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Ideas. Words. Dreams.

Representing adult fiction, non-fiction, and children's books since 2001

AGENCY NEWS
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Stoker Award Finalist!

 

Refe Tuma's middle-grade novel FRANCES AND THE WEREWOLVES OF THE BLACK FOREST (HarperCollins) has been selected as a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award.

Congratulations, Refe!

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Mills Novel Chosen by Junior Library Guild!

 

Client Claudia Mills's new novel THE LAST APPLE TREE (Margaret Ferguson Books/Holiday House), -- due our June 18, 2024 --has just been selected by the Junior Library Guild.

Congratulations, Claudia!

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Named BEST OF THE BEST

 

Congrats to Chiquita Mullins-Lee and Carmella Van Vleet! Their picture book YOU GOTTA MEET MR. PIERCE has just been named a BEST OF THE BEST 2023 Book by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.

Congratulations, Chiquita and Carmella!

 
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A 2023 CSMCL Best Book

 

Kudos to Chiquita Mullins Lee and Carmella Van Vleet! Their non-fiction picture book YOU GOTTA MEET MR. PIERCE (Kokila) has just been honored as a 2023 Best Book by the Center for the Study of Multicultural Literature.

Congratulations, Chiquita and Carmella!

 
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Artwork at the Eric Carle Museum

 

Two of author/illustrator Jennifer O'Connell's beautiful illustrations have just been added to the permanent collection at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

Congratulations, Jennifer!

 
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Harrington Picture Book on STEM Lists

 

Janice Harrington's ROOTING FOR PLANTS (Calkins Creek/Astra) appears on the NSTA-CBC Best Stem Books and Outstanding Science Trade Books lists.

Congratulations, Janice!

 
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Best Book


Congratulations to Carmella Van Vleet and Chiquita Mullins Lee. Their non-fiction picture book YOU GOTTA MEET MR. PIERCE (Kokila) has been honored as a BOOKLIST Editors' Choice Best Book of 2023.

Congratulations, Carmella and Chiquita!

 
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Nothing is Little - Finalist for RI Book Award

Carmella Van Vleet's wonderful middle-grade NOTHING IS LITTLE (Holiday House) is a finalist for the 2024 Rhode Island Children's Book Award.

Congratulations, Carmella!

 
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Margi Preus Picture Book Wins State Award

Margi Preus’s picture book, LILY LEADS THE WAY (Candlewick), 

about a small sailboat and a moveable bridge, won the

Northeastern Minnesota Children’s Literature Award.

Congratulations, Margi! 

 
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TREASURE TRACKS a Florida State Book Award Finalist

 

Sallie Anne Rodriguez's middle-grade adventure

novel, TREASURE TRACKS (FSG), is a finalist for  

the 2023-24 Sunshine State Young Readers Award. 

Congratulations, Sallie Anne!

 
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MANOLO & THE UNICORN selected for the Original Art show

Artwork from Jackie Azua Kramer's picture book, MANOLO & THE UNICORN (Cameron Kids), has been selected for the Original Art show at the Society of Illustrators in Manhattan at 128 Lexington E 63rd (at Lexington) running from October 26-January 27, 2024.

Congratulations, Jackie!

 
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THE POCKET BOOK featured in the Society of Illustrators's Original Art Show

Alexandra Hinrichs's picture book, THE POCKET BOOK (Cameron), is being featured in the Society of Illustrators's Original Art Show! The show runs from October 26, 2023 until January 27, 2024.

Congratulations Alexandra!

 
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EMPANADAS FOR EVERYONE featured in the Society of Illustrators's Original Art Show

Jackie Azua Kramer's picture book, EMPANADAS FOR EVERYONE (S&S), is being featured in the Society of Illustrators's Original Art Show! The show runs from October 26, 2023 until January 27, 2024.

Congratulations Jackie!

 
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SWARM a Junior Library Guild Selection

Jennifer D. Lyle's YA dystopian thriller, SWARM, is a Junior Library Guild pick!

Congratulations, Jennifer!

 
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ELEPHANTS REMEMBER at the Smithsonian!

Author/illustrator Jennifer O’Connell and her picture book ELEPHANTS REMEMBER are being featured at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History to celebrate World Elephant Day on August 12th.

Congratulations, Jennifer!

 
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WINDSWEPT by Margi Preus is a Best Book of the Year!

Newbery Honor and New York Times bestselling author 

Margi Preus's middle-grade fantasy-adventure novel, WINDSWEPT (Abrams), has

been selected as a Children's Book Council (CBC) Best Book of the Year with

"Outstanding Merit." Congratulations, Margi!

