Junot Díaz on His Children's Debut; New 'Jumanji' Film Is a Box Office Smash

[PW Children's Bookshelf: Breaking children's and YA publishing news, author interviews, bestsellers lists and reviews.] [Toy Fair 2018 | Registration Is Open]( In the Spotlight [Children's Authors and Books to Watch for at Winter Institute 13]( ABA’s annual Winter Institute will take place January 22–25 in Memphis, bringing together booksellers from across the country. We’ve gathered a selection of children’s and YA authors, including both established and debut writers, to meet at this year’s conference. [more]( In the News ['Jumanji' Rules the January Box Office]( The success of the most recent film in the Jumanji franchise, which is based on the 1981 Chris Van Allsburg picture book, has come as a surprise. “Jumanji is an unqualified, out-and-out home run,” says Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for ComScore. “I don’t think anyone saw that coming.” [more]( [Capstone Names New Publisher, V-P of Digital]( Capstone has named Patricia Stockland its new publisher and Darin Rasmussen its v-p of digital product development and management, effective immediately. The move brings Stockland back after an 11-year hiatus, during which time she served as publisher at Cantata Learning. [more]( [I Am a Warrior Goddess by Jennifer Adams]( Soapbox [Let's Talk About Sensitivity Readers]( Dhonielle Clayton is the COO of We Need Diverse Books and a cofounder of Cake Literary. She also works as a sensitivity reader, providing feedback for children's book authors who write diverse stories outside of their own experience. Her debut fantasy, The Belles, is due out in February. Here, Clayton argues that sensitivity readers aren’t censors. Misusing the term censorship and warping its definition to smear sensitivity readers is an attempt to divert attention from the real issue: the systematic erasure and blockage of marginalized voices from the publishing industry. It’s not so much about who is writing what but rather who gets published with the content they’ve chosen to write. [more]( On the Scene [On Tour with Holly Black]( This month, YA author Holly Black (l.) set out on a six-city tour in celebration of her new novel, The Cruel Prince, which marks her return to the fantastic world of Faerie. Click through for a selection of photo highlights from the events, which featured readings, signings, and appearances by guest authors. [more]( [New York Rights Fair 2018]( Interview [Junot Díaz Draws from Immigrant Experience in Debut Children's Book]( The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, among other books for adults, is publishing his first children’s book, Islandborn, illustrated by Leo Espinosa. We spoke with Díaz about capturing his childhood memories as a Dominican expat in picture book form. [more]( Out Next Week [Hot Off the Presses: Week January 22, 2018]( Hitting shelves next week are a picture book biography about a football player who was also a gifted artist, a frenetic and humorous science fiction MG novel, and a YA novel about a teen girl who survives an assault. [more]( SPONSORED [PW KidsCast: Listen Now]( Francisco X. Stork, Andrea Beaty, Dan Santat, Julie Fogliano, Christian Robinson, Philip C. Stead, Matthew Cordell – listen to these and other top writers and artists discuss their new books for children and teens in the PW KidsCast podcast. [Click here]( to listen. For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new [PW JobZone]( now with resume hosting and more! - [Public Information Rep - University of New Mexico - Albuquerque](. - [Marketing Copywriter - The Quarto Group - Beverly](. - [Senior Print Designer - The Quarto Group - Bellevue](. - [Senior Managing Editor, Adult - Abrams Books - New York](. - [Assistant Editor of Arabic Literature - New York University - New York](. Rights Report Zareen Jaffery at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers has acquired Sulwe, the debut book by Academy Award–winning actress Lupita Nyong'o. In the picture book, Nyong'o shares the consequences of growing up in a world that favors lighter skin, offering a story for children from all backgrounds. An illustrator has not yet been announced. Publication is set for January 2019; Simon Green of Creative Artists Agency handled the deal for North American rights. Alessandra Balzer at Balzer + Bray has bought Black Enough: Stories of Black Teenhood in America, edited by NBA finalist Ibi Zoboi, a YA anthology of coming-of-age stories. The anthology features contributors Rita Williams-Garcia, Coe Booth, Dhonielle Clayton, Brandy Colbert, Renée Watson, Tracey Baptiste, Jason Reynolds, Kekla Magoon, Jay Coles, Nic Stone, Lamar Giles, Leah Henderson, Justina Ireland, Varian Johnson, Tochi Onyebuchi, Liara Tamani, and Ibi Zoboi. Publication is slated for winter 2019; Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights. Alvina Ling at Little, Brown has acquired Brandy Colbert's The Revolution of Birdie Randolph. The YA novel follows Birdie, a teen who has a close bond with her parents until first love and a family secret threaten to tear them apart. Publication is planned for spring 2019; Tina Wexler of ICM Partners negotiated the deal for North American rights. Krestyna Lypen at Algonquin has bought world English rights to A.K. Small's YA debut, Rat-Girls. Best friends Marine and Kate have trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School since childhood, where they now compete for the ultimate prize: to be the one girl selected to join the Opera's prestigious corps de ballet. But their bond begins to fracture as selection day draws near. