Category Publishing

Jun 30 2021

Latinx Book Deals: May 2021

.

Compiled by Cecilia Cackley

This is a monthly series keeping track of the book deals announced by Latinx writers and illustrators. The purpose of this series is to celebrate book deals by authors and illustrators in our community and to advocate for more of them. If you are an agent and you have a Latinx client who just announced a deal, you can let me know on Twitter, @citymousedc. If you are a Latinx author or illustrator writing for children or young adults, and you just got a book deal, send me a message and we will celebrate with you! And if I left anyone out here, please let me know! Here’s to many more wonderful books in the years to come.

.

May 4

Jenny Bak at Viking has acquired, at auction, Up in Flames, a contemporary retelling of Gone with the Wind by debut author Hailey Alcaraz. Pitched in the vein of diverse retellings like Anna K, the privileged and irrepressible Ruby Ortega vies to win the heart of her best friend while fighting to save her family’s home and the local Latinx community from the California wildfires, all while avoiding the help of a young, annoyingly attractive entrepreneur. Publication is set for spring 2023. Author agent:  Amy Stapp at Wolfson Literary.

Liza Kaplan at Philomel has bought world rights, at auction in a two-book deal, to picture book A Girl Can Build Anything by Pat Zietlow Miller and E. Charlton-Trujillo, illustrated by Keisha Morris, an affirmation of the power of vision and persistence. Publication is set for spring 2023. Author agent: Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

May 6

Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook has acquired, at auction, world rights to the picture book Until Someone Listens by 11-year-old Estela Juarez, illustrated by Teresa Martínez, which follows the true story of how Estela’s mother, Alejandra, was deported to Mexico when Estela was eight years old. Focused on getting her mother back, Estela wrote letters to Congress, to the president, and to many others, which culminated in a powerful video shared at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. After three years of separation, last week Alejandra was granted a one-year parole to return to the U.S.; this Mother’s Day Estela will spend it with her mother. Publication is slated for fall 2022. Author agent: Johanna Castillo at Writers House. Illustrator agent: Christine Hong at Astound US.

May 11

Ashley Hearn at Peachtree Teen has acquired The Ghosts of Rose Hill by YA debut author R.M. Romero (The Dollmaker of Kraków). The magical realism verse novel follows Latina violinist, Ilana, whose parents send her to her aunt’s house in Prague to witness the humble life of an artist. There she meets the ghost of a boy in an abandoned Jewish cemetery and, as she restores his grave, is tempted by the dark magic that binds him to the city. Publication is slated for summer 2022. Author agent: Rena Rossner at the Deborah Harris Agency.

Kate Meltzer at Roaring Brook has bought at auction Hedgehogs Don’t Wear Underwear by Marissa Valdez, a debut picture book about a tighty-whitey-wearing hedgehog named Jacques who’s afraid to go public with his secret love of underwear. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022, with a second untitled picture book to follow in fall 2023. Author agent: Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary.

May 13

Joanna Cárdenas at Kokila has bought, in an exclusive submission, reprint rights for They Call Me Güero, the award-winning middle grade novel in verse by David Bowles, as well as They Call Her Fregona, a companion novel in verse that follows the budding relationship between narrator Güero and his girlfriend Joanna Padilla. They Call Me Güero is set for August 2021, and They Call Her Fregona is planned for fall 2022. Author agent: Taylor Martindale Kean and Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel.

Courtney Fahy at Yellow Jacket has bought Pauli Murray: The Life of a Pioneering Feminist and Civil Rights Activist, a middle grade biography in verse about the queer civil rights and women’s rights activist who conceptualized the arguments that would win Brown v. Board of Education and in 1964, the arguments that won women equality in the workplace, written by her niece Rosita Stevens-Holsey and Terry Catasús Jennings. Publication is set for spring 2022. Author agent: Natalie Lakosil at Bradford Literary.

May 18

Erin Siu at Feiwel and Friends has acquired debut picture book The New Favorite Thing by author-illustrator Olga Herrera, about an anxious dog whose daily routine is disrupted when he encounters a monstrous new thing in the living room. Publication is slated for winter 2023. Author agent: Natalie Lakosil at Bradford Literary Agency.

Andrea Hall at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to Santiago’s Dinosaurios by debut author Mariana Ríos Ramírez, illustrated by Udayana Lugo. When Santiago moves from Mexico to the United States, he doesn’t understand English. On his first day in his new school, how will he communicate with his peers? While they all may not speak the same language, they do all speak dinosaur! Publication is slated for fall 2022. Illustrator agent:Christina Doffing at Astound US.

May 20

Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has acquired Todo Sobre Mi Abuela, a YA memoir-in-verse by YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Winner Rex Ogle, and a second untitled memoir. The story is centered on the author’s relationship with his grandmother. Publication for the first book is slated for summer 2022, with the second to follow in fall 2023. Author agent: Brent Taylor at Triada US.

May 25

Maria Barbo at HarperCollins has acquired The Keeper by Guadalupe Garcia McCall, a middle grade horror/mystery about a brother and sister who move to a seemingly idyllic neighborhood in the Pacific Northwest only to get threatening letters from a mysterious stranger who calls himself The Keeper. Publication is set for January 2022. Author agent: Andrea Cascardi at Transatlantic Agency.

Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has acquired world rights to Song for Jimi by Coretta Scott King Award winner Charles R. Smith, Jr., illustrated by Society of Illustrators Gold Medal winner Edel Rodriguez, a meditation on the life of guitar legend Jimi Hendrix. The book is scheduled for fall 2021. Illustrator agent: Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties.

Luisa Beguiristain at Roaring Brook has bought, in a two-book deal, world rights to Monster Baker by Laura Lavoie. This pun-filled picture book follows overeager monster baker Tillie as she tries to make her Grandmonster the best birthday treat, with a little inspiration from her idol, famous baker Pierre du Monstère. Vanessa Morales will illustrate the first book; publication is set for spring 2023. Illustrator agent: Natascha Morris at the Tobias Literary Agency.

May 27

None.

.

.

.

cecilia-02-original

Cecilia Cackley is a Mexican-American playwright and puppeteer based in Washington, DC. A longtime bookseller, she is currently the Children’s/YA buyer and event coordinator for East City Bookshop on Capitol Hill. Find out more about her art at www.ceciliacackley.com or follow her on Twitter @citymousedc

Jun 1 2021

June 2021 Latinx Book Releases!

.

We are an affiliate with Indiebound and Bookshop. If If you make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a small commission.

.

In addition to listing 2021 titles by/for/about Latinx on our master list, we will remind readers of what’s releasing each month. CONGRATULATIONS to these Latinx creators. Let’s celebrate these June book babies! Please let us know in the comments if we are missing any.

.

MILES MORALES: Shock Waves, an original Spider-Man graphic novel by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Pablo Leon (Graphix, June 1, 2021). Middle Grade. Miles Morales is a normal kid who happens to juggle school at Brooklyn Visions Academy while swinging through the streets of Brooklyn as Spider-Man. After a disastrous earthquake strikes his mother’s birthplace of Puerto Rico, Miles springs into action to help set up a fundraiser for the devastated island. But when a new student’s father goes missing, Miles begins to make connections between the disappearance and a giant corporation sponsoring Miles’ fundraiser. Who is behind the disappearance, and how does that relate to Spider-Man?

.

.

.

.

STROLLERCOASTER by Matt Ringler, art by Raúl the Third and Elaine Bay (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, June 1, 2021). Picture Book. Buckle up as a toddler’s tantrum is cleverly averted when a loving dad transforms an everyday neighborhood stroll into an extraordinary adventure, reminding us that all you need to chase away a bad mood is love and a little bit of imagination.

.

.

.

.

.

.

PALETERO MAN by Lucky Diaz, illustrated by Micah Player (HarperCollins, June 1, 2021). Picture Book.

Ring! Ring! Ring! Can you hear his call? Paletas for one! Paletas for all!

What’s the best way to cool off on a hot summer day? Run quick and find Paletero José!

Follow along with our narrator as he passes through his busy neighborhood in search of the Paletero Man. But when he finally catches up with him, our narrator’s pockets are empty. Oh no! What happened to his dinero? It will take the help of the entire community to get the tasty treat now.

.

SHE PERSISTED: Sonia Sotomayor by Meg Medina (Philomel Books, June 1, 2021). Chapter Book. Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger comes a chapter book series about women who stood up, spoke up and rose up against the odds! Sonia Sotomayor is the first Latina Supreme Court Justice in the history of the United States, but her road there wasn’t easy. She overcame many challenges along the way, including a diagnosis of diabetes at age seven. But she didn’t let that stop her from achieving her dream and inspiring children all over the world to work hard and believe in themselves.

.

.

.

.

SIMONE BREAKS ALL THE RULES by Debbie Rigaud (Scholastic Press, June 1, 2021). Young Adult.

Simone Thibodeaux is about to switch things up.