 
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TREASURE TRACKS by Sallie Anne Rodriguez is State Finalist!

 

Debut author Sallie Anne Rodriguez's middle-grade

novel, TREASURE TRACKS (FSG) is a finalist for

Florida's Sunshine State's Young Readers Award. 

Students all over the state will be reading it.

Congratulations, Sallie Anne!

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Carnegie nominee for Marianne McShane's THE FOG CATCHER'S DAUGHTER!

Marianne McShane's picture book, THE FOG CATCHER'S

DAUGHTER (Candlewick), with illustrations by Alan Marks,

has been longlisted for the UK's prestigious Carnegie Medal.

Congratulations, Marianne!

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Jackie Kramer's Spanish edition selected!

The Spanish language edition of Jackie Azua Kramer's

THE GREEN UMBRELLA (North-South) has been selected 

for the Best Spanish Language Picture Books of 2023 by Bank

Street College.  Congratulations, Jackie!

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Two year-end lists for Preus's WINDSWEPT!!

Margi Preus's wonderful fantasy-adventure novel, WINDSWEPT, has made two year-end lists for Best Books of the Year: Kirkus and Horn Book. Congratulations, Margi!

 

 

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BUZZING WITH QUESTIONS chosen as a 2023 Illinois Read!

Janice Harrington's picture book biography of outstanding black scientist Charles Henry Turner, BUZZING WITH QUESTIONS (Boyds Mills), has been chosen as a 2023 Illinois Read, one of 36 titles chosen to be read in libraries, schools, and bookstores throughout the entire state. Congratulations, Janice!

 

 

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HELL FOLLOWED WITH US is one of the best YA books of 2022!

HELL FOLLOWED WITH US was named one of the ten best YA books of the year in Publisher’s Weekly. Congratulations to author Andrew Joseph White!

 

 

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THE TRYOUT is an Indie Bestseller!

THE TRYOUT, illustrated by client Joanna Cacao, hit the Indie bestseller list this week—debuting at #1!! 

 

 

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Senior Agent Starts Fund for Writers and Illustrators!

The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency's Senior Agent Stephen Fraser 

announced the formation of the Stephen Fraser Encouragement Fund 

(through SCBWI) to offer three $2,000 grants annually to writers and 

illustrators with at least one published book who express financial need. 

After 40 years in the industry, his goal is to "spoil creative people with 

encouragement."

 

 

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Another Award for Benjamin Klas's middle-grade novel!

EVERYTHING TOGETHER: A SECOND DAD WEDDING (One Elm) has won the 2022 Stepping Stones Honor Award for multicultural and international books. Congratulations, Ben!

 

 

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HELL FOLLOWED WITH US is a New York Times Bestseller!

Debut novel HELL FOLLOWED WITH US appeared at #6 on the New York Times Bestseller list. Congratulations to author Andrew Joseph White!

 

 

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Four Starred Reviews for Mary Cronk Farrell's Latest Book!

 

Mary Cronk Farrell's CLOSE UP ON WAR (Abrams), about French photographer

Catherine Leroy's groundbreaking work in 1960's Vietnam, has now received

four starred reviews: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, School Library Journal,

and Booklist.  Congratulations, Mary!

 

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SUMMER SONS named one of the 15 Best Books by LGBTQ+ Authors!

 

SUMMER SONS by Lee Mandelo has been named one of the 15 best books by LGBTQ+ authors in 2022, according to Goodreads and NBC News. Congratulations, Lee!

 

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Gold Medal win for EVERYTHING TOGETHER!

 

The Nautilus Book Awards has named Benjamin Klas's EVERYTHING TOGETHER: A SECOND DAD WEDDING as the Gold Medal winner for middle-grade fiction. Congratulations, Ben!

 

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Ben Franklin Award for EVERYTHING TOGETHER!

 

EVERYTHING TOGETHER by Benjamin Klas has won the Independent Booksellers Association's Ben Franklin Award for LGBTQ books. Congratulations, Ben!

 

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Three starred reviews for HELL FOLLOWED WITH US!

 

Andrew Joseph White's debut YA post-apocalyptic novel, HELL FOLLOWED WITH US, has received starred reviews from Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly, and Booklist. Congratulations, Andrew!

 

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WINDSWEPT a Junior Library Guild Selection!

 

Margi Preus's forthcoming middle-grade fantasy, WINDSWEPT (Abrams), out this fall, has just been chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection. Congratulations,

Margi!

