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Circular Library

Deals

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

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

Author-illustrator Laan Cham's WELCOME, PINK!, about a girl who finds herself in a new world ruled by two rival creatures and must learn to navigate the complex emotions of being caught in the middle of an argument, to Maria Correa at Random House Children's, for publication in summer 2024, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

Welcome, Pink!

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Picture Book Fiction

Laan Cham

Laan Cham

Announcement Date:

September 26, 2022

Laan Cham

Ava Gardner and Michael Gardner's DADDY DRESSED ME, featuring the daddy-daughter duo of @daddydressedmebymg on Instagram, a tale of love and creativity as Michael, who learned to sew to create one-of-a-kind outfits for Ava, designs a special dress to ease Ava's nerves as she moves up to first grade, illustrated by Nadia Fisher, to Karen Nagel at Aladdin, for publication in spring 2023, by Rick Richter at Aevitas Creative Management for the authors, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Daddy Dressed Me

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Picture Book Non-fiction

Nadia Fisher

Announcement Date:

September 13, 2022

Nadia Fisher

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Fiction: Romance. August 25, 2022. Author of SAVVY SHELDON FEELS GOOD AS HELL and the forthcoming ZORA BOOKS HER HAPPY EVER AFTER Taj McCoy's THE GOOD ONES ARE TAKEN, following a woman as she helps her two BFFs plan their weddings and tries to find a date worthy of taking to both, but she can't help feeling all the good men are taken; it doesn't help that her college friend puts salt in everyone's game, insisting no one is good enough; when he finally reveals his feelings for her, she'll have to decide if it's worth risking something good for something more, to April Osborn at Mira, in an exclusive submission, in a two-book deal, for publication in spring 2024 and spring 2025, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world English).

The Good Ones Are Taken

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Romance

Taj McCoy

Announcement Date:

August 25, 2022

Taj McCoy

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Children's: Middle Grade Fiction. August 1, 2022. Carol Williams's debut THE SUPERNATURAL FILES OF CJ DELANEY, in which a 12-year-old cub reporter investigates the biggest story in her small town's history—a mystery filled with lost pets, a witch, sacrifices, possession, and hellhounds; but when all answers point to someone close, she stands to not only lose her byline but the scariest thing of all—the people and pet she loves, to Della Farrell at Holiday House, for publication in spring 2024, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

The Supernatural Files of CJ Delaney

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Middle Grade Fiction

Carol Williams

Announcement Date:

August 1, 2022

Carol Williams

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Children's: Young Adult Fiction. July 28, 2022. Amaka Egbe's debut RUN LIKE A GIRL, following a 17-year-old high school track star who moves in with her estranged father only to find out her new school doesn't have a girls track team, so she joins the boys' team instead, to Claire Stetzer at Inkyard Press, for publication in summer 2024, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

Run Like a Girl

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Young Adult Fiction

Amaka Egbe

Announcement Date:

July 28, 2022

Amaka Egbe

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Children's: Picture Book Fiction. July 28, 2022. Grammy-nominated musician Pierce Freelon's DADDY & ME, SIDE BY SIDE, a tale that touches on grieving the loss of a loved one as a father and son recreate old memories and make new ones in a day-long hiking adventure, illustrated by Nadia Fisher, to Farrin Jacobs at Little, Brown Children's, for publication in summer 2023, by Carrie Hannigan at HG Literary for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Daddy and Me, Side By Side

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Picture Book Non-fiction

Nadia Fisher

Announcement Date:

July 28, 2022

Nadia Fisher

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Children's: Picture Book Non-fiction. July 15, 2022. NBA All-Star and philanthropist Chris Paul's BASKETBALL DREAMS, which chronicles young Chris's passionate pursuit of his basketball dreams and the lessons he learned both on and off the court from his beloved grandfather Papa Chilly, illustrated by Courtney Lovett, to Brian Geffen and Jennifer Besser at Roaring Brook Press, for publication in January 2023, by Jessica Holtz and Anthony Mattero at CAA for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator.

Basketball Dreams

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Picture Book Non-fiction

Courtney Lovett

Announcement Date:

July 15, 2022

Courtney Lovett

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Children's: Middle Grade Fiction. July 7, 2022. Sarah Yung's CAMP SCREAM, a humorous chapter book series about the only two human kids at a summer camp for monsters and cryptids, illustrated by Kelsey Eng and Laan Cham, to Stephanie Guerdan at Harper Children's, in a multi-book deal, for publication in summer 2024, by Kathleen Rushall and Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Camp Scream

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Middle Grade Fiction

Laan Cham

Announcement Date:

July 7, 2022

Laan Cham

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Children's: Picture Book Fiction. June 20, 2022. Maisha Oso's MY HAIR IS A BOOK, written in verse, a journey through time and space to celebrate the uniqueness and beauty of Black hair and hairstyles and showcase how deep our roots truly run, illustrated by London Ladd, to Clarissa Wong at Harper Children's, with Alyson Day editing, in a pre-empt, for publication in spring 2024, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author, and by Lori Nowicki at Painted Words for the illustrator (world).