Check her life: It’s sealed in a boy-proof container. Her Haitian immigrant parents send Simone to an all-girls high school and enforce strict no-dating rules. As for prom? Simone is allowed to go on one condition: Her parents will select her date (a boy from a nice, Haitian immigrant family, obviously).

Simone is desperate to avoid the setup — especially since she has a serious crush on another boy. It’s time to take action. Simone and her fellow late-bloomer friends make a senior year bucket list of all the wild things they haven’t done yet. Like: going out dancing, skipping class (what), and oh yeah — deciding their own prom destinies.

But as the list takes on a life of its own, things get much messier than Simone expected. Can she figure out which rules are worth breaking and which might save her from heartbreak?

.

THE COT IN THE LIVING ROOM by Hilda Eunice Burgos, illustrated by Gaby D’Alessandro (Kokila Books, June 1, 2021). Picture Book. Night after night, a young girl watches her mami set up a cot in the living room for guests in their Washington Heights apartment, like Raquel (who’s boring) and Edgardo (who gets crumbs everywhere). She resents that they get the entire living room with a view of the George Washington Bridge, while all she gets is a tiny bedroom with a view of her sister (who snores). Until one night when no one comes, and it’s finally her chance! But as it turns out, sleeping on the cot in the living room isn’t all she thought it would be.

.

TWINS VS. TRIPLETS #1: Back-to-School Blitz by Jennifer Torres, illustrated by Vanessa Flores (HarperCollins, June 1, 2021). Chapter Book. David can’t wait to go back to school and get far away from his trickster neighbors. But he’s in for a surprise when a set of equally prank-loving triplets move onto his block—and into his class!

Now the twins and triplets are battling for control of the playground and David is stuck in the middle. Can he end the prank war before recess gets cancelled for the whole year?

.

.

.

.

Areli Es Una Dreamer (Areli Is a Dreamer Spanish Edition): Una Historia Real por Areli Morales, Beneficiaria de DACA Cover

ARELI IS A DREAMER: A True Story by Areli Morales, a DACA Recipient (Random House Studio, June 8, 2021). Picture Book. When Areli was just a baby, her mama and papa moved from Mexico to New York with her brother, Alex, to make a better life for the family–and when she was in kindergarten, they sent for her, too.

Everything in New York was different. Gone were the Saturdays at Abuela’s house, filled with cousins and sunshine. Instead, things were busy and fast and noisy. Areli’s limited English came out wrong, and schoolmates accused her of being illegal. But time passed, and Areli slowly became a New Yorker–although not an American citizen. “I could do anything here,” Areli says one day to the city sky. “Someday, I will.”

This is a moving story–one that resonates with millions of immigrants who make up the fabric of our country–about one girl living in two worlds, a girl whose DACA application was eventually approved and who is now living her American dream.

.

CURSE OF THE FORGOTTEN CITY by Alex Aster (Sourcebooks Young Readers, June 8, 2021). Middle Grade. Tor is adjusting to life with the power of the Night Witch, especially with his best friends Engle and Melda by his side. But when a mysterious girl washes ashore claiming a band of cursed pirates is on their way to Emblem Island, life changes fast.

The girl, Gemma, is from an underwater city that was destroyed by the terrible Calavera pirates and she warns Tor they are now on their way to his home.

The trio of friends must come up with a plan to stop the pirates from getting an ancient relic that would give them the ability to control the high seas, while also protecting all they love from the new danger.

.

.

Image result for fifteen hundred miles from the sun

FIFTEEN HUNDRED MILES FROM THE SUN by Jonny Garza Villa (Skyscape, June 8, 2021). Young Adult. Julián Luna has a plan for his life: Graduate. Get into UCLA. And have the chance to move away from Corpus Christi, Texas, and the suffocating expectations of others that have forced Jules into an inauthentic life.

Then in one reckless moment, with one impulsive tweet, his plans for a low-key nine months are thrown–literally–out the closet. The downside: the whole world knows, and Jules has to prepare for rejection. The upside: Jules now has the opportunity to be his real self.

Then Mat, a cute, empathetic Twitter crush from Los Angeles, slides into Jules’s DMs. Jules can tell him anything. Mat makes the world seem conquerable. But when Jules’s fears about coming out come true, the person he needs most is fifteen hundred miles away. Jules has to face them alone.

Jules accidentally propelled himself into the life he’s always dreamed of. And now that he’s in control of it, what he does next is up to him.

.

FIRE WITH FIRE by Destiny Soria (HMH Books for Young Readers, June 8, 2021). Young Adult. Dani and Eden Rivera were both born to kill dragons, but the sisters couldn’t be more different. For Dani, dragon slaying takes a back seat to normal high school life, while Eden prioritizes training above everything else. Yet they both agree on one thing: it’s kill or be killed where dragons are concerned.

Until Dani comes face-to-face with one and forges a rare and magical bond with him. As she gets to know Nox, she realizes that everything she thought she knew about dragons is wrong. With Dani lost to the dragons, Eden turns to mysterious and alluring sorcerers to help save her sister. Now on opposite sides of the conflict, each sister will do whatever it takes to save the other. But the two are playing with magic that is more dangerous than they know, and there is another, more powerful enemy waiting for them both in the shadows.

.

MOTH & BUTTERFLY: TA-DA! by Dev Petty, illustrated by Ana Aranda (Nancy Paulsen Books, June 8, 2021). Picture Book. Two caterpillar friends love what they have in common–lots of legs and a talent for chewing leaves into funny shapes. And when it’s time to build cocoons, they hang theirs side by side. “Happy metamorphosis,” says an older, more knowledgeable butterfly. And it is a happy metamorphosis indeed–for when the two emerge from their cocoons, they can fly! But so much else has changed–as one is now a moth, who flies by night, and the other is a butterfly, who flies by day. How will things work now? Fortunately some things never change–like true friends figuring out a way to be together, and happily flying into the sunset and sunrise.

.

RAT FAIR by Leah Rose Kessler, illustrated by Cleonique Hilsaca (Pow! Kids Books, June 15, 2021). Picture Book. When a group of industrious, fun-loving rats find letters fallen from an Art Fair sign, they put the sign back together—with one small adjustment—and get to work creating a spectacular RAT FAIR. Their fair is ruined when humans sweep away everything the rats have created. Undaunted, the rats switch  gears and start working on their very own Rat Art Fair. As they are wrapping up their first day of the Rat Art Fair, a human child who has been following their progress from the sidelines catches them red handed, and the rats must decide if they can trust the child.

.

.

SMALL NAP, LITTLE DREAM by Talia Aikens-Nuñez, illustrated by Natalia Colombo (Nancy Paulsen Books, June 15, 2021). Picture Book. Young children are busy all day long–running and climbing, looking and laughing–and in the middle of a full day of fun, there’s nothing like taking a break for a small nap. This is the time of day to have a little dream–sueñito–that gives the afternoon some added sweetness.

.

.

.

.

.

THE MORE THE MERRIER by David Martin, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa (Candlewick, June 15, 2021). Picture Book. Some like to kick their feet and bend their knees to the music. Others prefer to slip and slide . . . or swoop down . . . or skip high and low! Bear, Moose, Snake, and other forest animals dance to their own groove in a rhythmic celebration of individuality.

.

.

.

.

Zuri Ray Tries Ballet Cover

ZURI RAY TRIES BALLET by Tami Charles, illustrated by Sharon Sordo (Quill Tree Books, June 15, 2021). Picture Book. Meet Zuri Ray. She’s always willing to go the extra mile for family and friends and is up for any challenge. At least, that was before her best friend, Jessie, asked her to join a ballet camp.

Now Zuri isn’t sure if she’s up for everything. While Jessie can’t wait to chassé and plié while wearing tight hair buns and frilly tutus, that doesn’t sound like Zuri at all! But she can’t let her friend down. Maybe classical ballet just needs a new spin.

.

.

.

CHUNKY written and illustrated by Yehudi Mercado (Katherine Tegen Books, June 22, 2021). Graphic Novel/Middle Grade. Hudi needs to lose weight, according to his doctors. Concerned about the serious medical issue Hudi had when he was younger, his parents push him to try out for sports. Hudi would rather do anything else, but then he meets Chunky, his imaginary friend and mascot. Together, they decide to give baseball a shot. 

As the only Mexican and Jewish kid in his neighborhood, Hudi has found the cheerleader he never had. Baseball doesn’t go well (unless getting hit by the ball counts), but the two friends have a great time drawing and making jokes. While Hudi’s parents keep trying to find the right sport for Hudi, Chunky encourages him to pursue his true love—comedy.

But when Hudi’s dad loses his job, it gets harder for Hudi to chart his own course, even with Chunky’s guidance. Can Chunky help Hudi stay true to himself or will this friendship strike out?

.

May 17 2021

Latinx Book Deals: April 2021

.

.