 

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Junior Library Guild selects TREASURE TRACKS!

 

Sallie Anne Rodriguez's  middle-grade debut novel, TREASURE TRACKS (FSG), an adventure story about a boy diving for lost treasure off the coast 

of Key West, has just been selected as a Junior Library Guild section. Congratulations, Sallie Anne!

 

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NOTHING IS LITTLE is a Junior Library Guild Book!

 

Congratulations to Carmella Van Vleet! Her new middle-grade novel NOTHING IS LITTLE has been selected to be a Junior Library Guild title. Carmella's novel will be published by Holiday House in July 2022. 

 

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Canadian Independent Bookseller's Best Seller List for Eva Jurczyk!

 

Eva Jurczyk's debut, THE DEPARTMENT OF RARE BOOKS AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (January 25, Poisoned Pen Press), has now spent a month on the Canadian Independent Bookseller's Best Seller List. Congratulations, Eva! 

 

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FLOWERS FOR THE SEA is a Nebula Award Nominee!

 

Zin E. Rocklyn’s debut fantasy novella, FLOWERS FOR THE SEA (TOR.com), has been nominated for the prestigious Nebula Award for fantasy and science fiction writing. Congratulations, Zin!

 

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Blue Ribbon Win for Claudia Mills!

 

Claudia Mills's middle-grade novel, THE LOST LANGUAGE (Holiday House, 2021),

has been named a 2021 Blue Ribbon Book by the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB). Congratulations, Claudia!

 

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Eva Jurczyk's debut is a Library Reads pick!

 

Eva Jurczyk's debut adult mystery novel, THE DEPARTMENT OF RARE BOOKS AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (January 25, 2022, Sourcebooks), has been selected as a Library Reads pick for January! Congratulations, Eva!

 

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A "Very Best Comic" of 2021!

 

Congratulations to Marcia Thornton Jones, Debbie Dadey, and Pearl Low! Nerdist picked their graphic novel VAMPIRES DON'T WEAR POLKA DOTS (Graphix) as one of "The Very Best Comics of 2021."

 

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Lee Mandelo's Southern Gothic A Best Book!

 

NPR has selected Lee Mandelo's southern gothic book, SUMMER SONS (Tordotcom, 2021) as a Best Book of the Year. Congratulations, Lee!

 

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Jackie Azua Kramer's Picture Book A Best Book!

 

The Chicago Public Library has selected Jackie Azua Kramer's

picture book, I WISH YOU KNEW (Roaring Brook, 2021) as a

Best Book of the Year. Congratulations, Jackie!

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Claudia Mills Novel Selected by NCTE!

 

The National Council of Teachers of English has named Claudia Mills's THE LOST LANGUAGE (Holiday House, 2021) a Notable Verse Novel for the year, as well as a Recommended Title for the Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children. Congratulations, Claudia!

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Bronze Medal for THE BOY AND THE GORILLA!

 

Client Jackie Azua Kramer's picture book, THE BOY AND THE GORILLA 

(Candlewick, 2020), has been awarded the Bronze Award in Japan’s 

Kembuchi Picture Book Awards. Congratulations, Jackie!

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ABA Indies Introduce Selection for Andrew Joseph White!

 

Andrew Joseph White's YA post-apocalyptic horror debut, HELL FOLLOWED WITH US (June 7, 2022, Peachtree Teen), has been selected as an ABA Indies Introduce pick. HELL FOLLOWED WITH US follows a group of queer teens trying to survive an apocalyptic plague that turns human into monsters while one trans boy conceals a frightening secret: he's infected. Congratulations, Andrew!

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Award for Benjamin Klas!

 

Benjamin Klas's middle-grade novel, SECOND DAD SUMMER (One Elm), won the 2021 Moonbeam Spirit's Gold Award for Pre-Teen Fiction - Mature Topic.

Congratulations, Ben!

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DOROTHY & HERBERT A Junior Library Guild Selection!

 

Jackie Azua Kramer's picture book biography DOROTHY & HERBERT (Cameron Kids), due out October 5, 2021, has been chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection.

Congratulations, Jackie!

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SECOND DAD SUMMER a Finalist!

 

Benjamin Klas's middle-grade novel, SECOND DAD SUMMER (One Elm), is a finalist in two categories of American Book Fest's 2021 American Fiction Awards, both pre-teen fiction and LGTBQ. Congratulations, Ben!

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Best Book of the Year!

 

Client Jackie Azua Kramer's picture book, THE BOY AND THE GORILLA

(Candlewick), has been chosen for the Bank Street College 2021 Best

Children's Books of the Year list. Congratulations, Jackie!

