BookExpo Preview; Anna Dewdney's 'Little Excavator'

[PW Children's Bookshelf: Breaking children's and YA publishing news, author interviews, bestsellers lists and reviews.] [Victor Schmud: Let's Do a Thing by Jim Benton]( BookExpo Preview The annual BookExpo convention is taking place this week at New York City’s Javits Center, bringing together publishing professionals both near and far. For those attending, we’ve assembled these guides to children’s book-focused panels, author appearances, giveaways, and other programming highlights, for your last-minute planning. See you at the show! [BookExpo 2017: A Children’s Books Guide]( [Around the Booths: Autographings and Appearances]( [Children’s Authors Take the Stage]( [Children’s Galleys to Grab]( Buzz Panels at BookExpo [Ready, Set, Buzz: YA Editors Are Good to Go]( BookExpo attendees will learn what’s hot in YA at the Young Adult Editors’ Buzz Panel on Thursday, when five editors discuss upcoming debuts about which they are especially passionate. Here's a preview. [more]( [Catch Early Buzz from Middle Grade Editors]( The spotlight shines on fiction for middle graders at BookExpo on Friday, when five editors will share their enthusiasm for debut novels at the Middle Grade Editors’ Buzz Panel. We spoke with the editors about the books they’ve selected to showcase, and why they’re eager to introduce them to booksellers. [more]( [Victor Schmud: Let's Do a Thing by Jim Benton]( Book News [‘Little Excavator’ Continues Dewdney's Literary Legacy]( Though beloved author-illustrator Anna Dewdney died of cancer in September 2016 at the age of 50, her creative output continues with the posthumously published Little Excavator, due from Viking on June 6. We spoke with Dewdney's longtime partner and her editor about her enduring contribution to children's literature. [more]( [Title Revealed for Volume One of Pullman’s ‘The Book of Dust’]( Knopf has revealed the title of the first volume in Philip Pullman’s highly anticipated new trilogy, The Book of Dust, along with an excerpt. Billed as an “equel” to Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, La Belle Sauvage is due out on October 19. [more]( [Victor Schmud: Let's Do a Thing by Jim Benton]( On the Scene [OMG BookFest in Photos]( The first OMG (Oh Middle Grade) BookFest took place on May 16 and 17 in Columbus, Ohio, bringing together approximately 900 local students for activities and signings with bestselling authors. See highlights from the inaugural event here. [more]( Q & A [Adele Griffin]( Adele Griffin’s work as an assistant editor in children’s books two decades ago inspired her to write her own middle grade and young adult novels. Her newest novel, Be True to Me, is set on Fire Island in the fictional community of Sunken Haven; it follows teenage girls Jean and Fritz as they compete for the affections of a handsome newcomer named Gil. Griffin spoke with PW about the significance of the book’s 1976 setting, the powerful nature of privilege, and our enduring fascination with stories of first sexual experiences. Q: Having written nearly 30 books, has your approach or writing process changed? How does it vary depending on your audience or the format of the book? A: There’s always an inspiration anchor for me. I love setting and writing about prickly relationships. In Be True to Me, Fritz’s family is one style of an American dream and Jean’s family is another. [more]( [Victor Schmud: Let's Do a Thing by Jim Benton]( Reading Roundup [Buzzworthy Books About Bees]( Just last year, bees made it onto the endangered species list for the first time. With an arising need for educating kids about the role of bees in the global ecosystem, publishers have a hive full of new titles for young readers about this essential insect. [more]( Out Next Week [Hot Off the Presses: Week of June 5, 2017]( Hitting shelves next week are a picture book about an airplane learning to write, a middle grade novel about a kid fused with a hyperintelligent being, and a YA novel about moving forward from loss. [more]( In Brief [In Brief: May 31, 2017]( This week, Wolf Erlbruch accepts the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award; former President Obama appreciates cows that type; Jeanne Walker Harvey celebrates her new book with her two sons; and author Douglas Todd Jennerich and illustrator Kate Berube are over the moon. [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! - [Director or VP, Sales - Little Bee Books and Sizzle Press - Bonnier Publishing USA - New York](. - [Assistant Editor - Hachette Book Group - New York, NY](. - [Executive Assistant to the Publisher - Hachette Book Group - new york, ny](. - [Designer - Rodale - New York](. - [Senior Editor - Rodale - New York](. Rights Report Krista Marino at Delacorte has acquired, in a seven-figure preempt, author Ashok Banker's The Rise Trilogy, pitched as Six of Crows meets An Ember in the Ashes, with a cast featuring LGBTQIA, PoC, and differently abled protagonists. The #ownvoices series follows a young thief and her gang as they battle to overthrow a brutal tyrant and stay a demon invasion. Publication of the first book is planned for fall 2018; John Cusick at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management brokered the deal for North American English rights. Janine O'Malley at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has bought in a preempt Nadine Jolie Courtney's All-American Muslim Girl, a contemporary YA novel inspired by the author's own experiences as a Muslim-American. This coming-of-age story follows a 16-year-old girl as she struggles with the feeling of being caught between two worlds and the difficulties of being a modern Muslim teenager in America today. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Jess Regel at Foundry Literary + Media negotiated the deal for North American rights. Alessandra Balzer at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has acquired world English rights to two new YA novels by Katie Cotugno. The Calling follows two sisters who are hiding a dark secret about who—and what—they are. 9 Days and 9 Nights, the sequel to 99 Days, follows Molly Barlow to Europe the summer after her first year of college. Traveling with her new boyfriend, her life is turned upside-down when she has a chance meeting with the boy who stole her heart last summer. Publication is slated for spring 2018 and summer 2019; Sara Shandler and Joelle Hobeika at Alloy Entertainment did the deal. Jennifer M. Brown at Knopf has bought Silver Meadows Summer, a middle grade novel by Emma Otheguy, in which 11-year-old Carolina moves with her family from Puerto Rico to upstate New York so her father can find work. In their new home, Carolina's parents encourage her to assimilate by sending her to summer camp. Publication is set for spring 2019; Adriana Dominguez at Full Circle Literary brokered the deal for world rights. Emma Ledbetter at Atheneum has acquired, at auction, the first two solo picture books by Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor recipient Christian Robinson. Portal is a wordless picture book following a girl and her cat into a parallel world. Small Problems is a picture book examining perspective—and our place in the universe—through concerns expressed by creatures big and small. Publication is planned for spring 2019 and spring 2020, respectively; Steven Malk at Writers House handled the deal for world rights. Jennifer Besser at Putnam has bought a picture book from Newbery Medalist Matt de la Peña (l.) and bestselling illustrator Loren Long. Love is a story about the strongest bond there is and the diverse and powerful ways it connects us all. Publication is slated for January 2018; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights. Caitlyn Dlouhy at S&S/Dlouhy has acquired North American rights to Alison McGhee's Baby Be, a universal story of how babies and their dads connect through the freedom and joy of dance, celebrating the unconditional love between parent and child. Coretta Scott King Honor and Schneider Family Book Award-winner Sean Qualls will illustrate. A publication date has not yet been announced; Sara Crowe represented the author, and Holly McGhee represented the illustrator, both at Pippin Properties. Karen Greenberg at Knopf has bought world rights to Gretchen McLellan's (l.) picture book, Button and Bundle, to be illustrated by Gillian Flint, about best friends who do everything together—until one of them has to move away. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author and Alli Brydon at Bright USA represented the illustrator. Julie Bliven at Charlesbridge has bought world rights to debut author Cathy Breisacher's Cavekid Birthday, a picture book featuring two Stone Age best friends bartering for the perfect gift. Roland Garrigue will illustrate; publication is slated for 2019. Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency represented the author and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the illustrator. Louise May at Lee & Low has acquired world rights to Johnny Tunes and the Gandy Dancers by Pamela M. Tuck and her late husband, Joel Tuck, a picture book about a boy who finds a way to join his older brothers repairing railroad tracks in the early 1900s by becoming a "caller," singing work songs to help the railroad crews maintain their synchronized movements. Keith D. Shepherd will illustrate; publication is set for fall 2018. The authors represented themselves for the deal. To see all of this week's deals, [click here](. IN THE MEDIA [From the Bookseller:]( Carla Poesio, one of the founders of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, has died. [Click here]( [From Book Riot:]( Thirteen Reasons Why Censorship Won't Help. [Click here]( [From Stanford:]( Good books, like teachers, acknowledge children's lives, says author Jacqueline Woodson. [Click here]( [From the Nerdy Book Club:]( Author Laura Ruby writes about her cancer diagnosis and Chosen One narratives. [Click here]( [From Bustle:]( What To Read Next, Based on Your Favorite '90s Children's Book. [Click here]( [From Booklist:]( See Booklist’s 50 Best YA Books of All Time. [Click]( [From Bookish:]( Must-Read YA Books of Summer 2017. [Click here]( [From Bookish:]( Summer 2017’s Best Children’s and Middle Grade Books. [Click here]( [From the Hollywood Reporter:]( YA Novel Under Rose-Tainted Skies Has Been Optioned by Character Seven. [Click here]( [From EdSurge:]( 'Epic' Subscription Service Adds $8 Million in Funding. [Click here]( [From the Guardian:]( Excerpt from La Belle Sauvage, the first volume of Philip Pullman's The Book of Dust. [Click here]( [From the Independent:]( Bank of England staff studied Dr. Seuss to brush up communication skills. [Click here]( [From Bustle:]( The Brooding YA Bad Boy You Love to Hate Is Getting His Own Book. [Click here]( [From Mental Floss:]( Take a Look: An Oral History of Reading Rainbow. [Click here]( [From Bookish:]( Summer 2017’s Best YA Sci-Fi & Fantasy Reads. [Click here]( [From Book Riot:]( 100 Must-Read Books for and About Teachers. [Click here]( SHELFTALKER Cynthia Compton [Free at Last!]