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Wendi Gu of Janklow & Nesbit did the deal. Rosemary Brosnan at HarperTeen has acquired, in a two-book deal, author of the Blacktop Series (under the pseudonym L.J. Alonge) Lanre Akinsiku's Fly with Me, the story of a boy who has been an outcast in town ever since his sister flew away—but things change when he begins to dabble in her special kind of magic. Publication is set for summer 2020; Valerie Borchardt of Georges Borchardt brokered the deal for world English rights. Amy Cloud at S&S/Aladdin has bought Obey! The Secret Parents' Guide to Hacking Your Kids, by Emmy-winning writer Peter Bakalian. In this parody, a teenager discovers a secret diabolical parenting manual and, risking the retaliation of F.A.R.T. (Families Against Rotten Teens), exposes it to the world and triggers a kid rebellion. The book is slated for spring 2019; Rosemary Stimola of Stimola Literary Studio negotiated the deal for world English rights. Phoebe Yeh at Crown has acquired the middle grade anthology We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, a collection of illustrated poems, letters, and stories about activism. Husband-and-wife team Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson, founders of Just Us Books, have compiled and edited the book, which features essays by Kwame Alexander, Joseph Bruchac, Sharon Draper, Margarita Engle, Ekua Holmes, Innosanto Nagara, Ellen Oh, James Ransome, Jason Reynolds, Javaka Steptoe, Rita Williams-Garcia, Andrea Pippins, Jacqueline Woodson, and more. Publication is set for September 2018; the editors represented themselves in the deal for world rights. Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has bought, in a preempt, Weight, a novel in verse from debut middle grade author Chris Baron. Set in San Francisco, the novel tells the story of 13-year-old Ari Rosensweig, who is sick of being teased and bullied about his weight and decides to do something about it before his (already late) Bar Mitzvah. But with his parents' marriage on the rocks, learning how to be a man is harder than he thought. The book is scheduled for spring 2019; Rena Rossner of the Deborah Harris Agency did the deal for North American rights. Alyson Heller at Aladdin has acquired, in a two-book deal, North American rights to Barbara Dee's middle grade novel, How to Survive Quicksand. The book is about a seventh grade girl whose family is thrown into chaos by her older brother's diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Publication is planned for fall 2019, with a second middle grade novel to publish in fall 2020; Jill Grinberg of Jill Grinberg Literary Management brokered the deal. Marisa Polansky at Scholastic has bought world rights to a chapter book series co-written by Monica Brown (l.) and Sarai Gonzalez, the 12-year-old star of the viral music video “Soy Yo,” who became the face behind the #SoyYo movement celebrating independent girls around the world. The first book in the fictional series based on the star's life, Sarai and the Meaning of Awesome, features Sarai using her creativity and entrepreneurial skills to help her community and family. The first two books in the series are due in fall 2018; Stefanie Von Borstel of Full Circle Literary represented Brown, and Monica Villarreal and Rick Dorfman of Authentic Management represented Gonzalez. Renee Hooker at Penguin Workshop has acquired, in a four-book deal, North American rights to Erica Perl's Arnold and Louise, an early chapter book series that follows the unlikely yet unstoppable friendship between Arnold, a large black bear, and Louise, a small brown-and-white striped chipmunk. Publication is slated for 2019; Carrie Hannigan of Hannigan Salky Getzler represented the author. Donna Bray at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has bought, at auction, world rights to Mary Wears What She Wants by author-illustrator Keith Negley. Based on the life of Mary Edwards Walker, one of the first American women known to wear pants, the picture book shows what happens when a girl decides to fight for what she believes is right. Publication is set for spring 2019, with a second book by Negley to follow; Rebecca Sherman of Writers House negotiated the deal. Putnam Books for Young Readers has acquired a picture book collaboration from author Matt de la Peña (l.) and illustrator Christian Robinson, creators of the Newbery Medal- and Caldecott Honor-winning Last Stop on Market Street. Told through the lens of a sibling story, Carmela Full of Wishes explores what hope looks like in a migrant community steeped in Mexican culture. Publication is scheduled for October 9, 2018; Jen Klonsky and Kate Meltzer will edit. Steven Malk of Writers House represented both the author and the illustrator in the deal for world rights. Chris Hernandez at HarperCollins has bought world rights to journalist Anna