Okay, okay – it’s true. The vast majority of us, at the moment, are going exactly NOWHERE.

But doesn’t that make this deal announcement all the more fantastic? In stories—in books—there is no limit to the things we can do and the places we can go. No matter what our outside world looks like.

So let’s all take a moment to seriously bask in this glorious setting: the moon high in the dead black sky . . . a crisp, cold wind out of the north . . . and just there, coming around the bend—a stampede of hoofbeats, eating up the night.

Here’s the deal announcement, folks. It’s gonna be real!!

Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has bought World rights to R IS FOR REBEL and THE GREEN CHILDREN OF WOOLPIT author J. Anderson Coats’s new middle-grade novel. THE NIGHT RIDE tells the story of a girl who is desperate to pursue her dream of working with horses, even though her financial situation makes that nearly impossible—until she becomes embroiled in a dangerous, highly illegal midnight racing club, which might just prove to be her way out . . . if she can survive it. Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal, for publication in Fall 2021.

Congratulations, Jillian! And may Fall 2021 be here as soon as possible :)

--Joan

John Micklos, Jr. has a knack for creating picture books for the young that fill a broad need—hence the success of ONE LEAF, TWO LEAVES, COUNT WITH ME!, especially in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Here he goes again, this time with RAINDROPS TO RAINBOW, again matching a universal concept with a lively text that is ripe for appealing illustrations.

We’re so pleased that Rob Valois at Penguin Workshop has signed this up and matched Charlene Chua for illustrations! It’s scheduled for a spring 2021 release and we can’t wait!

Congratulations, John.

—Erin

Hello, friends!

 In times as unsettling as these, it’s easy to feel powerless, and alone, and awfully small in this unbalanced world of ours. Luckily, whatever restrictions we are having to face, however far apart we are forced to be from each other physically—we still have the ability to be close at heart, and that will never go away.

 And as long as we’re together—virtually and in spirit—we really are NOT SO SMALL. This is a sentiment well worth celebrating . . . and celebrate it we will!! All the way to the bookshelf and back. Here’s the deal announcement posting up with more info:

Alexandra Cooper at Harper Collins has acquired NOT SO SMALL, a new picture book by New York Times-bestselling author Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Paola Escobar. This rousing book takes cues from nature to demonstrate how even those who feel too small to get noticed can create something epic and world-changing by coming together. The author was represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency, and the illustrator by Amy Kitcherside at Pickled Ink Ltd., for publication in summer 2022. 

As with so many of the deals we post here, it will be quite a while before we can hold this particular book physically in our hands. But then—we’re getting used to virtual celebrations, aren’t we?

Let’s draw ever closer in heart. We truly are NOT SO SMALL when we’re together <3

Congratulations, Pat and team!!! 

--Joan

There’s quite enough bad news floating around the web-o-sphere these days, so that if you’re anything like me, you probably feel (fairly often) that you can’t take a single bit more. At times like this, it’s nice to put the world on pause and happy dance along to some GOOD NEWS!

Case in point: The following fantastic deal announcement, for the insanely talented and versatile non-fiction author, Anna Redding. Here’s the scoop: 

Alyson Day at Harper Collins Children’s has acquired World rights to RESCUING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE author Anna Redding’s new picture book, THE GRAVITY TREE: THE TRUE STORY OF A TREE THAT INSPIRED THE WORLD, following the tree that inspired Newton’s groundbreaking discovery throughout its many ongoing incarnations. Yas Imamura will illustrate. The deal was brokered by Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency for the author, and Frederica Dawson at the Bright Agency for the illustrator, in a deal for World rights. Publication is set for spring 2021. 

I mean, spring 2021 is not even that far away, when you think about it! Hopefully by this time we will all be able to read this story outside somewhere, sitting under a tree, waiting for inspiration to strike <3 

Congratulations, Anna!

- Joan

You think you know sloths . . . but do you, really?