My Hair Is a Book

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Picture Book Fiction

Maisha Oso

Announcement Date:

June 20, 2022

Maisha Oso

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Fiction: Romance. June 17, 2022. Taj McCoy ed.'s EVEN IF THE SKY IS FALLING, featuring six stories that explore the chances a couple may take when they mistakenly believe the world is ending; pitched for fans of Love Actually and all the best '90s disaster films that end in a triumphant kiss, with stories by Farah Heron, Lane Clarke (writing as S.T. Cori), Charish Reid, Sarah Smith, and Denise Williams, to Errin Toma at HQN, in a very nice deal, for publication in spring 2023, by Veronica Park at Fuse Literary (world English). Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency now represents McCoy.

Even If the Sky Is Falling

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Women’s/Romance Fiction

Taj McCoy

Announcement Date:

June 17, 2022

Taj McCoy

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Children's: Middle Grade Fiction. June 16, 2022. Author of JOIN THE CLUB, MAGGIE DIAZ Nina Moreno's PACK YOUR BAGS, MAGGIE DIAZ, which follows a seventh grader as she prepares for the school's spring break trip, while her friends are more excited for the dance and navigating first crushes, illustrated by Courtney Lovett, to Shelly Romero while at Scholastic, with Tiffany Colon editing, in a nice deal, for publication in spring 2023, by Laura Crockett at TriadaUS Literary Agency for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Pack Your Bags, Maggie Diaz

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Middle Grade Fiction

Courtney Lovett

Announcement Date:

June 16, 2022

Courtney Lovett

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Children's: Picture Book Non-fiction. April 12, 2022. Maisha Oso's BEFORE THE SHIPS, celebrating the achievements of Africans centuries before the transatlantic slave trade and how it speaks to the strength and resilience of modern-day Black Americans, illustrated by Candice Bradley, to Clarissa Wong at Scholastic, for publication in spring 2024, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author, and by Jennifer Rofe at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Before The Ships

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Picture Book Non-fiction

Maisha Oso

Announcement Date:

April 22, 2022

Maisha Oso

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Children's: Picture Book Fiction. April 21, 2022. Author of ARCTIC LIGHTS, ARCTIC NIGHTS and ARE TREES ALIVE? Debbie Miller's GOODNIGHT SOUNDS, introducing the sounds a child might hear as they fall asleep, from the foghorns of the Golden Gate Bridge to the steady ticking of an old clock or a croaking frog under an open windowsill, illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan, to Megan Abbate at Bloomsbury Children's, for publication in spring 2024, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Goodnight Sounds

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Picture Book Fiction

Michelle Jing Chan

Announcement Date:

April 21, 2022

Michelle Jing Chan

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Children's: Picture Book Fiction. April 20, 2022. WATER IN MAY and THIS TRAIN IS BEING HELD author Ismee Williams's ABUELO, THE SEA, AND ME, in which a child walks with her abuelo season by season along the beach as he reflects on his youth in Havana, sharing his life story and exploring their shared heritage, illustrated by Tatiana Gardel, to Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook Press, with Nicolas Ore-Giron editing, for publication in spring 2024, by Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Abuelo, the Sea, and Me

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Picture Book Fiction

Tatiana Gardel

Announcement Date:

April 20, 2022

Tatiana Gardel

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Children's: Middle Grade Fiction. April 15, 2022. Sophia Ezomoghene's THE TRICKSTER IN THE VASE, the first in the Osagie Twins series, in which the twins break the number one rule of going into baba's home office, and when they stumble and knock over a vase, releasing a trickster god, they need to somehow stop the troublesome deity from unleashing chaos in their community and recapture him before baba gets home, to Winsome Bingham at Reycraft, in a three-book deal, for publication in fall 2023, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

The Trickster in the Vase

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Middle Grade Fiction

Sophia Ezomoghene

Announcement Date:

April 15, 2022

Sophia Ezomoghene

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Children's: Middle Grade Fiction. April 8, 2022. Tanisia "Tee" Moore's Micah Hudson series, beginning with MICAH HUDSON AND THE MISSING FOOTBALL, in which a boy is having the best summer of his life, one where he has been named MVP of his football team, earning him a signed ball by his NFL idol; but when the ball goes missing, everyone is a suspect, and only he, his best friend, and his sisters can crack the case, to Winsome Bingham at Reycraft, in a three-book deal, for publication in fall 2023, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

Micah Hudson and the Missing Football

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Middle Grade Fiction

Tanisia “Tee” Moore

Announcement Date:

April 8, 2022

Tanisia “Tee” Moore

Publishers Marketplace Deal Report. Children's: Middle Grade Non-fiction. March 14, 2022. Founder of Headbands of Hope and author of CHASING THE BRIGHT SIDE Jess Ekstrom's CREATE YOUR BRIGHT IDEAS, an interactive book that encourages young readers to reflect on their dreams for the future, think creatively, and discover how their unique gifts can contribute positively to the world, illustrated by Nadia Fisher, to Adria Haley at Thomas Nelson, in an exclusive submission, by Kristin van Ogtrop at InkWell Management for the author and Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator.

Create Your Bright Ideas

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Middle Grade Non-fiction

Nadia Fisher

Announcement Date:

March 14, 2022

Nadia Fisher

Fairy Lights

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