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Circular Library

Deals

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

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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Author:

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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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Illustrator:

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

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

Fairy Lights

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