 Let me tell you: Elizabeth Shreeve knows sloths. And when she started digging into their history and origins, some of the things she learned set her imagination on fire. Hence—this book! Guaranteed to turn everything you think you know . . . upside down. (GET IT? :D) 

Here’s the deal announcement for this fantastic forthcoming book, including its super-stellar illustrator:

Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has acquired world rights to OUT OF THE BLUE author Elizabeth Shreeve’s THE UPSIDE-DOWN BOOK OF SLOTHS, a playful non-fiction roundup that compares modern sloths with their unexpected and amazing prehistoric relatives; Steve Jenkins (WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A TAIL LIKE THIS, ACTUAL SIZE, etc.) will illustrate. Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author; the artist represented himself. The book is slated for publication in Winter 2022. 

Hooray for Elizabeth Shreeve, and hooray for ALL OF US who will get to enjoy this fantastic book!!

- Joan

It was a story that Jill could not stop thinking about and Carolyn Yoder was her first choice for editor. An amazing story about a pilot, Jack Knight, who was part of a relay team that flew 2,629 miles across the country on February 22–23, 1921 and proved to the country that airmail could be delivered by plane, both during the day and at night. Braving hazardous conditions across the continental United States, Knight singlehandedly delivered the mail and earned country-wide admiration for his courage and tenacity.

Carolyn Yoder at Calkins Creek has acquired world rights to Jack Knight's Brave Flight—How One Gutsy Pilot Saved the U.S. Air Mail Service by Jill Esbaum, illustrated by Stacy Innerst, the story of a harrowing 1921 stunt nobody believed could succeed. Publication is set for fall 2022; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and Susan Cohen at Writers House represented the illustrator. 

We’ll have to wait a bit for this amazing story, but come fall 2022, you can rush to your local bookstore to snap this story up!

Congratulations, Jill!

—Tricia

The first story in Alice Faye’s Civil Rights Trilogy, MEMPHIS, MARTIN & THE MOUNTAINTOP, came out in 2018 from Calkins Creek to starred reviews and a Caldecott Honor for famed illustrator R. Gregory Christie. The second installment, illustrated by acclaimed illustrator Charly Palmer, picks up with the trial of Burton Dodson, and highlights the fight for voting rights by Black sharecroppers evicted from their tent city in Fayette County in the late 1950s. 

Carolyn Yoder at Boyds, Mill & Kane/Calkins Creek has acquired Evicted: Burton Dodson, Voting Rights and the Fayette County Tent City Movement by Alice Faye Duncan (l.), illustrated by Charly Palmer, a picture book that explores the grassroots voting rights movement in Tennessee, which began with the unsuccessful lynching of Burton Dodson and ended with evicted Black sharecroppers achieving their right to vote. Publication is slated for spring 2022; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary sold World rights on behalf of the author; Ayanna Jones at SolarPencil represented the illustrator.

An amazing story, told by a capable writer and brought to life by a talented illustrator, comes to bookstores in spring 2022! 

I can’t wait!

Congratulations, Alice Faye.

—Tricia

How lucky are we humans, to share the planet with so many different species of animals!—Big and small, fast and slow… they are all around us. And while many times, our coexistence is benign or beneficial to our animal friends, there are other times when things go differently.

For every problem, however, there is a solution to be found—and luckily for us all, there is a fantastic new picture book coming out into the world to celebrate those very solutions. Here is the deal announcement with all the exciting info:

Andrea Welch at Beach Lane Books has preempted world rights to Katy S. Duffield’s CROSSINGS, with illustrations by Mike Orodán. This nonfiction picture book takes an around-the-world look at animal habitats that have been hindered by human incursion—and how other humans are helping to make things better. Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator. Publication is planned for fall 2020.

Yes, you read that right—Fall 2020. People, this book release is just around the corner! And wait until you see the breathtaking art . . . it’s one not to be missed.

Huge congratulations, Katy!

Joan