Khizr Khan Writes Children's Book; 'Claymates' Creators Break the Mold

[PW Children's Bookshelf: Breaking children's and YA publishing news, author interviews, bestsellers lists and reviews.] [Make writing, homework and more a total breeze!]( Book News [Knopf to Publish Children's Book by Khizr Khan]( Khizr Khan, the Pakistani-American Gold Star father who delivered a stirring speech during last July's Democratic National Convention, has written a middle-grade nonfiction book called This Is Our Constitution. The book, which is due out on November 14, introduces young readers to the Constitution and offers insight on why it is still relevant today. [more]( [‘Claymates’: A Tale of Friendship by Two New Friends]( Author Dev Petty (l.) and illustrator Lauren Eldridge first connected on Twitter and became close pals through the “kidlit” online community before deciding to collaborate on a book project. Their forthcoming picture book, Claymates, celebrates the friendship between two morphing lumps of clay. [more]( [Invisible Lizard by Kurt Cyrus]( In the News [Preschool Properties Lure Publishers at Licensing Expo 2017]( Licenses for the youngest readers are abundant on the floor at this year's Licensing International Expo in Las Vegas, which opened its doors on Tuesday. [more]( On the Scene [2017 Gaithersburg Book Festival in Photos]( The eighth annual Gaithersburg Book Festival brought together 130 award-winning and bestselling authors and more than 22,000 attendees in Olde Towne Gaithersburg, Md., on May 20. See highlights from this year's event, including writing workshops for adults and children, a Children's Village, author signings, and more. [more]( [Invisible Lizard by Kurt Cyrus]( Out Next Week [Hot Off the Presses: Week of May 29, 2017]( Hitting shelves next week are a picture book about "the smartest dog in the world," a middle grade novel in which a boy confronts his grandfather's dementia, and a guide to life by a high-profile YouTuber. [more]( In Brief [In Brief: May 25, 2017]( This week, the Captain Underpants movie premieres; fans hear from Rebecca Serle and the cast of Famous in Love; Renée Ahdieh celebrates her book launch with Sabaa Tahir; Lily Williams goes snorkeling; Atria books promotes its Latino authors; and a bookstore has its first birthday. [more]( SPONSORED [PW KidsCast: Listen Now]( Jerry Spinelli, Marcus Pfister, 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! - [Designer - Rodale - New York](. - [Senior Editor - Rodale - New York](. - [Customer Service Representative - Guilford Publications - New York](. - [Managing Editor - Macmillan - New York](. - [Production Editor - University of Massachusetts Press - Amherst](. Rights Report Andrew Karre at Dutton has acquired Last Night at the Telegraph Club, a YA novel by Malinda Lo. Set in 1950s San Francisco, the novel is a story of love and duty that explores the complicated overlap between the city's Chinese-American and LGBTQ communities. Publication is planned for 2019; Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret did the deal for North American rights. Kate O'Sullivan at HMH has bought, in an exclusive submission, Bull author David Elliott's new YA novel in verse, Voices, which examines Joan of Arc's life and death in multiple points of view, including her sword, her armor, and the saints who spoke to her, while also exploring timely issues such as gender and misogyny. Publication is set for fall 2019; Kelly Sonnack at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights, all languages. Fiona Simpson at S&S/Aladdin has acquired Matthew Ross Smith's debut, Lizzy Legend, a middle grade novel told partially as oral history, which follows a basketball-obsessed middle school girl who magically acquires the ability to sink every basket, leading her to pro-team Philadelphia Bells' starting lineup. Publication is scheduled for winter 2019; Melissa Edwards at Stonesong negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights. Scholastic's Arthur A. Levine Books has bought Erin Dionne's (The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet) middle grade novel Lights, Camera, Disaster; Cheryl Klein acquired, and Erin Black will edit. It tells the story of a girl whose Executive Function Disorder and obsession with making movies leave her friendless, failing school, and desperate to figure out how to become the director of her own life. Publication is slated for spring 2018. Sally Harding at the Cooke Agency did the deal for world rights. Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has acquired North American and Chinese rights to A.B. Greenfield's middle grade mystery, Ra and the Eye of Horus, about a pampered Pharaoh's cat and his scarab beetle sidekick who come together to solve a crime and save a falsely accused girl in ancient Egypt. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties brokered the deal. Mekisha Telfer at Simon & Schuster has bought Karen Strong's Just South of Cursed, a middle grade novel pitched as Blackish meets Goosebumps that follows a rule-abiding girl who must team up with her troublemaking cousin, goofy younger brother, and his brainy best friend to unravel a mysterious haunting in their tiny Southern town. Publication is set for summer 2019; Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman Agency negotiated the deal for world rights. Talia Benamy at Philomel has acquired world rights to The Cat Who Lived with Anne Frank, a picture book by David Lee Miller (l.) and Steven Rubin, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley. It's a retelling of the Anne Frank story from the point of view of Mouschi, the cat who lived with Anne in the secret annex. Publication is slated for spring 2019; Murray Weiss at Catalyst Literary Management represented the authors and Alexandra Penfold at Upstart Crow Literary represented the illustrator. Katherine Harrison at Knopf has bought Quiet Please, Owen McPhee, written by Trudy Ludwig (l.) and illustrated by Patrice Barton, the team behind The Invisible Boy. Their new book introduces Owen, a talkative boy who comes down with laryngitis and learns about the power of listening as a result. Publication is scheduled for summer 2018; Chris Tugeau at CATugeau Agency represented the illustrator, and the author represented herself in the deal for world rights. Beth Terrill at NorthSouth Books has acquired world rights to Abigail Rayner's debut picture book, Backup