( The first day of summer vacation is the best day of the year in a children’s bookstore. [more »]( Elizabeth Bluemle [Playing Chicken with the Summer Tourists]( Just when you think you can get away with having one staffer at the store…. [more »]( Meghan Dietsche Goel [Crafty Characters in the Bookstore]( Sparkles, and paint, and glue guns, oh my! [more »]( Kenny Brechner [Name the Blank Contest]( Transitional pages need our help! [more »]( FEATURED REVIEWS [She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World]( Chelsea Clinton, illus. by Alexandra Boiger. Philomel, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-5247-4172-3 Mitch McConnell’s dismissal of Elizabeth Warren during a Senate confirmation hearing immediately became a feminist rallying cry. Clinton and Boiger further transform it into a moving work of children’s literature, introducing a diverse and accomplished group of women who “did not take no for an answer.” [more]( [The Only Fish in the Sea]( Philip C. Stead, illus. by Matthew Cordell. Roaring Brook/Porter, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-62672-282-8 Sadie's arrow-straight sense of justice sends her in search of a birthday goldfish that Little Amy Scott has thrown into the sea, plastic bag and all. Sadie’s friend Sherman and the hilarious gang of monkeys from Special Delivery sprint to keep up as Sadie borrows a boat, plots a route, and sets off. [more]( [Stay: A Girl, a Dog, a Bucket List]( Kate Klise, illus. by M. Sarah Klise. Feiwel and Friends, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-250-10714-5 When Astrid’s parents bring their newborn daughter home from the hospital, Eli, a shaggy dog, is waiting patiently, her “first friend.” M. Sarah Klise’s evocative acrylics show Astrid growing taller and more active as Eli slows down. But Astrid takes a proactive approach to the inevitable, making a list, she tells Eli, “of all the things you should do before you get too old.” [more]( [Nothing Rhymes with Orange]( Adam Rex. Chronicle, $16.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-4521-5443-5 Rex takes the conventional wisdom of the title and runs with it. He paints hands, feet, and antic cartoon faces on photos of fruit, then imagines them improvising a bunch of jingles in praise of fruit. A lonely orange watches the fun from the sidelines. [more]( [Pablo and Birdy]( Alison McGhee, illus. by Ana Juan. Atheneum/Dlouhy, $17.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-4814-7026-1 Pablo was a baby when the “winds of change” guided him to the island of Isla, an inflatable swimming pool as his raft and a protective, curiously colored bird by his side. As Pablo’s 10th birthday approaches, his frustration over his lost history flares while Birdy remains flightless and silent. Then the winds of change and their promise of “fortune lost or fortune gained” return to Isla. [more]( TALES FROM THE SLUSH PILE [SEE ALL]( May 31, 2017 E-mail not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Victor Schmud: Let's Do a Thing by Jim Benton]( [Victor Schmud: Let's Do a Thing by Jim Benton]( [Victor Schmud: Let's Do a Thing by Jim Benton]( [Victor Schmud: Let's Do a Thing by Jim Benton]( From the Editors Because of the BookExpo convention, this is our only issue of Children's Bookshelf this week. We'll be back in your inboxes next Tuesday with reports from the show. PeopleHallie Patterson has joined the Abrams children's marketing and publicity department as associate director of publicity, a new position. Most recently she was publicity and marketing manager at Hachette Books, and before that was publicity manager at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Sydney Tillman is joining Random House Children's Books as publicity assistant; she was previously an online marketing intern at Algonquin Books. Mel Schuit is joining Charlesbridge as marketing, publicity, and promotion assistant. She was formerly an author marketing manager at Emerald Publishing. Nicole Fiorica has joined Margaret K. McElderry Books as editorial assistant. She was previously an editorial intern at St. Martin's Press. In the Winners' Circle The winners of the 2017 Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards were announced during School Library Journal's Day of Dialog: in the Picture Book category, Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan; in the Fiction and Poetry category, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas; and in the Nonfiction category, Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman. For the complete list of honor books, [click here](. In Case You Missed It [Knopf to Publish Children's Book by Khizr Khan]( [more]( [Q & A with Cassandra Clare and Karen Wojtyla]( [more]( [A Day of Accolades at Bank Street]( [more]( [‘Claymates’: A Tale of Friendship by Two New Friends]( [more]( Bestsellers [Children's Frontlist Fiction]( #1 Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. [Click here]( [Picture Books]( #1 Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss. [Click here]( 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. 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](. 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