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Circular Library

Deals

Check out Jem's deal announcements for new book acquisitions.

Author-illustrator Michelle Jing Chan's CELEBRATING DONG ZHI: THE WINTER SOLSTICE, in which a young girl can't help but compare different winters after moving, and it isn't until her grandfather convinces her to celebrate Dong Zhi on the longest cold night that winter symbolizes hope and rebirth, and no matter if they are in his homeland of China or California or this new place, a home is rooted in family, to Megan Abbate at Bloomsbury Children's, in a pre-empt, in a two-book deal, for publication in fall 2025, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

Celebrating Dong Zhi

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Picture Book Fiction

Michelle Jing Chan

Michelle Jing Chan

Announcement Date:

August 29, 2023

Michelle Jing Chan

Tiktok influencer Mother Moon's THE BELLY SONG, a board book series that celebrates the body and belly, illustrated by Leah Giles, to Brett Duquette at Little Bee Books, in a two-book deal, for publication in summer 2024, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

The Belly Song

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Board Book Series

Leah Giles

Announcement Date:

August 17, 2023

Leah Giles

James Serafino's PENELOPE WEATHERVANE'S GRUMPY DAY, in which a girl's picnic plans are ruined when a storm rolls in and her thoughts turn cloudy…until she remembers to breathe, clearing the fog until the grumpy day is gone—or is it?, to Kat Brzozowski at Feiwel and Friends, for publication in spring 2025, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

Penelope Weathervane's Grumpy Day

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Picture Book Fiction

James Serafino

James Serafino

Announcement Date:

August 16, 2023

James Serafino

NYT-bestselling author of THE COLOR OF COMPROMISE Jemar Tisby and Malcolm Newsome's I AM THE SPIRIT OF JUSTICE, a companion to Tisby's forthcoming adult book THE SPIRIT OF JUSTICE, taking children on a journey through the history of the U.S., highlighting the ways people have been fighting for justice from the very beginning, illustrated by Nadia Fisher, to Katherine Jacobs at Zonderkidz, in a two-book deal, for publication in winter 2025, by Mel Berger at William Morris Endeavor for Tisby, by James McGowan at BookEnds for Newsome, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).
Separately, Jacobs also has acquired a young reader's edition of THE SPIRIT OF JUSTICE for publication in fall 2024.

I Am the Spirit of Justice

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Picture Book Non-fiction

Nadia Fisher

Announcement Date:

August 1, 2023

Nadia Fisher

Author of HELLO, STAR and THE LEAGUE OF PICKY EATERS Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic's ZOMBIE AND BRAIN ARE FRIENDS, about a young zombie farmer who is taught that brains are food, not friends but when he meets the cutest, pinkest, squishiest brain ever, he must find a way to convince his parents that his new friend should be the family pet and not family dinner, illustrated by Laan Cham, to Alex Borbolla at Bloomsbury Children's, for publication in the spring of 2024, by Jordan Hamessley while at New Leaf Literary & Media for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Zombie and Brain are Friends

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Picture Book Fiction

Laan Cham

Announcement Date:

July 11, 2023

Laan Cham

Authors of GRANDPA'S SCROLL Ginger Park and Frances Park's SUKA'S FARM, set in Korea in 1941, when the country was under Japanese rule, in which a Korean boy steps out of his prescribed place and pushes societal boundaries by entering a farm owned by a Japanese man, illustrated by Tiffany Chen, to Sue Tarsky at Albert Whitman, for publication in fall 2024, by Jennifer Unter at The Unter Agency for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Suka's Farm

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Picture Book Fiction

Tiffany Chen

Announcement Date:

June 30, 2023

Tiffany Chen

Sarah Scheerger, LCSW's PURPLE UP!, pitched as inspired by the real-life “Purple Up! Day” which is held on April 15th, during the Month of the Military Child, in celebration of U.S. military kids around the world, illustrated by Leah Giles, to Sue Tarsky at Albert Whitman, for publication in spring 2024, by Deborah Warren at East-West Agency for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Purple Up!

