A Look Inside 'Art of' Books; New Children's Imprint from Fox Chapel

[PW Children's Bookshelf: Breaking children's and YA publishing news, author interviews, bestsellers lists and reviews.] [Baby Monkey, Private Eye Book Trailer]( In the Spotlight [The Art and Making of a Fan-Favorite Book]( Fans of movies, TV shows, and video games have unprecedented access to leaks and spoilers online, but there is still a dedicated readership for behind-the-scenes books. We spoke with publishers about expanded efforts in this niche within the licensing market. [more]( In the News [Fox Chapel Launches Children's Book Imprint]( Happy Fox, a new children’s imprint from Fox Chapel Publishing, was unveiled at last week's New York Toy Fair. The Pa.-based publishing house, best known for its craft titles, sees an opportunity to reach younger readers through its BigFoot series and more. [more]( [Advice & Answers to Questions That Matter]( Book News [Sibling Picture Book Collaborators Debut with Two Titles]( Since teaming up to write a picture book in 2014, sisters Tara Luebbe (l.) and Becky Cattie have sold six books to three publishers. The duo shared with us their creative process and journey to publication. [more]( [Mary Had a Little Lab by Sue Fliess]( Q & A [An Na]( An Na has been writing for young readers for almost 20 years; her first novel, A Step Toward Heaven, won the 2002 Michael L. Printz Award. We spoke with the author about her new novel, The Place Between Breaths, which captures the inner workings of a schizophrenic teen’s mind. Q: What was the most challenging part about writing the book? A: Trying to make the book real and at the same time acceptable or relatable to readers was hard. So much of the story is disjointed. I needed to thread everything to a center, something that would pull readers in. This center became the train—an image that haunts Grace throughout the novel. [more]( [New York Rights Fair 2018]( Out Next Week [Hot Off the Presses: Week of March 5, 2018]( Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book about pigging out at a picnic, a middle grade adventure set in the Scottish Highlands, and the much-anticipated launch of a debut YA fantasy trilogy. [more]( For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new [PW JobZone]( now with resume hosting and more! - [Senior Editor - The Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York](. - [Senior Designer - Hay House - San Diego](. - [Account Manager: International and Special Markets - Guilford Publications - New York, NY](. - [Manager, Publicity and Marketing - Sasquatch Books - Sasquatch Books - Seattle](. - [Publicist - Hachette Book Group - New York](. Rights Report Sylvan Creekmore at Wednesday Books has acquired, in a preempt, S. Gonzales's Only Mostly Devastated. Pitched as Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets Clueless, inspired by Grease, the book follows a boy trying to navigate a family crisis and a move to a new school who is quickly adopted by a new group of friends and comes face-to-face with his summer fling—only to discover that the perfect boy he remembers now won't even look at him. Publication is planned for spring/summer 2019; Moe Ferrara at BookEnds Literary brokered the deal for world rights. Kat Enright at Sky Pony has bought world rights to Jill MacKenzie's Breathe the Dragon. Talented artist and manga-obsessed 17-year-old Sadie struggles to heal physically and emotionally after a car accident, in which she was driving, that claimed the life of a teen motorcyclist and seriously injured her best friend. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; the author is unagented. Nancy Mercado at Scholastic has acquired The Lost Zombie on Earth, a new middle grade series by Tommy Greenwald, author of the Charlie Joe Jackson and Crimebiters books. The only survivor of a zombie purge finds himself wandering alone, until a caring couple takes him in and sends him to elementary school as their shy, very pale, and extremely unusual nephew. The projected publication date for the first book is summer 2019; Brianne Johnson at Writers House negotiated the three-book deal for world rights. Wendy Lamb at Random House/Lamb has bought, in a preempt, Nicole Panteleakos's debut middle grade novel, Planet Earth Is Blue, and a second, untitled novel. The first book follows Nova, an autistic, nonverbal, space-obsessed 12-year-old who is awaiting the Challenger shuttle launch and the return of her big sister, Bridget, as she struggles to be understood, and ultimately, shines in her new foster family. Publication is set for summer 2019; Katie Grimm at Don Congdon Associates did the deal for North American rights. Nathaniel Tabachnik and Sarah Fabiny at Penguin Workshop have acquired North American rights to Zoe Foster Blake's No One Likes a Fart, a humorous story about accepting yourself and finding a friend who loves you just the way you are. Publication is scheduled for fall 2019; Allison Hellegers at Rights People negotiated the deal on behalf of Eleanor Shorne Holden at Penguin Random House Australia. Nancy Inteli at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to Anika Denise's (l.) The Love Letter, illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins. The story follows a mysterious love letter as it travels from animal to animal, brightening this group of friends' day. Publication is slated for fall 2019; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management brokered the deal on behalf of the author and the illustrator. Karen Greenberg at Knopf has bought world rights to Kristin L. Gray's picture book, A Party for Rover, illustrated by Scott Magoon. Inspired by NASA's Curiosity rover, it tells the story of a lonely Mars rover that throws itself a birthday party. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary represented the author, and Rebecca Sherman at Writers House represented the illustrator. Erin Clarke at Knopf has bought world rights to Salsa Lullaby, a bilingual picture book by Jen Arena (l.), illustrated by Erika Meza, in which mami, papi, and bebé dance/bailan, sing/cantan, jump/saltan, and more until bebé falls asleep. The book is set for fall 2019; Jill Corcoran at Jill Corcoran Literary Agency represented the author, and Claire Cartey at Holroyde Cartey represented the illustrator. Amy Novesky at Creative Editions has acquired world rights to Julie Abery's (l.) Yusra Swims, illustrated by Sally Deng. The picture book follows refugee Yusra Mardini's journey from Syria, across the sea to Greece, to her new home in Germany, and all the way to the Olympics. Publication is slated for fall 2019; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself. Stephanie Pitts at Putnam has bought world rights to Mara Rockliff's (l.) Billie Jean!, a picture book biography of tennis champion and social activist Billie Jean King. Elizabeth Baddeley will illustrate; publication is planned for fall 2019. Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Alexandra Penfold at Upstart Crow Literary represented the illustrator. Alexis Orgera and Chad Reynolds at Penny Candy have acquired global rights to The Yellow Suitcase by Meera Sriram (l.), with art by debut children's illustrator Meera Sethi. The picture book tells the story of a girl who visits India for her grandmother's funeral with the yellow suitcase that has meant so much to both of them. The book will be published in November 2018; Tracy Marchini at BookEnds Literary represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented. Eliza Swift at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to Little Red Rhyming Hood by Mary Had a Little Lab author-illustrator duo Sue Fliess and Petros Bouloubasis. The picture book is a twist on the "Little Red Riding Hood" fable, in which Little Red only speaks in verse. Publication is scheduled for fall 2019; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented the author, and Courtney Walls at Advocate Art represented the artist. Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear has acquired world rights to Susan Wood's (l.) Sandy Feet, a nonfiction STEM-based picture book focused on using creatures' footprints to explore the shoreline habitat. Steliyana Doneva will illustrate; publication is expected in spring 2019. Caryn Wiseman represented the author, and Mela Bolinao at MB Artists represented the illustrator. Sarah Fabiny at Penguin Workshop has bought Steve and Chieri DeGregorio's Vehicles and Animals, board books based on the 8-bit art that has driven their Kids' Picture Show videos to reach hundreds of millions of YouTube views. Publication is set for spring 2019; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret did the deal for world rights. Amy Novesky and Tom Peterson at the Creative Company have acquired world rights to Simon Says Open the Book, a board book by Emilia Zebrowska (l.) that teaches children about verbs. Susan Reagan will illustrate; publication is slated for fall 2019. Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented. To see all of this week's deals, [click here](. IN THE MEDIA [From Publishing Perspectives:]( Bologna's 2018 Children's Publishers of the Year Nominees from Six World Regions. [Click here]( [From the Bologna Book Fair:]( The winners of the 2018 BolognaRagazzi Awards have been revealed. [Click here]( [From the Washington Post:]( Dolly Parton likes to give away books. She just donated her 100 millionth. [Click here]( [From School Library Journal:]( NEA Focuses Read Across America on Diversity, Not Dr. Seuss. [Click here]( [From Book Riot:]( 100 Must-Read Young Adult Science Fiction Books. [Click here]( [From the New York Times:]( Drawing Black History: 4 Children's Book Illustrators Show Us How. [Click here]( [From School Library Journal:]( Incarcerated Teens Write Graphic Novels. [Click here]( [From the Journal-Register:]( You are what you read: How contemporary young adult literature shaped a generation. [Click here]( [From the New York Times:]( China's Censors Ban Winnie the Pooh After Xi's Power Grab. [Click here]( [From Entertainment Weekly:]( Author Sara Farizan reveals the cover of her next book, Here to Stay. [Click here]( [From BuzzFeed:]( 18 YA Authors Recommend Their Favorite Feminist Books. [Click here]( [From Brightly:]( The Best Dr. Seuss Books for Every Age and Stage. [Click here]( [From Electric Literature:]( How Young Adult Literature Taught Me to Love Like a White Girl. [Click here]( [From Book Riot:]( My Kid Has the Worst Taste in Literature. [Click here]( SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner [Meet Emile, the Sheep of Doom]( When it comes to managing inventory and making the hard decisions, there is no substitute for a ruthless sheep. [more »]( Elizabeth Bluemle [Mermaids and Dressmakers, Gender and Fluidity]( This season brings two exceptional books, one for young children, one for teens, celebrating gender fluidity. [more »]( Kenny Brechner [A Magical Tea Bag]( A new picture book, ‘The Rabbit Listened,’ is a source of ever-renewable inspiration. [more »]( Cynthia Compton [Postcard from Toy Fair]( One shopkeeper’s list of top trends from the 2018 North American Toy Fair. [more »]( FEATURED REVIEWS [Big Bunny]( Rowboat Watkins. Chronicle, $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-4521-6390-1 In this inventive, clever outing, Watkins ponders what’s scary and how much context matters. We hear—but don’t see— what seems to be a parent and child bickering over the fright quotient of a bedtime story involving a big bunny. The parent tries to pull the story back from the brink by insisting that the rabbit wants to eat carrots and carrots only, but the young reader pushes for something more terrifying. [more]( [Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship]( Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes, illus. by Scott Magoon. Candlewick, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7636-9604-7 These married authors, who each lost legs in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and have a service dog named Rescue, affectingly weave fact and fiction in their debut book. Jessica, a fictional child, is a hospital patient recovering from an unspecified injury. While she learns to walk with a prosthetic leg, a frisky black Lab is being trained as a service dog nearby. Jessica’s spirits improve measurably once she adopts Rescue. [more]( [The Stone Girl's Story]( Sarah Beth Durst. Clarion, $16.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-328-72945-3 Durst’s middle grade fantasy is a feast for the senses. Mayka has lived on the mountain above the great city of Skye with her stone friends from the time her flesh-and-blood father carved her from stone. After his death, the stories and life force carved into the stone of Mayka’s friends begin to fade. In search of a stonemason to recarve their marks, the lifelike girl pushes past her comfort zone and travels to Skye. [more]( [The Universe Is Expanding and So Am I]( Carolyn Mackler. Bloomsbury, $17.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-68119-599-5 Virginia Shreves is back in Mackler’s sequel to her award-winning 2003 novel, The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things. She’s still worried about her weight, still worried about boys and finding love, but most of all worried because her brother, Byron, has just been arrested. Mackler infuses momentum into Virginia’s story by returning to the alleged sexual assault Byron committed at Columbia, for which he faces trial and possible jail time. [more]( TALES FROM THE SLUSH PILE [SEE ALL]( March 1, 2018 E-mail not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Out of the Wild Night by Blue Balliett]( [Out of Wonder by Kwame Alexander]( [A Different Pond by Bao Phi]( [PW KidsCast: A Conversation with Blue Balliett]( PeopleKevin Lewis has joined Erin Murphy Literary Agency as an agent, focusing primarily on writer-illustrators and on diverse voices. He was previously an editor at Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, and Disney, and is the author of close to a dozen picture books. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers has several promotions. Stefanie Hoffman has been promoted to senior marketing manager, from marketing manager. Deirdre Jones has been promoted to senior editor, from editor. Nikki Garcia has been promoted to associate editor, from assistant editor. Daniella Valladares has been promoted to associate editor, from assistant editor. Jen Keenan has been promoted to associate art director, from senior designer. Angela Taldone has been promoted to assistant designer, from design assistant. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing has a promotion and two new hires. Jasmine Ye has been promoted to associate production editor, from managing editorial assistant. Nicole Fox has joined as editorial assistant for Simon Spotlight. Morgan York has joined as managing editorial assistant. On-Sale Calendar Spring comes in like a lion with new books for readers of all ages. Jory John, with Liz Climo illustrating, asks Can Somebody Please Scratch My Back? Early reader character Dory Fantasmagory gets her fourth installment, and perennial favorite author-illustrator Tomie dePaola's book Clown of God releases. Pulitzer-Prize winning author Junot Díaz offers up his first title for children, the picture book Islandborn, illustrated by Leo Espinosa. Australian YA authors Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff conclude their Illuminae Files with Obsidio, Peter Brown has a sequel to his novel The Wild Robot, called The Wild Robot Escapes, and Leslie Odom Jr., of Hamilton fame, publishes an inspirational book, Failing Up. For more children's and YA titles on sale throughout the month of March, check out PW's full [On-Sale Calendar](. In Case You Missed It [National Geographic's New Fiction Imprint to Cover Everything 'Under the Stars']( [more]( [Lion Forge Roars Onward With Picture Book Launch]( [more]( [Scholastic Launches AFK Initiative to Promote Video Game Tie-Ins]( [more]( [Booksellers Respond to Kid Lit Sexual Harassment Scandal]( [more]( Sneak Previews Take a look ahead at some of the big titles for children and teens due out this fall, from picture books to YA novels, [in our exclusive roundup](. 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. 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