmeier (Starlings), a feminist YA horror novel in which six teen girls, all born on the same day, must unravel the secrets of their small town after one of them disappears, only to return very, very different. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; Juliana McBride at Rebecca Friedman Literary handled the deal for world English rights. Patrice Caldwell, while at Disney-Hyperion, bought world rights to We Walked in Clouds, a YA graphic novel written by Deborah Noyes (l.) (Ten Days a Madwoman), illustrated by M Duffy, a interpretation of the 1692 Salem witch trials based on primary source documents. Andrea Colvin will edit for Little, Brown Ink; publication is set for summer 2024. Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management represented the author, and Bernadette Baker-Baughman at Victoria Sanders & Associates represented the illustrator. Laura Schreiber at Union Square Kids has acquired, at auction, A Bright Heart by debut novelist Kate Chenli. In this historical YA fantasy, when Migshin is murdered by the man she thought she loved, she is granted her dying request and wakes up two years earlier. She now needs to stop all the horrors she had unwittingly set in motion, but the past keeps changing, and she needs to use her intelligence and wit to make sure the wrong man doesn't once again become king. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Tamar Rydzinski at Context Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal for world English rights. Margaret Ferguson at Holiday House has bought Dionna Mann's debut middle grade novel Mama's Chicken and Dumplings, set in a thriving Black Southern community during the Jim Crow era and follows 10-year-old Allie, who wants an unbroken life and plans to find her mama a husband—one who likes to sing, kind-smiles, and most importantly loves her mama's chicken and dumplings. But when Mama starts having eyes for the wrong man, Allie realizes that it may be her plan that is actually broken. Publication is slated for 2024; Kelly Dyksterhouse and Jacqui Lipton at Tobias Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights. Stephanie Stein at Harper Alley has acquired at auction, North American rights to Copy Cat by collaborators Elyse Martin (l.) and Sean Rubin. This middle grade graphic novel is set during the golden age of manuscript illumination in medieval Britain, where a 12-year-old orphan avoids getting caught stealing a box of jewels by disguising herself as a monk-in-training at the local abbey. There, she learns how to be a scribe, and discovers that art and community may be worth more than gold. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Stephanie Kim and Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media represented Martin, and Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency represented Rubin. Shana Corey at Random House has bought. in an exclusive submission, world rights to Turning Twelve by Kathryn Ormsbee (l.) and Molly Brooks (Growing Pangs). This semi-autobiographical middle grade graphic novel tells the story of homeschooled Katie; it's 2004 and turning 12 brings big changes for Katie—bras, her period, her first babysitting job, and the realization that she has a crush on a girl, something she knows some members of her community won't approve of. Publication is set for fall 2024; Beth Phelan at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency represented the author. and Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties represented the artist. Alvina Ling at Little, Brown has acquired husband-and-wife team Hayley Rocco (l.) and Caldecott Honoree John Rocco's second picture book All the Books on exclusive submission, about a possessive, book-hoarding chipmunk who doesn't want to share, until she discovers the magic of the library. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Rob Weisbach at Rob Weisbach Creative Management negotiated the deal for world rights. Emily Settle at Feiwel and Friends has bought world rights to Yadira and Her Braids, a debut picture book by Adiba Nelson (l.), illustrated by Alleanna Harris, a celebration of Afro-Latin culture and self-love. As a girl gets her hair braided with cowrie shells, her mother tells her the story of Oshun, the Goddess of love and beauty, filling her with wonder and pride, and giving her the courage to face the first day of school. Publication is slated for winter 2025; Jess Regel at Helm Literary represented the author, and Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the artist. Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has acquired world rights to Kirsten Hubbard's (l.) debut picture book Dear Stray, illustrated by Susan Gal, about a prickly girl and her prickly new kitten as they help each other navigate their wild sides. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Jordan Hamessley at New Leaf Literary & Media represented the author, and Gail Gaynin at Morgan Gaynin Inc. represented the illustrator. Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has bought La Mala Suerte Is Following Me by Ana Siqueira (l.) (Bella's Recipe for Success), illustrated by Carlos Vélez Aguilera (Hanukkah in Little Havana), a picture book that follows Miguel through a series of misadventures once Mrs. Mala Suerte (Mrs. Bad Luck) starts thwarting his every move. Publication is set for spring 2024, and a Spanish edition (La mala suerte me sigue) will publish at the same time. Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and Kate Kendrick Powell at Astound US represented the illustrator. Phoebe Yeh at Crown has acquired world rights to narrative picture book Mamie Fights to Go to School: Based on a True Story by Traci Huahn (l.), illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan. This picture book is inspired by the real-life story of Mamie Tape, a Chinese American student growing up in San Francisco in the 1880s who was prohibited from attending the local all-white school. Mamie and her parents filed a lawsuit, and her case went all the way to the California Supreme Court. Publication is slated for summer 2024; the author represented herself, and Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator. Carol Hinz at Lerner/Carolrhoda has bought world rights to Haiku, Ew! by Lynn Brunelle (l.) (Pop Bottle Science), illustrated by Julia Patton, a collection of poems that explores a side of nature that is often underappreciated. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Claire Morance at Painted Words represented the illustrator. Michael Green at Marble Press has acquired world rights to Finding North by Nelly Buchet (l.) (How to Train Your Pet Brain), illustrated by Mathias Ball, a picture book about Loulou, a lost wolf cub who must prove to herself that she is a real wolf and find the great and fearsome North—and her voice—to rejoin her family. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary Studio represented the author, and Natascha Morris at the Tobias Agency represented the illustrator. To see all of this week's deals, click here. IN THE MEDIA From Variety: Percy Jackson Disney+ Series Casts Lin-Manuel Miranda as Hermes. CLICK HERE From the New York Times: Anne of Everywhere: remakes and adaptations of Anne of Green Gables are proliferating. CLICK HERE From Psychology Today: Kids Who Read Out Loud to a Dog See Improved Literacy. CLICK HERE From Literary Hub: On Harold and the Purple Crayon and the Value of an Imaginative Journey. CLICK HERE From Book Riot: Timely Books About Young People Making an Impact. CLICK HERE From Sad and Useless: Your Childhood Ruined: Sinister Parodies of Kids' Books. CLICK HERE VIEW ALL SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner ‘In Every Life’ Marla Frazee’s new tour de force. more » Kenny Brechner An Interview with Autumn Fall shares her surprising picture book picks. more » Kenny Brechner The Back to School Book of the Century The delightful heft of Rick the Rock, star of a new picture book. more » Kenny Brechner The Waldo Party Returns and the Baby Departs A seance precedes the happy return of an annual tradition that was suspended by the pandemic. more » FEATURED REVIEWS Mister Kitty Is Lost! Greg Pizzoli. Little, Brown, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-3160-5654-0 The eponymous feline is “hiding somewhere in this book,” relays a frantic child, portrayed with light skin and brown pigtails. “Will you turn the pages and help me look?” But much to the consternation of the seeking duo, a page turn reveals a species that’s very different from Mister Kitty. The blend of gentle meta humor and interactivity has “preschooler” written all over it. more Cozy in Love Jan Brett. Putnam, $19.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-593-10985-4 Despite his best head-bashing effort, Cozy is bested by another musk ox bull and fails to win the attention of “lovely Lofti." But then Cozy helps their beluga friend Bella escape Teardrop Inlet before it completely freezes over, all while Lofti admiringly looks on. Side panels of spot art on each page work to foreshadow plot elements and introduce details of the expansive Alaskan setting—accurately drawn puffins, seaweed, starfish, and, fittingly, heart-shaped stones. more Riven Mindee Arnett. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $18.99 (448p) ISBN 978-0-06-305783-8 On the island of Riven, class divides between the natural-born magicians and underprivileged adepts. Teen mercenary and secret adept Mars Darksvane fears someone will discover his abilities but lacks the resources to leave Riven until he's offered a job divulging a formula from heiress Fura Thorvald. Escalating complications, shifting alliances, and high-stakes action, coupled with the core cast’s nuanced, evolving relationships, impart tension and immediacy in this ambitious fantasy by Arnett. more The Cartographers Amy Zhang. Greenwillow, $17.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-06-238307-5 Unbeknownst to her mother, seventeen-year-old high school senior Ocean defers college admission for a year, while struggling with depression and suicidal ideation. Under the guise of leaving for school, Ocean moves in with roommates in New York, and as Ocean uncovers more about herself and the world around her, however, she struggles to keep her double life secret from her mother. Employing leisurely pacing, Zhang meaningfully develops the characters’ dynamic relationships and intersecting paths toward adulthood. more	November 8, 2022 People Scholastic has three new hires. Redina Demushi has joined as associate global marketing manager for global brands marketing and publicity; previously she was senior international operations and marketing associate. Talia Seidenfeld has rejoined as editor; previously she was at Callisto Media. Anjali Bisaria has joined as editorial assistant. Holiday House and Peachtree have two new hires and one promotion. Jennifer Browne has joined Holiday House on a full-time basis as creative director of Neal Porter Books and senior art director of Margaret Ferguson Books and Peachtree. Lily Steele has been promoted to lead designer at Peachtree, from designer. Lucy Ricketts has joined Peachtree as designer. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing has two promotions. Kristie Choi has been promoted to assistant editor at Atheneum, from editorial assistant. Kaitlyn San Miguel has been promoted to production editor at Atheneum and S&S Books for Young Readers, from associate production editor. Candlewick Press has two new hires. Salma Shawa has joined as social media manager; she was previously research associate at the Education Development Center. Tom Brennan has joined as senior systems administrator; he previously owned his own technology services company. Bestsellers Children’s Frontlist Fiction #1 Diper Överlöde (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #17) by Jeff Kinney. Click here Picture Books #1 The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Click here Follow Us Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram! 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.

In the Spotlight Frankfurt from a Children's Book Perspective For many rights professionals, the recent Frankfurt Book Fair was their first opportunity since 2019 to attend a fair in person. Attendees said they were delighted to be back, even amid industry challenges and world uncertainty on several fronts. We asked a number of savvy agents and scouts to tell us about children's book trends they had noticed. more In the News Kwame Mbalia to Head New Imprint for Disney Freedom Fire, a new middle-grade imprint headed by Kwame Mbalia, bestselling author of the Tristan Strong trilogy, is in the works at Disney. The imprint will feature stories of Black resilience and Black joy, written by Black creators, and is tentatively scheduled to debut in spring 2024. more SPONSORED How Our Loved Ones Remain with Us From beloved author Gail Silver of the Anh’s Anger series comes a touching story of a father comforting his son after a grandfather dies. With beautiful pastels and graceful prose, Silver offers a heartfelt way to discuss loss and grief with a child. Follow along in learning how our loved ones are with us forever, in everything we do. MORE ► On the Scene Children's Publishers Celebrate Halloween Several publishers across the country held parties as staffers donned costumes based on favorite characters and books. Click through to see our collection of photos from the festivities. more Q & A Hayley and John Rocco Letters are more than just exercises in politeness, How to Send a Hug's young narrator points out; they're a way to send a warm hug to a distant loved one. This ode to the disappearing art of letter-writing is the work of first-time author Hayley Rocco and her husband, Caldecott Honor author John Rocco. We spoke with the duo about how they find spaces in their togetherness, and what letters reveal to us about ourselves. Q: Do you keep letters you’ve received? Hayley Rocco: Yeah, I’m a very sentimental person. I have letters from my grandfather, and from my uncle while he traveled the world. It’s a special thing, to get a letter. The person stopped to take that time to be with you, on that piece of paper. It’s a bit of that person’s time, and that means the world—especially nowadays. more SPONSORED A Must-Read YA Fantasy Enter a world on the brink of war where one more roll from a magical dice may set a witch with a secret down a dangerous path. Author Kaylie Smith's “spellbinding debut” will sweep readers away with its swoon-worthy romances, action-packed adventure, and enchanting ensemble cast. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Margaret Rogerson. MORE ► Out Next Week Hot Off the Presses: Week of November 7 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book centering a family's quiet early morning moments, a middle grade following a knight-in-training tackling gender roles, a YA romance collaboration taking place during a snowstorm in Atlanta, and more. more In Brief In Brief: November 3, 2022 Last month authors spotted their debut novel on shelves for the first time; attended a bunny-centric festival; played games with a panel of spooky authors; and made a school visit to see students excited for Halloween. more For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new PW JobZone, now with resume hosting and more! ·  Publishing and Business Manager - Frayed Pages Media - Los Angeles, CA. ·  Senior Editor - Abrams Books - New York, NY. ·  Account Manager - WEBTOON. ·  Executive Director - Association of Canadian Publishers - Toronto, Canada. ·  Director of Public Scholarship - Washington University in St. Louis - Saint Louis, MO. Rights Report Bria Ragin at Delacorte Press has acquired, at auction, Seasick by Kristin Cast (l.) and Pintip Dunn, a dual-POV contemporary, locked-door mystery thriller pitched as Knives Out meets Gossip Girl, in which two former friends and their affluent classmates set out on a celebratory yacht trip that turns deadly. As the body count begins to rise, the ex-BFFs must team up to catch the mysterious killer on board before they become the next victims. Publication is set for summer 2024; Steven Salpeter at Assemble Media represented Cast, and Kate Schafer Testerman at KT Literary represented Dunn and did the two-book deal for world rights. Rebecca Kuss at Disney-Hyperion has bought, in a preempt, Off with Their Heads by Zoe Hana Mikuta. Blood and betrayal meet in this sapphic, Korean-inspired re-imagining of Alice in Wonderland, which tells the tale of two girls whose twisted past comes to light as they are once again thrust into each other's lives and beckoned back to the dark, monster-filled forest where it all began: Wonderland. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights. Daniel Ehrenhaft at Blackstone has acquired North American rights to Adriana Mather's The Breakup Artists, a YA rom-com pitched for fans of The Statistical Probabilities of Love at First Sight and Frankly in Love, in which two teens are secretly hired by parents to break up their children's bad high school relationships. But what starts as strictly business turns catastrophically personal when one of the pair falls for "a case"—he knows she’s the one, but everything he's told her is a lie, even his name. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal. Ruqayyah Daud at Little, Brown has bought Six Truths and a Lie by Ream Shukairy, a novel that follows six Muslim teens as their lives are upended when they are falsely accused of an alleged attack on a Los Angeles beach and must trust or turn their backs on each other to prove their innocence. Publication is scheduled for winter 2024; Serene Hakim at Ayesha Pande Literary handled the deal for world rights. Maggie Rosenthal at Viking has acquired Every Time You Hear That Song by Jenna Voris, pitched as Daisy Jones and the Six meets The Inheritance Games, about an enigmatic country music legend who leaves her entire fortune to whoever can solve her complicated, cross-country scavenger hunt—and two teens who just might have a shot at winning it all. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Claire Friedman at InkWell Management negotiated the deal for U.S./Canadian and Spanish-language rights. Ali Fisher at Tor Teen has bought, in an exclusive submission, The White Guy Dies First edited by Terry J. Benton-Walker—a YA horror anthology featuring 13 authors of color writing short stories in which the white guy always dies first. In addition to a contribution from Benton-Walker, the volume will include short stories by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Kalynn Bayron, Kendare Blake, H.E. Edgmon, Lamar Giles, Chloe Gong, Alexis Henderson, Tiffany D. Jackson, Adiba Jaigirdar, Naseem Jamnia, Mark Oshiro, and Karen Strong. Publication is set for summer 2024; Patrice Caldwell at New Leaf Literary & Media did the deal for world English rights. Claire Stetzer at Inkyard Press has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Tashie Bhuiyan's Stay with My Heart, a YA contemporary novel about a girl who dreams of working in the music industry, and when she accidentally sabotages an up-and-coming local band, she falls for the enigmatic leader while secretly trying to make up for her mistake. JL Stermer at Next Level Lit brokered the two-book deal for North American rights, with publication planned for winter 2024. Holly West at Feiwel and Friends has bought North American rights to The Night Hunt by Alexandra Christo (Princess of Souls). In this YA fantasy romance, a heroine who feeds on fear and a boy without a past combine forces to hunt down the Gods who destroyed both their worlds. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Emmanuelle Morgen at Stonesong negotiated the deal. Mara Delgado Sánchez at Wednesday Books has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Sandra Proudman's YA historical fantasy debut, Salvación, pitched as a gender-swapped Zorro retelling set in an alternate California where magical healing salt—sal negra—is discovered instead of gold. Seventeen-year-old Lola de la Peña must save her town by becoming the masked vigilante Salvación to stop a powerful man who arrives with promises of a lasting Mexico, but who has left a trail of death and destruction. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Kate Testerman at KT Literary handled the deal for world rights. Erica Finkel at Abrams has bought, at auction, On All Other Nights, a middle grade anthology edited by Chris Baron (l.), Joshua S. Levy (c.), and Naomi Milliner (r.). Built around the order of the Passover Seder, each story is inspired by one of its traditional steps, with contributions by Mari Lowe (Kadesh), R. M. Romero (Orchatz), Naomi Milliner (Karpas), Joshua S. Levy (Yachatz), Laurel Snyder (Magid), Chris Baron (Rachtzah), Adam Gidwitz (Motzei-Matzah), Sofiya Pasternak (Maror), Ruth Behar (Korech), Sarah Kapit (Shulchan Orech), A. J. Sass (Tzafun), Laura Shovan (Barech), Veera Hiranandani (Hallel), and Amy Ignatow (Nirtzah). Publication is set for spring 2024; Rena Rossner at Deborah Harris Harris Agency, Elana Roth Parker at Laura Dail Literary Agency, and Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency did the deal for world rights. Erinn Pascal at Andrews McMeel has acquired world rights to two middle grade novels in the new Ellie's Deli series by Lisa Greenwald (l.), illustrated by Gaila Bernstein. In the first book, Wishing on Matzo Ball Soup, Ellie is worried that her family's Jewish deli, a community institution for generations, is going out of business; she and her savvy friends need to reboot the recipe for success and fast. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Birch Path Literary represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Group represented the illustrator. Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has bought on option two middle grade novels by J. Kasper Kramer. Eyes on the Sky is set in Roswell, N.M., in 1947 and follows a girl who loves to build rockets and deals with an alien encounter; The Serpent on the Mountain is set in 1970s Appalachia and is about a girl's struggle to reconcile her folk beliefs with the appearance of a snake-handling preacher. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024 and fall 2025; Jennifer Carlson at Dunow, Carlson & Lerner sold North American rights. Lynne Missen at Tundra has acquired Team Park by Angela Ahn (Peter Lee's Notes from the Field). Attempting to prove himself to his sports-obsessed father, 11-year-old Evan Park trains for a dominator ninja junior competition but, when an accident sidelines him, he must shift gears to look beyond a solo competition and rally the whole family for a local fun race. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Laurel Symonds at the Bent Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights. Daria Harper at Chronicle Books has bought, at auction, world rights to You'll Always Be My Chickadee by Kate Hosford (l.), illustrated by Sarah Gonzales, a picture book about a parent's steadfast love as seen through the lens of the natural world. Publication is set for spring 2024; Victoria Wells Arms at HG Literary represented the author, and Alexandra Levick at Writers House represented the illustrator. Kat Brzozowski at Feiwel and Friends has acquired world rights to picture book All Food Is Good Food by Molli Jackson Ehlert (l.), illustrated by Fanny Liem, about all the ways that food can fuel us, nurture us, and bring us joy. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; the author represented herself, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator. Mabel Hsu at HarperCollins/Tegen has bought, at auction, world rights to Everything Is Fine by Michelle Sumovich (l.), illustrated by Sarah Jacoby. Rambunctious Paulette loves to be near her exhausted mom, but when Paulette’s wild, yellow hair becomes entangled with her mother's spaghetti dinner, the child disappears, prompting a chaotic search through a village full of unruly children. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator. Josh Williams at Triumph Books has acquired world rights to the tentatively titled Wataru Misaka: Basketball's Barrier Breaker, written by Hayley Diep (l.) and illustrated by Naomi Giddings, a picture book about the largely untold story of Wataru Misaka, the first person of color in the NBA, formerly known as the BAA. Publication is slated for fall 2023; the author represented herself, and Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management represented the illustrator. Lisa Rosinsky at Barefoot Books has bought world rights to Bring Back the Babka! by debut author Marilyn Wolpin (l.), illustrated by Madison Safer (Before Music). In this celebration of Jewish cooking and community, two brothers search for their mother's missing babka and discover delicious life lessons along the way. Publication is planned for fall 2023; the author represented herself, and Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator. Hannah Lambert at Little Simon has acquired world rights to Whose Prints? by Kari Allen (l.) (The Boy Who Loved Maps), illustrated by Kim Smith, an interactive board book where a child explores a maze of prints in the snow as winter animals move and scurry about the pages. Publication is set for fall 2023; Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary Studio represented the author, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator. To see all of this week's deals, click here. IN THE MEDIA From Entertainment Weekly: Julie Andrews on how her new picture book explores the origins of The Sound of Music classic 'Do, Re, Mi.' CLICK HERE From NPR: Shaun Tan's curious creatures are just looking for companionship. CLICK HERE From Literary Hub: Lynn Caponera on the Wild and Wonderful Legacy of Maurice Sendak. CLICK HERE From Bustle: Heartstopper Fans and Stars Are Rallying Around Kit Connor in the Sweetest Way. CLICK HERE From Literary Hub: An Ode to Harriet the Spy, the Art Monster of East End Avenue. CLICK HERE From Fuse#8: Unexpected Jolts of Children’s Literature. CLICK HERE From Literary Hub: 'I’ve Got It!' Judy Blume Tells the Story of Her First Period. CLICK HERE From Book Riot: The Best Places to Donate Kids’ Books. CLICK HERE VIEW ALL SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner ‘In Every Life’ Marla Frazee’s new tour de force. more » Kenny Brechner An Interview with Autumn Fall shares her surprising picture book picks. more » Kenny Brechner The Back to School Book of the Century The delightful heft of Rick the Rock, star of a new picture book. more » Kenny Brechner The Waldo Party Returns and the Baby Departs A seance precedes the happy return of an annual tradition that was suspended by the pandemic. more » FEATURED REVIEWS Sleepy Sheepy Lucy Ruth Cummins, illus. by Pete Oswald. Flamingo, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-5934-6591-2 His eyelids are already below half-mast, and his weary parents—each of whom totes a wide-eyed infant lamb in a front-facing carrier—insist that it’s bedtime. But Sleepy Sheepy, rendered by Oswald in fluffy, cloud-like textures, insists he’s anything but sleepy. Finally snuggled under his covers as a starry sky glows outside his window, he looks truly contented for the first time since the book’s beginning, and even the most bedtime-resistant readers will respect his exhausted capitulation. more How to Party Like a Snail Naseem Hrab, illus. by Kelly Collier. Owlkids, $18.95 (40p) ISBN 978-1-77147-417-7 Party animal Snail loves fetes’ quiet elements, but with others so certain that loud is fun, Snail soon begins to wonder if he’s alone in finding peace in the quiet. When Snail stops getting invited out the gastropod changes tacks, throwing himself a solo shindig of ragingly placid proportions. Hrab combines speech bubbles and narrative lines, foregrounding Snail’s internality, while Collier makes smart use of calm colors, quirky details, and expressive faces, resulting in a wildly charming, earnestly rendered “SHHHellebration of the SHHHush.” more Torch Lyn Miller-Lachmann. Carolrhoda Lab, $19.99 (328p) ISBN 978-1-72841-568-0 When Soviet agents arrest and sentence 17-year-old Pavol to a career in the mines, he makes a harrowing decision that effects the lives of his three best friends, Šteˇpán, Tomáš, and pregnant girlfriend Lída. Miller-Lachmann deftly balances moments of happiness and hope within an ominously rendered narrative marked by fear and potential catastrophe. This captivating political thriller is perfect for Ruta Sepetys fans. more The Awakening (Nubia #1) Omar Epps and Clarence A. Haynes. Delacorte, $19.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-593-42864-1 After a climate catastrophe displaced N.Y.C. citizens, teens Zuberi, Uzochi, and Lencho struggle in the derelict remains of lower Manhattan. When the trio of descendants of Nubian refugees suddenly develop supernatural powers, they attempt to save their community despite a philanthropist attempting to use their powers for his own plans. Epps and Haynes skillfully build emotional and narrative suspense by weaving the cast members’ conflicting needs and expectations into an explosive adventure. more Reader, I Murdered Him Betsy Cornwell. Clarion, $17.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-358-30664-1 Following a childhood watching Mr. Rochester's relationships with women, Adèle is sent to Webster School for Young Ladies, where her mistrust of men grows as she discovers an even more abusive underbelly of English society, and begins her career as a vigilante, fending off violent men to protect her newfound friends. Cornwell’s deep-rooted understanding of the inspiration material, paired with Adèle’s characterization as a courageous and cunning protagonist, makes for an enthralling examination of justice, revenge, and romance. more	November 3, 2022 People Katherine Tegen Books has two promotions. Ben Rosenthal has been promoted to editorial director, from executive editor. Mabel Hsu has been promoted to executive editor, from senior editor. The imprint will be renamed following Tegen's retirement at the end of December. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing has three promotions. Dorothy Gribbin has been promoted to senior director, managing editorial, for Beach Lane Books, Paula Wiseman Books, S&S Books for Young Readers, McElderry Books, and Atheneum, from director. Christina Solazzo has been promoted to associate director, managing editorial, for Simon Spotlight, Libros para niños, Little Simon, Boynton Bookworks, Aladdin, Simon Pulse, and MTV Books, from senior managing editor. Jenica Nasworthy has been promoted to associate director, managing editorial, for S&S Books for Young Readers, Paula Wiseman Books and McElderry Books, from senior managing editor. Phoebe Dyer has been promoted to social media manager at Bloomsbury, from assistant social media manager. ICYMI Best Children's and YA Books 2022 more Covid, Inclusivity, and Mindfulness: Three Years of Picture Book Trends more Jeff Kinney Rocks Out with Release of 17th ‘Wimpy Kid’ Book, New Disney+ Movie more CBC, HarperCollins to Honor Eloise Greenfield with Poetry Award more Follow Us Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram! 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.

In the Spotlight Reading Across Genders We asked four teachers and librarians about the ways they encourage students and patrons to read books featuring protagonists of diverse gender identities, and why it’s important to them and should matter to everyone. more In the News Court Blocks Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster Merger In a brief two-page order issued late on October 31, Judge Florence Y. Pan blocked PRH's bid to buy S&S, saying the government had succeeded in showing that the proposed merger would harm "competition in the market for the U.S. publishing rights to anticipated top-selling books." more Independent Bookstores Band Together to Discuss Gun Violence Six independent bookstores are teaming up to host a series of online events tackling the ever-present issue of gun violence. On November 3, IndiesUNITE!, a collaborative project focused on events that use literature and conversations to confront societal problems, will bring together authors and activists for two virtual panels. more Soapbox Children's Books Are Dangerous—for Haters Author Margaret Finnegan argues that children's books pose a threat to close-minded people because they instill empathy. "You can destroy books. You can defund libraries. You can remove titles from schools. You can try and silence publishers and writers," she writes. "But you can’t stop the stories." more Star Watch Star Watch Finalists Named PW’s Star Watch program celebrates young publishing professionals who have distinguished themselves as future leaders of the industry. Five finalists for the award were named in the October 31 issue of Publishers Weekly, and two of them are from the world of children’s books. We present them here, with our congratulations. MORE Amy Fitzgerald When Amy Fitzgerald joined Lerner as an intern 10 years ago, she stood out. In 2018, she was tasked with managing young and middle grade fiction and a year later was promoted to editorial director, overseeing the lists for Carolrhoda Books and Carolrhoda Lab, Lerner’s trade fiction imprints. Elizabeth Agyemang Elizabeth Agyemang began her career as an intern at Clarion and quickly moved up the ranks to her current position as associate editor at Clarion Books. Her mission is “to open a door for the story that I didn’t get to see growing up,” she says. Q & A Jyoti Rajan Gopal and art twink In My Paati's Saris by Jyoti Rajan Gopal and illustrated by art twink, a Tamil child explores his love for his grandmother and her colorful sari collection. In a starred review, PW called the book a "glad celebration of family, love, and gender-experimental play" and "a buoyant picture book about burgeoning identity and family lineage." We spoke with both artists about their creative processes, gender and identity, and the shortcomings of South Asian representation in books for children. Q: What was the book’s inspiration? Gopal: As a teacher, on International Day, I brought a bunch of saris to my classroom for the kids to touch. I noticed one student of mine, a boy, was draping it over himself, smiling and twirling. I wanted to place the little boy at the center because, in South Asian culture, gender fluidity feels more accepted when children are younger. I wanted to celebrate that in this story. That part of our culture is beautiful, and it’s something we forget. more For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new PW JobZone, now with resume hosting and more! ·  Director of Public Scholarship - Washington University in St. Louis - Saint Louis, MO. ·  Acquisitions Editor - African & African-American Studies - University of Virginia Press - Charlottesville, VA. ·  Publisher/CEO - Chicago Reader - Chicago, IL. ·  Marketing Manager - Harvard Book Store - Cambridge, MA. ·  Digital Business Coordinator - North Atlantic Books - Berkeley, CA. Rights Report David Levithan and Orlando Dos Reis at Scholastic have acquired The Library of Broken Worlds, a new YA novel by Alaya Dawn Johnson (The Summer Prince; Love Is the Drug). Freida, the daughter of the Library, the great peacekeeper of the three systems, discovers a horrific secret buried deep within its tunnels, and must come face-to-face with an ancient war god to fulfill her destiny and save her world from certain disaster. The book is slated for summer 2023; Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management did the deal for North American rights. Alison Romig at Delacorte has bought Win Lose Kill Die by Cynthia Murphy, pitched as Holly Jackson meets Gossip Girl, in which a prestigious academy's brightest and best begin dying one by one, in a three-book deal. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Antonia Pelari at Scholastic UK on behalf of Steph Thwaites at Curtis Brown UK negotiated the deal for North American rights. Julie Matysik at Running Press has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Fault Lines, a new YA novel by Nora Shalaway Carpenter (The Edge of Anything), in which a rural, anti-fracking teen discovers an ability to sense forests' energy, a power that becomes heightened the more she interacts with the new boy in town. Publication is scheduled for September 2023; Victoria Wells Arms at HG Literary sold North American rights. Sarah McCabe at McElderry Books has bought world rights in a multi-house auction to debut author Pascale Lacelle's Curious Tides. Pitched as a YA Ninth House meets The Starless Sea, this crossover dark academia fantasy follows a young mage who believes her secrets drowned along with several of her classmates—until their not-quite corpses start washing ashore. With the help of a reclusive student, she must uncover the truth behind the drownings—and the secret society linked to them—before the sinister magic that claimed her classmates claims her next. Publication is set for fall 2023; Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman Literary Agency handled the high six-figure deal for world rights. Liz Szabla and Anna Roberto at Feiwel and Friends have acquired world English rights to The Lost Library by bestselling authors Rebecca Stead (l.) and Wendy Mass. When a mysterious Little Free Library guarded by a large orange cat appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, 11-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change, in a story about owning your truth, choosing the life you want, and the power of a good book. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Faye Bender at the Book Group represented Stead, and Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented Mass. Chris Hernandez at Razorbill has won, in a six-figure auction, North American rights to Crow Girl by debut author-illustrator Charlotte Woo. With echoes of Studio Ghibli, this middle grade graphic novel fairy tale introduces Crow, a girl born with feathers on her face and the ability to talk to animals, who embarks on a quest with her new friend, the cursed prince, to change both their fates. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Alex Slater at Greenburger Kids brokered the two-book deal. Elizabeth Agyemang at Clarion has bought, in a preempt, educator, historian, and Langston League founder Erica Buddington's Magnified, a middle grade series with historical elements that blends illustrations, photographs, and primary sources to tell the story of Brooklyn "Fourth" Jones, a self-taught historian and accidental time-traveler who uncovers the true stories of prominent figures and movements in Black history. Publication of the first book is set for winter 2025; Alec Shane at Writers House did the two-book deal for world English rights. Erica Finkel at Abrams/Amulet has acquired world rights to the middle-grade novel Lost Kites and Other Treasures by Cathy Carr (365 Days to Alaska), about a young artist who uncovers family secrets during her uncle's visit. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency negotiated the deal. Anna Sargeant at Sourcebooks has bought world rights to Fearless Firsts, a middle grade nonfiction series by James Buckley Jr. (l.) and Ellen Labrecque (c.), illustrated by Steffi Walthall (r.), about barrier breakers and history makers in sports, entertainment, and science. The inaugural title, Athletes Who Changed the Game, is slated for spring 2024; the authors represented themselves, and James Burns at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator in the three-book deal. Katie Carella at Scholastic has acquired, in a three-book deal, world rights to Inside Scouts by Mitali Banerjee Ruths (l.), illustrated by Francesca Mahaney, an early reader series in which two young doctors-in-training use their special abilities to shrink in size, explore the systems of the body, and practice emotional skills like kindness, bravery, and strength. Publication of the first book is planned for spring 2024; Victoria Wells Arms at HG Literary represented the author, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator. Kristie Choi at Atheneum has bought The First Week of School by author-illustrator Drew Beckmeyer, a picture book that follows an ensemble cast of characters in one classroom, including an artist, an inventor, a group of competitive friends, their classmates, the teacher, the class pet—and one unexpected visitor whom everyone will absolutely, definitely forget. Publication is set for summer 2024; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary negotiated the deal for world rights. Andrew DeYoung at Beaming Books has acquired Courage, written and illustrated by Colter Jackson. The picture book follows a girl and her companion, a lion named Courage, who helps her take on the world. But when a classmate points out that her lion is a figment of her imagination, the world becomes a really scary place. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal for world English rights. Stephanie Mulligan at McSea Books has bought This Old Maine by Kim Norman (One-Osaurus, Two-Osaurus). This New England-themed reboot of the children's song "This Old Man" marks Kim's debut as both author and illustrator. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Jennifer Mattson at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights. Brian Geffen at Henry Holt has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Once Upon a Friend by middle grade Dan Gemeinhart (l.) in his picture book debut, illustrated by ShinYeon Moon. Aimed at fans of Toy Story and The Adventures of Beekle, the story is narrated by a beloved, albeit fictional children's book character, and follows the lasting friendship shared between the character and one special reader, through times of joy and adversity. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Pam Pho represented the author while at D4EO Literary, and Tanya McKinnon at McKinnon Literary represented the illustrator. Julie Bliven at Charlesbridge has bought world rights to JaNay Brown-Wood's (l.) picture book Mahogany, in a two-book deal, illustrated by John Joven. In this fractured fairy tale, Mahogany taps into her talents and Black girl magic to outsmart a hungry wolf. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Mela Bolinao at MB Artists represented the illustrator. Emily Feinberg at Roaring Brook has acquired world rights to The Star in You, a picture book by Katrina Moore (l.), illustrated by Amber Ren, a picture book that celebrates the unique "star" that shines within each of us. Publication is set for fall 2024; Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator. Lauri Hornik at Penguin/Rocky Pond Books has bought world rights to Quiet Is Strength by Mary Rand Hess (l.), illustrated by Dow Phumiruk, an ode to all the quieter souls in life who may find it difficult to be seen or heard, and who may not know their own strengths. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency represented the author and the illustrator. Catherine Laudone at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has acquired world rights to Cold by Tim McCanna (l.), illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki, a narrative nonfiction picture book about cold natural environments and the animals that live there. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator. Kate DePalma at Barefoot Books has bought Stranded: A Mostly True Story from Iceland by Icelandic writer and actor Ævar Þór Benediktsson (l.), illustrated by Anne Wilson. This picture book adventure tells the true story of how the author’s grandfather survived being stranded on a newly formed volcanic island off Iceland. Publication is set for fall 2023; Stacey Endress at Illustration X represented the illustrator, and the author represented himself in the deal for world rights. Julia McCarthy at Atheneum has acquired world rights to Fish Farts and Other Amazing Ways Animals Adapt, a picture book about the ways in which animals adapt to their surroundings, by Joanne Settel (l.), illustrated by Natasha Donovan. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; the author represented herself, and Lindsay Auld at Writers House represented the artist. To see all of this week's deals, click here. IN THE MEDIA From Deseret News: Shannon Hale and friends: Of all things to ban, not books. CLICK HERE From CheatSheet: John Lennon Saw Himself Writing Children's Books as He Aged. CLICK HERE From NPR: Goosebumps is turning 30 — the scariest part is how old that makes you. CLICK HERE From Literary Hub: Kate Beaton on the Grueling Task of Writing a Picture Book and Her New Memoir. CLICK HERE VIEW ALL SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner ‘In Every Life’ Marla Frazee’s new tour de force. more » Kenny Brechner An Interview with Autumn Fall shares her surprising picture book picks. more » Kenny Brechner The Back to School Book of the Century The delightful heft of Rick the Rock, star of a new picture book. more » Kenny Brechner The Waldo Party Returns and the Baby Departs A seance precedes the happy return of an annual tradition that was suspended by the pandemic. more » FEATURED REVIEWS Stanley’s Secret John Sullivan, illus. by Zach Manbeck. S&S/Wiseman, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-5344-8783-3 Quiet or not, Stanley dreams of tap-dancing on a big stage. But he doesn’t tell anyone and he dances only after hours in his school’s empty rooms, while helping the janitor. In a satisfying twist, a visit to the principal’s office results in support, and a suggestion to sign up for the talent show. The text pays careful attention to the way Stanley addresses his nervousness as he moves into his dream with grace. more My Self, Your Self Esmé Shapiro. Tundra, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-77488-023-4 Shapiro envelops big ideas within this whimsically affirming exploration of individuality and selfhood. An anthropomorphic creature in brown boots encounters various forest beings, including a mushroom and a snail; it ponders “What is a self?” The easy, conversational rhythm offers lots of opportunities for sharing, and the pen, watercolor, and digital art features intricately etched black-and-white backgrounds, with blips of red and earth-toned color throughout. A welcome, wandering contemplation of a book about being “OURSELVES together.” more Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston Esme Symes-Smith. Labyrinth Road, $17.99 (400p) ISBN 978-0-593-48577-4 Nonbinary 12-year-old Callie dreams of becoming a knight in service to the royal court of Helston and in their trials to become one they confront the strict gender norms the royal court expects of them. Symes-Smith crafts an emotionally rich adventure starring an intersectionally inclusive cast of courageous characters. With narrative undercurrents addressing identity, found family, and healing, there’s a lot to unpack and appreciate, all for the better, in this character-driven fantasy series starter. more Briarcliff Prep Brianna Peppins. Disney-Hyperion, $17.99 (400p) ISBN 978-1-368-07837-5 Avi is excited to finally be in the same school system as her older siblings, especially her sister Belle, but when Avi witnesses Belle’s boyfriend, son of the all-boys school’s headmaster, physically assaulting Belle, Avi struggles to advocate for justice and maintain her fledgling social life at school. Brimming with a wealth of pop culture references and told via a limited omniscient viewpoint that renders Avi’s life and the people around her in expertly nuanced detail, this powerful debut compassionately tackles themes of class privilege and domestic violence. more We Deserve Monuments Jas Hammonds. Roaring Brook, $18.99 (384p) ISBN 978-1-250-81655-9 Biracial high school senior Avery Anderson abruptly relocates from Washington, D.C., to Bardell, Ga., to help care for her terminally ill, estranged Black maternal grandmother, Mama Letty. With the strenuous relationship between Avery’s mother and Mama Letty, and the more she learns about her family, the quicker she comes to grips with the town’s deep interpersonal connections. This remarkable debut explores multigenerational trauma and how its effects leave severe wounds on the present while resonating into the future, making for a heartrending tale. more	November 1, 2022 People Morgan Hillman has joined Holiday House, Peachtree, and Pixel+Ink as sales director; previously she was senior national accounts manager at HarperCollins, and specialized in children's book sales. Liz Dresner has joined Random House Children's Books as an art director, young adult; previously she was senior art director at Sourcebooks. Shivani Annirood has been promoted to senior publicist at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, from publicist. Scholastic has three new hires. Maithili Joshi has joined as junior designer; she was previously an intern at Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. Richard Gonzalez Jr. has joined as production editor for Cartwheel. Deborah Owusu-Appiah has joined as sales assistant. Leonard Marcus is leaving Astra Books for Young Readers as editor-at-large and can be reached here. For a look at all of October's job moves, including new hires and promotions, click here. Mark Your Calendar The Morgan Library & Museum in New York City recently opened its “The Little Prince: Taking Flight” exhibit, which showcases Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s 1943 original manuscript of The Little Prince, along with his drawings, watercolors, and drafts highlighting the creative process behind one of the world’s most notable books. The exhibition will close next February. For more information, click here. Also on view at the Morgan is the Ashley Bryan & Langston Hughes: Sail Away exhibition. Bryan’s 2015 picture book Sail Away paired poems from activist and award-winning poet Langston Hughes with Bryan’s cut-paper collages to highlight the immersive magic of being out at sea. The exhibit displays Bryan’s original collages along with other pieces, including paintings, photographs, and recordings, celebrating the connection between the two Black artists. For more information, click here. On-Sale Calendar Give thanks for the many great new books coming out this month! Stuff your shelves with picture books including The Sour Grape by Jory John, illus. by Pete Oswald; Cozy in Love by Jan Brett; and Who Is Ketanji Brown Jackson? by Shelia P. Moses, illus. by Dede Putra. Get an extra helping of new middle grade books such as Futureland: Battle for the Park by H.D. Hunter, illus. by Khadijah Khatib; Looking for True by Tricia Springstubb; anD Mihi Ever After by Tae Keller. New on the YA front are Cursed by Marissa Meyer, The Luminaries by Susan Dennard, Nubia: The Awakening by Omar Epps and Clarence A. Haynes, Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore, and Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton et al. Readers can get a dose of knowledge with nonfiction books Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Caste (Young Adult Edition) by Isabel Wilkerson. For more books releasing this November, check out PW's on-sale calendar here. Bestsellers Children’s Frontlist Fiction #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling, illus. by Jim Kay and Neil Packer. Click here Picture Books #1 Little Blue Truck's Halloween by Alice Schertle, illus. by Jill McElmurry. Click here Follow Us Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram! 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.

In the Spotlight Covid, Inclusivity, and Mindfulness: Three Years of Picture Book Trends The Margaret Wise Brown Prize in Children's Literature is awarded to the best picture book text published the previous year, and publishers send their very best picture books for consideration, providing an interesting dataset from which to study changing trends and offering a snapshot of shifting literary values. more In the News Children's Book Council Annual Meeting: A New Format and New Initiatives for a New Year On October 26, the Children's Book Council held its annual meeting virtually, officially electing its new slate of board members and highlighting the organization's notable work throughout the year and plans for new initiatives, including a Midlevel Career Committee and the eighth National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. more CBC, HarperCollins to Honor Eloise Greenfield with Poetry Award Beginning next month, librarians, teachers, and booksellers will have the opportunity to recognize one of their own for supporting Black-authored children’s poetry, in honor of a writer who specialized in this genre. The first-ever Eloise Greenfield Children's Poetry Advocate Prize, created by the Children's Book Council and HarperCollins Children's Books, will be issued next April during National Poetry Month. more Licensing News Neither Snow Nor Rain Nor Heat Nor Gloom of Night Will Stop Mr. ZIP's Publishing Program In partnership with the U.S. Postal Service, family entertainment company Curiosity Ink Media and publisher Dynamite Entertainment are launching a series of books for preschool through middle-grade readers, featuring a slightly reimagined version of Mr. ZIP, the 1960s postal carrier cartoon figure developed to promote ZIP Code use. more Licensing Hotline: October 2022 Random House Children’s Books has partnered with Ebony Jr. for a collection of Little Golden Books written and illustrated by Black creators and featuring African American stories. Read on for news about a subscription Star Wars Encyclopedia from Fanhome; Cottage Door Press's new partnership with ChopChop Family, among other licenses; new publishing programs from PI Kids tied to properties ranging from Peter Rabbit to Spellbound; the launch of Wimpy Kid licensed products; and more. more Books for the Holidays Holiday Gift Guide 2022: Children's and YA Books Bedtime stories, fractured fairy tales, and more make ideal readalouds and readalongs for young readers of all ages. more Out Next Week Hot Off the Presses: Week of October 31 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book about a child's trip to the barbershop, a graphic novel featuring a superhero tackling a new enemy, a queer holiday YA romance, and more. more In Brief In Brief: October 27, 2022 This month authors ran into their peers on launch day; gave a reading to a unique audience; showcased their work at an airport art installation; celebrated their debut in Brooklyn; held interactivities for guests; and commemorated 30 years of work. more For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new PW JobZone, now with resume hosting and more! ·  Sales & Marketing Director - Tuttle Publishing - North Clarendon, VT. ·  Art Coordination Manager - Candlewick Press - Somerville, MA. ·  Human Resources Manager - The Quarto Group - Beverly, MA. ·  Nonfiction Reviews Editor - Publishers Weekly - New York, NY. ·  Publicity Assistant - Verso Books - Brooklyn, NY. Rights Report Phoebe Yeh at Crown has acquired, in a two-book deal, The Notes by debut novelist Catherine Con Morse. This contemporary YA novel follows Claire Wu, a Chinese American pianist at a performing arts boarding school whose dedication to music is rekindled by a glamorous new music teacher, but is challenged by warning notes, her first love and the pressure to succeed. Publication is planned for summer 2024 and a second standalone book for summer 2025, respectively. Roma Panganiban and Chad Luibl at Janklow & Nesbit Associates negotiated the deal for world rights. Kate Proswimmer at McElderry Books has bought And Don't Look Back, a mystery by Rebecca Barrow. Harlow Ford has been on the run her whole life, evading a nameless villain and always looking forward. But when her mother Cora is killed in a car accident, Harlow is thrust into the past, where long-hidden family secrets begin to reveal themselves—and there's no running from them now. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media sold North American rights. Annie Berger at Sourcebooks Fire has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Bring Me Your Midnight, a romantic fantasy by Rachel Griffin (The Nature of Witches). When Tana Fairchild's coven is unable to calm the waters around her island home, she must choose between loyalty to her family and the life they've laid out for her, or the outcast boy who owns her heart and the wild magic that could tame the seas but cost her everything. Publication is set for summer 2023; Elana Roth Parker at Laura Dail Agency did the two-book deal for world English rights. Amy Fitzgerald at Lerner/Carolrhoda Lab has bought All the Things We Never Said by Yasmin Rahman. The YA novel, originally published in the U.K., follows three struggling girls who meet through a suicide-pact website. As they become friends and realize that the right support systems can make life worth living after all, they decide to back out of the pact—if the website will let them. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Ruth Logan at Bonnier Books UK bought North American rights. Alison Romig at Delacorte has acquired We Are the Beasts by Gigi Griffis. When a series of mysterious deaths start to plague the countryside and whispers of a beast in the mountains reach the little French hamlet of Mende, most people think it's a curse—but 16-year-old Joséphine and her best friend Clara see it as their chance to escape their brutal lives, in a story based on the unsolved mystery of the Beast of Gevaudan. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Paige Terlip at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights. Alyson Day at HarperCollins has bought world rights to Glass by Newbery Honor author Kathryn Lasky. The upper middle-grade fantasy tells the backstory of Cinderella's teenage godmother Bess, who is trapped by her vicious family in a glass palace until she shatters their evil spell and becomes a force for good. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Brenda Bowen at the Book Group handled the deal. Irene Vázquez at Levine Querido has acquired Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice by debut author Anna Lapera. The upper middle grade novel follows Manuela "Mani" Semilla, a 12-year old Filipina-Guatemalan girl who just wants two things: to get her period, and to thwart her mother's plan of taking her to Guatemala on her birthday. But when she discovers letters between her mother and her disappeared-journalist aunt, Mani is transformed from quiet bystander into budding activist. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Ellen Goff at HG Literary did the deal for North American English and world Spanish and Dutch rights. Allison Moore, while at Bloomsbury, bought world English rights to Secrets We Tell the Sea by Martha Riva Palacio Obón (l.), winner of Mexico's Premio Barco de Vapor prize; Lourdes Heuer (r.) will translate, and Alex Borbolla will edit. Originally published in Mexico, the middle grade novel follows Sofía, whose mother has sent her to live with her abuela in a mystical seaside town. When hard truths come out after a tragedy, Sofía must learn how to forgive herself and others. Publication is set for fall 2023; Laura Gross and Will Morningstar at Laura Gross Literary Agency represented the author, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown LIterary Agency represented the translator. Nancy Siscoe at Knopf has acquired The Wrong Way Home, a contemporary middle grade novel by Kate O'Shaughnessy (The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane). Twelve-year-old Fern has lived half her life at The Ranch, an isolated, off-the-grid community, so when her mother moves them across the country, she wants nothing more than to go back. The novel explores the power of lies we want to believe and one girl's slow embrace of a messy, flawed reality. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Pete Knapp at Park & Fine Literary and Media handled the two-book deal for world English rights. Erica Finkel at Abrams/Amulet has bought Rosalyn Ransaw's middle grade debut, Smoke & Mirrors, pitched as From the Desk of Zoe Washington meets The Parker Inheritance. A Black boy is forced to spend his summer refurbishing an old mansion and in the process is pulled into the unsolved mystery of the previous owner, a famous magician who disappeared without a trace. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Paige Terlip at Andrea Brown Literary Agency sold world rights. Caitlyn Dlouhy at Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books has acquired world rights to The Expets by cartoonist Mark Tatulli. The chapter book graphic novel is about Bosco, an ordinary dog with super-stinky powers who upends his cushy suburban existence when he joins a league of super-eXtreme housepets to save the earth's kittens. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Daniel Lazar at Writers House negotiated the deal. Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has bought at auction two picture books by Caldecott Honor author-illustrator Brendan Wenzel. Every Dreaming Creature explores the senses and experiences of different animals through dream, and Good Golden Sun demonstrates the interconnectedness of nature through the power of the sun. Publication is set for fall 2023 and fall 2024, respectively; Steven Malk at Writers House sold world rights. Allyn Johnston at S&S/Beach Lane Books has acquired world rights to The Tiny Thing by Ellen Tarlow (l.), illustrated by Lauren Stringer (previous collaborators on Looking for Smile), about a shy mole and the "tiny thing" that helps him to find his confidence and his place in the world. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the author, and Victoria Wells Arms at HG Literary represented the illustrator. Karen Boersma and Jennifer Stokes at Owlkids have bought world rights to Patty Dream by Malaika series author Nadia Hohn (l.), illustrated by Sahle Robinson, a picture book about a child who emigrates from Jamaica and helps his parents launch a business selling the savory pastries to remind them of their southern home and build a bridge to their new one. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented Hohn, and the illustrator represented himself. Grace Kendall at FSG has acquired world rights to the picture book Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark by Allen R. Wells (l.), illustrated by DeAndra Hodge. The book tells the story of Yvonne Clark, who went from a girl fixing things in her family's home to becoming a pioneer in the field of engineering and solving problems for NASA. Publication is set for winter 2025; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator. Megan Tingley at Little, Brown has bought world rights to How Elegant the Elephant, a collection of poems about animals and insects by former children's poet laureate Mary Ann Hoberman (l.), illustrated by two-time Caldecott Honor artist Marla Frazee. Publication is tentatively scheduled for winter 2024; Gina Maccoby at Gina Maccoby Literary Agency represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the artist. Emily Settle at Feiwel and Friends has acquired world rights to Waiting to Welcome by Samantha Cleaver (l.) and Reuben Nantogmah (c.), in which a girl in West Africa shares the excitement and anticipation of preparing for a traditional Outdooring Ceremony, welcoming the "stranger"—a new baby—to the community; Bri Marie McNish (r.) will illustrate. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Naomi Davis at BookEnds represented the author, and Moe Ferrara at BookEnds represented the illustrator. Naomi Kirsten at Chronicle has bought world rights to You Are Home, a picture book from debut author Bex Tobin Fine (l.) and illustrator Andrés Landazábal (r.). Inspired by the author's own childhood experience, the book follows three children as their paths cross and they redefine what "home" means after a house fire, a long-distance move, and living in a motorhome. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Sam Farkas at Jill Grinberg Literary Management represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator. Kate O'Sullivan at Clarion has acquired world rights, in an exclusive submission, to Sleepy Snuggles, a picture book by Diana Murray (l.), illustrated by Charles Santoso, that is a bedtime chant full of kisses to help get snuggle-lambs, snuggle-piglets, and even snuggle-babies tucked in and ready for sleep. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary Studio represented the author, and Tamara Shannon at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator. Sylvie Frank at Disney-Hyperion has bought world rights to I Am Because We Are and another untitled picture book by attorney and DEI reform activist Allison Matulli (l.), illustrated by Talia Skyles. This picture book is grounded in the African Ubuntu philosophy and invites children to reflect on their own role and power with respect to acceptance, belonging, and community. Publication is set for spring 2024; Lilly Ghahremani at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Shadra Strickland at Painted Words represented the illustrator. Michael Green at Marble Press has acquired world rights to My Big Embarrassing Elephant, a picture book by Angie Lucas (l.), illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby, about how one girl goes about hiding a very literal elephant in the room, only to discover she may not need to disguise it at all. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Allison Hellegers at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator. Winsome Bingham at Reycraft has bought world rights to Zamzam: A Tale of Two Cities by Karen Leggett Abouraya (l.) and Susan L. Roth, illustrated by Roth, about a boy with both Egyptian and American grandparents, and the differences—and similarities—he finds in the two cultures. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Victoria Wells Arms at HG Literary represented the author and illustrator. Lisa Rosinsky at Barefoot Books has acquired world rights to By Myself! and Too Green!, two board books by Sumana Seeboruth (l.), illustrated by Maribel Castells. In By Myself!, a toddler struggles with a desire for independence until she realizes she and her older sister can help each other; in Too Green!, a picky toddler finds that it's fun to help Mum and Mama cook (and taste) a new food. Publication in English and bilingual Spanish/English is set for fall 2023; Lorna Hemingway at Bell Lomax Moreton represented the author, and Christa Heschke and Daniele Hunter at McIntosh and Otis represented the illustrator. To see all of this week's deals, click here. IN THE MEDIA From Tor.com: Urban Legends and Wicked Spells: The Rise of Black YA Horror. CLICK HERE From the Daily Heller: Bruno Munari's Playtime. CLICK HERE From HuffPost: Stephen Colbert Trolls GOP Candidate with Raunchy Makeovers for Classic Books. CLICK HERE From Book Riot: My Reaction to Rereading The Catcher in the Rye as an Adult. CLICK HERE VIEW ALL SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner ‘In Every Life’ Marla Frazee’s new tour de force. more » Kenny Brechner An Interview with Autumn Fall shares her surprising picture book picks. more » Kenny Brechner The Back to School Book of the Century The delightful heft of Rick the Rock, star of a new picture book. more » Kenny Brechner The Waldo Party Returns and the Baby Departs A seance precedes the happy return of an annual tradition that was suspended by the pandemic. more » FEATURED REVIEWS Little Pups in Big Trucks Bob Shea, illus. by Brian Won. Dial, $7.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-593-32589-6 Using big trucks and deductive reasoning, three well-intentioned pups collaborate in this lively series kickoff, which toys with basics of child development. Shea’s smartly wry narration, coupled with Won’s unlined digital art, are the ideal vehicle for this tale of cheerfully indefatigable protagonists, construction equipment, and revelation—a deadpan board book delight. more The Bird Book Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, illus. by Steve Jenkins. Clarion, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-0-35-832569-7 Via avian trivia and technical illustrations in cut-paper collage, the longtime collaborators invite browsers to a visually jaunty, loosely organized compendium positioned for budding bird nerds. Meticulous collages are the star attraction of a catalog that recommends learning “as much as we can about these remarkable creatures” in order to help birds survive. more Bessie the Motorcycle Queen Charles R. Smith Jr., illus. by Charlot Kristensen. Orchard, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-338-75247-2 Smith kicks off this onomatopoeic picture book biography of “Motorcycle Queen” Bessie Stringfield (1911–1993) with a dazzling series of motorcycle stunts, and a white-presenting crowd asking questions about the Black stuntwoman’s background. In mythologizing prose, Smith compiles the uncertain details of Stringfield’s life story into a digestible tale of a Black woman who lived on her own terms. more Wolfish Christiane M. Andrews. Little, Brown, $16.99 (416p) ISBN 978-0-316-49606-3 In this historical fantasy by Andrews, loosely inspired by the tale of Remus and Romulus and set “in a distant, more brutal age,” three tweens are brought together by fate to combat a capricious young king’s treacherous reign. Intricate worldbuilding and a leisurely pace couple with poetic prose to render a protagonist whose careful dialogue emphasizes the way in which words—both spoken and written—can shape the world. more Heartbreak Boys Simon James Green. Clarion, $18.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-358-61725-9 Drama king Jack and shy Nate plan to incite jealousy in their now coupled up exes by embarking on their own Instagrammable summer vacation in this hilarious rom-com from Green. Green portrays the boys’ emotional turmoil surrounding their mutual heartbreak and individual insecurities with believable tenderness, making for a by turns raucous and earnest tale. more	October 27, 2022 People Bree Martinez has joined Holiday House, Peachtree, and Pixel+Ink as publicist. She previously worked at BookClub as content experience manager and manager of author outreach/client relations and before that was associate publicist at Penguin Young Readers. ICYMI Rick Riordan to Return to Percy Jackson Next Fall more YA Authors Talk #BookTok: Boon or Burden? more LBYR Unveils New Graphic Novel Imprint more First Book Rallies Nonprofits in Push for Diverse, Affordable Children's Books more Follow Us Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram! 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.

In the Spotlight Best Children's and YA Books 2022 From Publishers Weekly’s reviews of children’s and young adult books published in 2022, our selections for the top 50 books of the year include picture books and graphic novels, fiction and nonfiction, debuts and bestsellers for readers of all ages. MORE Book News Jeff Kinney Rocks Out with Release of 17th ‘Wimpy Kid’ Book, New Disney+ Movie With the publication of Diper Överlöde—the 17th installment in Kinney’s mega-bestselling Diary of Wimpy Kid series—the author has, uh, löded up the van and hit the road for a series of rock concert-style events. "It's kind of like This Is Spinal Tap for kids," Kinney said. more SPONSORED Get Spooktacular with Simon and Chester! Join Simon and Chester in their third super adventure as they navigate family dynamics and an important ghost conference! Chester lives with his Grandma, his cat Mr. Pickles and Simon the ghost. Lately Chester has been feeling like he's missing out when he sees other families out doing fun family things. But is the grass greener on the other side? MORE ► Soapbox Keeping the Creative Flame Alive Through Burnout Editor and author Elizabeth Agyemang reflects on the challenge of coping with burnout and "keeping the creative fire burning" in difficult times. more New Releases New and Noteworthy Children's and YA Books: October 2022 Fall brings a bounty of books for young readers, including picture books by A-list celebrities, the companion to a National Book Award winner, and much more. See our roundup of the biggest of the bunch. more First Person Reading with Olympia, Ira, and Harry: I'm Just Wild About Harry! Book publishing veteran Betsy Groban continues her column charting the reading habits of her grandchildren and welcomes a third addition to the family. "Books continue to enhance and add meaning to life for my grandkids in surprising ways," she writes. more Q & A Susan Dennard In 2016, Susan Dennard's YA high fantasy, Truthwitch, launched a bestselling series that's now in development for television. After four books and one illustrated novella set in the Witchlands universe, Dennard is offering fans something different—a trilogy-opening horror-tinged fantasy adventure called The Luminaries. We spoke with Dennard about the story's unique origins, what it's like to juggle two series at once, and writing as therapy. Q: What served as the seed for this book? A: I liked the idea of nightmare hunters fighting each night of the week, when these nightmares would rise in a nearby forest. And I was like, if it’s an ancient society, maybe they’ve divided into clans, one for each night of the week. A lot of it is a little bit campy, and I love that about it. I hope that people read it and they feel like they are watching a really awesome CW show. more   For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new PW JobZone, now with resume hosting and more! ·  Scholarly Communications Librarian - University of Georgia Libraries - Athens, GA. ·  Editor, Engineering (Synthesis) - Springer Nature - New York, NY. ·  Subsidiary Rights Associate - Guilford Press - New York, NY. ·  Trade Sales Manager - Taylor and Francis - Remote. ·  Junior Production Designer - The Quarto Group - Remote. Rights Report Karen Wojtyla at McElderry Books has acquired North American rights to Running Past Dark by NBA winner Han Nolan. In this YA thriller, high school senior Scottie O'Doul turns to ultra-marathon running after the death of her twin sister Caitlyn, who died in a car crash involving the school's beloved football coach, and begins to piece together the circumstances surrounding the incident as she runs toward a new sense of self and a new set of truths. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Victoria Wells Arms at HG Literary negotiated the deal for North American rights. Ashley Hearn at Peachtree Teen has bought two novels by Andrew Joseph White (Hell Followed with Us), both featuring transgender, autistic protagonists. In The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, set in an alternate Victorian England where mediums control the dead, Silas Bell must expose a power-hungry secret society while confined to a cruel finishing school designed to turn him into the perfect wife; and in Compound Fracture, an Appalachian teen survives an attempted murder with the help of an ancestor who died in the West Virginia coal wars, only to get drawn into a struggle between the rural poor and those who exploit them. Publication is set for fall 2023 and 2024; Zabé Ellor at the Jennifer De Chiara Agency sold world rights. Ruta Rimas at Razorbill has acquired The Legacies by Jessica Goodman, a YA thriller set in New York City elite social circles, filled with old money and new secrets, backstabbing and blackmail, and a dead body. Publication is scheduled for summer 2023; Alyssa Reuben at William Morris Endeavor brokered the deal for North American rights. Kat Brzozowski at Feiwel and Friends has bought Unholy Terrors, a standalone gothic YA fantasy by Lyndall Clipstone (Lakesedge; Forestfall), for publication by Henry Holt. Pitched as Gideon the Ninth meets The Boneless Mercies, the novel follows Everline Blackthorn, a necromantic warrior unable to use magic, who is forced to team up with the monstrous boy who is her sworn enemy in order to stop the rise of a terrible, eldritch power. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management did the deal for North American rights. Lydia Gregovic at Delacorte, with Beverly Horowitz, has acquired Carnegie-nominated author Melinda Salisbury's Her Dark Wings, a YA Hades x Persephone retelling in which a teen girl coping with the unexpected death of her ex-best friend—whose betrayal ended their friendship for good—finds herself in the Underworld, where she'll have to contend with mythical beasts, her own burgeoning powers, and the arrogant, handsome Lord of the Dead himself. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Bronwen Bennie at David Fickling Books negotiated the deal for North American rights. Namrata Tripathi at Kokila has bought world English rights to Newbery Honor author Renée Watson's (l.) Black Girl You Are Atlas, a semi-autobiographical YA poetry collection with fine art by Caldecott Honor artist Ekua Holmes that both looks back at the author's childhood and is a letter to young readers urging them to look toward the future with love, understanding, and celebration. Publication is set for spring 2024; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the artist. Julie Matysik at Running Press Kids has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Gender Rebels by Katherine Locke (l.) (What Are Your Words: A Book About Pronouns), an illustrated middle grade nonfiction history of important trans/nonbinary/gender nonconforming trailblazers, illustrated by Shanee Benjamin. Publication is scheduled for 2023; Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary Agency sold world rights. Grace Scheipeter at Oni Press has bought Welcome to Dandelion Port, the debut graphic novel by Lily Joiner. It tells the tale of a feline fortune-teller who uses cursed tarot cards on a mysterious canine traveler binding their fates together in the absurd city of Dandelion Port. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Natascha Morris at the Tobias Literary Agency sold world rights. Greg Hunter at Lerner/Graphic Universe has acquired Anne Lambelet's graphic novel debut I'm a Dumbo! and a second title. In the first of these early middle grade nonfiction books, a dumbo octopus introduces readers to marine wildlife. Publication is slated for spring 2025 and spring 2026; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary handled the two-book deal. Lauri Hornik at Rocky Pond has bought Katie Kordesh's debut author-illustrated picture book, Here's Hotdog!, which follows the exploits of Enola, a precocious girl; Grandma Mimi, who lives at the coolest retirement home ever; Hoagie, Grandma Mimi's dog; and Hotdog, Enola's former lunch and current best friend. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; Rebecca Sherman at Writers House negotiated the two-book deal for world rights. Mary-Kate Gaudet at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to dancer and social media star Mark Kanemura's (l.) picture book debut I Am a Rainbow!, written with Steve Foxe, illustrated by Richard Merritt. Inspired by the author's childhood in Hawaii, it tells the story of a shy, artistic boy who learns to shine with confidence. Publication is set for summer 2023; Lisa Filipelli and Paul Luckenbaugh at Select Management Group with Jessica Marlow at Weintraub Tobin represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself. Kate O'Sullivan at Clarion has bought world rights to Rain and the Reading Horse by Maria Gianferrari (l.), illustrated by Hannah Salyer, about a girl who is quiet and a horse who understands, in a meditation on the power of animal friendship and the pressures of speaking in front of others. Publication is planned for winter 2024; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator. Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to A Mouse Family Christmas, a picture book by Deborah Underwood (l.), illustrated by Leah Hong, in which a mouse family decides to make a lonely Christmas extra-special for the elderly man whose house they share, for publication in fall 2024. Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator. Paula Wiseman at S&S/Wiseman has bought world rights to Summer: A Solstice Story by Kelsey E. Gross (l.), illustrated by Renata Liwska, a picture book about Owl and friends gathering up gifts of love from the woodlands to honor the shining spirits of new life on the longest day of the year. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Mary Cummings at Great River Literary represented the author, and Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties represented the illustrator. Alexandra Cooper at Quill Tree has acquired Printz Honor author and National Book Award finalist Kekla Magoon's (l.) picture book biography Ketanji: Justice Jackson's Journey to the U.S. Supreme Court, illustrated by Coretta Scott King Honoree Laura Freeman, which tells the story of Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. Publication is set for June 2023; Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author, and Janet DeCarlo at Storybook Arts represented the illustrator. Wesley Adams at FSG has bought world rights to Glenn Burke, Game Changer, a picture book biography of the trailblazing baseball player who invented the high five and was the sport's first openly gay major leaguer, by Phil Bildner (l.) (A High Five for Glenn Burke), illustrated by Daniel J. O'Brien. Publication is scheduled for winter 2024; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator. Frances Gilbert at Doubleday has acquired world rights to Happy Friendsgiving by Marcie Colleen (l.), illustrated by Jen Hill, a picture book celebrating the many ways people gather at Thanksgiving, and the many unique forms a family can take, highlighting groups of friends, neighbors, community members, and those who work on the holidays as part of the interconnected web of civic life. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Paige Terlip at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator. Anna Sargeant at Sourcebooks has bought world rights to The Pumpkin Seed's Secret, a nonfiction picture book by Hannah Barnaby (l.), illustrated by Cedric Abt, about the life cycle of a pumpkin. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt Agency represented the author, and Tina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator. Sarah Fell at Magination Press has acquired world rights to Rhythm by SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner Jackie Azua Kramer (l.) (The Green Umbrella; The Boy and the Gorilla), illustrated by Taia Morley, a picture book about a girl living in a town beleaguered by an economic downturn who finds solace in a beloved tree. Publication is set for February 2024; Stephen Fraser at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator. Nina Gruener at Cameron Kids has bought world rights to Bird Rehearsal by Jonah Winter (l.), illustrated by Stacy Innerst. The bird rehearsal starts at dawn with the soft "tweedled-dee" of a robin. As the sun moves through the sky, the chatter of chickadees, coos of a doves, and caws of crows rise up to join the choir. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author, and Susan Cohen at Writers House represented the artist. Jennifer Adams at Sounds True has acquired world rights to Giraffe and Jackal Are Friends (Again!) by Lisa Robinson (l.) and Mary Mackenzie (c.), cofounder of the NVC Academy, illustrated by Nicole Michels (r.). When Aardvark arrives as the new kid in Savannah School, best friends Giraffe and Jackal work through the feelings of anger, jealousy, and rivalry that arise when Giraffe invites Aardvark to play, a picture book based on the conflict resolution techniques of Marshall Rosenberg and the Center for Nonviolent Communication. Publication is set for fall 2023; Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Birch Path Literary represented Robinson, Mackenzie represented herself, and Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented Michels. To see all of this week's deals, click here. IN THE MEDIA From NPR: George M. Johnson's book is banned from dozens of districts, but has helped countless young readers. CLICK HERE From the Salt Lake Tribune: Here's how many Utah parent complaints have been filed — so far — about 'pornographic' books in schools. CLICK HERE From School Library Journal: Happily Horrified: Why Tweens Crave Horror in Scary Times. CLICK HERE From the Daily Heller: "I'm interested in figuring out why we react to some things as creepy and disconcerting, and to others as delightful and amusing": Shaun Tan on his new anthology. CLICK HERE From Book Riot: The Top 10 YA Books of the Year, According to Teenagers. CLICK HERE From Cake Wrecks: Sunday Sweets: Halloween Cuties. CLICK HERE VIEW ALL SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner ‘In Every Life’ Marla Frazee’s new tour de force. more » Kenny Brechner An Interview with Autumn Fall shares her surprising picture book picks. more » Kenny Brechner The Back to School Book of the Century The delightful heft of Rick the Rock, star of a new picture book. more » Kenny Brechner The Waldo Party Returns and the Baby Departs A seance precedes the happy return of an annual tradition that was suspended by the pandemic. more » FEATURED REVIEWS Dark on Light Dianne White, illus. by Felicita Sala. Beach Lane, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-5344-8789-5 The creators of Green on Green follow that seasonal work with one focused on shadow and light, centering lulling, mesmerizing sensate verse accompanied by artwork in warm, saturated hues. After three children notice their dog has escaped into the night, they fetch their flashlights to retrieve him. Closing bedtime scenes in a shared bedroom embody warmth and security in this quiet celebration of chiaroscuro in the natural world. more Going Places: Victor Hugo Green and His Glorious Book Tonya Bolden, illus. by Eric Velasquez. Quill Tree, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-06-296740-4 Bolden recounts the moving story of mail carrier Victor Hugo Green (1892–1960), originator of the Green Book—a guide used by Black travelers to navigate Jim Crow–era America, where “these travelers... could face hassles, humiliations, hardships. Even bodily harm.” Working images of paper ephemera into the pages, Velasquez melds portraiture and background illustration, producing a visually engaging account of history in the making. more Luminous: Living Things That Light Up the Night Julia Kuo. Greystone Kids, $18.95 (44p) ISBN 978-1-77164-888-2 Saturated turquoise and vermilion figures pop off velvety black and blue backgrounds in this beguiling introduction to bioluminescent creatures. As a child and adult with tan skin and dark hair walk through the inky night with a flashlight, Kuo defines light as “a kind of energy that our eyes can see.” Breathtaking spreads introduce foxfire, glowworms, and more as incandescent lines trace the filaments and tentacles of the sea creatures that live in the ocean depths where much bioluminescent life is found. It’s a revealing book whose visual appeal, like bioluminescence itself, lures unsuspecting readers in. more Nine Liars Maureen Johnson. HarperCollins/Tegen, $19.99 (464p) ISBN 978-0-06-303265-1 Set in the Truly Devious universe, this scintillating mystery by Johnson follows Ellingham Academy senior and renowned amateur sleuth Stevie Bell, who feels rudderless with no college plans or cases to solve, until while on vacation with her group she discovers clues to a 1995 Cambridge University murder. Johnson delivers a meticulously crafted fair-play mystery that gratifies as a standalone while also forwarding the richly textured characters’ arcs, a treat for fans of the series. more My Good Man Eric Gansworth. Levine Querido, $21.99 (400p) ISBN 9-78-164614183-8 Onondaga, Eel Clan author Gansworth traces the life of reporter Brian Waterson, a Haudenosaunee 25-year-old, from early childhood to adulthood in this heartfelt epic. As the years pass, Brian navigates racism, toxic masculinity, and an increasing disconnect with his heritage. In this perceptive tome, Gansworth candidly offers a complex look at Brian’s efforts to cultivate his own sense of self while navigating two seemingly separate identities: his life growing up in Tuscarora and his life after leaving the reservation. more	October 25, 2022 People Elissa Gershowitz has been named editor-in-chief of the Horn Book; she was previously executive editor. At Candlewick Press, Katlyn Stokarski has been promoted to commercial operations manager, from commercial operations supervisor. In the Winners' Circle At the annual Neustadt Lit Fest, the winner of the 2023 NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature was announced: Gene Luen Yang. The award honors authors and illustrators of significant works for young readers. Yang, author of American Born Chinese and Boxer & Saints, is the first graphic novelist to receive the prize. Yang will be awarded $35,000, a silver medallion, and a certificate of recognition, and the next Neustadt Lit Fest 2023 will be held in his honor. To learn more, click here. Bestsellers Children’s Frontlist Fiction #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling, illus. by Jim Kay and Neil Packer. Click here Picture Books #1 I’m So Glad You Were Born: Celebrating Who You Are by Ainsley Earhardt, illus. by Kim Barnes. Click here Follow Us Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram! 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.

In the Spotlight YA Authors Talk #BookTok: Boon or Burden? We spoke with a number of YA authors about the benefits and drawbacks of the #BookTok phenomenon, including success stories for frontlist and backlist books and, as a result, the sometimes unwelcome pressure to master the platform for self promotion. more New Ventures LBYR Unveils New Graphic Novel Imprint Little, Brown Books for Young Readers is launching a graphic novel imprint, LB Ink, that will encompass all of its early-reader, middle-grade, and young adult graphic novels. Andrea Colvin, LBYR's editorial director, graphic publishing, will head up the new imprint, and the logo will start appearing on books in fall 2023. more In the News Frankfurt Book Fair 2022: YA 'Romantasy' and Revelry on the Fair Floor "Romantasy," a portmanteau describing a hot trend in YA titles, could just as easily be used to describe the mood flooding the show floor at the Frankfurt Book Fair: a giddy gratitude, even in the face of ever-increasing global issues. more First Book Rallies Nonprofits in Push for Diverse, Affordable Children's Books Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit First Book has teamed with 26 additional nonprofits nationwide to form the Diverse Books for All Coalition, an initiative to address the urgent need for increased access to diverse children's books. As organizer of this new effort, First Book has received a $1 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to support the endeavor. more Missouri Proposes New ‘Protection of Minors’ Rule for Libraries Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft last week announced a new proposed rule he says will protect minors in the state’s libraries, but librarians and freedom to read advocates say the unwieldy new rule is a "First Amendment minefield." more In Conversation James S. Murray and Carsen Smith James S. Murray is a writer, executive producer, and actor, best known as "Murr" on the hit television show Impractical Jokers on truTV. When he isn't getting up to hijinks with his best friends, Murray is the co-author of the Area 51 Interns sci-fi middle grade series with writer and comedian Carsen Smith. We asked Murray and Smith to interview each other about the latest book in their series, Zoned Out, their love of legendary creatures, and the collaborative process. more On the Scene Bank Street BookFest 2022: Honoring a Legend and Tackling Cultural Depictions for Young Readers On October 15, BookFest, an annual event dedicated to honoring children and teen literature, was held virtually in collaboration with Bank Street College of Education. The morning featured a lineup of virtual panels, including a tribute to the late Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney, and a keynote from 2022 Newbery and