The Children's Bestsellers of 2016; Charlesbridge Launches Teen Imprint

[PW Children's Bookshelf: Breaking children's and YA publishing news, author interviews, bestsellers lists and reviews.] [Magination Press: Self-Help Books for Kids... and the Adults in Their Lives]( In the Spotlight [2016 Bestsellers Reflect Booming Backlists and Reinvigorated Franchises]( Our compilation of the year's bestsellers encompasses a wide range of titles, dominated by series (both new and old), movie tie-ins, and read-aloud favorites. [more]( In the News [Charlesbridge Launches Teen Imprint]( Just over a decade after Charlesbridge Publishing expanded its children’s book offerings from picture books to middle grade, the press is adding young adult titles to the mix for the first time. In September, Charlesbridge will introduce its Charlesbridge Teen imprint. [more]( [Places to Be by Mac Barnett ]( TV Alert ['13 Reasons Why']( The series adaptation of Jay Asher’s YA novel 13 Reasons Why premieres on Netflix on March 31. Asher spoke with PW about having the book adapted into a series and how, in some ways, the new narrative format broadened the story. [more]( Book News [Pinkalicious’s Brother Lands a Leading Role]( Victoria Kann, the creator of the bestselling Pinkalicious series, shines the spotlight on that spunky heroine’s younger brother, Peter, in a spinoff picture book, due out in May. Kann talked about the process of creating and expanding her series. [more]( What We're Selling [What’s Selling at Bookshop Santa Cruz]( The current political climate is fueling children’s book sales at California’s Bookshop Santa Cruz, reports children’s book buyer Gā Lombard. We currently have a number of displays featuring books with a political drift, so I’d say that we are positioning rather than consciously handselling books on this topic. Displays definitely help sell a book. [more]( Out Next Week [Hot Off the Presses: Week of March 27, 2017]( Hitting shelves next week are a picture book adaptation of a bestselling middle grade title, a middle grade novel from an acclaimed adult author, and the launch of a YA duology that melds realism with the divine. [more]( In Brief [In Brief: March 23, 2017]( This week, Judy Blume gains some inches on Kwame Alexander; YA authors discuss feminism; Brandon Mull talks dragons with middle-schoolers; Candlewick staffers green up the office; Richard Jackson signs copies of his newest picture book; and author Allison Gutknecht is pretty in pink. [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. For more about these and other great jobs, visit the new [PW JobZone]( now with resume hosting and more! - [Freelancer - Fiction Book Marketing - Indie Book Author - New York, NY](. - [Administrative Assistant, Sales and Marketing - Parragon Inc - New York](. - [Managing Editor - Parragon Inc - New York](. - [Publicity & Marketing Manager - Hachette Book Group - Boston](. - [Editorial Director - Sasquatch Books - Seattle](. Rights Report Beverly Horowitz at Delacorte has acquired, and Kelsey Horton will edit, Shopaholic author Sophie Kinsella's debut chapter book series. The first book, Fairy Mom and Me, follows Ella and her mother, who is secretly a fairy. But when her mother's spells go wrong, Ella must assist to return everything to normal. Marta Kissi will illustrate; publication is planned for January 2018, with a simultaneous release in the U.K. and Canada. Kim Witherspoon at Inkwell Management in association with Araminta Whitley and Philippa Milnes-Smith at Lucas Alexander Whitley Ltd. negotiated the deal for U.S. and open market rights. Jessica Almon at Razorbill has bought actor and comedy writer Matt Boren's YA debut, Folded Notes from High School, an epistolary novel set in the early '90s, about a status-obsessed senior who unexpectedly falls for a freshman because of his Danny Zuko audition for their high school's production of Grease. The book will be published in spring 2018; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties brokeredf the world rights deal. Martha Mihalick at Greenwillow has acquired Emma Berquist's debut YA alternative history of the West, Devils Unto Dust, the story of a girl who overcomes incredible obstacles and a deadly virus that has infected thousands, for the survival of her family, and maybe the world. Publication is scheduled for spring 2018; Heather Flaherty at the Bent Agency did the two-book deal for world English rights. Nicole Frail at Sky Pony Press has bought a second YA novel by Natasha Sinel, Soulstruck, about a teenage girl trying to navigate relationships—with her best friend, her family, and with boys. The book is slated for spring 2018; Linda Epstein at Emerald City Literary Agency handled the deal for world English