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Circular Library

Deals

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

Jennifer Maruno's THE BIGGEST FARM IN THE WORLD, in which a child joins their family for their first harvest on a farm with no fences, no tractor, and fields that stretch farther than the eye can see, revealing the wonders of seaweed farming and the surprising ways this ancient plant can help our planet, illustrated by Crystal Smith, to Samantha Dewaele at Groundwood Books, for publication in winter 2028, by by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Starling Literary + Media for the illustrator (world).

The Biggest Farm in the World

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Author:
Illustrator:
Picture Book Fiction
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Crystal Smith
Announcement Date:
September 4, 2026
Author Illustrator
Crystal Smith
Rekha S. Rajan's EARTHQUAKE RESCUE, in which a family finds itself in Los Angeles when an earthquake strikes and they must jump into action to help the people and animals affected, the fifth book in the early chapter book series Disaster Squad, illustrated by Courtney Lovett, to Andy Lopez Soberano at Branches, in an exclusive submission, for publication in spring 2027, by Lilly Ghahremani at Full Circle Literary for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Starling Literary + Media for the illustrator (world). TV/film: Kim Yau at Echo Lake

Earthquake Rescue

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Author:
Illustrator:
Chapter Book Fiction
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Courtney Lovett
Announcement Date:
September 2, 2026
Author Illustrator
Courtney Lovett
NYT-bestselling author of EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS Joanna Ho's PEACE SIGN PICTURE DAY, about a young Asian girl who always flashes peace signs in pictures until she is told that she's not allowed to do so in her school pictures; after all, uniformity is unity!, illustrated by August Zhang, to Clarissa Wong at Scholastic, in an exclusive submission, for publication in summer 2028, by Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black while at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Peace Sign Picture Day

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Author:
Illustrator:
Picture Book Fiction
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August Zhang
Announcement Date:
August 4, 2026
Author Illustrator
August Zhang
Amy Buchanan's OUR FRIENDSHIP IN RUINS, in which a college career counselor and her professor best friend spend a summer leading a study abroad program in Rome, where a lifetime of unspoken feelings and one irresistible chance at "just one time" threaten both their careers and their friendship, to Jannah McCowan at Tantor Media, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Starling Literary + Media (world English).

Our Friendship in Ruins

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Author:
Illustrator:
Audio - Adult Romance
Amy Buchanan
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Announcement Date:
July 29, 2026
Author Illustrator
Amy Buchanan
Author of forthcoming MONKEY DRAGON RABBIT! MeiLin Chan's THE SCHOOL BEYOND THE CANYON, in which a raging river and dangerous terrain in a remote Chinese village separate a girl and her school and she must decide if her love of learning can defeat her fears and the powerful river, illustrated by August Zhang, to Feather Flores while at Atheneum, with Reka Simonsen editing, at auction, for publication in summer 2029, by Marisa Cleveland at The Seymour Agency for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Starling Literary + Media for the illustrator.

The School Beyond the Canyon

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Author:
Illustrator:
Picture Book Fiction
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August Zhang
Announcement Date:
June 17, 2026
Author Illustrator
August Zhang
Trenise's MANTA RAY BALLET, following a young girl who joins her father and uncle on a moonlit excursion in Hawaii, where she witnesses the graceful dance of manta rays beneath the sea, celebrating the majesty of these gentle giants as they feed, twirl through the currents, and leap from the sea in a breathtaking nocturnal performance, illustrated by Widyasari Hanaya, to Michael Yuen-Killick at Red Comet, for publication in fall 2027, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black while at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author, and by Jess Lomax at Inkling Illustration Agency for the illustrator (world).

Manta Ray Ballet

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Author:
Illustrator:
Picture Book Fiction
Trenise
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Announcement Date:
June 16, 2026
Author Illustrator
Trenise
Tanisia Moore's COOL LIKE THAT, in which a boy and his grandfather are best friends, connected by joyful days by the lake, fresh cuts at the barbershop, sweet treats, and even a signature handshake, but their world shifts when Papa moves away; their bond proves just as strong during a joyful summer by the ocean, celebrating love, memories, and ties that hold across any distance, illustrated by Kitt Thomas, to Joy Peskin at Farrar, Straus Children's, for publication in winter 2028, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Starling Literary + Media for the author, and by Chad Beckerman at The CAT Agency for the illustrator (world).