Compiled by Cecilia Cackley

This is a monthly series keeping track of the book deals announced by Latinx writers and illustrators. The purpose of this series is to celebrate book deals by authors and illustrators in our community and to advocate for more of them. If you are an agent and you have a Latinx client who just announced a deal, you can let me know on Twitter, @citymousedc. If you are a Latinx author or illustrator writing for children or young adults, and you just got a book deal, send me a message and we will celebrate with you! And if I left anyone out here, please let me know! Here’s to many more wonderful books in the years to come.

.

April 1

Namrata Tripathi at Kokila has acquired, in a six-figure preempt, Golden State by William C. Morris Award-winning author Isabel Quintero (Gabi, a Girl in Pieces; My Papi Has a Motorcycle). The YA novel follows 18-year-old Maricela, who, after finding out her father has another family he’s been keeping secret from her, embarks on a road trip through California to meet her half-brother for the first time. Publication is scheduled for summer 2023. Author agent: Peter Steinberg, at Fletcher & Company.

Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook has bought Tomatoes in My Lunchbox, written by Costantia Manoli and illustrated by Magdalena Mora. This picture book features a girl who feels displaced in her new country when her teacher mispronounces her name, until she discovers that all it takes is one friend, one connection, to bring two worlds together. Publication is planned for spring/summer 2022. Illustrator agent: Steve Malk at Writers House.

.

April 6

Mallory Kass at Scholastic has bought North American rights to Valentina Salazar Is Not a Monster Hunter by Zoraida Córdova, pitched as a genderbent Supernatural meets Unicorn Rescue Society. When a mythical egg surfaces on YouTube, the Salazar siblings steal the family van to race across the U.S. to save the egg before it hatches and goes viral—except their eldest sister and her dreaded monster hunters will stop at nothing to destroy the beast first. Publication is set for 2022. Author agents: Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman Literary, Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media.

Erin Clarke at Knopf has acquired Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene by Emma Otheguy (Silver Meadows Summer) about a fifth-grade girl trying to figure out where she fits in her ballet-obsessed Cuban American family and her affluent suburban community. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022. Author agent:  Adriana Dominguez at Full Circle Literary.

Molly Yao Shen at Yeehoo Press has bought world rights to Who Is It, Whoodini? by Roman Yasiejko, illustrated by Gustavo Ramos. In this picture book, when a mysterious bird crashes in a tree, two owl sleuths fly off to gather the facts for the surprise reveal and rescue. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022 in the U.S. and mainland China. Illustrator agent: Mohamed Danawi at Illozoo Agency.

.

April 8

Julia McCarthy at Atheneum has acquired world rights to I Want to Be a Vase, a picture book written by comedian, former SNL writer, and co-creator of Los Espookys Julio Torres, illustrated by 3D artist Julian Glander. This tale of a plunger who dreams of a more decorative life was inspired by Torres’s HBO comedy special My Favorite Shapes, which explores the interior dramas of everyday objects. Publication is set for summer 2022. Author agent: Richard Abate and Olivia Gerke at 3Arts.

.

April 13

Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane Books bought world rights to Just You and Me by Jennifer Ward and illustrated by Alexander Vidal, a picture book about unlikely pairs—like zebras and ostriches, hippos and egrets, and bees and flowers—that help each other survive in the wild. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021. Illustrator agent: Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel.

Paula Wiseman at S&S/Wiseman has bought world rights to Beginning by Shelley Moore Thomas (From Tree to Sea), illustrated by Melissa Casatrillon. This picture book answers the question, “What does something become when it isn’t itself anymore?” and shows the wonder of what happens at the end of something that causes something else to begin. Publication is planned for spring 2022.

.

April 15

Hannah Hill at Underlined has bought Bad at Love by Gabriela Martins (Like a Love Song). This YA romance follows Brazilian teen rocker Daniel, who has a bad boy reputation with the tabloids, and aspiring journalist Sasha, who’s determined to dig up dirt on Daniel—and finds herself falling for him along the way. But when she uncovers Daniel’s biggest secret, Sasha must decide if she’ll follow her heart or deliver the hottest story of the summer. Publication is set for summer 2022. Author agent: Chelsea Eberly at Greenhouse Literary.

Joanna Cárdenas at Kokila has bought world rights, at auction, in the two-book deal, to Angelica and La Guira by Angie Cruz (Dominicana), illustrated by Disney Television Animation story artist Luz Batista. The picture book debut follows a girl in Washington Heights who has been given a guira by her grandfather in the Dominican Republic and finds her musical voice—a power so strong that it brings her entire community together. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023. Author agent: Dara Hyde at Hill Nadell Literary.

Meredith Mundy at Abrams Appleseed has acquired world rights to Measuring a Year: A Rosh Hashanah Story by Linda Elovitz Marshall, illustrated by Zara González Hoang. Through verse, this tale encourages a child to thoughtfully look back over their past year. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022. Illustrator agent: Andrea Morrison at Writers House.

Amy Novesky at Cameron Kids has acquired world rights to two picture books written and illustrated by Mirelle Ortega. The first, Magic, is a story inspired by the author’s magical childhood growing up on a pineapple farm in Veracruz, Mexico. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022, and the second untitled book is scheduled for fall 2023. Author agent: James Burns at the Bright Agency.

.

April 20

Rebecca Kuss at Inkyard has acquired, at auction, Salt and Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho. This telenovela-esque YA rom-com debut follows the grandchildren of two rival Brazilian bakeries who fall in love despite their families’ feud while working to win a contest that would save both of their bakeries from being driven out by a predatory supermarket chain. Claire Stetzer will edit. Publication is planned for fall 2022. Author agent:  Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra Literary.

Maria Dismondy at Cardinal Rule Press has acquired world rights to Beto’s Super Cool Guayabera by YA author and a founder of Latinxs in Kid Lit Cindy L. Rodriguez, illustrated by Begoña Fernández Corbalan; Adam Blackman will edit. This picture book tells a story using a traditional Mexican shirt along with a creative boy trying to solve conflict in his family. Publication is planned for summer 2022. Illustrator agent: Erin Tisdel at Advocate Art.

.

April 27

Sylvan Creekmore at Wednesday has bought, in a preempt, contemporary YA romance Ander and Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa. Pitched as Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe meets The Sun Is Also a Star, a non-binary teen muralist falls for the newest waiter at their family’s taquería, sparking a romance made complicated when ICE shows up at the taquería and the love interest is a potential target. Publication is slated for spring 2023. Author agent: Claire Draper at the Bent Agency.

Marino at Delacorte has acquired, in a preempt, The Grimoire of Grave Fates, a multi-authored YA fantasy-mystery told in a series of interconnected, diverse POVs set in a world created by Hanna Alkaf (The Weight of The Sky) and Margaret Owen (The Merciful Crow), following the untimely murder of a professor at an esteemed wizarding school and the efforts of various students to track down his killer. Contributors will include Cam Montgomery, Darcie Little Badger, Hafsah Faizal, Jessica Lewis, Julian Winters, Karuna Riazi, Kat Cho, Kayla Whaley, Kwame Mbalia, L.L. McKinney, Marieke Nijkamp, Mason Deaver, Natasha Diaz, Preeti Chhibber, Randy Ribay, Tehlor Kay Mejia, Victoria Lee, and Yamile Saied Méndez. Pitched as a response to the exclusion of minority and LGBTQ+ groups from fantasy worlds, the creators will be partnering with We Need Diverse Books to establish initiatives for marginalized authors using their proceeds from the sale. Publication is set for fall 2022. Author agent: Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman Literary.

.

April 29

Nick Thomas at Levine Querido has bought High Spirits by debut author Camille Gomera-Tavarez. The YA book interweaves stories exploring machismo, family, and identity in the Dominican diaspora. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022.

Kathleen Merz at Eerdmans has acquired I’ll Always Come Back to You by Charlotte Zolotow Award-winning author Carmen Tafolla, illustrated by Grace Zong, a picture book meant to make the many transitions of being away from parents less stressful and more fun. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022. Author agent: Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary.

.

.

cecilia-02-original

Cecilia Cackley is a Mexican-American playwright and puppeteer based in Washington, DC. A longtime bookseller, she is currently the Children’s/YA buyer and event coordinator for East City Bookshop on Capitol Hill. Find out more about her art at www.ceciliacackley.com or follow her on Twitter @citymousedc

Apr 21 2021

Latinx Book Deals: January-March 2021

.

Compiled by Cecilia Cackley

This is a monthly series keeping track of the book deals announced by Latinx writers and illustrators. The purpose of this series is to celebrate book deals by authors and illustrators in our community and to advocate for more of them. If you are an agent and you have a Latinx client who just announced a deal, you can let me know on Twitter, @citymousedc. If you are a Latinx author or illustrator writing for children or young adults, and you just got a book deal, send me a message and we will celebrate with you! And if I left anyone out here, please let me know! Here’s to many more wonderful books in the years to come.

.