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JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION FOR CLAUDIA MILLS'S NOVEL!

 

THE LOST LANGUAGE, the middle-grade verse novel by popular author Claudia Mills forthcoming from Holiday House in October, has been chosen as a Junior Library Guild Selection. Congratulations, Claudia!

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Jackie Azua Kramer's Picture Book in Parent's Magazine!

Jackie Kramer's latest picture book, I WISH YOU KNEW (Roaring Brook), about a girl whose father is being deported, is featured in the June issue of Parent's Magazine as the "Raising the Future" book club selection. Congratulations, Jackie!

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Klas Debut Novel Wins Award!

Benjamin Klas's engaging debut novel, SECOND DAD 

SUMMER (One Elm), has won 2020 Nautilus Book Award's Silver Award for Middle-Grade Fiction. Congratulations, Benjamin!

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Junior Library Guild Selection for Claudia Mills!

Claudia Mills's chapter book BOOGIE BASS, SIGN LANGUAGE STAR, book #4 in the After-School Superstars series, to be released by Margaret Ferguson Books/Holiday House on August 3, 2021, has been selected by the Junior Library Guild.  Congratulations, Claudia!

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THE BOY AND THE GORILLA wins the Crystal Kite!

Client Jackie Azua Kramer has won SCBWI's Crystal Kite

Award for her picture book, THE BOY AND THE GORILLA

(Candlewick Press), which has been praised by Kirkus as

"luminous" and received three starred reviews. 

Congratulations, Jackie!

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Junior Library Guild Selection!

 

Congrats to client Rina Heisel! Her middle grade novel JOURNEY BEYOND THE BURROW, which comes out on July 13th, 2021 through Harper Childrens, has just been honored as a Junior Library Guild Selection.

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Maurice Benard's Memoir Wins Christopher Award!

 

Not only was Maurice Benard's memoir, NOTHING GENERAL ABOUT IT: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital, an instant New York Times' bestseller and a winner of the Mental Health America Award, but it has now won the Christopher Award!  Congratulations, Maurice!

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SECOND DAD SUMMER on ALA list!

 

Benjamin Klas's middle-grade debut novel SECOND DAD SUMMER (One Elm, 2020) has made ALA's 2021 Rainbow Book List by the LGTB Round Table. 

Congratulations, Ben!

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JDLA Celebrates Its 20th Year!

 

From a fledgling, one-person business to a well-established, respected company with a roster of bestselling and award-winning authors, the agency has proven itself to be an industry leader in books for children, teens, and adults in a wide variety of genres, as well as film, television, and stage productions.  Congratulations, Jennifer!

MARGI PREUS MAKES YEAR-END LIST!

Margi Preus's VILLAGE OF SCOUNDRELS (Abrams, 2020), a

riveting story of French teens involved in the WWII resistance,

is on KIrkus's Best Middle-Grade Novels of 2020 list.

 

Congratulations, Margi!

Margi Preus Wins Book Award

Margi Preus has won the 2020 Northern Lights Award 

for Middle-Grade Historical Fiction for her novel, THE 

LITTLEST VOYAGEUR (Holiday House, 2020).

 

Congratulations, Margi!

TV OPTION FOR BESTSELLING BAILEY SCHOOL KIDS SERIES!

Congratulations to authors Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones! Their bestselling BAILEY SCHOOL KIDS series has been optioned for a live-action TV series by Bardel Entertainment, Inc. and Rainbow S.p.A. Brokered at auction, the deal was negotiated by Marie Lamba and Jennifer De Chiara at Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency, and film agent Stephen Moore of Paul Kohner, Inc.

GREEN GREEN Makes BookRiot List!

Congratulations to clients Marie and Baldev Lamba! Their picture book GREEN GREEN: A COMMUNITY GARDENING STORY was featured on BookRiot's list of 10 Picture Books for the Budding Environmentalist.

JDLA Welcomes Tori Sharp!

​Formerly an assistant with The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency, Tori has also worked as a freelance illustrator. Her debut middle-grade graphic memoir, JUST PRETEND, is forthcoming from Little, Brown in spring 2021. Tori holds a BFA in Sequential Art from SCAD. Find more about Tori, her interests, and her submission guidelines here. Welcome!

MERMAID TALES on O-The Oprah Magazine List!

Congratulations to Debbie Dadey! O-The Oprah Magazine selected her chapter books series MERMAID TALES as one of the 21 Best Books About Mermaids.

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