Bologna Fair Preview: Agents and Scouts Talk Trends

[PW Children's Bookshelf: Breaking children's and YA publishing news, author interviews, bestsellers lists and reviews.] [The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghue]( In the Spotlight [Bologna Children's Book Fair Preview]( The Bologna Children’s Book Fair, to be held April 3–6, promises to be a colorful mix of art, commerce, and technology. “We are exploring how we can combine things in this mishmash world and this mishmash industry,” says exhibition manager Elena Pasoli. [more]( [Bologna 2017: Agents Talk Children's and YA Trends]( We asked a number of agents and scouts attending this year’s Bologna fair to talk about the trends they’ve been noticing: in themes, in genres, and in international demand. [more]( [BolognaFiere to Launch Rights-Oriented Trade Show in NYC]( Bologna Children’s Book Fair organizer BolognaFiere will launch a new book industry trade show focused on publishing and international rights and licensing in New York in June 2018. [more]( [The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghue]( Book News [‘Flowers for Sarajevo’ Commemorates War Through Words, Pictures, and Music]( Flowers for Sarajevo, a new picture book by author and singer-songwriter John McCutcheon, has its roots in a senseless tragedy during the Balkan War. McCutcheon spoke with PW about paying tribute to the war victims and the acts of heroism they inspired. [more]( Licensing News [Licensing Hotline: March 2017]( Penguin Young Readers is set to introduce its first tie-in to the hit toy of the holidays, Hatchimals, part of a global licensing deal. Read on for news about Little, Brown’s books tied to Spirit Riding Free, new licensing deals at Walter Foster Jr., brand extension activity at Highlights Press, and more. [more]( [The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghue]( Reading Roundup [Feminism in YA Literature: Spring 2017]( A new fantasy series opener from Finland, an anthology of influential contemporary thinkers, and a memoir and self-help guide from Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik are just some of a new crop of titles for teens that explore the issues and history of feminism. [more]( News Brief [Anna Dewdney Read Together Award Finalists Announced]( Penguin Young Readers, the Children’s Book Council, and Every Child a Reader have announced the finalists for the first annual Anna Dewdney Read Together Award, given in honor of the late picture book author and illustrator Anna Dewdney. [more]( SPONSORED [PW KidsCast: Listen Now]( Jerry Spinelli, Kwame Alexander, Maggie Stiefvater, A.S. King, David Shannon, Matthew Reinhart, Jewell Parker Rhodes – 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. Check out the new [PW JobZone]( New features include: - Enhanced Listings - Job Alert Emails - Resume Hosting - Streamlined User Interface Plus the same focused job opportunities you've come to expect from [PW JobZone]( Rights Report Anne Heltzel at Amulet has acquired comedian and YouTube personality Steve Hofstetter's True Stories of a High School Dork, a series of humorous essays based on the author's own tragicomic high school years. Publication is planned for spring 2018; Jane Dystel at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret handled the deal for world rights. Wesley Adams at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has bought at auction world English rights to Jeff Vandermeer's debut YA novel, Jonathan Lambshead and the Golden Sphere, and the next two books in the planned Adventures of Jonathan Lambshead trilogy. In the story, a boy inherits his grandfather's mansion, uncovering three strange doors, providing evidence that his grandfather did not die of natural causes, as well as clues to the family's ties to an alternate Europe immersed in a war fought with WW1 technology and dark magic. A pub date has not been set; Sally Harding at the Cooke Agency negotiated the three-book deal. Benjamin Rosenthal at HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books has acquired Heretics Anonymous, a debut contemporary YA novel by Katie Henry. Pitched as The Breakfast Club meets Saved!, it's the story of an atheist teen who learns a lot about faith after joining an unlikely group of rebels at his new Catholic school. Publication is scheduled for summer 2018; Sarah LaPolla at Bradford Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal for world English rights. Ali Fisher at Tor Teen has bought Django Wexler's YA debut Deepwalker, a fantasy adventure in which a teenage girl secretly trained in the art of combat magic is blackmailed into stealing a legendary ghost ship. The first book is expected in winter 2019; Seth Fishman at the Gernert Company negotiated the three-book deal for North American rights. Rhea Lyons at Rodale Books has struck a world rights deal with the media and education group Story Pirates for two books. The first one, The Story Pirates Present: Stuck in the Stone Age by Geoff Rodkey, tells of a pair of modern-day scientists who are transported back to prehistoric times, where they have to use their wits to face down a myriad of B.C.