January 5

Alyza Liu at Simon & Schuster has acquired world rights to If Your Babysitter Is a Bruja, a bilingual story in which a child believes their new babysitter might just be a witch, by Brazilian author Ana Siqueira, illustrated by Irena Freitas. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022 and simultaneously in Spanish as Cuando tu niñera es un bruja, with text translated by the author. Author agent: Andrea Walker at Olswanger Literary. Illustrator agent:  Andrea Morrison at Writers House.

January 7

Emily Seife and David Levithan at Scholastic have bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Invisibles by Christina Diaz Gonzalez, a bilingual middle grade graphic novel about five very different Latinx students who form an unexpected bond after being forced together to complete community service hours. Gaby Epstein will illustrate. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022. Author agent: Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator agent: Steven Salpeter at Curtis Brown.

January 12

Wendy Loggia at Underlined has bought world rights to Small Town Monsters by Diana Rodriguez Wallach; Alison Romig will edit. Pitched as The Conjuring meets The Vow, this #OwnVoices Latinx horror story follows the daughter of demonologists and her crush, who face off against evil forces inspired by both American and Latin American folklore. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021. Author agent: Lane Heymont at Tobias Literary.

January 14

Emily Seife at Scholastic has acquired, at auction, Witchlings by Claribel Ortega. This middle grade novel follows a 12-year-old witch who is sorted into a coven of unwanted spare witches with her bully and the new witch in town; they must now band together to defeat the fearsome Nightbeast or risk being turned into a trio of toads. Publication is planned for 2022. Author agent: Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media.

January 21

None.

January 26

Emily Settle at Feiwel and Friends has acquired two titles for the publisher’s new Remixed Classics series: a retelling of The Great Gatsby written by Anna-Marie McLemore, featuring Gatsby as a transgender young man, amid the glamour and sparkle of the 1920s; and a fresh take on Romeo and Juliet by Caleb Roehrig, bringing a queer perspective to Shakespeare’s timeless work. Publication for McLemore’s book is set for fall 2022. Author agent: Taylor Martindale Kean at Full Circle Literary.

Alexa Wejko at Soho Teen has acquired What’s Coming to Me by debut author Francesca Padilla. After the ice cream stand where she works is robbed, 17-year-old Minerva Gutiérrez plans revenge on her complicit boss, while navigating grief, anger, and the possibility of escape from her dead-end town—as well as secrets and mistakes of her own. Publication is planned for summer 2022. Author agent: Kate McKean at Howard Morhaim Literary.

Anuoluwapo Ohioma at Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to Mi Ciudad Sings, written by Cynthia Harmony (l.) and illustrated by Teresa Martinez. This debut picture book by the author tells the story of a Mexican girl and her neighbors as they help each other rebuild their once-vibrant city disrupted by a devastating earthquake. Publication is set for summer 2022. Author agent: Natascha Morris brokered the deal while at BookEnds. James McGowan now represents the author. Illustrator agent: Christine Hong at Astound US.

Nancy Inteli at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to Gato Guapo, a read-aloud about counting kittens, featuring bilingual text by Anika Aldamuy Denise, illustrated by Zara González Hoang. Publication is scheduled for winter 2023. Author agent: Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management. Illustrator agent: Andrea Morrison at Writers House.

February 2

Amanda Ramirez at Simon & Schuster has acquired Meet Me Halfway by Anika Fajardo (What If a Fish), a middle grade novel in the vein of The Parent Trap, about two girls who, after discovering they are half-sisters, go on an adventure to meet their Colombian father for the first time. Publication is planned for spring 2022. Author agent: Thao Le at the Dijkstra Agency.

Melanie Cordova at Candlewick has acquired My Dog Just Speaks Spanish and an untitled picture book by debut author-illustrator Andrea Cáceres. Highlighting the multicultural neighborhood that a girl and her dog explore, the first picture book was inspired by Cáceres’s own dog, who came to New York following Cáceres’s immigration and only understands words like “treat” and “sit” when spoken in Spanish. Publication is slated for spring 2023. Author agent:  Rebecca Sherman at Writers House.

Kendra Levin at Simon & Schuster has acquired world rights to I Love My Body Because by Shelly Anand (Laxmi’s Mooch) and debut author Nomi Ellenson, illustrated by Erika Rodriguez Medina. This picture book celebrates the beauty, versatility, and resilience of the human body in all its various shapes and sizes. Publication is slated for summer 2022. Illustrator agent: Claire Easton at Painted Words.

Brett Duquette at Little Bee Books has acquired world rights to This Magical, Musical Night, written by Rhonda Gowler Greene and illustrated by James Rey Sanchez, an introduction to the orchestra and its various instruments. Publication is planned for fall 2021. Illustrator agent: James Burns at the Bright Agency.

February 4

None

February 11

Zhiqiao Wang at Yeehoo Press has acquired world rights to The Gentle Bulldozer by debut author Amy Baron, illustrated by Rogério Coelho. This picture book follows an unfulfilled bulldozer who takes a solo road trip in search of his life’s purpose. Publication is planned for spring 2022 in the U.S. and mainland China. Illustrator agent: Mohamed Danawi at Illozoo Agency.

February 18

None.

February 23

Nick Thomas at Levine Querido has acquired Neverforgotten by Alejandra Algorta, illustrated by Iván Rickenmann, and translated by International Latino Book Award winner Aida Salazar in her first novel translation. It tells the story of the best bicycle rider in all of Bogotá who, one day, simply forgets how to ride. Publication is set for fall 2021. Author agent: Pablo de la Vega did the deal for world English and Dutch and USC Spanish rights on behalf of Babel Libros. Translator agent: Marietta Zacker at Gallt & Zacker.

Sylvie Frank at S&S/Wiseman has acquired world rights to How to Make a Memory by Elaine Vickers, illustrated by Ana Aranda. This picture book celebrates memory and its place in helping us hold dear life’s precious moments. Publication is scheduled for spring 2023. Illustrator agent: Adriana Dominguez at Full Circle Literary.

Kayla Tostevin at Page Street has acquired world rights to Payden’s Pronoun Party by Blue Jaryn, illustrated by Xochitl Cornejo. This picture book features a child’s quest for the best pronouns and a party for celebrating the perfect match. Publication is planned for fall 2022.

Asia Citro at Innovation Press has bought world rights to Xavier’s Voice by Ashley Franklin, with art by debut illustrator Tatiana Gardel. This picture book follows a socially awkward boy who has no idea how to use his voice to make friends; but after sharing his sketchbook with a new buddy, he learns he doesn’t have to mask who he is in the name of friendship. Publication is set for fall 2023. Illustrator agent: Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary.

February 25

Alison Deering at Capstone has bought world rights to ¡Hola Lola!, a new chapter book series by Guatemalan-born author Karen Krause, writing as Keka Novales. The series will follow Lola Lopes Martinez, a second-generation Hispanic American girl, as she navigates the “firsts” of growing up. Publication is set for fall 2022. Author agent: Natalie Lakosil at Bradford Literary.

March 2

Whitney Leopard at Random House Graphic has preempted world rights to Hugo and Dino, a chapter book graphic novel series by Red Panda and Moon Bear creator Jarod Roselló. The books follow a boy who can change the world around him just enough to go on magical adventures with his best friend, Dino. Publication for the first book is scheduled for fall 2023. Author agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary.

Lisa Rosinsky at Barefoot Books has acquired Dinner on Domingos by debut author Alexandra Katona), illustrated by Claudia Navarro (La Frontera). In this celebration of family and food, inspired by the author’s own childhood, a Latinx girl who doesn’t speak much Spanish searches for ways to connect with her Abuelita. Publication is set for fall 2021.

March 4

Shelly Romero at Scholastic has bought world rights to Join the Club, Maggie Diaz by Nina Moreno (Don’t Date Rosa Santos), illustrated by Courtney Lovett. The illustrated middle grade novel follows a 12-year-old Cuban American girl who is determined to discover who she is and what her “thing” is, no matter how many activities or clubs it takes. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022. Author agent: Laura Crockett at Triada US Literary.

Ariel Richardson at Chronicle has bought world rights, at auction, to The River of Dust: Africa to the Amazon by debut author Jilanne Hoffmann, illustrated by Eugenia Mello. Celebrating the power and wonder of Earth’s ecosystems, this nonfiction picture book follows Dust across the globe as it revels in the beauty of its journey and the vital role it plays in nurturing life. Publication is set for spring 2023. Illustrator agent: Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties.

March 9

Lisa Mangum at Shadow Mountain has bought Missing Okalee by Laura Ojeda Melchor. Her debut middle grade novel features 12-year-old Phoebe Paz Peterson, who can’t seem to shine more brightly than her little sister, Okalee. Phoebe is sure that snagging the solo in the school choir will finally give her a chance at the spotlight. But when a tragic accident takes Okalee from her, Phoebe loses her beautiful singing voice and gains a terrible secret. Publication is planned for fall 2021. Author agent: Danielle Chiotti of Upstart Crow Literary.