Cool Like That

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Author:
Illustrator:
Picture Book Fiction
Tanisia Moore
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Announcement Date:
April 24, 2026
Author Illustrator
Tanisia Moore
Etta Easton's NOT IN THE CHRISTMAS PLAN, to Alicia Aldridge at Podium Audio, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Starling Literary + Media (world English).

Not in the Christmas Plans

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Author:
Illustrator:
Audio - Adult Romance
Etta Easton
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Announcement Date:
April 22, 2026
Author Illustrator
Etta Easton
Arcadia Rayne's SHADOWS AND SECRETS, the first in a dark romantasy trilogy, in which an assassin sent to kill a fae prince is instead forced into a deadly competition, where desire and danger collide and her target becomes her greatest temptation, to Emily Magee at Podium Audio, in a three-book deal, for publication in the winter of 2027, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Starling Literary + Media (world English).

Shadows and Secrets

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Author:
Illustrator:
Audio - Adult Romantasy
Arcadia Rayne
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Announcement Date:
March 31, 2026
Author Illustrator
Arcadia Rayne
Mia Kayla's YA debut FALL, IN LOVE, a coming-of-age romance set in a picture-perfect New England town where a rule-following orchard girl's carefully planned life unravels when her first love--and the boy who once broke her heart--returns to work on her family's struggling apple farm, forcing her to choose between what's safe and what sets her soul on fire, to Maya Marlette at Scholastic, for publication in fall 2027, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black while at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

Fall, in Love

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Author:
Illustrator:
Young Adult
Mia Kayla
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Announcement Date:
February 19, 2026
Author Illustrator
Mia Kayla
Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic's ZOMBIE AND BRAIN GO TO SCHOOL, a follow-up to the NYT-bestselling ZOMBIE AND BRAIN ARE FRIENDS, in which the deadly cute duo spend a pun-filled day learning just how much fun a brain can have in the classroom, illustrated by Laan Cham, to Alex Borbolla at Bloomsbury Children's, in an exclusive submission, for publication in spring 2027, by Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Starling Literary + Media for the illustrator (world).

Zombie and Brain go to School

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Author:
Illustrator:
Picture Book Fiction
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Laan Cham
Announcement Date:
February 6, 2026
Author Illustrator
Laan Cham
Adaptor of the KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES graphic novel and author of SPY GRANDMA Celina Frenn's GRIM REAPER GIRL, in which a 16-year-old girl, who desperately longs for a normal life, runs over a grim reaper with her hearse and inherits his powers; now stuck with a death clock over everyone's head, a best friend with a crush directed at her, a cute ghostly guide she doesn't trust, and bodies piling up, she must decide if she's meant for high school—or for death itself, illustrated by Mari Luoma, to Emily Duffy at Union Square Kids, for publication in summer 2028, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black while at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author, and by Christie Megill at The CAT Agency for the illustrator (world).

Grim Reaper Girl

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Author:
Illustrator:
YA Graphic Novel
Celina Frenn
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Announcement Date:
February 3, 2026
Author Illustrator
Celina Frenn
Author-illustrator of the forthcoming SOMEWHERE IN THE GRAY Michelle Jing Chan's SHE COMES OUT AT NIGHT, a horromance in which a teenage fire lookout stationed alone in a national park seeks escape from her conservative hometown and a secret she's never dared to voice, only to find her solitude shattered by eerie phenomena including speaking crows, a persistent presence in the woods, a voice on the radio calling her name, and by the emergence of a doppelganger that moves like her, speaks like her, and threatens to take her place, to Grace Kendall at Farrar, Straus Children's, in an exclusive submission, for publication in winter 2029, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Starling Literary + Media (world).

She Comes out at Night

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Author:
Illustrator:
YA Graphic Novel
Michelle Jing Chan
Michelle Jing Chan
Announcement Date:
January 27, 2026
Author Illustrator
Michelle Jing Chan
Laura Bontje's SEAS OF TRANQUILITY, which invites readers to float through the parallel journeys of aquanauts and astronauts as they explore the science and dreams that have captivated humans since they first gazed up at the stars, illustrated by Crystal Smith, to Jennifer Stokes at Owl Kids, for publication in spring 2028, by James McGowan at BookEnds for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Starling Literary + Media for the illustrator (world).