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Picture Book Non-fiction

Leah Giles

Announcement Date:

June 16, 2023

Leah Giles

Sheri Mabry's MY LUCK CHARM, in which a child's discovery of her connection with nature allows her to navigate her feelings and beliefs, illustrated by Tiffany Chen, to Sue Tarsky at Albert Whitman, for publication in spring 2024, by by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

My Luck Charm

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Picture Book Fiction

Tiffany Chen

Announcement Date:

June 15, 2023

Tiffany Chen

Stephanie Williams's MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR: WRECK AND ROLL, based on the TV show, in which a rad-skating band of thieves starts going wild, and it's up to Marvel's Lunella Lafayette (Moon Girl) and Devil Dinosaur to take to the streets and put a stop to their crime spree, illustrated by Asia Simone, to Michael Petranek at Scholastic, with Connor Lloyd editing, for publication in spring 2024, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Wreck and Roll

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Graphic Novel: MG

Asia Simone

Announcement Date:

June 7, 2023

Asia Simone

Amy Buchanan's LET'S CALL A TRUCE, a sexy debut contemporary romance, about a recently widowed single mom reentering the corporate world and her annoying (and attractive) workplace rival, who call a truce on their feud to complete a career-making project, but when that truce turns into something more, the past comes back to threaten their second chance at love, to Christina Lopez at Griffin, in a two-book deal, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world English).

Let's Call a Truce

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Romance

Amy Buchanan

Announcement Date:

May 22, 2023

Amy Buchanan

Inspired by Madeleine L'Engle's A WRINKLE IN TIME's famous quote, "Stay angry, little Meg," STAY ANGRY, LITTLE GIRL, which seeks to empower girls to embrace their less-popular but just-as-valid emotions, illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan, to Grace Kendall at Farrar, Straus Children's, for publication in the summer of 2024, by Lisa Erbach Vance at Aaron Priest Literary Agency for the Madeleine L'Engle Estate, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Stay Angry, Little Girl

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Picture Book Fiction

Michelle Jing Chan

Announcement Date:

April 27, 2023

Michelle Jing Chan

Author-illustrator of SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN Laan Cham's PERFECT IS NOT PERFECT, following a perfectionist panda in his quest to teach his messy classmate how to be perfect too—but when his plans go awry, he wonders if perhaps there is something special hidden in imperfection, to Maria Correa at Random House Children's, for publication in summer 2025, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

Perfect is Not Perfect

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Picture Book Fiction

Laan Cham

Laan Cham

Announcement Date:

April 26, 2023

Laan Cham

Author of TOMATOES IN MY LUNCHBOX Costantia Manoli's THE FIG TREE, sharing the history of Cyprus's "Green Line," a demilitarized zone that has divided the island's population for nearly 50 years following the violent summer of 1974—from the perspective of a fig tree growing along the line, illustrated by Leah Giles, to Mekisha Telfer at Roaring Brook Press, for publication in 2025, by Jennifer Weltz at Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

The Fig Tree

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Picture Book Fiction

Leah Giles

Announcement Date:

April 11, 2023

Leah Giles

Sarah Asuquo's SHINE, following a boy who is bullied for being tall and having a scar under his eye, but who soon realizes, with the help of his parents, that the things that make him different make him special, illustrated by Nadia Fisher, to Scholastic UK, with Martha Gavin editing, for publication in fall 2023, by Oscar Janson-Smith at Gleam Titles for the author and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Shine

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Picture Book

Nadia Fisher

Announcement Date:

April 7, 2023

Nadia Fisher

Ariel Vanece's FREE MUSEUM DAY, about a girl trying to find alternative things to do on free museum day once her grandpa's mobility begins to deteriorate, unaware that grandpa already has a plan, illustrated by Tatiana Gardel, to Lauri Hornik at Rocky Pond Books, for publication in spring 2025, by Ana Crespo at East-West Agency for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Free Museum Day

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Picture Book Fiction

Tatiana Gardel

Announcement Date:

March 13, 2023

Tatiana Gardel

Keeper of the Lost Cities

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Graphic Novel

Adapter: Celina Frenn

Announcement Date:

March 10, 2023

Celina Frenn

Julie Thompson's WHEN ISAAC HEARS THE RAIN, an affirming story that follows a joyful little Black boy who loves to celebrate the rain, illustrated by Leah Giles, to Peggy Schaefer at WorthyKids, at auction, for publication in spring 2024, by Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch Literary Services for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

When Isaac Hears the Rain

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Picture Book Fiction

Leah Giles

Announcement Date:

March 1, 2023

Leah Giles

The Peace Studio, its co-founder NYT bestselling author Maya Soetoro-Ng and Todd Shuster's THE FIRST DAY OF PEACE, offering a modern parable of two feuding communities brought together by one child's idea of kindness, which spreads and sparks healing and peace in a time of environmental precarity, illustrated by Tatiana Gardel, to Karen Lotz at Candlewick, for publication in fall 2023, by Jennifer Gates at Aevitas Creative Management for the authors, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