Neal Porter at Holiday House/Porter has bought world rights to Pass the Baby! by Orbis Pictus Honoree Susanna Reich (Stand Up and Sing!), illustrated by 2020 Eric Carle Museum Honoree Raúl Colón (Imagine!), a riotous picture book about a diverse family celebrating a meal together… and the baby who’s the center of their attention. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023. Illustrator agent: Brenda Bowen at the Book Group.

March 11

Courtney Code at Abrams has acquired Pa, Me and Our Sidewalk Pantry by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated by Zara González Hoang. The picture book is about a girl and her grandfather who build a shared sidewalk pantry to accompany their shared library, helping her neighbors in hard times with foods that can be enjoyed with favorite books. Publication is slated for spring 2023. Illustrator agent: Andrea Morrison at Writers House.

March 16

Alessandra Balzer at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has acquired, in a four-house auction, The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by debut author Sonora Reyes. A YA contemporary for fans of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, it follows 16-year-old Yamilet Flores, who has just started at a new Catholic school after being outed by her ex-best friend and crush at her old school. Her new goals: make her mom proud, keep her brother out of trouble, and most importantly, don’t fall in love. But that’s not easy when Bo, the only openly queer girl at school, is funny, cute, and seems like she might be interested in Yami. Publication is set for spring 2022. Author agent: Alexandra Levick at Writers House.

Kate Harrison at Dial, in an offer made as a three-imprint house bid, has bought Mexikid, a middle grade graphic memoir by cartoonist Pedro Martin in a preempt. Recounting the winter that Pedro’s family piled into a Winnebago and drove down to a small town near Guadalajara with a mission—bring their Abuelito back to America—the memoir is a family story going back generations to the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s and an epic road trip story. Publication is slated for spring 2023. Author agent: Daniel Lazar at Writers House.

Sarah Ketchersid at Candlewick has acquired, at auction, world rights to Millie, written and illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Lauren Castillo, as well as a second untitled picture book. The first book tells the story of a child overcoming shyness and anxiety, gaining comfort and confidence from the love and companionship of a new dog. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023. Author agent: Paul Rodeen at Rodeen Literary.

Farrin Jacobs at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to Brown Girl, Brown Girl by poet Leslé Honoré, illustrated by Coretta Scott King and Caldecott Honoree Cozbi A. Cabrera (Me & Mama). This debut picture book is inspired by Honoré’s poem that went viral in 2020, which celebrates the beauty and strength of girls of color. Publication is planned for fall 2022. Author agent: Johanna Castillo at Writers House. Illustrator agent: Victoria Sanders at Victoria Sanders & Associates.

Brian Geffen at Henry Holt has acquired, in an exclusive submission, A Monster Is Eating This Book by Karen Kilpatrick, illustrated by Germán Blanco, as well as the third picture book in their When Pencil Met Eraser series. In the first book, the words and pages are slowly getting eaten by the monster inside of it. Why is he eating all the words out of the book? Why is his shadow so scary? Publication of both titles is set for 2022. Illustrator agent: Deborah Warren at East West Literary.

Wiley Blevins at Reycraft has acquired The Legend of the Spirit Serpent by Adaiah Sanford, winner of the First Annual Caribbean Writer’s Contest, illustrated by Afro-Caribbean artist Ken Daley. This retelling of a traditional Kalinago tale has a twist that challenges gender inequality. Publication is set for winter 2022. Author agent: Anette Thomas-Sanford. Illustrator agent: Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency.

March 18

Brian Geffen at Henry Holt has bought, at auction, Doña Quixote: Knight of the Nagual and a sequel by Rex Ogle writing as Rey Terciero, illustrated by Monica M. Magaña. This middle grade graphic novel is a gender-flipped reimagining of Don Quixote that follows Lucia Castillo’s obsession with becoming a modern-day knight. After finding a family heirloom that lets her see the supernatural world of Mexican lore, Lucia’s parents think she’s imagining things just like her “Abuelo Loco” had years before, but she’s determined to prove them wrong and thwart the villainous Mayor’s dangerous plans for the town. Publication is set for spring 2023 and 2024. Author agent: Simon Lipskar at Writers House.

March 23

Elise Howard at Algonquin has acquired world rights to Mermaid and Pirate by Tracey Baptiste (The Jumbies), illustrated by Leisl Adams. This picture book features a Black mermaid and a salty pirate who form a friendship after helping each other during a storm. Publication is slated for spring 2023. Author agent: Marie Lamba at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency.

Amy Novesky at Cameron Kids has acquired world rights to Edna: The Flavorful Life of Southern Chef Edna Lewis by Melvina Noel, illustrated by Caldecott, Siebert, and Coretta Scott King Honor artist Cozbi Cabrera, a picture book about a culinary star and early proponent of farm-to-table food. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022. Illustrator agent: Victoria Sanders at Victoria Sanders & Associates.

Lisa Rosinsky at Barefoot Books has acquired Yoga Adventure! by debut author Jamaica Stevens, the founder of JAMaROO Kids, and illustrated by Rocío Alejandro (Mindful Tots). This singalong picture book takes readers around the world with a sequence of yoga poses inspired by animals on all seven continents. Publication is slated for fall 2021.

March 25

Margaret Quinlin at Peachtree has acquired world rights for Wombat Said Come In by Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Brian Lies. Inspired by the 2019 Australian bushfire tragedy as well as Deedy’s own experience as a refugee, the picture book follows a kindhearted wombat who sacrifices personal space and comfort to shelter a series of animals escaping a wildfire. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022. Author agent: Brenda Bowen at the Book Group.

March 30

Rosemary Brosnan at Quill Tree has bought two untitled middle grade novels by Pura Belpré Award winner for middle grade fiction Ernesto Cisneros (Efrén Divided), with publication for the first title scheduled for fall 2024. Author agent: Deborah Warren at East/West Literary.

Kate Harrison at Dial has bought, at auction, Cabaret Macabre, the graphic novel debut by author-illustrator Mercedes Acosta. Set in a New Orleans rich with magical realism and characters inspired by legends around the world, this supernatural family drama features 13-year-old Kara, who discovers that a troupe of performers aren’t what they seem—and neither is she. Publication is set for 2023. Author agent: Nicole Geiger at Full Circle Literary.

.

.

cecilia-02-original

Cecilia Cackley is a Mexican-American playwright and puppeteer based in Washington, DC. A longtime bookseller, she is currently the Children’s/YA buyer and event coordinator for East City Bookshop on Capitol Hill. Find out more about her art at www.ceciliacackley.com or follow her on Twitter @citymousedc

Feb 18 2021

Latinx Book Deals April-June 2020

.

.

Compiled by Cecilia Cackley

This is an occasional series keeping track of the book deals announced by Latinx writers and illustrators. The purpose of this series is to celebrate book deals by authors and illustrators in our community and to advocate for more of them. If you are an agent and you have a Latinx client who just announced a deal, you can let me know on Twitter, @citymousedc. If you are a Latinx author or illustrator writing for children or young adults, and you just got a book deal, send me a message and we will celebrate with you! And if I left anyone out here, please let me know! Here’s to many more wonderful books in the years to come.

April 2

Nancy Mercado at Dial has acquired, in a preempt, world rights to When We Make It by Elisabet Velasquez. The YA novel-in-verse is about a girl in 1990s Bushwick, Brooklyn, who wants to know what success looks and feels like in the midst of a war on drugs while navigating mental health issues, systemic racism, poverty, and gentrification. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022. Author agent: Katherine Latshaw at Folio Literary Management.

Harriet Low at HMH has acquired Monkey Business by Anita Sanchez, a middle grade chronicle of one of the most important trials in U.S. history, where the legality of teaching evolution was argued—and the American public was educated—that investigates the importance of journalistic reporting, the legal process, and the ethics of education. Publication is slated for fall 2022. Author agent: Regina Ryan at Regina Ryan Publishing Enterprises.

April 7

Eileen Rothschild and Mara Delgado-Sanchez at Wednesday Books have bought Zoraida Córdova‘s YA speculative fiction anthology, Reclaim the Stars, featuring stories exploring the Latinx diaspora through the lens of SFF by Elizabeth Acevedo, Vita Ayala, David Bowles, Sara Faring, Romina Garber, Isabel Ibañez, Anna-Marie McLemore, Yamile Saied Méndez, Nina Moreno, Maya Motayne, Daniel José Older, Claribel Ortega, Mark Oshiro, and Lilliam Rivera. Publication is set for winter 2022. Author agent: Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman Literary Agency.

Melanie Cordova at Candlewick has acquired world English and Spanish rights to Sometimes, All I Need Is Me by author-illustrator Juliana Perdomo, a picture book about a girl who learns that she can find happiness and peace in all kinds of situations. Publication is slated for fall 2022. Author agent: Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio.