-era hazards. The book is based on an idea from a sixth grader in Tennessee. Publication is slated for March 2018; Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management represented Story Pirates, and Josh Getzler at Hannigan Salky Getzler represented Rodkey. Kelly Loughman at Holiday House has acquired The Bottle Imp of Bright House, a middle grade novel by Tom Llewellyn about a 13-year-old who finds an old bottle with an imp inside who can grant him wishes. But unlike the genie-in-a-lamp story, for everything the wisher gains, someone, somewhere loses something. The novel is loosely based on one of Robert Louis Stevenson's final stories. Publication is set for fall 2018; Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary brokered the deal for North American and Chinese rights. Rosemary Brosnan at HarperCollins has bought at auction a debut middle grade novel by Coretta Scott King Award winner Pat Cummings, called Trace. When 13-year-old Trace stumbles into a ghost story born in the turmoil of New York City's 1863 Draft Riots, he finds that the past is more fluid, and more forgiving, than he knew. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Marietta Zacker at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights. Heidi Kilgras at Random House has acquired author Diana Murray's (l.) Pizza Pig, an early reader to be illustrated by Maria Karipidou, in which Pig makes every pizza "just right," until a shy turtle comes into his shop and he can't figure out what she wants. Publication is projected for spring 2018; Brianne Johnson at Writers House represented the author, and James Burns at Bright USA represented the illustrator. Justin Chanda at Simon & Schuster has bought two picture books to be illustrated by Jessie Sima, author of Not Quite Narwhal. The first is Snow Pony and the Seven Miniature Ponies, written by Christian Trimmer— a retelling of the classic Snow White story, but with more humor and many more ponies. Publication is set for summer 2018. The second is a picture book written by Sima, about an adventurous young robot who doesn't seem to fit in until encountering an equally adventurous girl. The book is due out in fall 2018. Thao Le of Sandra Dijkstra & Associates Literary Agency did the deal for world English rights. Wendy McClure at Albert Whitman has acquired world rights for Captain Bling's Christmas Plunder, written by Rebecca Colby and illustrated by Rob McClurkan. Captain Bling and his merry crew want nothing more than to steal treasure, but when a storm strands them at the North Pole, they meet Santa and devise a plan to get on his "Nice List." Publication is scheduled for fall 2017; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright USA represented the illustrator. Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear has acquired Marsha Diane Arnold's (l.) May I Come in?, a picture book that celebrates inclusion. It tells the tale of Raccoon, who needs a safe place to stay on a stormy night. Jennie Poh will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2018. Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary negotiated the deal for world Rights on behalf of Arnold, and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright USA represented Poh. Amy Novesky at Cameron Kids has bought world rights to Los Angeles, written by Elisa Parhad and illustrated by Alexander Vidal, a board book featuring the sights and delights of Los Angeles in simple rhyme. Publication is set for spring 2018; both the author and illustrator were unagented. Grace Maccarone at Holiday House has bought debut author-illustrator Yuko Katakawa's untitled picture book, in which Mouse and her animal friends try to scare the largest animal in the forest—only to be tricked in the end. Publication is slated for fall 2018; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency handled the deal for world rights. Louise May at Lee & Low Books has acquired world rights to Todos Iquales/All Equal, written and illustrated by Christy Hale. This bilingual book pairs a traditional Mexican corrido (ballad) with a narrative that presents the true story of the 1931 Lemon Grove Incident, the first successful school desegregation court case in the United States. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal. To see all of this week's deals, [click here](. IN THE MEDIA [From the New York Times:]( New Crop of Young Adult Novels Explores Race and Police Brutality. [Click here]( [From the New Yorker:]( Children's Books and China's Crackdown on Western Ideology. [Click here]( [From New York:]( Talking with Angie Thomas, Author of YA Novel Inspired by Black Lives Matter. [Click here]( [From Entertainment Weekly:]( Maggie Stiefvater talks about her forthcoming novel, All the Crooked Saints. [Click here]( [From 100 Scope Notes:]( 2017 Books from Newbery Winners. [Click here]( [From the Guardian:]( Books for girls, about girls: publishers trying to balance the bookshelves. [Click here]( [From the Guardian:]( Boston schools map switch aims to amend 500 years of distortion. [Click here]( [From the Washington Post:]( A step toward greater diversity in children's books: Hena Khan's Amina’s Voice. [Click here]( [From Entertainment Weekly:]( Everything, Everything author Nicola Yoon discusses her movie adaptation. [Click here]( [From Epic Reads:]( If YA Characters Had Google Search Histories. [Click here]( SHELFTALKER Elizabeth Bluemle [Are We Still Friends? After This Event, I Hope So!]