Pura Belpré winner Donna Barba Higuera. Read on for our coverage. more Tweens Read 2022 in Photos On October 8, the Tweens Read festival celebrating literature for young readers took place in Houston. Click through for a selection of highlights from the event, which featured panels, signings, and opportunties for authors and fans to connect. more Movie Alert 'The School for Good and Evil' The School for Good and Evil, based on the 2013 novel of the same name by Soman Chainani, which launched a bestselling book series, is now a Netflix movie. We spoke with Chainani, who was heavily involved in the adaptation process. “It blows up the idea of true love in a fairy tale," he said. more Four Questions Ben Clanton Having seemingly cornered the market on narwhal and jellyfish stories, Ben Clanton is ready to do the same for mutant potatoes. With the November publication of The Greatest in the World!, Clanton's spunky spud protagonist makes the move from picture books into a new early reader graphic novel series, Tater Tales. We spoke with Clanton about expanding his cast of potato sibling characters, his comic inspirations, and his pivotal role in introducing a wider public to the charms of narwhals. Q: The humor and timing in your books seem effortless. Who were your comedy influences? A: As a kid, I wasn’t the class clown. I saw myself as more of a shy misfit. It was when I was drawing that I felt my happiest, and when watching or looking at comics and cartoons. I was the sort of kid who would wake up at 4:30 a.m. on Saturdays so that I could see as many Saturday morning cartoons as possible. And I would go through every single comic in the paper. more Out Next Week Hot Off the Presses: Week of October 24 Books hitting shelves next week include a picture book performance about the digestive system, a middle grade book exploring ethical dilemmas around digital immortality, a YA fantasy inspired by a Chinese classic novel, and more. more In Brief In Brief: October 20, 2022 This month authors took their books under the Antarctic Sea; held events highlighting graphic novels; promoted their new books with toy critters; celebrated their debuts with a book tour; and stopped by a book festival. more For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new PW JobZone, now with resume hosting and more! ·  Subsidiary Rights Associate - Guilford Press - New York, NY. ·  Trade Sales Manager - Taylor and Francis - Remote. ·  Junior Production Designer - The Quarto Group - Remote. ·  Senior Production Editor, Workman Publishing - Hachette Book Group - New York, NY. ·  Editor, Orbit - Hachette Book Group - New York, NY. Rights Report Michelle Frey at Knopf has acquired Morgan Watchorn's YA fantasy debut, Fire to the Stars, in a two-book deal for publication beginning in spring 2025. Set in the kingdom of Florent, where anyone can succumb to the Ignition—a monthly solar event that turns unlucky humans into vicious dragon shifters—the novel follows unlikely heroes Abel, a disgraced dragon slayer whose unorthodox research may be the cure to the curse, and Claire, a dragon shifter from a sisterhood of thieves who hires him to pursue a false lead, as they must break every rule designed to protect them from each other to survive and find redemption. Josh Adams at Adams Literary negotiated the deal for North American rights. Eileen Rothschild at Wednesday Books has bought, at auction, North American rights to Secrets Never Die by Vincent Ralph (14 Ways to Die; Lock the Doors) pitched as R.L. Stine meets I Know What You Did Last Summer, featuring a group of friends that every year hold funerals for their secrets in the Dark Place. But this year, their secrets are coming back from the dead. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Pete Knapp at Park and Fine Literary and Media did the deal on behalf of Claire Wilson at RCW Literary. Christine Collins at Disney-Hyperion Books has acquired climate researcher Brianna Craft's YA debut, We Don't Have Time for This, a romance wherein a tied election throws two rival teen activists together to lead their school's environmental justice club, and they are surprised when their clashes lead them to discover what they're up against and why they've never cared more—for their communities and each other. Publication is slated for 2024; Veronica Park sold world rights while at Fuse Literary. Gordon Warnock now represents Craft. Rachel Diebel at Feiwel and Friends has bought Linus and Etta Could Use a Win by Caroline Huntoon (Skating on Mars), which follows a 13-year-old trans boy, Linus, as he's roped into running in the student body president election at his new school by his new friend, Etta, who has an ulterior motive: winning a bet against her ex-best friend and rival. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Jessica Mileo at InkWell Management brokered the deal for world rights. Stephanie Pitts at Putnam has acquired world rights, in an exclusive submission, to Full Shift, a graphic novel by the creators of Coven, Jennifer Dugan (l.) (Hot Dog Girl; Some Girls Do) and Kit Seaton (Wonder Woman: Warbringer). After the death of her father, a reluctant teen werewolf on a desperate quest for a cure accidentally attracts the attention of werewolf hunters, endangering her pack—and the girl she loves. The only way to save them is to embrace the things inside her that are howling to get out. Publication is set for fall 2024; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties represented the author, and Ben Grange at L. Perkins Agency represented the illustrator. Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee/Yellow Jacket has bought Hour of Need: The Daring Escape of the Danish Jews During World War II by Ralph Shayne (l.), illustrated by Tatiana Goldberg, in association with the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. This middle grade graphic novel, centered on the journey of a Danish girl's family, tells the true story of how the people of occupied Denmark, with help from the Danish Resistance, risked their lives to help evacuate their Jewish population to Sweden in small fishing boats. Publication is planned for summer 2023; Dan Strutzel at Inspire Productions handled the deal for world rights. Katie Scott at Kids Can Press has acquired The Matilda Effect by L.E. Carmichael (The Boreal Forest: A Year in the World's Largest Land Biome) in an exclusive submission. The illustrated middle grade nonfiction anthology will introduce readers to all sorts of amazing women throughout time who never got the credit they deserved. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Emelie Burl at Susan Schulman Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights. Susan Kochan at Putnam has bought world rights to the first three books in a new chapter book series by Brittany Mazique (l.), illustrated by Ebony Glenn. The first installment, Millie Magnus Won't Be Bullied, introduces a spunky girl who is the target of a bully; Millie knows standing up to him won't be easy, but she is not about to let him upset her friends or jeopardize their Field Day fun. Publication is set for fall 2024; James McGowan at BookEnds represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator. Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow has acquired Ann Kim Ha's picture book A Friend for Eddy, a story about a lonely goldfish whose world is limited to the small glass fishbowl he calls home and can only imagine finding a fish friend to swim and play with, but who takes a leap of faith. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary sold world rights. Kaylan Adair at Candlewick has bought world rights to the picture book Hilwa's Gifts by Palestinian American debut author Safa Suleiman (l.), illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan. In the story, Ali visits his family in Palestine during the olive harvest and learns about the many gifts that his favorite tree, Hilwa, offers. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Ana Crespo at East West Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator. Karen Wojtyla at McElderry Books has acquired world rights to Ladybug Launch: Inspired by a True Story of Chinitas in Space by debut authors Melissa Trempe (l.) and Natalia Ojeda (c.), illustrated by Manu Montoya (r.). The picture book tells a story of persistence as a ladybug, who dreams of becoming an astronaut, teams up with a girl who aspires to be a scientist. Their tale is based on Dr. Ojeda's real-life experience as part of an all-girls’ class in Chile who convinced NASA to send the first ladybugs, or chinitas, into space. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the authors, and Kate Kendrick at Astound US represented the illustrator. Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has bought world rights to Treehouse Town, a picture book by Gideon Sterer (l.), illustrated by Out on a Limb artist Charlie Mylie, about a utopian, fantastical world in the treetops run by children and animal friends. Publication is scheduled for winter 2024; Stephen Barr at Writers House represented the author, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the artist. Susan Dobinick at Astra Young Readers has acquired world rights to A Forest Begins Anew by Louise M. Aamodt (l.), illustrated by Elly MacKay. This picture book explores both the destructive and regenerative power of forest fires. Publication is set for spring 2025; Emily Keyes while at Fuse Literary represented the author, and Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the illustrator. Samantha Gentry at Little, Brown has bought world rights by Camp Nani by Raakhee Mirchandani (l.), a picture book about a girl who goes to spend the weekend with her Nani while her parents are away and all the fun things they get to do together at "camp," illustrated by Holly Hatam. Publication is planned for summer 2025; Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the artist. Katie Heit at Scholastic has acquired world rights to Volcanoes from the creators of Caves, written by Nell Cross Beckerman (l.) (When the Sky Glows) and illustrated by Kalen Chock, exploring one of the world's most explosive wonders. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and the artist represented himself. Winsome Bingham at Reycraft has bought world rights to A Walk Through the Redwoods, a picture book written by Bridget Rodguez (l.) and illustrated by Natalia Bruno. A girl walks through a redwood forest with her aunt, discovering a hidden world filled with plants, animals, and a fairy ring. Publication is set for fall/winter 2024; the author and illustrator represented themselves. To see all of this week's deals, click here. IN THE MEDIA From the Harvard Gazette: YA writer John Green seeks co-authors for climate story that averts disaster. CLICK HERE From the Bookseller: Chef Jamie Oliver has sold his first children's book to Puffin in the U.K. CLICK HERE From Literary Hub: Catherine Called Birdy Is As Thoroughly Medieval As It Is Dunhamesque. CLICK HERE From Collider: What Goes Bump in the Night: 10 Great Horror Movies Based on Children's Books. CLICK HERE From 100 Scope Notes: Halloween Is Coming: 18 New Books to Celebrate Spookytime. CLICK HERE From Care.com : 'Hot Dads in Picture Books' is the new must-follow Instagram account for parents. CLICK HERE VIEW ALL SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner An Interview with Autumn Fall shares her surprising picture book picks. more » Kenny Brechner The Back to School Book of the Century The delightful heft of Rick the Rock, star of a new picture book. more » Kenny Brechner The Waldo Party Returns and the Baby Departs A seance precedes the happy return of an annual tradition that was suspended by the pandemic. more » Kenny Brechner What to Do with an Evil Changeling? Do you pass it on or live with the evil or do you even have a choice? more » FEATURED REVIEWS Here with Me David Walker. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-374-38929-1 “Sometimes I sit and wonder/ who I would choose to be/ if I could wish a wish/ to be a different kind of me.” A small, tan-furred rabbit sits on a rock in the forest, its fuzzy paw pointed toward its head in an indication of deep thought as it considers the possibilities. In a sweet solo debut, Walker affirms the importance of the child’s primary bond—and the first stirrings of imagination and independence. more Looking for True Tricia Springstubb. Holiday House/Ferguson, $18.99 (288p) ISBN 978-0-8234-5099-2 Springstubb crafts a heartfelt contemporary novel about unexpected friendship that kicks off with a Because of Winn-Dixie–tinged bond. When Gladys encounters quiet Jude, the 11-year-olds feel an instant connection with a seemingly mistreated mutt in their small-town neighborhood. Springstubb gracefully conveys their need for both connection and independence, portraying sweet, protective relationships that each has with young children. more A Thousand Heartbeats Kiera Cass. HarperTeen, $19.99 (576p) ISBN 978-0-0626-6578-2 Princess Annika Vedette of Kadier is kidnapped by ruthless exiled mercenary Lennox, but a a momentous event forces them to rely on each other or risk being killed, and romantic feelings begin to blossom. While they struggle to survive and war looms on the horizon, Lennox finds himself torn between lifelong loyalties and newfound love. A tightly wound plot channels Romeo and Juliet with an enemies-to-lovers slant and notes of female empowerment. more Whiteout Dhonielle Clayton et al. Quill Tree, $19.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-0630-8814-6 After science buff Stevie botches her relationship with her girlfriend Sola, Sola issues an ultimatum: if Stevie wants to save their relationship, she has until midnight to prove that she loves Sola. To pull off the biggest romantic gesture possible, Stevie enlists her friends Kaz, E.R., Jordyn, Jimi, Ava, and Mason, who are each navigating their own relationship woes. This upbeat collaboration, brimming with culture-specific references, laugh-out-loud banter, and vulnerable, heartfelt confessions, captures the enchanting spirit of classic holiday romance and enduring Black love. more Five Survive Holly Jackson. Delacorte, $19.99 (400p) ISBN 978-0-5933-7416-0 Red Kenny and her five friends' spring break road trip turns deadly after they get lost in South Carolina in this nail-biting thriller from Jackson. Held hostage by a sniper who has stranded them on a rural road, the shooter claims that one of them has a secret he wants revealed. Hints of romance and a hopeful resolution help buoy unrelenting violent action, a tense atmosphere, and a melancholic tone. more	October 25, 2022 People Mary Marotta will join Candlewick Press as senior v-p, sales, North America on November 21. She will be responsible for print and digital sales strategy and execution in the U.S. and Canada. Most recently she was senior v-p, group sales director for Knopf Doubleday; she also served as senior v-p, North America at DK, was deputy publisher for the children’s division and v-p, director of children’s sales at Simon & Schuster, and before that worked in sales and marketing roles at Scholastic, William Morrow, and Bantam Doubleday Dell. Lizzie Goodell has been promoted to publicity manager at Penguin Young Readers, from senior publicist. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing has two promotions in its Aladdin imprint. Jessica Smith has been promoted to editor, from associate editor. Kilson Roque-Fernandez has been promoted to assistant editor, from editorial assistant. ICYMI Bill Introduced to Support School Libraries more 'Born Confused' at 20 more Obituary: Jill Pinkwater more Children's Institute 2023 to Be Held in Milwaukee more Follow Us Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram! 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.