Sea of Tranquility

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Author:
Illustrator:
Picture Book Fiction
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Crystal Smith
Announcement Date:
January 21, 2026
Author Illustrator
Crystal Smith
Author of SCARECITED ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL and THE JUNETEENTH STORY Alliah L. Agostini's CAN WE GO YET?, in which three brothers try everything to hurry their mom out of church in time for kickoff, but a snowstorm and their aunties remind them that family togetherness is the real win, illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice, to Janine O'Malley at Farrar, Straus Children's, for publication in fall 2028, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author, and by Christy Ewers at The CAT Agency for the illustrator (world).

Can We Go Yet?

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Author:
Illustrator:
Picture Book Fiction
Alliah L. Agostini
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Announcement Date:
November 11, 2025
Author Illustrator
Alliah L. Agostini
Author of THE NIGHTMARE KEEPER Vienna James's CALL OF THE DARKNESS, a dark paranormal romance in which a deadly hex sweeps through Salem, killing its victims with plague-like fury, and an investigative reporter must join forces with the high witch's other grandson—a gifted potion maker haunted by his past—to uncover its source before it consumes them both, to Lauren Plude at Montlake, for publication in fall 2026, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

Call of the Darkness

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Author:
Illustrator:
Paranormal Romance
Vienna James
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Announcement Date:
October 31, 2025
Author Illustrator
Vienna James
Author of I AM MY ANCESTORS' WILDEST DREAMS and WASH DAY LOVE Tanisia Moore's OUR HANDS MAKE MUSIC, following four siblings and cousins as they play hand games, celebrating their history and culture, and banding friends, community, and generations together in a musical form of play, illustrated by Mokshini, to Tracy Mack at Scholastic, in an exclusive submission, for publication in 2027, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author (world).

Our Hands Make Music

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Author:
Illustrator:
Picture Book Fiction
Tanisia Morre
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Announcement Date:
September 2, 2025
Author Illustrator
Tanisia Moore
Author of the Unicorn Day series Diana Murray's HUSH LITTLE WITCHLING, a rhyming picture book that follows two little witchlings who pull a switcheroo on their patient grannies and trade magical bedtime routines, until each drifts off to sleep in her own bed, illustrated by Laan Cham, to Melissa Manlove at Jabberwocky, for publication in summer 2027, by Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

Hush Little Witchling

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Author:
Illustrator:
Picture Book Fiction
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Laan Cham
Announcement Date:
August 21, 2025
Author Illustrator
Laan Cham
Author-illustrator Beno Meli's DAUGHTER OF SNAKES, pitched as a reimagination of the Medusa mythos, in which a 17-year-old girl, born half-Gorgon, half-human, and living in modern-day Mexico, sets out to save her mother from a long-buried past—unraveling ancient truths, embracing the power she was taught to hide, and discovering love in the most unexpected of companions, to Charlotte Greenbaum at Fanfare, for publication in fall 2029, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

Daughter of Snakes

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Author:
Illustrator:
YA Graphic Novel
Beno Meli
Beno Meli
Announcement Date:
August 20, 2025
Author Illustrator
Beno Meli
Karla Clark's I KNOW THINGS, pitched as a tribute to young minds that encourages kids to celebrate their wisdom and embrace their growing understanding of the world, illustrated by Thais Mesquita, to Peggy Schaefer at WorthyKids, by Connor Eck at The Eck Agency for the author, and by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).