( We were warned we might run out of books, the kind of prediction and promise that usually requires a grain of salt. But in this case…. [more »]( Leslie Hawkins [Of Deadwood Days and Zombie Goldfish]( Real-life childhood events inspired two very different stories from authors visiting Spellbound over the weekend. [more »]( Meghan Dietsche Goel [Booksellers Have Author Crushes Too]( In which Linda Sue Park becomes BookPeople’s BFF for the day. [more »]( Kenny Brechner [Interview with a Melancholy Spring]( The vernal seasons shares her book picks and her thoughts on the loss of one of her favorite authors. [more »]( FEATURED REVIEWS [Welcome]( Mo Willems. Hyperion, $15.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4847-6746-7 Willems rolls out the red carpet for a new baby, writing in a voice that’s part preflight safety demonstration, part waiter’s spiel, and part customer service hotline. Iconographic, high-contrast drawings, rendered in the style of road signage, should hold the attention of very young eyes. [more]( [Firefighter Duckies!]( Frank W. Dormer. Atheneum, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-4814-6090-3 In an inspired bit of ultra-dramatic silliness, Dormer introduces a trio of steely rescue ducks. They wear enormous red hats and are ready to save the day, no matter how ridiculous the challenge: “They are brave. They are strong. They rescue... whales in trees! They are firefighter duckies!” [more]( [The New Ocean: The Fate of Life in the Changing Sea]( Bryn Barnard. Knopf, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-375-87049-1 After an introduction that discusses the rise of overfishing, global warming, and ocean pollution, the narrative turns to six sea-dwelling creatures, speculating how each might fare if these trends continue. The detail and perspectives in Barnard’s paintings will awe readers, even as some scenes appear surreal. [more]( [Orphan Island]( Laurel Snyder. Walden Pond, $16.99 (288p) ISBN 978-0-06-244341-0 Jinny is the oldest of nine orphans living on an idyllic island. New children are delivered to the island by a mysterious boat, and whenever one arrives, the eldest on the island takes the arrival’s place aboard the vessel to leave the only home he or she has ever known, with no knowledge of what the future holds. [more]( [The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts]( Avi. Algonquin Young Readers, $16.95 (320p) ISBN 978-1-61620-564-5 This first installment in Avi’s Oliver Cromwell Pitts saga has an 18th-century British boy finding misfortune everywhere he turns. The adventure begins with a flood shaking 12-year-old Oliver awake in his home in Melcombe Regis, “a tenth of a mile from the sea.” Wading through the waterlogged rooms of his house, Oliver discovers that his father is missing. [more]( March 21, 2017 E-mail not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [I Wrote You a Note by Lizi Boyd]( [The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghue]( [The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghue]( In the Winners' Circle The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators has announced the winners of its 2017 Golden Kite and Sid Fleischman Awards. For Picture Book Text, The Christmas Boot by Lisa Wheeler; for Picture Book Illustration, The Music in George's Head by Stacy Innerst; for YA, Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys; for Nonfiction, We Will Not Be Silent by Russell Freedman; and for Middle Grade, The Haunting of Falcon House by Eugene Yelchin. The Sid Fleischman Humor Award went to Welcome to Wonderland: Home Sweet Motel by Chris Grabenstein. To view the complete list of honor books, [click here](. Hollins University has announced the recipient of its 2017 Margaret Wise Brown Prize in Children's Literature. This year’s winner is Adam Rex for School’s First Day of School, illus. by Christian Robinson. Debbie Levy has received the Honor Book Award for I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsberg Makes Her Mark, illus. by Elizabeth Baddeley. For more information, [click here](. Sneak Previews Have you checked out our Fall 2017 Sneak Previews? Take a look ahead at some of the bigger titles for children and teens due out next season, [in our exclusive roundup](. Bestsellers [Children's Frontlist Fiction]( #1 Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. [click here]( [Picture Books]( #1 Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. [Click here]( Follow Us Children's Bookshelf is on [Instagram]( Please follow us @pwkidsbookshelf. Bookshelf Archives Looking for a previous issue of Children's Bookshelf? [Click here]( see 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 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](. 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