Redding's picture book debut, Rescuing the Declaration of Independence, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. The true story follows a little-known hero who saved the historic artifact and many others from being destroyed by the British during the War of 1812. Publication is planned for winter 2020; Ammi-Joan Paquette of Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and artist rep Pat Hackett represented the illustrator. Ruta Rimas at S&S/McElderry has acquired world rights to Kristen Fulton's picture book, When Sparks Fly, an illustrated biography of rocket scientist Robert Goddard. Diego Funck will illustrate; publication is slated for spring 2018. Kendra Marcus of BookStop Literary Agency represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong of Bright Agency represented the illustrator. Eliza Berkowitz at Sterling has bought world rights to Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge author Kristin L. Gray's (l.) debut picture book, Koala Is Not a Bear. It's Koala's first day at camp, and she thinks she's found her place in the Bear Cabin, when Know-It-All Kangaroo comes along and tells Koala that she is not a Bear and doesn't belong there. Rachel McAlister will illustrate; publication is set for spring 2019. Caryn Wiseman of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Emily Coggins of Astound U.S. represented the illustrator. To see all of this week's deals, [click here](. IN THE MEDIA [From NPR:]( Matt de la Peña and Loren Long talk about their new picture book, Love. [Click here]( [From School Library Journal:]( Chronicle Acts to Replace Image in The Ultimate Book of Space. [Click here]( [From Metro:]( National Winnie the Pooh Day: 18 wise A.A. Milne quotes to live by. [Click here]( [From the Guardian:]( Hollywood buys film rights to debut novel by Scottish teacher. [Click here]( [From Seven Days:]( Vermont Library Board Pushes to Rename Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award. [Click here]( [From Book Riot:]( 9 British YA Novels to Smuggle Across the Pond in 2018. [Click here]( [From Romper:]( For This Mom and Daughter, "Resistance" Meant Writing a Children's Book. [Click here]( [From BookTrust:]( How reading helped me bond with my baby boy. [Click here]( [From Entertainment Weekly:]( Brian Selznick to illustrate covers for new Harry Potter paperbacks. [Click here]( [From School Library Journal:]( The Hate U Give Returns to High School Shelves in Katy, Tex. [Click here]( [From the Evening Standard:]( Winnie the Pooh Day 2018: Surprising facts about the timeless classic. [Click here]( [From Time:]( "Why Children's Books Should Be a Little Sad," by Kate DiCamillo. [Click here]( [From the BBC:]( A rare first edition of Harry Potter worth £40,000 has been stolen in the U.K. [Click here]( [From Open Culture:]( A Neuroscience Reading of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. [Click here]( [From A Mighty Girl:]( Making an Impact: 30 Mighty Girl Books About Charity and Community Service. [Click here]( [From Book Riot:]( Why I Still Read Junior and Young Adult Fiction. [Click here]( SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner [A Terrifyingly Candid WI 13 Prep Breakdown]( With a lot of hats on the table, what do I absolutely need to do before going to Memphis? [more »]( Cynthia Compton [Chamber of Secret Thoughts]( The local Chamber of Commerce networking meeting offers lessons in store management for this shopkeeper. [more »]( Leslie Hawkins [Moving Follies]( Leslie’s adventures in furniture moving, featuring some new bookstore fixtures. [more »]( Meghan Dietsche Goel [Too Long, Too Short, Just Right?]( A (brown-haired) Goldilocks searches for the perfect six-minute read. [more »]( FEATURED REVIEWS [Harriet Gets Carried Away]( Jessie Sima. Simon & Schuster, $17.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-4814-6911-1 Dressed as a penguin, Harriet heads to the grocery store with her two fathers before her birthday party, where she discovers a group of actual penguins replenishing their supply of bagged ice. Before she knows it, Harriet is aloft with them in their hot-air balloon, headed back to their polar home. The narrator’s offhand, unruffled voice makes Harriet’s intrepid adventure a delightful readaloud. [more]( [New Shoes]( Sara Varon. First Second, $17.99 (208p) ISBN 978-1-59643-920-7 In a story that brims with creativity and affection, a donkey named Francis makes shoes for discerning clients. But his work is interrupted when he discovers that his friend and tiger grass supplier, Nigel, has gone missing. Venturing into the forest to sort out Nigel’s situation is a big test for Francis, who has never been outside his village. [more]( [The Night Diary]( Veera Hiranandani. Dial, $16.99 (272p) ISBN 978-0-7352-2851-1 After Nisha receives a diary for her 12th birthday, she begins to document her family’s upheaval amid the 1947 Partition of India. Nisha’s journal entries take on new urgency as she witnesses India being “split in half like a log” along religious lines after gaining independence from Britain. As the daughter of a Hindu father and a Muslim mother, Nisha questions which side of the Indian-Pakistani border to call her own. [more]( [In Search of Us]( Ava Dellaira. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $17.99 (416p) ISBN 978-0-374-30531-4 Dellaira’s second novel, which tells two connected tales set 18 years apart, is spectacular. First comes the story of 17-year-old Marilyn, whose mother is so committed to her daughter’s future stardom that she moves them into a tiny Los Angeles apartment with Marilyn’s alcoholic uncle. But Marilyn’s vision of her future involves going to college and making a life with her handsome new neighbor, James. Next comes the present-day story of Marilyn’s biracial daughter, also 17, who wonders about the father she never met. [more]( [After the Shot Drops]( Randy Ribay. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $17.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-328-70227-2 Told in alternating first-person narratives, this layered and emotionally rich story gracefully captures its protagonists’ external pressures and inner conflicts. Aware of his parents’ financial struggles, high school sophomore and basketball star Bunny accepts a full scholarship to a private school, hoping to increase his chances of getting a full ride to college. His best friend Nasir views this choice as a defection and cuts ties with Bunny. [more]( [Tyler Johnson Was Here]( Jay Coles. Little, Brown, $17.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-316-44077-6 Cole’s debut novel, based on events in his own life, follows Marvin Johnson, a college-bound senior at Alabama’s Sojourner Truth High School. Marvin and his twin brother, Tyler, navigate racism, drug dealers, and police violence. Marvin’s life takes a turn when a party ends in a shoot-out, a police raid, and Tyler’s disappearance. It’s a distressing yet empowering portrait of a black teenager confronting relentless racism, brutality, and tragedy. [more]( TALES FROM THE SLUSH PILE [SEE ALL]( January 18, 2018 E-mail not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Princess Pulverizer Books | Video Trailer]( [Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor, Jean Jullien]( [PW KidsCast: A Conversation with Roshani Chokshi]( To Our Readers There won't be an issue of Children's Bookshelf next Tuesday. Look for the next issue of Children's Bookshelf on Thursday, January 25! PeopleJohn Sellers has been named publicity director for HMH Books for Young Readers, beginning January 29. He has been the children's reviews editor at Publishers Weekly since 2009. Sarah Dotts Barley has been promoted to editorial director, young adult, at Flatiron Books; she was previously executive editor. Bonnier Publishing USA has two new hires. Tim Murray has joined as v-p of sales; he was previously senior v-p of business development and sales at BookShout. Nadia Almahdi has joined as marketing manager for Little Bee Books and Sizzle Press; she was previously marketing manager at Bookspan. Alexandria Campbell has joined Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing as production assistant. In the Winners' Circle The 2018 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction has gone to Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk (Dutton). The award is given annually to the author of an exceptional work of historical fiction for young people published by a U.S. publisher and set in the Americas, and carries with it a $5,000 prize. For more information, [click here](. Lee & Low Books has presented its 2017 New Voices Award to Maham Khwaja for her picture book manuscript, The Journey. Khwaja will receive both a cash prize and a publishing contract. The Honor award went to Kelly J. Baptist for her picture book manuscript, The Electric Slide and Cai. The award is given to an unpublished author of color for a picture book manuscript, to help authors break into the field. For more information, [click here](. Bestsellers [Children's Frontlist Fiction]( #1 Dog Man and Cat Kid (Dog Man #4) by Dav Pilkey. [Click here]( [Picture Books]( #1 Little Blue Truck's Springtime by Alice Schertle, illus. by Jill McElmurry. [Click here]( In Case You Missed It [Workman Announces New Director and Art Director of Children's Publishing]( [more]( [Cover Reveal: 'Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise' by David Ezra Stein]( [more]( [Lonely Planet Kids Expands in U.S.]( [more]( [Feminism and Feel-Good Stories: A Holiday Sales Report]( [more]( Sneak Previews Take a look ahead at some of the big titles for young readers due out this season, in our exclusive roundup of [Spring 2018 Sneak Previews](. Follow Us Children's Bookshelf is on [Instagram]( Follow us @pwkidsbookshelf. Bookshelf Archives Looking for a previous issue of Children's Bookshelf? [Click here]( for our archives page! CONTACT US Have a comment or suggestion? We'd love to hear from you. [Click here](mailto:childrensbooks@publishersweekly.com) to drop us a note. [Follow PWKidsBookshelf on Twitter]( Children's Bookshelf Editor: Diane Roback Associate Editor: Emma Kantor Digital Producer: Michael Seidlinger 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, 71 West 23 St. #1608 New York, NY 10010 Phone 212-377-5500 Copyright 2018, PWxyz LLC Email not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( To view back issues of Children's Bookshelf, [click here](. 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