In the Spotlight Rick Riordan to Return to Percy Jackson Next Fall In 2014's The Heroes of Olympus: The Blood of Olympus, Rick Riordan wrapped up the tales of Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and Grover Underwood; however, in September 2023, Riordan will reunite his iconic trio for another grand adventure. We spoke with Riordan about Percy Jackson and the Chalice of the Gods and his goal of "giving the readers something they’ve been wanting for the last decade." more In the News Responding to Evidence of Authorial Misconduct, Macmillan Revises, Then Withdraws, MG Novel After Macmillan quietly removed co-author Louis Sylvester’s name from The Crooked Door in light of evidence of his predatory conduct at a Texas high school starting in 1999, publication of the middle grade novel has been canceled. more Fall Children’s Book Week Heralded by New Initiatives Four years since their launch of a fall Children's Book Week, the Children's Book Council and Every Child a Reader are preparing a full roster of activities to attract more teachers, along with librarians and booksellers, to this year's literacy programming, which is slated for November 7-13. more Felicia Frazier to Depart PRH Felicia Frazier, senior v-p of children's and educational sales at Penguin Random House, will leave the publisher at the end of the year to pursue other endeavors. more SPONSORED Meet the Worst Teddy EVER Noa LOVES Teddy. But Teddy is ALWAYS tired! It turns out that behind the scenes at night, Teddy works tirelessly to protect his little boy from a colorful ensemble of unwelcome nighttime visitors! At once laugh-out-loud funny and endearing, Marcelo Verdad's sweet picture book debut explores how sometimes what we want isn’t always what we need. MORE ► Book News Sara Shepard's First Middle Grade Novel Set for Spring 2023 Sara Shepard knows a thing or two about friendship. The author of the bestselling YA series Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game has explored the rivalries, loyalties, and secrets of groups of friends and frenemies in her many novels. She's taking a new turn on the subject in her first middle-grade novel Penny Draws a Friend, due out next May. more From the Regionals Heartland Fall Forum 2022: Young Booksellers, Children's Authors Enthuse The Midwest Independent Booksellers and Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Associations 10th-anniversary joint show, which wound down last Friday, brought 209 booksellers, many of them first-timers, and 144 exhibitors to St. Louis, Mo. Click through to read about children's and YA-related highlights from the event, which featured both beloved and emerging authors for young people. more Just Announced Just Announced: October 18, 2022 Geri Halliwell-Horner, known as Ginger Spice of the iconic British girl group the Spice Girls, is set to release a new middle grade book, while self-help author Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt will publish a new picture book next year. more Q & A S.K. Ali S.K. Ali's debut novel, Saints & Misfits, which follows a Muslim-American teenage girl grappling with the aftermath of a sexual assault, won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. In 2017, Ali created #MuslimShelfSpace to promote Muslim authors and stories. Her second novel, Love from A to Z, follows the romance of two Muslim teenagers who meet during spring break, and addresses themes like Islamophobia and chronic illness. We spoke with Ali about her sequel, Love from Mecca to Medina, and her belief in the power of inclusive storytelling. Q: Where did the idea for Adam and Zayneb’s stories come from? A: The story idea came when I visited the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar, at a time when there was a lot of online hate distilling Muslims into simplistic, rage-filled caricatures. I was standing in this museum full of the nuances of civilizational contributions of Muslims thinking, wow, I’m surrounded by all this art with so much depth. more   For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new PW JobZone, now with resume hosting and more! ·  Senior Managing Editor - Hachette Book Group - , NY. ·  Senior Key Accounts Sales Manager - Ingram Content Group - La Vergne, TN. ·  Freelance Book Reviewers - Publishers Weekly. ·  Staff Editor, Physics Magazine - American Physical Society. ·  Marketing Director - Humanoids - Los Angeles, CA. Rights Report Sarah Grill at Wednesday Books has acquired in an exclusive submission, The Calculation of You + Me by Serena Kaylor (Long Story Short). In this YA rom-com, pitched as a teen Love Hypothesis by way of Cyrano de Bergerac, STEM-focused calculus geek Marlow sets out to learn all about romance to win back her golden-boy ex-boyfriend. With the reluctant help of Edward, her surly goth lab partner, she's got her arms full of romance novels, and a brain full of tropes to turn herself into the perfect romantic heroine. But as sparks start to fly with the wrong guy, she's wondering if there's really a set solution to love. Publication is set for spring 2024; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret sold world English rights. Meriam Metoui at Viking has bought, at auction, the graphic novel rights to Maggie Stiefvater's (l.) acclaimed YA series The Raven Cycle, about four private school boys, a psychic's daughter, and a Welsh legend that lies dormant beneath the mountains of a sleepy Virginia town, with a six-figure deal. Sas Milledge (c.) is illustrating, and Stephanie Williams (r.) will adapt; publication of the first volume is scheduled for spring 2025. Richard Pine and Charlie Olsen at InkWell Management represented Stiefvater for world rights in a four-book deal. Williams represented herself, and Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented Milledge. Kelsey Sullivan at Disney has acquired Better Left Buried by debut author Mary E. Roach. Pitched as Knives Out meets Two Can Keep a Secret, this contemporary YA mystery follows two teen girls in a small Appalachian town who must solve the murder of a local amusement park millionaire. As the town's secrets come to light, the girls must face their own pasts—along with their growing feelings for each other—or risk becoming the next victim. Publication is planned for winter 2024; Claire Friedman at InkWell Management did the deal for world English rights. Stephanie Pitts at Putnam has bought, in an exclusive submission, YA horror/psychological thriller The Last Girls Standing by Jennifer Dugan (Hot Dog Girl; Some Girls Do). Sloan and her girlfriend, the sole surviving counselors of a summer camp massacre, search to uncover the truth behind what happened that fateful night, but what they find out might not only drive them apart—it might just get them killed. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties sold world English rights. Wendy Loggia at Delacorte has acquired Sabrina Fedel's All Roads Lead to Rome. When the daughter of a diplomat fake dates a Scottish celebrity in Italy, she soon finds herself living her own Roman Holiday until the feelings get real and the paparazzi's knives come out. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; Michelle Hauck at Storm Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights. Monique Jones Brown at Little Press/PISH has bought In the Ring, a YA novel by debut author Sierra Isley. When queer teen Rose enrolls in boxing classes to alleviate her anxiety exacerbated by a recent sexual assault, she finds herself sucked into an underground fight club and the charms of its ringleader. Will the fight world unravel her already fragile mental state or will it unearth a strength she never knew she had? Publication is set for fall 2023; Tina Schwartz at the Purcell Agency sold world rights. Avi Ehrlich at Silver Sprocket has acquired Charger County, a YA graphic novel by Cathy G. Johnson (The Breakaways). New to Charger County High, Liz decides to join the drama club for her freshman athletics credit. There, she meets her first friends, all senior girls with a penchant for rebellion. When the spring musical is canceled, they decide to film their own sequel to their favorite action movie—but the goofy violence of their own film echoes the harm teenage girls face in real life. Publication is planned for 2025; Jen Linnan at Linnan Literary Management brokered the deal for world rights. Mary Cash at Holiday House has bought an untitled middle grade novel by Lesa Cline-Ransome (Finding Langston) that explores the life of editor, educator and activist Ida B. Wells who, orphaned at age 16, became a champion of the voiceless and risked her life uncovering harrowing truths in her work as investigative journalist and anti-lynching crusader. It's slated for publication in spring 2025; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio handled the deal for world rights. Polo Orozco at Putnam has acquired Daughters of the Lamp and a sequel by debut author Nedda Lewers. In this middle grade fantasy steeped in folklore, an Egyptian American girl named Sahara travels to Cairo, where she discovers she's next in the legacy of women tasked with guarding Ali Baba's treasure. Publication for the first book is scheduled for spring 2024 and the second for summer 2024; Kelly Dyksterhouse at the Tobias Literary Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights. Alex Wolfe at Penguin Workshop has bought Ain't It Funny and a second untitled novel by Margaret Gurevich. In the contemporary middle grade novel, when Maya's parents separate as her father pursues his comedy dreams, she hatches a plan to bring them back together by performing stand-up in her school's talent show, no matter how difficult her undiagnosed anxiety and OCD makes that feel. Publication of the first book is set for fall 2024 with the second book in summer 2025; Kaitlyn Katsoupis at Belcastro Agency did the deal for world rights. Catherine Laudone at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has acquired, in an exclusive submission, to author-illustrator Cyndi Marko's Monster Up, a picture book about a monster named Seth who learns that it's okay to feel scared sometimes while helping a friend search for her missing pet. Publication is planned for summer 2025; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights. Martha Mihalick at Greenwillow has bought One Foggy Christmas Eve, a picture book by Kerilynn Wilson, author of the forthcoming YA graphic novel The Faint of Heart. On Christmas Eve, one girl is so excited to deliver a special present to her Nana and Papa that she braves the fog outdoors, which makes everything unfamiliar and maybe a little scary. But this is a night full of wonder—and maybe even magic—that leads both to Nana and Papa's and an even better present to slide under the tree. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Rebecca Sherman at Writers House did the deal for North American rights. Farrin Jacobs at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to And She Was Loved, a picture book biography of Toni Morrison by Andrea Davis Pinkney (l.) and Caldecott Honor illustrator Daniel Minter. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Rebecca Sherman at Writers House represented the author, and Rick Margolis at Rising Bear Literary Agency represented the artist. Yasemin Uçar at Kids Can Press, with Patricia Ocampo editing, has bought world rights to Willa and Wade, a three-book series by Judith Henderson (l.), illustrated by Sara Sarhangpour, about Willa (an ostrich) and Wade (a penguin), two flightless birds with unique dreams and the determination to achieve them. Book one publishes in spring 2024, followed by book two in fall 2024 and book three in 2025. Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary Studio represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself. Naomi Kirsten at Chronicle has acquired world rights to E-I-UFO by Zach von Zonk (l.), illustrated by Benjamin Chaud. A UFO spin on the classic Old MacDonald sing-along, this picture book debut follows an alien who beams up a barnyard full of animals, with unexpected results. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Melissa Nasson at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the author, and Debbie Bibo at Debbie Bibo Agency represented the illustrator. Kait Feldmann while at Scholastic bought world rights to Junior Takes a Leap by Ebony Lynn Mudd (l.). Pura Belpré and Coretta Scott King Honor artist C.G. Esperanza will illustrate; Andrea Pinkney will edit, and Jess Harold served as transitional editor. Normalizing boys who dance, this picture book follows a Black boy who uses the familiar sounds of his city to bridge his new world dancing ballet to the streets that he came from. Publication is set for spring 2025; while at Raven Quill Literary Agency, Lori Steel at Red Fox Literary negotiated the two-book deal for the author, who is now represented by Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency, and Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt & Zacker represented the illustrator. Sydnee Monday at Kokila has acquired in an exclusive submission, world rights to Dancing with Water by Gwendolyn Wallace (l.), illustrated by Tonya Engel. This picture book is an intergenerational story that takes place in a rural Black community in the American South, and follows a nonbinary child named Kit as they learn the sacred practice of well-digging from their grandpa. Publication is slated for summer 2025. Wendi Gu at GreenburgerKids represented the author, and Gail Gaynin at Morgan Gaynin Agency represented the illustrator. Courtney Code at Abrams has bought world rights to All at Once Upon a Time by Mara Rockliff (l.), illustrated by Gladys Jose. The picture book is a topsy-turvy fractured fairytale where favorite stories are told simultaneously, but very incorrectly. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator. Nikki Garcia at Little, Brown has acquired Doña Fela's Dream: The Story of Puerto Rico's First Female Mayor by Monica Brown (l.), a picture book biography about Felisa Rincón de Gautier, activist and first woman mayor in the Americas, who established innovative civil services for women, children, and the poor as mayor of San Juan, illustrated by Puerto Rican artist Rosa Ibarra. Publication is set for fall 2024; Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel sold world rights for the author. Kathy Landwehr at Peachtree has bought world rights to The Treasure Collector, created by real-life friends David Zeltser (r.) (Ninja Baby) and debut illustrator Benjamin Arthur. This picture book tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a junk-collecting raccoon named Reginald and Fiona, a sea star he finds abandoned in a discarded fish tank. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author and illustrator. Kathleen Keenan at Kids Can Press has acquired world rights to Floof Visits Earth by C.J. Hong (l.), an interactive picture book in which readers engage with a fluffy, lovable alien whose spaceship has landed on Earth. A.J. Smith will illustrate; publication is slated for spring 2024. The author represented herself, and Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator. Nivair Gabriel at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to Miso Magic by Moni Ritchie Hadley (l.), illustrated by Mizuho Fujisawa, a picture book in which miso ferments and koji grows, along with the bonds of Susumu and his father. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Sarah Stephens at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself. To see all of this week's deals, click here. IN THE MEDIA From Literary Hub: 75 Years of Goodnight Moon: Today’s Best Writers Reflect on a Children’s Classic. CLICK HERE From the San Diego Union-Tribune: Author Carrie Hasler writes like an animal. CLICK HERE From Book Riot: Paranormal YA Comics and Graphic Novels for Chills and Thrills. CLICK HERE VIEW ALL SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner An Interview with Autumn Fall shares her surprising picture book picks. more » Kenny Brechner The Back to School Book of the Century The delightful heft of Rick the Rock, star of a new picture book. more » Kenny Brechner The Waldo Party Returns and the Baby Departs A seance precedes the happy return of an annual tradition that was suspended by the pandemic. more » Kenny Brechner What to Do with an Evil Changeling? Do you pass it on or live with the evil or do you even have a choice? more » FEATURED REVIEWS Blurp’s Book of Manners Cindy Derby. Roaring Brook, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-2508-1035-9 As this picture book kicks off, Elizabeth Picklepop IV, a teal-skinned, exorbitantly spectacled doyenne of manners, begins to school readers in the key rules of etiquette. Derby breathes fresh air into familiar comedy tropes and “practice kindness” messaging, while anchoring the book’s unleashed sense of color and character in a core truth: there is nothing more wonderful than being treated with respect. more The Baker by the Sea Paula White. Templar, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-5362-2389-7 Billowy spreads in blues and grays evoke the waves and clouds and salty air of a coastal village, portrayed with light-skinned residents, where the young narrator describes life in alliterative prose-poetry. With some of the poignant resonance of Town Is by the Sea, White’s tale pays witness to the importance of a community’s inter workings. more A Land of Books: Dreams of Young Mexihcah Word Painters Duncan Tonatiuh. Abrams, $19.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-41-974942-1 In Tonatiuh’s engaging picture book, a Mexihcah child describes intricate wordless volumes created in Mesoamerica before the arrival of Europeans, interweaving Nahuatl words defined in a glossary. Through a dream sequence, subsequent pages delve into the books’ rich contents, including central deities and methods of governance, calendaring, and healing, all shown in richly hued art that mimics the codices’ detailed format, and leading to a contextualizing author’s note that describes colonizing forces’ devastating effect. more The Antiracist Kid: A Book About Identity, Justice, and Activism Tiffany Jewell, illus. by Nicole Miles. Versify, $14.99 (128p) ISBN 978-0-358-62939-9 Jewell combines direct and powerful text with eye-catching illustrations by Miles in this empowering guide to combatting racist ideology. Using text that flows at an engaging clip between simple and complex topics, subsequent chapters on justice and activism smartly outline subjects such as colonization, equity, institutional racism, and privilege. This vital tome approachably examines anti-racism and activism while leaving ample space for questions and critical thinking, encouraging readers to become active participants in social change. more At Midnight: 15 Beloved Fairy Tales Reimagined Edited by Dahlia Adler. Flatiron, $19.99 (464p) ISBN 978-1-250-80602-4 This expansive fairy tale anthology edited by contributor Adler comprises 14 reimagined fairy tales by Tracy Deonn, Malinda Lo, and Anna-Marie McLemore, among others, plus one “new fairy tale” by Melissa Albert. Intersectionally diverse and globally inclusive—stories take place across time in locales, this simultaneously whimsical, adventurous, and bone-chilling genre-spanning collection smartly riffs on the referenced source material to explore contemporary values. more	October 18, 2022 People Colleen O’Connell has been promoted to executive director, marketing at HarperCollins Children's Books, from senior director. Deidra Purvis has joined Free Spirit Publishing as acquisitions editor, children and teens; previously she was director of classroom services at Mackin Educational Resources. Macmillan Children's Publishing Group has several promotions. Morgan Kane has been promoted to director of publicity, from associate director of publicity. Avia Perez has been promoted to senior production editor, from production editor. Elysse Villalobos has been promoted to associate marketing manager, from marketing coordinator. Ashley Caswell has been promoted to designer, from associate designer. Carina Licon has been promoted to assistant editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, from editorial assistant. Emilia Sowersby has been promoted to assistant editor at Roaring Brook Press, from editorial assistant. Chronicle Books' children’s department has three promotions. Ariel Richardson has been promoted to senior editor, from editor. Daria Harper has been promoted to editor, from associate editor. Elizabeth Lazowski has been promoted to associate editor, from assistant editor. At Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Danielle Collins has been promoted to assistant editor at Paula Wiseman Books and Beach Lane Books, from editorial assistant. Bestsellers Children’s Frontlist Fiction #1 The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera. Click here Picture Books #1 I’m So Glad You Were Born: Celebrating Who You Are by Ainsley Earhardt, illus. by Kim Barnes. Click here Follow Us Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram! 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.