April 9

Emma Ledbetter at Abrams has bought, at auction, in a two-book deal, Winsome Bingham‘s Soul Food Sunday. The picture book is about a boy’s first time helping to prepare food for his family’s weekly gathering—and adding a contribution for the Sundays to come. C.G. Esperanza will illustrate. Publication is slated for fall 2021. Illustrator agent: Marietta Zacker at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency.

April 14

Molly Cusick at Sourcebooks has acquired, in a two-book deal, Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna by Alda P. Dobbs, a debut #OwnVoices middle grade novel inspired by the author’s great-grandmother’s own experience. Twelve-year-old Petra Luna is a Mexican migrant girl from a poor mestizo family. As she struggles to escape violence and lead her family to the safety of the U.S. border during the Mexican Revolution, Petra must also hang tight to her dreams. Publication is set for fall 2021. Author agent:  Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary.

Christy Ottaviano at Macmillan/Ottaviano has bought world rights to Giraffe Math by Steven Swinburne, illustrated by Geraldo Valerio. Told through the voice of Twiga the giraffe, this picture book shares knowledge about giraffes through math, using measurements, graphs, fractions, time, elemental geometry, percentages, and ratios. Publication is planned for winter 2022.

Howard Reeves at Abrams has acquired world rights to Gloria Amescua‘s debut picture book biography, Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez. The story is about the Indigenous Nahua woman who grew up in Mexico during the early 1900s and eventually became a model for internationally celebrated 20th-century artists, worked with scholars to preserve Nahuatl language and stories, and was known as the “soul of Mexico.” Award-winning illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh will illustrate. Publication is planned for fall 2021. Author agent:  Taylor Martindale Kean at Full Circle Literary.

Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has bought Emery Lee‘s Meet-Cute Diary, about a trans teen who must decide if he’s dedicated to romantic formulas or open to unpredictable love after an internet troll-attack on his trans romance blog compels him and a fan to start fake-dating to salvage the blog’s reputation. Publication is planned for summer 2021. Author agent: Beth Phelan at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency.

April 16

Erika Turner at HMH/Versify has bought world English rights to Samuel Teer and Mar Julia‘s Brownstone, a full-color YA graphic novel pitched as This One Summer meets In the Heights, about a teenager who is sent to spend the summer fixing up an old brownstone with her estranged father. As she learns to connect with her dad—who mainly speaks Spanish—she also navigates the experience of being half-Latinx, coping with sometimes feeling alternately “too brown” or “not brown enough” depending on the context of her community, and grappling with who she is when all she’s made to feel like is an outsider. Publication is set for spring 2022. Author agent: Ben Grange at L. Perkins. Illustrator agent: Charlie Olsen at InkWell Management.

Claudia Gabel at HarperCollins has acquired Yamile Saied Méndez‘s Shaking Up the House, about the two Latinx daughters of the outgoing American president who start a friendly prank war with the incoming president’s daughters in a behind-the-scenes middle grade novel that looks at life in the White House from a kid’s point of view. Publication is planned for winter 2021. Author agent: Linda Camacho at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency.

April 21

Jennifer Ung at Simon Pulse has acquired Aaron H. Aceves‘ YA debut, This Is Why They Hate Us. The novel follows Enrique, a Latino teen from East L.A., who is determined to get over his crush on his best friend by summer’s end and winds up discovering heartfelt truths about friendship, family, and himself. Publication is planned for spring 2022. Author agent: Tina Dubois at ICM Partners.

April 23

None.

April 28

Clarissa Wong at HarperCollins has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Teresa Martinez. The picture book centers cellist Yo-Yo Ma using his music to build bridges instead of walls—a testament to music, humanity, and what unites us. Publication is set for fall 2021. Illustrator agent: Aurora Meyer at Astound.

April 30

Joanna Cárdenas at Kokila has bought, at auction, world rights to My Two Border Towns by David Bowles, one of the founders of #DignidadLiteraria. This debut picture book reveals a boy’s vibrant life as a border kid, visiting the market across the border with his father and spending time with family and friends, while also shining light on what some immigrant families face at border crossings. Erika Meza will illustrate; publication is set for summer 2021 in simultaneous English and Spanish editions. Author agent: Taylor Martindale Kean at Full Circle Literary. Illustrator agent: Claire Cartey at Holroyde Cartey.

May 5

Holly West at Feiwel and Friends has bought The Valiant Ladies of Potosi by Melissa Grey (Girl at Midnight and Rated), in which two proper young 17th-century Peruvian ladies trade their skirts for swords and end up as vigilante crime-fighters, while falling for each other along the way. Publication is scheduled for winter 2022. Author agent: Catherine Drayton at InkWell Management.

Olivia Valcarce at Scholastic has acquired Yamile Saied Méndez‘s Wish Upon a Stray, about a girl who moves from Argentina to the U.S. and meets a dog who reminds her of her pet back home. Publication is scheduled for 2021. Author agent: Linda Camacho at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency.

Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books has acquired world rights to  Ana Siqueira‘s picture book  Bella’s Recipe for Success, in which  a bilingual Latina girl tries to learn how to bake with her abuela and discovers the value of making mistakes and trying again. Geraldine Rodriguez  will illustrate. Publication is planned for  spring 2021. Author agent: Andrea Walker at Olswanger Literary. Illustrator agent: Lucie Luddington at the Bright Agency.  

May 7

None.

May 12

Carmen Johnson at Amazon/Skyscape has acquired, at auction, world rights to Jonny Garza Villa‘s #OwnVoices debut novel, Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun. Pitched as Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets One Day at a Time, the book centers a Mexican-American Texan high school senior Julián Luna and the repercussions that follow after he accidentally comes out to the world on social media. Julián finds himself juggling the joy of falling head over heels in love with a boy from California, and the fear of his conservative father finding out before he’s ready. Publication is set for summer 2021. Author agent: Claire Draper at the Bent Agency.

May 14

Monica Perez at Charlesbridge has acquired Abuelita and I Make Flan by 2018 We Need Diverse Books Walter Grant recipient Adriana Hernandez-Bergstrom, making her author-illustrator debut. The picture book features a girl who accidentally drops a family heirloom while baking with her abuela and must find a way to make things right. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022. Author agent: Emily Mitchell.

May 19

Neal Porter at Holiday House/Porter has acquired world rights to I Don’t Care by Julie Fogliano, a picture book about two friends comparing all of the things that do (and do not) matter when it comes to true friendship. It will be jointly illustrated by Caldecott Honorees Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal. Publication is set for fall 2022. Illustrator agent: Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary.

May 21

Allison Moore at Bloomsbury has acquired author, playwright, and “Modern Love” contributor David Valdes‘s Spin Me Right Round. Pitched as an #OwnVoices twist on Back to the Future, the YA novel follows an out-and-proud Latinx teen who accidentally time-travels to his parents’ era and makes it his mission to save a closeted classmate from a tragic end. Publication is slated for fall 2021. Author agent: Annie Bomke at Annie Bomke Literary Agency.

Ann Kelley at Random House Studio has bought, at auction, world rights to The Notebook Keeper by Stephen Briseño, illustrated by Magdalena Mora. Inspired by true events, the picture book follows Noemi and her Mamá who, denied entry at the U.S. border, must wait and find the refugee in charge of “the notebook,” an unofficial ledger of those waiting to cross into the U.S. As time goes on and hope dwindles, Noemi discovers the power of spreading kindness in such a dark place. Publication is planned for summer 2022. Author agent: Natalie Lakosil at the Bradford Literary Agency. Illustrator agent: Steven Malk at Writers House.

May 27

Amy Cloud at HMH has bought world rights to The Do-Over by Coni Yovaniniz and Rodrigo Vargas. In this middle grade graphic novel, three friends start a hair salon in an Airstream trailer and navigate the ups and downs of starting a business and friendship. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022.

Esther Cajahuaringa at Little, Brown has bought Rafa Counts on Papá by author-illustrator Joe Cepeda. The picture book is about a son and father who spend their days measuring things, including their love for each other. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022. Author agent: Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

Melinda Rathjen at WorthyKids has bought world rights to The Night Baafore the First Day of School by Dawn Young, illustrated by Pablo Pino. Opening on the evening before the first day of school, the picture book features a boy who can’t sleep and plans to count sheep—but the sheep spill out of his backpack, and chaos ensues. Publication is set for June 2021. Illustrator agent:  Atlanta Japp at Advocate Art Agency.

June 2

Liz Kossnar at Little, Brown has bought, in an exclusive submission, in a six-figure deal, author-illustrator Christine Suggs‘s YA graphic memoir debut Ay Mija!: My Bilingual Summer in Mexico, plus a second untitled YA graphic memoir. Ay Mija! follows Christine as they spend two weeks with their family in Mexico, experiencing their history and finding their voice. Publication for the first book is planned for 2023. Author agent: Melissa Edwards and Alyssa Jennette at Stonesong.

Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has bought Monica Brown‘s Small Room, Big Dreams: The Journey of Julián and Joaquin Castro, a picture book biography about the twin brothers’ journey from immigrant family roots to progressive political leaders in their roles as Secretary of Housing and U.S. Congressman, respectively. Mirelle Ortega will illustrate. Publication is set for spring 2021. Author agent:  Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary. Illustrator agent: Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency.

June 4

Nick Thomas at Levine Querido has bought Donna Barba Higuera‘s middle grade science fiction novel, The Last Cuentista. Relocating to a new planet after Earth is destroyed, 12-year-old Petra Peña’s suspended animation fails during the 370-year journey, so when all the other children are mysteriously reprogrammed and the adults purged, Petra becomes the lone bringer of Earth’s now forbidden stories and her grandmother’s Mexican folklore to a changing humanity. Publication is planned for fall 2021. Author agent: Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio.

June 9

None.

June 11

Marisa DiNovis at Knopf has acquired, in a preempt, Before Takeoff by Adi Alsaid (Let’s Get Lost). Pitched as The Sun Is Also a Star meets Jumanji, the YA novel follows James and Michelle, who meet in the Atlanta airport and, on a dare, press a mysterious green button that unleashes a blizzard of chaos through the terminals. Publication of the first book is scheduled for fall 2021. Author agent:  Peter Knapp at Park & Fine Literary and Media.

June 16

Jennifer Greene at Clarion has acquired, in an exclusive submission, an untitled YA novel by Natalia Sylvester, winner of the International Latino Book Award for fiction. The #OwnVoices story centers a Latinx immigrant teen in central Florida, who has lived with hip dysplasia and countless surgeries, as she navigates the waters of first love and feeling out of alignment—both within and outside of her body—and chases the dream of becoming a performer at a mermaid attraction. Publication is planned for spring 2022. Author agent: Laura Dail at Laura Dail Literary Agency.

Tamar Brazis at Viking has bought world rights to the picture book Tomatoes for Neela, written by Padma Lakshmi, host of Top Chef and Taste the Nation, and illustrated by Caldecott Honor illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal. The intergenerational story follows Neela, who cooks with her mother in homage to her grandmother. As Neela and her amma shop for a meal together and prepare paati’s famous tomato sauce, they celebrate the storytelling involved in passing down your family’s treasured recipes while finding a way to feel closer to a family member who lives far away. Publication is set for fall 2021. Illustrator agent: Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary.

June 18

Rachel Diebel at Feiwel and Friends has bought Racquel Marie‘s debut #OwnVoices contemporary YA Ophelia After All, about a romantic chismosa with a penchant for gardening roses and crushing on every boy in sight, who begins to question her sexuality and sense of self when she starts to fall for a shy girl in the weeks leading up to their high school prom and graduation. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022. Author agent: Thao Le at the Dijkstra Agency.

June 23

Mari Kesselring and Ashley Wyrick at Jolly Fish Press have acquired Tia Lugo Speaks No Evil, a middle grade contemporary novel by Danette Vigilante. Tia Lugo, an asthmatic 13-year-old Puerto Rican girl living in New York City, witnesses a murder late one night from her bedroom window. Terrified that the killer will do anything to keep her silent and desperate to find the courage to speak out, Tia turns to her grandmother’s favorite shopping spot: the botánica. Publication is set for fall 2021.

June 25

None.

June 30

None.

.

cecilia-02-original

Cecilia Cackley is a Mexican-American playwright and puppeteer based in Washington, DC. A longtime bookseller, she is currently the Children’s/YA buyer and event coordinator for East City Bookshop on Capitol Hill. Find out more about her art at www.ceciliacackley.com or follow her on Twitter @citymousedc

Feb 15 2021

Latinx Book Deals January-March 2020

.

Compiled by Cecilia Cackley

This is an occasional series keeping track of the book deals announced by Latinx writers and illustrators. The purpose of this series is to celebrate book deals by authors and illustrators in our community and to advocate for more of them. If you are an agent and you have a Latinx client who just announced a deal, you can let me know on Twitter, @citymousedc. If you are a Latinx author or illustrator writing for children or young adults, and you just got a book deal, send me a message and we will celebrate with you! And if I left anyone out here, please let me know! Here’s to many more wonderful books in the years to come.

January 2

Anne Schwartz at Random House/Schwartz & Wade has acquired world rights to The Queen’s Pangolin by Melinda Beatty, author of the Heartseeker series, and illustrated by Paola Escobar, illustrator of Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré. In this picture book, a pangolin breaks his queen’s swing, and struggles with telling her the truth about what happened. Publication is set for fall 2022. Illustrator agent: Amy Kitcherside at Pickled Ink.

Nina Gruener at Cameron Kids has acquired world rights to Herbert & Dorothy: The Story of a Postal Clerk and a Librarian and Their Extraordinary Collection of Art by Jackie Azúa Kramer, illustrated by Julie Breckenreid, a picture book about the New York couple who loved art, collected it, and gave it all away to museums across the country. Publication is slated for fall 2021. Author agent: Stephen Fraser at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency.

January 7

Carolina Ortiz at HarperCollins has bought world English rights to Ashanti Fortson‘s debut, Cress & Petra. Set in the near future, the YA graphic novel follows the friendship between Cress Orozco, an autistic teenager with plenty of problems and big thoughts about life, and Petra, a lab-made AI looking for adventure. Their intertwining experiences raise the question: what does it mean to be human? Publication is planned for fall 2022. Author agent: Susan Graham at Einstein Literary Management.

January 9

None.

January 14

Holly Rice at Disney-Hyperion has acquired world rights to the first three books in Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy, an early chapter book series written by Kallie George and illustrated by Lorena Alvarez Gómez. Young fairy godmothers-in-training go on adventures and attend magical classes at Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy, a reimagining of Disney Park’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother. Publication for all three books is slated for fall 2022. Illustrator agent: Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency.

Joanna Cárdenas and Sydnee Monday at Kokila have acquired world rights to The Cot in the Living Room, a picture book debut by Hilda Eunice Burgos, author of Ana Maria Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle. Debut picture book artist Gaby D’Alessandro will illustrate. Based in New York City’s Washington Heights, it follows a Dominican-American child’s journey from jealousy to empathy as her parents babysit young people from the neighborhood whose families work night shifts. Publication is set for summer 2021. The book was submitted to Kokila’s yearly open call for unagented manuscripts. Illustrator agent: Gail Gaynin at Morgan Gaynin.

Louise May at Lee & Low has bought world English and Spanish rights to The Turquoise Room by Monica Brown, illustrated by Pura Belpré Award honoree Adriana M. Garcia. This bilingual picture book recounts the artistic lives of three generations of women in the author’s family as they pass their creativity from generation to generation for more than 100 years. Publication is scheduled for 2021. Author/Illustrator agent: Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary.

January 16

Beth Terrill at NorthSouth has acquired world rights to Baptiste Paul‘s picture book, Climb On!, which follows a father and daughter as they hike to the top of a mountain. Jacqueline Alcántara (The Field) will illustrate. Publication is set for spring 2022. Author agent: Karen Grencik from Red Fox Literary. Illustrator agent: Adriana Dominguez from Full Circle Literary.

January 23

Annie Berger at Sourcebooks Fire has acquired world English rights to Doomed by Laura Pohl (The Last 8), the story of four troubled friends, one murdered girl, and a dark fate that may leave them all doomed. While investigating the murder of their best friend, four reimagined fairytale heroines must uncover connections to their ancient curses and attempt to forge their own paths before it’s too late. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021. Author agent: Sarah LaPolla at Bradford Literary Agency.

Harriet Low at HMH has bought world rights to Hello, Puddle! by Anita Sanchez, illustrated by Luisa Uribe. The nonfiction picture book tells of the ways animals use puddles, from nurseries for frogs to drinking fountains for butterflies, underscoring the accessibility of the natural world and helping children understand the intricate link between wildlife and their habitats. Publication is slated for spring 2022. Author agent: Regina Ryan at Regina Ryan Publishing. Illustrator agent: Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency.

Kelsey Skea at Amazon/Two Lions has acquired world rights to Estelle Laure‘s Before the World Wakes, a celebration of the magical moments witnessed on an adventure before daybreak, illustrated by Paola Zakimi. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022. Author/Illustrator agent: Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management.

January 28

Stephanie Stein at HarperCollins has bought, at auction, in a two-book deal, middle grade novel The Insiders by Schneider Family Award winner Mark Oshiro (Anger Is a Gift). The book features a queer boy who, fleeing from bullies, discovers a magical closet that not only provides him sanctuary, but also unites him with two other kids facing persecution at their own schools across the country, helping them find friendship and strength in one another. Publication is slated for fall 2021. Author agent: DongWon Song at Howard Morhaim Literary Agency.

January 30

None.