Bunny, which follows Fluffy, a stuffed rabbit, and his attempts to win his favorite boy's heart when Max's original (and identical) toy rabbit is misplaced. Greg Stones will illustrate; the book will publish in April 2018. The author and illustrator were unagented. Emma Ledbetter at Atheneum has bought Skulls! by Blair Thornburgh, illustrated by Scott Campbell, a nonfiction picture book about skulls and the important jobs they do, such as giving your face a good shape, and having holes in them for sounds, light, air, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Publication is planned for summer 2019; Uwe Stender at Triada US Literary Agency represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights. Nina Kooij at Pelican has acquired world rights to a picture book from Cap'n Rex & His Clever Crew author Henry Herz (l.). How the Squid Got Two Long Arms features a selfish squid who steals others' clothing, offering a Rudyard Kipling-esque explanation for those longer limbs. Luke Graber will illustrate; publication is slated for fall 2018. Deborah Warren at East/West Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented. Tom Peterson at the Creative Company has bought world rights to A Song by Jim Carroll, the story of a girl who happens upon a mysterious band of animals while walking in the woods and receives a gift that changes her life forever. Publication is set for fall 2019; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the author-illustrator. Kristen Nobles at Page Street Kids has acquired world rights to a picture book by debut author-illustrator Amanda Moeckel, tentatively titled The Most Beautiful Song, which follows a child's determined pursuit of artistic expression despite schedules and rules that get in the way. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Moeckel represented herself. Ariel Richardson at Chronicle has bought Michael Slack's board book, House. The house-shaped book contains a set of mini board books, each one exploring a different room in a house. The book is slated for fall 2018; Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the author in the deal for world rights. To see all of this week's deals, [click here](. IN THE MEDIA [From Bookselling This Week:]( Silent art auction at BookExpo next week to feature artwork from 125 illustrators. [Click here]( [From Variety:]( Sam Mendes in Talks to Direct Pinocchio Movie for Disney. [Click here]( [From the Irish Examiner:]( Chris Haughton's Goodnight Everyone wins Children's Books Ireland Book of the Year. [Click here]( [From Publishing Trends:]( Spotlight on the middle grade book category. [Click here]( [From Book Riot:]( Why I Won't Be Watching This (or Any) Little Women Adaptation. [Click here]( [From NPR:]( Neil Gaiman hopes to raise $1 million for refugees with dramatic reading of Dr. Seuss book. [Click here]( [From the Hollywood Reporter:]( The Extincts Animated Film to Be Directed by William Joyce. [Click here]( [From KVOE:]( The annual William Allen White Children's Book Award winners are announced in Kansas. [Click here]( [From Fuse #8:]( Russia and Children's Literature: A Storied History. [Click here]( [From the Boston Globe:]( Oh, the places you'll go when visiting the new Dr. Seuss museum. [Click here]( SHELFTALKER Kenny Brechner [Name the Blank Contest]( Transitional pages need our help! [more »]( Cynthia Compton [One Ringy Dingy (snort), Two Ringy Dingies]( A day in the life of the bookshop telephone, and those it enslaves. [more »]( Leslie Hawkins [Kindness: Pass It On]( Picture books that inspire and empower children to help others and make the world a more beautiful place. [more »]( Meghan Dietsche Goel [Reading Together: Where to Begin?]( Venturing into the world of chapter-a-night stories. [more »]( FEATURED REVIEWS [Heads & Tails]( Carli Davidson. Chronicle, $8.99 (20p) ISBN 978-1-4521-5137-3 Davidson, who made a splash with her movement-freezing animal portraits in Shake, looks to a younger audience in this jubilant exploration of canine body parts. All eyes will be on Davidson’s photographic portraits, which are revelatory in the detail they capture. [more]( [Jack and the Beanstalk and the French Fries]( Mark Teague. Orchard, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-545-91431-4 Teague uses the classic beanstalk story to lobby for vegetables—except beans, which he admits can be awful. His lush, colorful paintings brim with medieval costumes and scenery, and his drily funny dialogue is good for lots of laughs. [more]( [The Apprentice Witch]( James Nicol. Chicken House, $16.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-338-11858-2 After Arianwyn botches her evaluation, she thinks her dreams of becoming a full-fledged witch and member of the Civil Witchcraft Authority are over, but she’s given a second chance: she will continue to be an apprentice witch in the small town of Lull until the time of her reevaluation. After arriving in Lull, Arianwyn realizes more is afoot. [more]( [I See London, I See France]( Sarah Mlynowski. HarperTeen, $17.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-06-239707-2 Nineteen-year-old Sydney has never traveled far from home: she’s felt compelled to watch over her agoraphobic mother ever since her father left years earlier. Sydney is ready for a respite from family responsibilities, so when her best friend Leela breaks up with her boyfriend and needs another summer travel companion in Europe, Sydney hesitantly agrees to accompany her. [more]( TALES FROM THE SLUSH PILE [SEE ALL]( May 25, 2017 E-mail not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Cyclone by Doreen Cronin]( [Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis]( PeopleRyan Mita has been named membership manager of the Children's Book Council. Most recently he was a marketing associate at Knopf Doubleday. Cassandra Fernandez has joined Random House Children's Books as marketing assistant for the brand marketing team. Previously, she was corporate communications assistant at Simon & Schuster. In Case You Missed It [Galleys to Grab at BookExpo]( [more]( [Four Questions for Chelsea Clinton]( [more]( [New Projects from Brian Selznick]( [more]( [Obituary: Jean Fritz]( [more]( [Children’s Book Week in Photos]( [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 Digital Producer: Lucy Sutton 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. 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