Dan Gemeinhart’s middle-grade novel The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise (pictured) is the latest kids book making a leap from page to screen.

Henry Holt and Co. published this acclaimed title in 2019, and LA’s Walden Media—which is behind the Netflix book-based series The Baby-Sitters Club—quietly optioned it that same year. Now the screen adaptation is ramping up, with New York-based indie Killer Films (Past Lives) coming on board to produce alongside Walden and Grade A Entertainment (Gifted).

It’s not yet known if the film will have a theatrical or streaming release, but Walden Media teased that the project is heading to “the big screen” in a social media post earlier this week.

Coyote Sunrise centers around a young girl who tricks her dad into a road trip, with the aim of stopping the demolition of a park that holds sentimental value for her family. The book has racked up honors including the 2019 Parents’ Choice Award Gold Medal, the 2019 CYBILS Award for Middle Grade Fiction and a spot on Amazon’s Top 20 children’s books of 2019. 

Anya Adams (Prom Pact) is directing the film, with Liz Maccie (A Loud House Christmas) penning the screenplay. Julia Friley will oversee the project on behalf of Walden.

Killer Films co-founder Christine Vachon and Grade A president Andy Cohen are producing the feature, while Walden’s Frank Smith (president/CEO) and Ben Tappan (president of production) are attached as EPs. Jack Heller (founder of Assemble Media) and Brendan Deneen (Assemble’s president of literary/IP development) are also executive producing.