A New Phase of Chinese Children's Publishing; YA Authors Celebrate ‘Hope Nation'

[PW Children's Bookshelf: Breaking children's and YA publishing news, author interviews, bestsellers lists and reviews.] [Harriet Gets Carried Away]( In the Spotlight [Notes from China: The New Phase of Chinese Children's Publishing]( Children's literature historian Leonard S. Marcus reflects on his recent trip to China, where he found publishers expanding their efforts and adapting to the government's new rules on foreign translations. "Chinese children’s literature professionals are quick to acknowledge they are engaged in a game of cultural catch-up," he says. [more]( [Luciana Vega]( Book News [Rescuing a Story of Disability, Adversity, and Hope]( Jessica Kensky and her husband Patrick Downes were at the finish line during the Boston Marathon bombing on April 13, 2013, and both suffered serious injuries that required years of recovery. In their debut picture book, Rescue and Jessica, the couple tells a story of hope inspired by their service dog. [more]( [Knockout by K.A. Holt]( On the Scene ['Hope Nation' Tour in Photos]( This past week, a group of acclaimed authors embarked on a tour in honor of the launch of Hope Nation: YA Authors Share Personal Moments of Inspiration. More than 400 fans attended readings and panels across the U.S. to celebrate the essay collection. Click through for a selection of photo highlights from the tour. [more]( In the News [Mark Cuban-Beanstack Reading Challenge Is a Win-Win for All]( The creators of Beanstack, a software program for managing reading initiatives, recently teamed up with investor and Shark Tank judge Mark Cuban to sponsor a nationwide literacy challenge—with remarkable success. [more]( Out Next Week [Hot Off the Presses: Week of March 12, 2018]( Among the books hitting shelves next week are the first picture book from an award-winning author for adults, a middle grade guidebook for creating playful poetry, and a YA novel about a girl whose father struggles with alcoholism. [more]( In Brief [In Brief: March 8, 2018]( This week, A Wrinkle in Time actor Storm Reid makes some special deliveries; Jarrett J. Krosoczka takes his Jedi Academy series on a cruise; New England Patriot Malcolm Mitchell celebrates his new picture book; author Jean Reagan and illustrator Lee Wildish meet in London; bilingual book authors and illustrators talk shop; and a new exhibition celebrates Coretta Scott King Award and Honor recipients. [more]( For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new [PW JobZone]( now with resume hosting and more! - [Editorial Assistant - The Quarto Group - Bellevue](. - [Director of Editorial Content Strategy & Creation - Wesleyan Unviersity - Middletown](. - [Acquisitions Editor - HarperCollins Christian Publishing - Grand Rapids](. - [Director of Editorial Content Strategy & Creation - Wesleyan Unviersity - Middletown](. - [Production Editor - Macmillan - New York, NY](. Rights Report Liza Kaplan at Philomel has acquired NBA finalist Carrie Arcos's new YA novel, Skywatchers, pitched as In the Woods meets Stranger Things. Based on the real-life Operation Skywatch program established under President Truman, the book is about a group of teens in 1952 Monterey, Calif., who volunteer to help keep round-the-clock eyes on the sky. When one of them goes missing, the others must figure out what's happening and why. Publication is set for summer 2020; Kerry Sparks at Levine Greenberg Rostan negotiated the deal for world English rights. Stacey Barney at Putnam has bought HuffPost writer Ryan Douglass's YA debut, Jake in the Box, a Get Out-inspired horror story about the only black kid at an elite suburban Atlanta prep school who is being haunted by the ghost of a school shooter. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Rena Rossner at the Deborah Harris Agency brokered the deal for world rights. Diana M. Pho at Tor Teen has acquired world English rights to The Sound & the Stone, the YA debut by Bethany C. Morrow (author of the forthcoming MEM). The contemporary fantasy about the strength of black sisterhood follows high school best friends as each discovers her true supernatural identity, set against the present-day reality of misogynoir. Publication is scheduled for winter 2020; Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman Agency did the two-book deal. Karen Wojtyla at S&S/McElderry has bought Love to Everyone, a historical novel by Guardian Children's Fiction Prize winner Hilary McKay. The middle-grade novel follows the childhood and adolescence of Clarry, a girl living in the early years of the 20th century who is determined to get an education and open doors that the world would rather keep closed. Publication is slated for fall 2018; Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights. Rosemary Brosnan at HarperCollins has acquired world English rights to Christine Day's debut, The Summer of Split Feather Fever. The novel features a 12-year-old artist who draws inspiration from her surroundings. But when she finds artifacts from her mother's adoption and her Native American grandmother's life, she realizes she has much to learn about herself, her family's history, and the place she calls home. The book is planned for winter 2020, with a second, standalone book to follow; Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary and Media brokered the two-book deal. Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Paulsen has bought, in an exclusive submission, author-illustrator Heidi Sheffield's Ice Cream Face, a picture book homage to the pleasures of the sweet, cold treat as well as to the joy and excitement of sharing. Sheffield is the recipient of the SCBWI 2017 LA Mentorship Award and the SCBWI 2017 NY Portfolio Award, Honorable Mention, among other awards. Publication is set for summer 2021; Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights. Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane has acquired author/photographer April Pulley Sayre's new picture book, Being Frog. Inspired by observing local frogs, the book explores what it means to be a frog, as a breathing, living fellow citizen of the world. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt Agency did the deal for world rights. Alexis Orgera and Chad Reynolds have bought world rights to Hedy and Her Amazing Invention by Jan Wahl, with art by debut illustrator Morgana Wallace. The early chapter book tells the story of how movie star Hedy Lamarr, known as "the world's most beautiful woman," defied narrow-minded expectations at each stage of her life to become an important inventor. The book will be published in November 2018; Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented. To see all of this week's deals, [click here](. IN THE MEDIA [From the New Yorker:]( Rereading A Wrinkle in Time, After a Childhood Enthralled by Madeleine L'Engle. [Click here]( [From the New York Times:]( A Wrinkle in Time Gives a Child of the Universe Powerful Friends. [Click here]( [From Bustle:]( The #MeToo Reckoning Has Come to YA and Children's Literature. [Click here]( [From Refinery29:]( How Tomi Adeyemi Became a Literary Rockstar Before Her First Book Even Came Out. [Click here]( [From School Library Journal:]( Latinx Authors Discuss Successes, Continued Challenges. [Click here]( [From Bookish:]( Spring 2018's Best Children's and Middle Grade Books. [Click here]( [From Bookish:]( Spring 2018's Must-Read YA Books. [Click here]( [From Vox:]( Madeleine L'Engle's Christianity was vital to A Wrinkle in Time; the new movie has excised her faith. [Click here]( [From Rolling Stone :]( A Wrinkle in Time Is One Magnificently Weird, Messy Blockbuster. [Click here]( [From the Horn Book:]( A Preponderance of Pink: A Conversation with Kathleen T. Horning. [Click here]( [From Book Riot:]( Why I'm Cautiously Excited About HBO's New Adaptation of Fahrenheit 451. [Click here]( [From 100 Scope Notes:]( 2018 Books from Caldecott Medal/Honor Winners. [Click here]( [From Bookish:]( Spring 2018's Most-Anticipated YA Sci-Fi and Fantasy. [Click here]( [From the Atlantic:]( Where Fantasy Meets Black Lives Matter. [Click here]( SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner [The Art of Comping]( Creating comps on Edelweiss is an under-appreciated art form. [more »]( Cynthia Compton [The Tale of Peter Reader*]( A cautionary tale of online shopping from our friend Peter. [more »]( Elizabeth Bluemle [Cover Story: The Ups and Downs of Redesigned Book Jackets]( Sometimes a reboot is just the thing. Sometimes it… really isn’t. [more »]( Leslie Hawkins [Let’s Shelve This, Home Edition]( A children’s bookseller tries to create order out of the chaos of her home library. [more »]( FEATURED REVIEWS [The Golden Thread: A Song for Pete Seeger]( Colin Meloy, illus. by Nikki McClure. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-0-06-236825-6 In Meloy and McClure’s gorgeous, emotionally expansive book, the “golden thread”—a reference to Seeger’s hymn of reconciliation, “Oh, Had I a Golden Thread”—becomes a literal and figurative narrative line that follows Seeger’s life. The book traces his story from his beginnings in a family of traveling musicians to his global renown as a folk icon, activist, and writer-arranger of quintessential American songs. [more]( [Tom’s Midnight Garden]( Philippa Pearce, adapted and illus. by Edith. Greenwillow, $22.99 (100p) ISBN 978-0-06-269657-1 In this graphic-novel adaptation of Pearce’s Carnegie Medal–winner, Tom is disappointed to be sent to his Uncle Alan and Aunt Gwen’s drab home for summer holiday. His days are filled with eating and boredom, but his sleepless nights take an unexpected turn when Tom hears the grandfather clock strike for a 13th time. Creeping downstairs to investigate, Tom discovers an enchanted garden, unbound by time. [more]( [Boots on the Ground: America’s War in Vietnam]( Elizabeth Partridge. Viking, $22.99 (214p) ISBN 978-0-670-78506-3 Skillfully interweaving original interviews and black-and-white photos with narrative, Partridge evokes the political controversy and intense emotions triggered by the Vietnam War. The author trains a lens on five men who fought on the ground, plus a medic, a field nurse, and a Vietnamese refugee. The chronicle vividly brings to light their daily lives, the discrimination some encountered, and their loyalties and moral sensitivity to the war’s unending brutality. [more]( [Devils unto Dust]( Emma Berquist. Greenwillow, $17.99 (496p) ISBN 978-0-06-264278-3 In Berquist’s blistering debut, it’s 1877, and strong-willed 17-year-old Daisy “Willie” Wilcox is struggling to support her three younger siblings in the desert town of Glory, Tex. The sickness that killed Willie’s mother has ravaged the country, creating “shakes,” the cannibalistic infected people who roam outside Glory’s protective fences. Willie’s father has run off, and when two men claim that he stole $400 from them, Willie is given a week to find and retrieve him. [more]( TALES FROM THE SLUSH PILE [SEE ALL]( March 8, 2018 E-mail not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Riders of the Realm]( [The Radical Element by Jessica Spotswood]( [Preorder Forever or a Day!]( PeopleLeopoldo Orozco has joined Random House Books for Young Readers as editorial assistant; he was previously an intern at Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. In Case You Missed It [2017 Children's Bestsellers: Thriving Backlists, Popular Tie-Ins, and More]( [more]( [Authors Mobilize Children's Book Community to March on March 24]( [more]( [Sibling Picture Book Collaborators Debut with Two Titles]( [more]( [The Art and Making of a Fan-Favorite Book]( [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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