First Person 'Born Confused' at 20 In honor of the 20th anniversary of Tanuja Desai Hidier's Born Confused, writer and editor Pooja Makhijani reflects on the novel's groundbreaking representation and lasting influence on YA literature. "Born Confused was the first of its kind—a YA novel about the contemporary South Asian American experience," she writes. more Obituary Jill Pinkwater Author and illustrator Jill Pinkwater, best known for the humorous line drawings she created for many quirky chapter and picture books by her husband Daniel, died peacefully in Rhinebeck, N.Y. on October 4. She was 81. more SPONSORED Put Out Fires with FIRE CHIEF FRAN! Just in time for Fire Prevention Week: Meet FIRE CHIEF FRAN! Perfect for fans of firefighters and fire trucks, this energetic rhyming picture book shows how a fire chief and her crew keep their community safe. MORE ► On the Scene Kids and Comics at New York Comic Con Children’s comics were a muted presence at NYCC, compared to a few years ago, but the children themselves were out in force and the floor was still filled with kid-friendly media properties based on comics. more In the News Bill Introduced to Support School Libraries The Right to Read Act would authorize up to $500 million in Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grants as well as investing in recruiting state-certified school librarians. The legislation also reaffirms that "First Amendment rights apply to school libraries," a direct response to a troubling wave of book bans and educational gag orders. more Children's Institute 2023 to Be Held in Milwaukee The ABA has announced that the 11th annual Children's Institute, which brings together children's booksellers from across the country, will take place in Milwaukee, Wis., from June 5–7, 2023. more Book News Sourcebooks Launches STEAM Week Based on Bestselling Series Sourcebooks has announced its inaugural How to Catch STEAM Week, inspired by its popular picture book series, in a new initiative for elementary school educators running from November 7–11. more PFLAG Adapts Picture Book to Video, Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month In celebration of LGBTQ+ History month in October, nonprofit organization Parents, Families, & Friends of LGBT National has brought together a slew of celebrities to voice characters in a video adaptation of picture book The Mother of a Movement: Jeanne Manford—Ally, Activist, and Co-Founder of PFLAG. more Movie Alert 'Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile' Bernard Waber’s iconic reptile Lyle the Crocodile has taken center stage, arriving in theaters across the country. Lyle first appeared in Waber’s 1962 picture book The House on East 88th Street as the loveable crocodile performer that the new residents, the Primm family, grow to love. Soon after, Lyle became the star of the series. more Just Announced Just Announced: October 13, 2022 Becky Albertalli, author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and other bestsellers for teens, has revealed the next in her lineup of YA rom-coms: Imogen, Obviously is due May 2, 2023, from Balzer + Bray. more Reading Roundup Young Readers Editions: Fall 2022 The knowledge contained in several works for adults is being offered to a younger generation as publishers release new young readers adaptations meant to make powerful stories accessible to all. more Q & A Elizabeth Montague Elizabeth Montague made national news in 2019 for being the first Black cartoonist for the New Yorker. Her debut graphic memoir, Maybe an Artist, depicts Montague's childhood as a Black suburban kid who had to grow up in a post-9/11 world where casual racism and prejudice from her peers were the new norm. Liz also recognized early she was dyslexic and used that to reimagine her career. We spoke with Montague about her new book and how her passion for visual storytelling changed her entire life. Q: Why do you believe your comics resonate with so many people? A: I tried to not be super dark and dour. I’m still touching on important and sensitive topics, but hopefully doing it in a way that isn’t depressing. And I feel like I do a pretty good job of not making light of tough subjects but making tough subjects more digestible. more Out Next Week Hot Off the Presses: Week of October 17 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book featuring a family's difficult conversation about race, a graphic novel tackling Eurocentric and anti-Afrolatinx beauty standards, a YA drama centering a celebrity and fan encounter, and more. more In Brief In Brief: October 13, 2022 Recently authors accepted awards; debut authors embarked on their first book tours; studios celebrated their launches; an author had a run in with a former teacher; an actress made her literary debut; and an author brought out never-before-seen characters on tour. more For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new PW JobZone, now with resume hosting and more! ·  Marketing Director - Humanoids - Los Angeles, CA. ·  Production Assistant - Humanoids - Los Angeles, CA. ·  Editorial Director - The Quarto Group - Remote/Hybrid. ·  Publicity Director, Henry Holt & Co - Macmillan Publishers - New York. ·  Client Services Specialist - University of Chicago - Chicago, IL. Rights Report Jean Lucas at Andrews McMeel has acquired Cherry Zong's Red, a YA graphic novel that's a twisted version of "Little Red Riding Hood." Red lives in a forest that has been dying for years, and her grandmother instructs her to hunt the monsters at the cause of the decay, until she meets a wolf-girl named Sil. As she begins to develop a relationship with her, Red begins to uncover the somewhat sinister truth behind everything she's ever known, in a story pitched as Tangled meets Princess Mononoke. Publication is set for 2024; Claire Draper at the Bent Agency did the deal for world English rights. Alison Romig at Delacorte has bought, in a preempt, debut author Matthew Hubbard's Last Boyfriends, a YA coming of age novel pitched as Heartstopper meets The First Wives Club, featuring three queer teenage boys in small-town Alabama who set out to get revenge on their ex-boyfriends and end up fighting their school's anti-LGBTQ+ initiatives, and a second untitled book. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Katie Shea Boutillier at Donald Maass Literary Agency brokered the deal for world English rights. Lily Kessinger at Clarion has acquired an untitled book by Molly Horan (Epically Earnest), a contemporary YA novel in which 17-year-old Mia accidentally finds herself at the center of her classmates' drama when her role as the theater club's unofficial counselor goes public and her advice on life and love becomes a hot commodity, to mixed results. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Laura Crockett at Triada US negotiated the deal for world rights. Trisha de Guzman at FSG has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Cyrena Lee's (l.) debut YA graphic novel tentatively titled Prodigy, illustrated by Julia Kuo (I Dream of Popo), which follows Japanese American Ashima Shiraishi's swift ascent in the climbing world as a child prodigy and how she dealt with the immense pressure from her parents, her peers, and the media spotlight to continually be the best. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management represented the author, and Emily Van Beek at Folio Literary Management represented the illustrator. Sylvan Creekmore while at Wednesday Books acquired Canto Contigo by Pura Belpré Honor author Jonny Garza Villa (Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun; Ander & Santi Were Here); Tiffany Shelton will edit. In this rivals-to-lovers contemporary YA novel, Rafie Álvarez, star of his hometown mariachi group, transfers schools his senior year and expects to be handed the lead vocalist spot of his new group. What he gets instead is a tenacious current lead with a very familiar (and very kissable) face. Publication is set for winter 2024; Claire Draper at the Bent Agency handled the deal for world English rights. Emily Settle at Feiwel and Friends has bought The Wicker King and Darling author K. Ancrum's untitled retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein for the publisher's Remixed Classics line, pitched as a love letter to the consequences of necromancy. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Eric Smith at P.S. Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights. Sydnee Monday at Kokila has won in a preempt, world rights to Bless the Blood by writer, mental health advocate, and stem cell transplant survivor Walela Nehanda. The YA poetry collection explores what it means to be a young, queer Black nonbinary medical patient facing racism and abuse within and outside of the hospital, meditating on traumas both physical and unseen, and celebrating the courage to grieve and strength it takes to go on. Publication is set for spring 2024; Katherine Latshaw at Folio Literary Management brokered the deal. Martha Mihalick at Greenwillow has acquired world English rights to bestselling author Alex London's The Princess Protection Program, a new middle grade series about a boarding school where a fairy godmother hides fairy tale princesses (and one prince) who don't like the endings to their timeless tales. But not everything in the program is what it seems, and Sleeping Beauty and her new friends will have to risk everything to take control of their own happily ever afters. Publication will begin in winter 2024; Robert Guinsler at Sterling Lord Literistic negotiated the two-book deal. Lisa Sandell at Scholastic Press has bought three historical middle-grade novels by bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen, including Iceberg, set on the doomed Titanic; Uprising, following the startling and moving events in Warsaw in the fall of 1944; and a third as-yet untitled project. The books will publish in spring 2023, spring 2024, and spring 2025 respectively; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency handled the deal for world rights. Jess Harold at Henry Holt has acquired, in a six-figure auction, the middle grade fantasy graphic novel Wayward: Fractured Shadows by Liza Singer. The town of Wayward sits on top of a mirror realm of demons who feed on emotions—the bigger, the better. Thankfully, Guardians and BFFs Ryan and Owen have the power to fight them. But starting middle school brings changes neither of the demon hunters expected, and now they must face an even bigger challenge than any demon: growing apart. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights. Lisa Yoskowitz and Caitlyn Averett at Little, Brown have bought Just Shy of Ordinary by A.J. Sass (Ellen Outside the Lines), a contemporary middle grade novel in which a 13-year-old nonbinary homeschooler attempts to find a "new normal" post-pandemic as they start public school, meet new friends, and learn about their Jewish identity. Caitlyn Averett will edit, with publication scheduled for winter 2024; Jordan Hamessley at New Leaf Literary & Media sold world English rights. Carolina Ortiz at HarperAlley has acquired, at auction, Red Dryer's debut Ghosted, and a second untitled graphic novel. The contemporary middle grade with elements of magical realism centers around 12-year-old Dominic as he navigates his grief of his father abandoning the family, and the manifestation of that grief as he moves to a new town and meets a cute, shy boy going through a similar situation. Publication of the first book is planned for 2025; Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management negotiated the deal for world English rights. Joy Bean at Arctis Books USA has bought two nonfiction middle grade books: Understanding Adolescence: A Body-Positive Guide to Puberty, with one for girls and one boys, written by Barbara Pietruszczak (l.), illustrated by Anna Rudak (c.), guides to the changes in the body during puberty, with the aim to build a positive relationship with the body by taking out the awkwardness normally associated with this subject. The books will be translated from the Polish by Agnes Monod-Gayraud (r.) and publish in fall 2024; Karolina Jaszecka at KaBooks brokered the deal. David and Stephanie Miles at Bushel & Peck Books have acquired world rights to The Honey Jar by Joan Schoettler, a middle-grade novel about an Armenian boy's story of his family's journey to freedom set during the Armenian Genocide. Publication is set for spring 2023; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary sold world rights. Andrew Karre at Dutton has bought, at auction, Nina Chhita's The Healers of Harlem: The Lost History of the Black Women Medical Pioneers in America's First Desegregated City Hospital. From the creator of Instagram account @nina.draws.scientists, this illustrated middle grade narrative follows the women doctors and nurses who broke new ground personally, socially, and medically in one of America's most historic and influential neighborhoods. Publication is projected for early 2025; Mackenzie Brady Watson at Stuart Krichevsky Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights. Alison Deering at Capstone has acquired The Magic Lunch Box, the first title in a debut chapter book series called Ben Lee by AAPI author Hanna Kim (l.), in a two-book deal for world rights. After moving from L.A.'s Koreatown to a Michigan suburb, fourth-grader Ben Lee is anxious to make new friends. But when some kids at school act grossed out by the homemade kimbap in his lunch box, Ben makes an impulsive wish, and soon strange things start happening. Emily Paik will illustrate; publication is slated for fall 2023. Jennifer Mattson at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Tina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator. Margaret Raymo at Little, Brown has bought at auction Dance Fast by AR Cribbins, a debut picture book celebrating Pomo culture about a Pomo child who runs into challenges while making their regalia for an upcoming dance. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Hannah VanVels Ausbury at the Belcastro Agency brokered the deal for world rights. Julie Matysik at Running Press Kids has acquired My Mama Is a Work of Art by debut author-illustrator Hana Acabado, a love letter from a child to their mama and the stories she tells and the tattoos she wears. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary Studio did the deal for world rights. Donna Bray at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has won at auction, in a two-book deal, North American rights to I May Just Call You Home by musician, director and author Amyra León (Concrete Kids; Freedom We Sing), illustrated by Patrick Dougher. The picture book is an ode to children raised in foster care, as told through the voice of a child reflecting on the excitement and fear of their many "moving days," who ultimately learns to define home as a place that can always be found within; it is based on the author’s own experience coming of age in the system and illustrated with photographs from her personal archive. Publication is set for winter 2024; Erin Harris and Katherine Latshaw at Folio Literary Management represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself. Kendra Levin at Simon & Schuster has bought world rights to two picture books by Justin Colón (l.). The first, The Quacken, tells the tale of a young camper who inadvertently releases a gigantic duck of legend and must escape it through a series of horror-spoofing situations to avoid being eaten. Pablo Pino will illustrate; publication is slated for fall 2024. Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Atlanta Japp at Advocate Art represented the illustrator. Ariel Richardson at Chronicle has acquired world rights to Bernard Mensah's (l.) picture book My Child, a letter from a Black father to his son illustrating the unconditional love of parents, the inevitability of failing, and the wonder of tomorrow’s possibilities, all with the constant reminder that the child is "a rare gem," worthy of the world and belonging among the stars. Talia Skyles will illustrate; publication is planned for fall 2025. Natalie Lakosil at Irene Goodman Literary Agency (while at Bradford Literary Agency) represented the author, and Shadra Strickland at Painted Words represented the illustrator. Janine O'Malley at FSG has bought world rights to On the Last Day of School by Maggie Rudd (l.) illustrated by Taia Morley, a picture book exploring the mixed emotions of the final day of school, along with the excitement for new things to come. Publication is scheduled for winter 2025; Mary Cummings at Great River Literary represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator. Jonathan Westmark at Albert Whitman has acquired world rights to Mud Angels by Karen M. Greenwald (l.) (A Vote for Susanna), the true story of when the normally calm Arno River nearly drowned parts of Florence, putting much of the city’s fragile, historic art and literature on the verge of destruction, until a different kind of wave washed over the city—as told by a Florentine girl; Jordi Solano will illustrate. Publication is set for 2024; Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency represented the author, and Lucy Craig at Plum Pudding represented the illustrator. To see all of this week's deals, click here. IN THE MEDIA From the AP: Demand Soars for Kids' Books Addressing Violence, Trauma. CLICK HERE From the Guardian: Hive-mind writing: how two children's authors brainstormed a book on Twitter. CLICK HERE From the AP: Michelle Obama Award will honor student memoir writers. CLICK HERE From the Hollywood Reporter: M.T. Anderson's 2003 YA Novel Feed Getting Movie Treatment via 20th Century, Rising Nigerian Filmmaker Stanley Kalu. CLICK HERE From Deadline: A Wrinkle in Time Set for Stage Musical Adaptation. CLICK HERE From the Hollywood Reporter: Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner to Release Debut YA Novel Time Out. CLICK HERE From Time: Adam Silvera Is Writing the Books He Wished He Had as a Queer Teen. CLICK HERE From the Guardian: Oliver Jeffers grew up in Belfast hating violence. Now he wants children to see how futile it is. CLICK HERE From NPR: Judi and Ron Barrett reminisce about creating Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. CLICK HERE From Book Riot: The Scientific Benefits of Reading to Children: A Primer. CLICK HERE From Romper: Children's Books Featuring Afro-Latinx Characters. CLICK HERE From BuzzFeed: 40 Highly Anticipated Young Adult Books Releasing This Fall. CLICK HERE VIEW ALL SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner An Interview with Autumn Fall shares her surprising picture book picks. more » Kenny Brechner The Back to School Book of the Century The delightful heft of Rick the Rock, star of a new picture book. more » Kenny Brechner The Waldo Party Returns and the Baby Departs A seance precedes the happy return of an annual tradition that was suspended by the pandemic. more » Kenny Brechner What to Do with an Evil Changeling? Do you pass it on or live with the evil or do you even have a choice? more » FEATURED REVIEWS My Fade Is Fresh Shauntay Grant, illus. by Kitt Thomas. Penguin Workshop, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-593-38708-5 A Black child narrator in search of a new look for “my bushy, brownish, biggish hair” only wants one thing at the neighborhood barbershop: “THE FRESHEST FADE UP ON THE BLOCK!” and navigates the well meaning opinions of his neighbors to find the cut that best suits him. It’s an affirming, communal take on a routine barbershop visit, starring a cool, collected child who knows their mind. more Too Early Nora Ericson, illus. by Elly MacKay. Abrams, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4197-4207-1 In short, conversational verse lines, Ericson and MacKay chronicle a morning in the house of a young early riser, waking her mother and father to share an intimate moment before kickstarting their day. Images of the closely cuddled duo make it clear that though the father grumbles, sunrise and a shooting star—and fleeting one-on-one time—represent a gift in the ordinary moments before a day’s “rush rush.” more Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement Angela Joy, illus. by Janelle Washington. Roaring Brook, $19.99 (64p) ISBN 978-1-250-22095-0 In an extraordinary volume, Joy’s cadenced prose and Washington’s dimensional cut-paper artwork portray Mamie Till-Mobley’s (1921–2003) life and efforts seeking justice for the brutal murder of her son Emmett Till (1941–1955). Contextualizing endnotes conclude this necessary title whose reiterative refrain characterizes Till-Mobley’s actions as “the harder thing” and “the braver thing/ that changed everything.” more Never Ever Getting Back Together Sophie Gonzales. Wednesday, $18.99 (384p) ISBN 978-1250-81916-1 When Maya's cheating ex-boyfriend is set to appear on a reality dating show, framing him as the perfect bachelor, Maya resolves to enter the competition to humiliate him on international TV, but instead finds herself falling for Skye, the girl he cheated on her with. Employing hilariously biting alternating perspectives and a cast populated by strongly characterized female heroines and deliciously despicable reality TV villains, Gonzales expertly taps into contemporary society’s Bachelor obsession to deliver a smart rom-com with a twist. more The Q Amy Tintera. Crown, $18.99 (352p) ISBN 978-0-593-48617-7 Teenagers Maisie and Lennon living on opposite sides of a quarantine zone struggle to survive in this thrilling dystopian adventure by Tintera set in Austin, Texas. Tintera evokes her Austin hometown to great effect, complete with signage reading “KEEP THE Q WEIRD,” grounding this wildly inventive, cinematic read rooted in a near-future, post-pandemic world that sharply echoes contemporary society. more	October 13, 2022 People Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing has seven promotions. Krista Vitola has been promoted to executive editor at S&S Books for Young Readers, from senior editor. Deeba Zargarpur has been promoted to senior editor at S&S Books for Young Readers and Salaam Reads, from editor. Kate Prosswimmer has been promoted to senior editor at Margaret K. McElderry Books, from editor. Nicole Fiorica has been promoted to editor at Margaret K. McElderry Books, from associate editor. Alyza Liu has been promoted to editor at S&S Books for Young Readers, from associate editor. Dainese Santos has been promoted to associate editor at S&S Books for Young Readers and Salaam Reads, from assistant editor. Remi Moon has been promoted to marketing coordinator, from marketing assistant. HarperCollins Children's Books has two promotions. Alyssa Miele has been promoted to senior editor at Quill Tree Books, from editor. Megan Pagano has been promoted to director of sales forecasting and analysis, from manager. Alice Gelber has joined Little, Brown Books for Young Readers as marketing assistant. In the Winners’ Circle The winners of the sixth annual Goddard Riverside Stephan Russo Book Prize for Social Justice were announced today, October 13: Andrea Elliott's Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City, and Christine McDonnell and Victoria Tentler-Krylov’s Sanctuary: Kip Tiernan and Rosie's Place, the Nation's First Shelter for Women. The award honors works that create change in the name of justice for all. To learn more about the winners, click here. ICYMI Thirty Years Later, Kids Still Love 'Stinky Cheese' more HarperCollins's Katherine Tegen to Retire at End of Year more Blackstone Publishing Extends into Middle Grade and Grows Its YA Presence more First Adult Pigeon Book by Mo Willems Due Out Next Spring more Bestsellers Children’s Frontlist Fiction #1 Kingdom of the Feared (Kingdom of the Wicked #3) by Kerri Maniscalco. Click here Picture Books #1 I’m So Glad You Were Born: Celebrating Who You Are by Ainsley Earhardt, illus. by Kim Barnes. Click here Follow Us Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram! 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.

 

Children's Bookshelf Editors: Diane Roback and Emma Kantor Digital Producer: Deirdre Coyle Editorial Assistant: Iyana Jones Send editorial questions about this e-newsletter to: childrensbooks@publishersweekly.com Send advertising questions about this e-newsletter to: cbryerman@publishersweekly.com Follow PW on Facebook and Twitter. For additional assistance, contact us by email or at the address below. Publishers Weekly, 49 West 23rd Street Ninth Floor New York, NY 10010 Phone 212-377-5500 Copyright 2022, PWxyz LLC