The First Day of Peace

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Picture Book Fiction

Tatiana Gardel

Announcement Date:

January 3, 2023

Tatiana Gardel

Author BUNNY'S BOOK CLUB and the forthcoming BRAVO, LITTLE BIRD Annie Silvestro's SIGNS OF FRIENDSHIP, following two best friends who communicate using sign language as they grow together, share a clubhouse, plant a garden, and discover that there's always room for more friends—including the new boy next door, illustrated by Ziyue Chen, to Catherine Laudone at Paula Wiseman Books, for publication in spring 2025, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author, and by Mela Bolinao at MB Artists for the illustrator (world).

Signs of Friendship

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Picture Book Fiction

Annie Silvestro

Announcement Date:

December 19, 2022

Annie Silvestro

Author of A HISTORY OF ME Adrea Theodore's I WOULD LOVE YOU STILL, which follows a parent and child on an outing and inspires silly and sweet comparisons that highlight the unconditional nature of parental love, illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max, to Grace Maccarone at Holiday House, for publication in spring 2024, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author, and by Becca Langton at Darley Anderson on behalf of Clare Wallace for the illustrator (world).

I Would Love You Still

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Picture Book Fiction

Adrea Theodore

Announcement Date:

December 15, 2022

Adrea Theodore

Etta Easton's THE KISS COUNTDOWN, a rom-com about a down-on-her-luck entrepreneur who finds her feelings are all too real when she agrees to a fake relationship with an astronaut to help him reassure and distract his anxious family as he prepares for an upcoming moon launch, to Esi Sogah at Berkley, in a good deal, in a pre-empt, in a two-book deal, for publication in spring 2024, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

The Kiss Countdown

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Romance

Etta Easton

Announcement Date:

December 1, 2022

Etta Easton

Author of I AM MY ANCESTORS' WILDEST DREAMS and BLACK GIRL MAGIC Tanisia "Tee" Moore's WASH DAY, showcasing a sacred rite of passage in Black culture—the hair wash day routine—and on Saturday, it goes down in a girl's house, if momma can catch her, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa, to Tracy Mack at Scholastic, for publication in spring 2025, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author, and by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Wash Day

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Picture Book Fiction

Tanisia "Tee" Moore

Announcement Date:

November 22, 2022

Tanisia "Tee" Moore

Author-illustrator of the forthcoming JACK, THE LIBRARY CAT Marietta Apollonio's WOMBAT & THE FAMILY TREE, starting as a family tree assignment, branching out, and connecting a wombat to discover family members and ancestors he never knew about, and leading him to the joy—and sometimes frustration—of discovering new talents, to Adria Haley at Thomas Nelson, for publication in spring 2024, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

Wombat & The Family Tree

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Picture Book Fiction

Marietta Apollonio

Marietta Apollonio

Announcement Date:

November 18, 2022

Marietta Apollonio

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Fiction: Romance. November 11, 2022.

Sunshine and Spice

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Romance

Aurora Palit

Announcement Date:

November 11, 2022

Aurora Palit

Traci Huahn's MAMIE FIGHTS TO GO TO SCHOOL: BASED ON A TRUE STORY, inspired by the real life of Mamie Tape, a Chinese American student growing up in San Francisco in the 1880s; Mamie and her parents fought for her to attend their local all-white school, eventually taking a case to the California Supreme Court: Tape v. Hurley (1885), illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan, to Phoebe Yeh at Crown Children's, for publication in summer 2024, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Mamie Fights to Go to School

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Picture Book Fiction

Michelle Jing Chan

Announcement Date:

November 7, 2022

Michelle Jing Chan

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Children's: Picture Book Fiction. November 4, 2022.

The Simplest Song

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Picture Book Fiction

Shelly Swann

Announcement Date:

November 4, 2022

Shelly Swann

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Children's: Picture Book Non-fiction. October 6, 2022. Mary Man-Kong's LUNAR NEW YEAR, which invites young readers to explore the history and traditions of the Lunar New Year, illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan, to Andrea Posner-Sanchez at Little Golden Books, for publication in the fall 2023, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Lunar New Year

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Picture Book Non-fiction

Michelle Jing Chan

Announcement Date:

October 6, 2022

Michelle Jing Chan

Fairy Lights

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