rights. Toni Markiet and Alyson Day of HarperCollins have acquired world rights to a middle-grade series called Mean Queens by Newbery Honor author Kathryn Lasky, in a three-book deal. The books tell the story of an orphaned 12-year-old girl who finds herself traveling between present-day middle school and the court of two English princesses, Elizabeth and Mary, both daughters of King Henry VIII. Publication of the first book is set for March 2019; Brenda Bowen of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates negotiated the deal. Laura Schreiber at Disney-Hyperion has bought debut author Leslie C. Youngblood's middle-grade novel Love Like Sky, as well as a sequel. Love Like Sky follows Georgie as she tries to find her place in her “blended-up” family, with both her parents remarried and a new teenage stepsister she'll do anything to win over. When a devastating illness strikes her stepsister, Georgie will do whatever it takes to make her better and bring her family together. Publication of the first book is scheduled for fall 2018; John Rudolph at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret brokered the deal for world rights. Kathy Landwehr at Peachtree has acquired world rights for Jennifer Swanson's Save the Crash Test Dummies, an illustrated middle grade book that covers the history, science, and engineering of car production and safety. Publication is slated for spring 2019; Clelia Gore of Martin Literary Management did the deal. Michelle Frey at Knopf has bought Kimberly Newton Fusco's Chasing Augustus, a story about Rosie, a girl who will stop at nothing to find her lost dog, no matter where the trail leads. Publication is planned for fall 2017; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown negotiated the deal for U.S., Canadian, and open market rights. Allison Moore at Little, Brown has acquired Instagram sensation Soosh's debut picture book Dad by My Side, a celebration of the relationship between a father and young daughter depicted through the artist's watercolor illustrations, a series of which has gone viral on social media. Publication is set for spring 2018; Gary Brown at Koru, Inc. brokered the deal for world rights. Christy Ottaviano at Macmillan's Christy Ottaviano Books has bought world rights to B Is for Brooklyn creator Selina Alko's School to Ten and Back Down Again, a counting, rhyming picture book starring a diverse classroom of learners moving through a day at school. The book is scheduled for 2020; Marietta Zacker at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency negotiated the deal. Amy Novesky at Cameron Kids has acquired world rights to Chickens on the Run!, a picture book written and illustrated by Nikki McClure, about four chickens who flee the coop, roam the world, and return home just in time to roost. Publication is set for spring 2018; Steven Malk at Writers House did the deal. Jennifer Besser at Putnam has bought author-illustrator Deborah Marcero's picture book In a Jar, about a young bunny named Llewellyn, a collector of things big, small, and even the intangible, who embarks on a journey of magical realism and friendship. Publication is planned for spring 2019; Danielle Smith at Lupine Grove Creative brokered the deal for world rights. Nancy Paulsen at Penguin's Nancy Paulsen Books has acquired world rights to Señorita Mariposa, a debut picture book celebrating butterfly migration as witnessed by American and Mexican children, written by Latin Grammy Award-winning children's musician Mister G (Ben Gundersheimer) (l.), to be illustrated by Mexican artist Marcos Almada Rivero. Publication is slated for 2018; Zoe Sandler at ICM represented the author in the two-book deal; the illustrator was unagented. Carol Hinz at Millbrook Press has acquired world rights to The Octopus Postcards by Irene Latham (l.), illustrated by Thea Baker, presenting the octopus life cycle through a series of postcards exchanged by various creatures, including a boy, a crab, and another octopus. The book is scheduled for fall 2018; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author and Susan Beveridge at Bright USA represented the illustrator. Marissa Moss at Creston Books has bought world rights to Nancy Churnin's Irving Berlin: The Immigrant Boy Who Made America Sing, to be illustrated by James Rey Sanchez. The nonfiction picture book tells the story of the boy who grew up to become the prolific songwriter who wrote “God Bless America” and gave every penny the song earned to the children of the land that he loved. Publication is planned for spring 2018, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the year Berlin wrote the song. Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary represented the author; the illustrator was unagented. To see all of this week's deals, [click here](. IN THE MEDIA [From the Guardian:]( How celebrity deals are shutting children's authors out of their own trade. [Click here]( [From Literary Hub:]( If Fiction Changes the World, It's Going to be YA. [Click here]( [From Entertainment Weekly:]( Jamie Lee Curtis announces selfie-themed picture book. [Click here]( [From the Horn Book:]( Crossing Literacy Thresholds: When Kids Are "Stuck" Reading the Same Things. [Click here]( [From BuzzFeed:]( Crossing Oceans, Cultures, and Fandoms. [Click here]( [From the Oregonian:]( "Stay gold": An "ambitious, grown-up ranking" of the best YA novels of all time. [Click here]( [From Book Riot:]( IndiYA: Young Adult/Crossover Titles from India. [Click here]( [From the Huffington Post:]( Trump-Inspired Children's Books, from Ellen DeGeneres. [Click here]( [From the Huffington Post:]( This 8-Year-Old Girl Wrote a Book on Caring for Her 'Annoying' Little Brother. [Click here]( [From Book Riot:]( In Defense of "Other Girls" in YA. [Click here]( SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner [A Live Tour of DDG Booksellers with Relish]( HarperCollins’ 50 Bookstores in 50 States Facebook Live promotion comes to Maine. [more »]( 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 »]( FEATURED REVIEWS [I’m Awake!]( Maxwell Eaton III. Knopf, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-375-84575-8 With the moon still hanging in the night sky, a wide-eyed hamster pounces on his sleeping father, proudly shrieking the title’s message. Eaton’s digitally colored pen-and-ink drawings have as much energy as his young hero. [more]( [Edgeland]( Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski. Putnam, $17.99 (272p) ISBN 978-0-399-17581-7 Wren is an orphan and thief living on Edgeland, an island that services the Drain, a hole in the ocean into which the deceased are sent. When Wren is framed for murder, she attempts to flee, and she and her best friend Alec are swept through the Drain, ending up in Purgatory. [more]( [Quicksand Pond]( Janet Taylor Lisle. Atheneum, $16.99 (256p) ISBN 978-1-4814-7222-7 Irritated with everyone in her family, 12-year-old Jessie Kettel is in a “separatist mood” when she arrives at a rented Rhode Island cottage for summer vacation. While her father and siblings find other ways to occupy their time, she goes off by herself to the nearby pond, where she finds a dilapidated raft and later meets Terri, a local girl. [more]( [How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child]( Sandra Uwiringiyimana, with Abigail Pesta. HarperCollins/Tegen, $19.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-06-247014-0 In this gripping and timely memoir, Uwiringiyimana, a member of the Banyamulenge (a minority tribe in the Democratic Republic of Congo), recounts a childhood shaped by experiences as a refugee in Africa and the United States. Uwiringiyimana shares the journey through which she became a courageous advocate for her tribe and refugees everywhere. [more]( TALES FROM THE SLUSH PILE [SEE ALL]( March 23, 2017 E-mail not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Request a Galley of the Lost Kingdom of Bamarre! ]( [PW KidsCast: A Conversation with Holly M. McGhee]( People Laura Kaplan has rejoined HarperCollins Children's Books as publicity manager. She worked in the department from 2008–2010, and was most recently at Disney Publishing Worldwide. At Random House Children's Books, Josh Redlich has been promoted to publicist, from associate publicist. Katy Dirienzo has joined as production assistant. At Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Rebecca Vitkus is now production editorial assistant; she was previously reprints assistant. Rachel Goldstein has joined as reprints assistant. Mark Your Calendar Thalia Kids' Book Club in New York City will host a live musical performance of Adam Gidwitz's The Inquisitor's Tale at Symphony Space. "Dragons, Troubadours and Fools: Discovering the Middle Ages with Adam Gidwitz and Benjamin Bagby" will take place on April 1; for more information, [click here](. In Case You Missed It [A Tribute to Amy Krouse Rosenthal]( [more]( [Laini Taylor on Her New Duology]( [more]( [The Return of Alex Rider]( [more]( [2017 Carle Honors Announced]( [more]( 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 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 2017, PWxyz LLC Email not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( To view back issues of Children's Bookshelf, [click here](. You are receiving this email because {EMAIL} subscribed to one of Publishers Weekly's e-newsletters. If you are not {EMAIL}, then please disregard this. 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