I Know Things

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Author:
Illustrator:
Picture Book Fiction
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Thaís Mesquita
Announcement Date:
August 7, 2025
Author Illustrator
Thaís Mesquita
Author of SCARECITED ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL and THE JUNETEENTH STORY Alliah L. Agostini's RAINBOW COLLECTION, HAIRDOS AND HAIR DON'TS, and AND PIECE OF CAKE, in an adaptation of PBS Kids' Lyla in the Loops, following a seven-year-old, her blue sidekick, her close-knit family, and their everyday adventures running an inner-city diner, which highlights creative problem-solving, computational thinking, and the importance of community, to Bobbie Bensur at Paw Prints, in a three-book deal, for publication in spring 2026, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

Lyla in the Loop

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Author:
Illustrator:
Picture Book Fiction
Alliah L. Agostini
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Announcement Date:
July 23, 2025
Author Illustrator
Alliah L. Agostini
Author-illustrator of the forthcoming WEIWEI'S WINTER SOLSTICE and SOMEWHERE IN THE GRAY Michelle Jing Chan's EMERY IS NOT A DRAGON, in which a child attends dance class and must choose to perform as the strong, brave dragon or the graceful, beautiful phoenix; wrestling with the decision, they discover they are both dragon and phoenix—fire and flight, strength and grace—and they don't need to choose just one to shine, to Megan Abbate at Bloomsbury Children's, in an exclusive submission, for publication in winter 2028, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

Emery is Not a Dragon

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Author:
Illustrator:
Picture Book Fiction
Michelle Jing Chan
Michelle Jing Chan
Announcement Date:
July 21, 2025
Author Illustrator
Michelle Jing Chan
Author of BEFORE THE SHIPS and MY HAIR IS A BOOK Maisha Oso's IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR THANKSGIVING and IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY, told in rhyme, a continuation of the humorous series that takes children step-by-step through all the things they might do in preparation for each holiday, illustrated by Tom Knight, to Kate Prosswimmer at Margaret K. McElderry Books, in a two-book deal, for publication in fall 2026, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author, and by Susan Penny at The Bright Agency for the illustrator (world).

It's Almost Time Series (Books 4 and 5)

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Author:
Illustrator:
Picture Book Fiction
Maisha Oso
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Announcement Date:
July 16, 2025
Author Illustrator
Maisha Oso
Cara Stout's ENCHANTED TO MEET YOU, a romance in which, after setting fire to her last summer job, a teen gets casted as a princess at Fairytale Gardens, with the mission to expose potential fraudulent activities, with only one problem—she has to ignore the sparks that fly with the handsome casted prince, who also happens to be the owner's son, originally published in the UK, to Sara Schonfeld at Harper Teen, in a two-book deal, for publication in winter 2026, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (NA).

Enchanted to Meet You

Category:
Author:
Illustrator:
Young Adult
Cara Stout
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Announcement Date:
July 2, 2025
Author Illustrator
Cara Stout
Former PopSugar editor Laura Marie Meyers's THE MASH-UP, about a cautious accountant who wakes up inside one of her old M.A.S.H. games only to learn that the path back to reality involves winning the heart of her brother's irritatingly handsome best friend, to Kate Dresser at Putnam, in a good deal, at auction, in a two-book deal, for publication in summer 2026, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world English).

The Mash-Up

Category:
Author:
Illustrator:
Romance
Laura Marie Meyers
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Announcement Date:
June 18, 2025
Author Illustrator
Laura Marie Meyers
Author-illustrator of the forthcoming WEIWEI'S WINTER SOLSTICE Michelle Jing Chan's LION DANCER'S LOST LETTUCE, a Lunar New Year tale in which a lion eager to bring luck and joy to Chinatown's parade loses his lettuce in a mishap and sets off through the city to retrieve it—only to discover that true fortune lies in community and resilience, to Megan Abbate at Bloomsbury Children's, in an exclusive submission, for publication in fall 2026, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

Lion Dancer's Lost Lettuce

Category:
Author:
Illustrator:
Picture Book Fiction
Michelle Jing Chan
Michelle Jing Chan
Announcement Date:
June 10, 2025
Author Illustrator
Michelle Jing Chan
Vienna James's THE NIGHTMARE KEEPER, a dark paranormal romance in which a wave of murders strikes sleeping victims and blame falls on a coven of dream wielders, so to clear their name, the coven's most powerful must join forces with her fated—but forbidden—soulmate: the grandson of the high witch, to Lauren Plude at Montlake, for publication in winter 2026, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world).

The Nightmare Keeper

Category:
Author:
Illustrator:
Paranormal Romance
Vienna James
​
Announcement Date:
April 28, 2025
Author Illustrator
Vienna James
Fairy Lights

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