February 4

Mark Siegel at First Second has acquired Monster Locker, a middle grade graphic novel series written by Jorge Aguirre with art by Andrès Vera Martinez, in which a sixth-grader named Pablo and his friends must stop various monsters that emerge from a portal inside of his locker from destroying their entire grade school. Publication is scheduled for 2022. Author/Illustrator agent: Tanya McKinnon at McKinnon Literary.

Beth Terrill at NorthSouth has bought world rights to Baptiste and Miranda Paul‘s picture book, Peace, a concept picture book that explores definitions of words and actions small and big that foster peace. Estelí Meza, winner of the A la Orilla del Viento, the premier Picture Book Contest Award in Mexico, will illustrate. Publication is set for fall 2021. Author agent: Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary. Illustrator agent: Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary.

February 6

Whitney Leopard at Random House Graphic has acquired world rights to Alison Wilgus and Rii Abrego‘s middle-grade graphic novel Grace Needs Space!. In this SF adventure, Grace is excited to spend the weekend away from her overbearing mother and finally get to spend time with her “fun” mom on a delivery to Titan, but when things go sideways, it’s up to Grace (with some help from her mother back home) to save the day. Publication is planned for 2022. Illustrator agent: Molly O’Neill at Root Literary.

Carol Hinz at Lerner/Carolrhoda has bought world rights to Hair Story by NoNieqa Ramos. Written in rhythmic verse, this picture book follows two friends, a Boricua girl and a black girl, as others first try to tame their tresses and eventually celebrate their gorgeous, natural hair. Keisha Morris will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2021. Author agent: Emily Keyes at Fuse Literary Agency.

Annie Berger at Sourcebooks has bought the middle-grade series Who Invited the Villain? by debut author Victor Pineiro. Pitched as Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure in middle school, the first book, Pirates Make Terrible Guests, follows Javi de Silva, a sandwich-obsessed Puerto Rican sixth grader, who inadvertently lets Blackbeard the Pirate loose on his town when his antique dinner table brings his homework to life. Book one is slated for fall 2021. Author agent: Elana Roth Parker at Laura Dail Literary Agency.

February 13

Alison Deering at Capstone has bought middle grade novel The Greatest Superpower by Alex Sanchez (Rainbow Boys, and the Lambda Award-winning novel So Hard to Say). As summer draws to a close, 13-year-old Jorge wants nothing more than to spend his days hanging out with his fellow comic book-obsessed friends. But then his parents announce they’re divorcing for a reason Jorge and his twin brother never saw coming—their father comes out as transgender. Publication is set for spring 2021. Author agent: Miriam Altshuler at DeFiore and Company.

February 20

Sylvie Frank at S&S/Wiseman has acquired, on exclusive submission, New York Times Best Illustrated Award winner John Parra‘s untitled picture book debut as author-illustrator. Inspired by Parra’s childhood, it follows a boy as he accompanies his father, a landscape contractor, through his day on the job. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022. Author agent: Adriana Dominguez and Stefanie Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary.

February 25

Kiara Valdez at First Second has acquired, in a preempt, Magnolia Porter Siddell and Maddi Gonzalez‘s Tiffany’s Griffon, a middle-grade graphic novel about a girl whose favorite fantasy book series comes to life, leading her to lie about her identity in order to steal the destiny of the Chosen One from a popular girl in her grade. Publication is slated for 2022. Illustrator agent: Susan Graham at Einstein Literary Management.

February 27

Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press has acquired world rights to Alexandra Alessandri‘s bilingual picture book Isabel and Her Colores Go to School, illustrated by Courtney Dawson. Isabel doesn’t speak much English, preferring the colors and comfort of Spanish, yet she still finds creative ways to communicate when words won’t work. Publication is set for fall 2021. Author agent: Deborah Warren at East West Literary.

March 3

Taylor Norman at Chronicle has bought Pura Belpré Honor author Rebecca Balcárcel‘s next middle grade novel, Luz. Injured soccer star Luz is having a hard enough time reframing her identity as a computer programmer, but when her father reveals a secret from his native Guatemala, she learns what it means to truly start over—by first opening her heart. Publication is set for spring 2022. Author agent: Katie Grimm at Don Congdon Associates.

March 5

Ben Rosenthal at HarperCollins/Tegen has acquired Yehudi Mercado‘s Chunky and an untitled sequel. The middle grade graphic memoir is about the author’s lifelong struggle with his weight and trying to meet the expectations of his sporty dad while growing up in a lower middle class Mexican-Jewish family in Houston in the 1980s. Will Hudi’s imaginary mascot, Chunky, be able to cheer him in the right direction of pursuing theater? (Hint: Yes, he will.) Publication is slated for summer 2021. Author agent: Charlie Olsen at InkWell Management.

Melissa Manlove at Chronicle has bought world rights to Elizabeth Brown‘s The World Entire, a picture book biography of Portuguese diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who defied his government during World War II and helped save thousands of Jewish refugees, at great personal cost. Society of Illustrators Original Art gold medalist Melissa Castrillón will illustrate. Publication is planned for fall 2022. Illustrator agent: Helen Boyle at Pickled Ink.

Nancy Inteli at HarperCollins has bought world rights to Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz, leader of the two-time Latin Grammy-winning children’s band, The Lucky Band. Inspired by the song of the same name, the debut picture book is an immigrant anthem in which all corners of the city come together over ice cream. Micah Player (Friday Night Wrestlefest and Vote for Our Future) will illustrate. Publication is planned for summer 2021. Author agent: Sara Camilli at the Sara Camilli Agency.

March 10

Karen Greenberg at Knopf has bought world rights to How to Hear the Universe, a picture book biography of Gabriela Gonzalez, written by Patricia Valdez, illustrated by Sara Palacios. The book follows Gabriela’s journey to discover the existence of gravitational waves in space, which Albert Einstein first theorized a century ago. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022. Author agent: Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Trident Media. Illustrator agent: Minju Chang at Bookstop Literary.

March 12

Caitlyn Dlouhy has bought, for her eponymous imprint at Atheneum, world rights to Jazz for Lunch by Jarrett Dapier, illustrated by Eugenia Mello. The picture book is about the joys of food and jazz, and how the world is just a little bit better when you’ve embraced both. Publication is slated for fall 2021; Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties represented the author and the illustrator in the deal.

Michelle Frey at Knopf has acquired world rights to Mystery of the Monarchs, written by Golden Kite Award Winner for nonfiction Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Erika Meza. The story centers on entomologist Fred Urquhart, who was obsessed with bugs since childhood and who, along with his wife Norah plus a team of citizen scientists, uncovered one of nature’s biggest secrets when they discovered where monarch butterflies migrate each fall. Publication is set for summer 2022. Illustrator agent: Claire Cartey at Holroyde Cartey Limited.

Karen Greenberg at Knopf has bought, at auction, world rights to Tia Fortuna’s New Home, written by Pura Belpré Award-winning author Ruth Behar and illustrated by Devon Holzwarth. The picture book follows a Sephardic Jewish girl and her great-aunt, who is leaving her beloved Miami home to begin a new chapter of her life. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022. Author agent:  Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Trident Media.

March 17

Lee Wade at Random House Studio has acquired world rights to My Brother Is Away by Caroline Starr Rose, writing as Sara Greenwood, and illustrated by Luisa Uribe. In this picture book inspired by the author’s childhood, a girl navigates her various, and sometimes complicated, feelings toward her incarcerated brother. Publication is slated for fall 2022. Illustrator agent: James Burns at the Bright Agency.

March 19

None.

March 24

Andrew DeYoung of Beaming Books has acquired world rights to Rochelle Melander‘s Mightier Than the Sword: Rebels, Reformers, and Revolutionaries Who Changed the World Through Writing. This middle-grade anthology of biographies features authors and poets, social activists and politicians, explorers and journalists, and more. It focuses on inspiring kids through these stories; writing tips and prompts encourage them to enact change in their own lives and communities. Melina Ontiveros will illustrate; publication is set for spring 2021. Illustrator agent: Kate Kendrick at Astound.

Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to Not So Small by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Paola Escobar. This picture book takes cues from nature to demonstrate how even those who feel too small to get noticed can create something world-changing by coming together. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022. Illustrator agent: Amy Kitcherside at Pickled Ink.

March 26

None.

March 31

Liza Kaplan at Philomel has bought world rights to novelist Jenny Torres Sanchez‘s debut picture book, With Lots of Love. The book follows a girl named Rocio as she discovers the importance of finding pieces of home wherever she is. André Ceolin will illustrate. Simultaneous English and Spanish publication is slated for spring 2022. Author agent: Kerry Sparks at Levine Greenberg Rostan. Illustrator agent: Mela Bolinao at MB Artists.

.

cecilia-02-original

Cecilia Cackley is a Mexican-American playwright and puppeteer based in Washington, DC. A longtime bookseller, she is currently the Children’s/YA buyer and event coordinator for East City Bookshop on Capitol Hill. Find out more about her art at www.ceciliacackley.com or follow her on Twitter @citymousedc