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Circular Library

Deals

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

Author of the forthcoming MY HAIR IS A BOOK and BEFORE THE SHIPS Maisha Oso's VENUS WASHINGTON AND THE LASAGNA DRAMA, the first in a chapter book series, following a girl who enlists her hamster, two girls from across the street, and their cat to find grandma's super secret lasagna ingredient after grandpa says she put her foot in it, illustrated by Courtney Lovett, to Reka Simonsen at Atheneum, in a good deal, at auction, in a three-book deal, for publication starting in spring 2026, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

Venus Washington and the Lasagna Drama

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Chapter Book Series

Maisha Oso

Courtney Lovett

Announcement Date:

May 7, 2024

Maisha Oso

Author of the forthcoming MY HAIR IS A BOOK and BEFORE THE SHIPS Maisha Oso's VENUS WASHINGTON AND THE LASAGNA DRAMA, the first in a chapter book series, following a girl who enlists her hamster, two girls from across the street, and their cat to find grandma's super secret lasagna ingredient after grandpa says she put her foot in it, illustrated by Courtney Lovett, to Reka Simonsen at Atheneum, in a good deal, at auction, in a three-book deal, for publication starting in spring 2026, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

Venus Washington and the Lasagna Drama

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Author:

Illustrator:

Chapter Book Series

Maisha Oso

Courtney Lovett

Announcement Date:

May 7, 2024

Courtney Lovett

Author-illustrator Nadia Fisher's debut AT THE COOKOUT, following a young girl searching all over the family's summer cookout for her favorite cousin—and when he's not running through the sprinklers, turning the double Dutch ropes, playing spades with the uncles, or chatting with the aunties, she finally finds him in the most unexpected place, to Matt Phipps at Putnam Children's, for publication in summer 2025, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

At the Cookout!

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Picture Book Fiction

Nadia Fisher

Nadia Fisher

Announcement Date:

April 1, 2024

Nadia Fisher

Suzy Capozzi's I AM POWERFUL, a new title in the Step Into Reading series, in which a young girl finds out how powerful she can be when she dances with her dance team at a peaceful rally to try and save the community rec center from closing, illustrated by Courtney Lovett, to Heidi Kilgras at Random House Children's, for publication in fall 2024, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

I am Powerful

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Early Reader Fiction

Courtney Lovett

Announcement Date:

March 29, 2024

Courtney Lovett

Author of THE BLUE PICKUP Natasha Tripplett's PLANTED WITH LOVE, about a young boy who arrives at a new foster home after living in many others; although wary at first, he finally is able to help in his foster mother's garden, and through the power of her love, he learns about acceptance, illustrated by Adriana Predoi; and DOWNTOWN DOORS, about a boy noticing all the doors as he walks through his city with his mom, emphasizing community, food insecurities, homelessness, and the small ways we can care for each other, illustrated by Leah Giles, to Bunmi Ishola at WaterBrook Multnomah, for publication in spring 2025 and fall 2026, by Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for Tripplett, by Kate Kendrick Powell and Alice Jin Zhang at Astound US for Predoi, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for Giles (world).

Downtown Doors

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Picture Book Fiction

Leah Giles

Announcement Date:

March 11, 2024

Leah Giles

New Girl actor and author of I DON'T WANT TO READ THIS BOOK Max Greenfield's GOOD NIGHT THOUGHTS, following a young child whose fantastical imagination keeps them awake at night—and how they reframe their racing thoughts to quiet their mind and finally get to sleep, illustrated by James Serafino, to Jennifer Klonsky at Putnam Children's, for publication in the fall of 2024, by Albert Lee at UTA for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Good Night Thoughts

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Picture Book Fiction

James Serafino

Announcement Date:

March 4, 2024

James Serafino

Newbery Award Honoree, National Book Award finalist, and two-time Stonewall Award-winning author Kyle Lukoff's MY LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK ABOUT PRIDE, which invites readers to explore the history and traditions of Pride Day, how and why people celebrate, and the rights of all people to love whomever they choose and to be accepted just as they are, illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan, to Andrea Posner-Sanchez at Little Golden Books, for publication in spring 2025, 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).

My Little Golden Book about Pride

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Picture Book Fiction

Michelle Jing Chan

Announcement Date:

February 16, 2024

Michelle Jing Chan

Author of the forthcoming BEFORE THE SHIPS and MY HAIR IS A BOOK Maisha Oso's MY MELANIN IS MUSIC, written in verse, celebrating the symphony of shades in our skin tones as the sound of perfection, illustrated by Tatiana Gardel, to Alyson Day at Harper Children's, for publication in winter 2026, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

My Melanin is Music

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Picture Book Fiction

Maisha Oso

Tatiana Gardel

Announcement Date:

February 7, 2024

Tatiana Gardel

Author of the forthcoming BEFORE THE SHIPS and MY HAIR IS A BOOK Maisha Oso's MY MELANIN IS MUSIC, written in verse, celebrating the symphony of shades in our skin tones as the sound of perfection, illustrated by Tatiana Gardel, to Alyson Day at Harper Children's, for publication in winter 2026, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

My Melanin is Music

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Picture Book Fiction

Maisha Oso

Tatiana Gardel

Announcement Date:

February 7, 2024

Maisha Oso

Ha Dinh's THE MOON LANTERN, following a young boy who puts his own spin on the traditions of the Vietnamese Moon Festival, illustrated by Tiffany Chen, to Sue Tarsky at Albert Whitman, for publication in spring 2025, by Hannah VanVels Ausbury at Belcastro Agency for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

The Moon Lantern

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Picture Book Fiction

Tiffany Chen

Announcement Date:

February 6, 2024

Tiffany Chen

Jeanine DeHoney's THIS SUNDAY MY DADDY CAME TO CHURCH, following a young boy who wonders why his father doesn't go to church with his mother and him, and when he invites him, is surprised by his response, illustrated by Courtney Lovett, to Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press, for publication in fall 2025, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

This Sunday My Daddy Came to Church

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Picture Book Fiction

Courtney Lovett

Announcement Date:

February 5, 2024

Courtney Lovett

Seina Wedlick's SOUNDS OF A GONG, which follows a girl who, after a communal storyteller goes missing, taps the drum and marvels listeners with bedtime stories of her own, illustrated by Leah Giles, to Luana Kay Horry at Harper Children's, for publication in winter 2026, by Alice Fugate at Joy Harris Agency for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Sounds of a Gong

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Picture Book Fiction

Leah Gile

Announcement Date:

February 5, 2024

Leah Giles

Adaptor of the KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES Celina Frenn's SPY GRANDMA, following a 12-year-old girl and her younger brother who must spend the summer with their supposedly boring grandma, only to discover she used to be a spy, and the villains she once fought are now out to get her—and them, illustrated by Lucas Elliott, to Jessica Smith at Aladdin, for publication in spring 2026, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author and illustrator (world English).

Spy Grandma

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Graphic Novel

Celina Frenn

Lucas Elliott

Announcement Date:

January 11, 2024

Celina Frenn

Adaptor of the KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES Celina Frenn's SPY GRANDMA, following a 12-year-old girl and her younger brother who must spend the summer with their supposedly boring grandma, only to discover she used to be a spy, and the villains she once fought are now out to get her—and them, illustrated by Lucas Elliott, to Jessica Smith at Aladdin, for publication in spring 2026, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author and illustrator (world English).

Spy Grandma

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Graphic Novel

Celina Frenn

Lucas Elliott

Announcement Date:

January 11, 2024

Lucas Elliott

Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara's LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG DREAMS: SIMONE BILES, a new entry in the picture book biography series that follows Simone Biles's journey to becoming the most decorated American gymnast in history, illustrated by Nadia Fisher, to Lucy Menzies at Quarto Kids, in a good deal, for publication in June 2024, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Little People, Big Dreams: Simone Biles

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Picture Book Non-fiction

Nadia Fisher

Announcement Date:

January 9, 2024

Nadia Fisher

Author of BOYS DON'T FRY Kimberly Lee's 100 DAYS, in which one girl fears losing her mother's attention when her sister is born, but as the 100-day period and the traditional Chinese full moon celebration approaches, the girl's love for her baby sister grows, illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan, to Trisha de Guzman at Farrar, Straus Children's, for publication in spring 2025, by Emily Forney at BookEnds for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

100 Days

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Picture Book Fiction

Michelle Jing Chan

Announcement Date:

December 4, 2023

Michelle Jing Chan

Author-illustrator Carlianne Tipsey's EVEN YETIS GET COLDS, in which a girl looks for a cure for her best friend yeti's cold; only after trying everything does she realize a cure wasn't needed after all—a hug will do, to Alison Weiss at Pixel+Ink, in a two-book deal, for publication in fall 2024 and fall 2025, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

Even Yetis Get Colds

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Picture Book Fiction

Carlianne Tipsey

Carlianne Tipsey

Announcement Date:

November 16, 2023

Carlianne Tipsey

Michelle Jing Chan's debut SOMEWHERE IN THE GRAY, following a girl who is dating the most popular girl at school, and what seems easy for her friends—being intimate in any way with their partners—doesn't feel quite right to her as she learns it's more than okay to live somewhere in the gray of asexuality, to Grace Kendall at Farrar, Straus Children's, in a six-figure deal, at auction, for publication in fall 2026, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

Somewhere in the Gray

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Graphic Novel

Michelle Jing Chan

Michelle Jing Chan

Announcement Date:

October 30, 2023

Michelle Jing Chan

Haven Iverson's AND THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD CARRIED ME, about a child who finds confidence and bravery on their summer backpacking trips with their family in the Rocky Mountain wilderness, illustrated by August Zhang, to Nicolas Ore-Giron and Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook Press, for publication in spring 2026, by Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

And the Beauty of the World Carried Me

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Picture Book Fiction

August Zhang

Announcement Date:

October 18, 2023

August Zhang

Author-illustrator of SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN and PERFECT IS NOT PERFECT Laan Cham's WHAT A WEIRDO!, in which a little girl looks for friends and when they call her weird, "It" shows up; “It” won't go away—and worse, "It" gets bigger and bigger until she realizes that there might be something special about her and "It," and friendship can spark from the most unlikely places; and WHAT A WORLD!, to Christine Collins at Disney-Hyperion, in a two-book deal, for publication in fall 2026 and 2027, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

What a Weirdo! & What a World!

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Picture Book Fiction

Laan Cham

Laan Cham

Announcement Date:

October 3, 2023

Laan Cham

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

Fairy Lights

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