Nick Thomas at Levine Querido has acquired, in an exclusive submission, A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger (Elatsoe). Influenced by traditional Lipan Apache storytelling structure, this YA novel features a girl from Earth and a Cottonmouth kid from the land of spirits and monsters, who agree to help each other and save their families. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021; Michael Curry at Donald Maass Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Jennifer Ung at Simon & Schuster has bought for Salaam Reads, at auction, in a six-figure deal, world English rights to The Love Match by debut author Priyanka Taslim. This YA romantic comedy follows Zahra Khan, a Bangladeshi American sort-of-princess, who gets caught in a love triangle when her meddling mother sets her up with a suitable match, Jane Austen-style. Publication is planned for summer 2022; Laura Barbiea and Sara Shandler at Alloy Entertainment negotiated the two-book deal; the author is represented by Quressa Robinson at Nelson Literary.
Vicki Lame at Wednesday Books has acquired Edgewood, a standalone YA contemporary fantasy by Kristen Ciccarelli. Emeline has done everything to stay away from the storied forest of her childhood, which seems to hold a deep unspoken secret. When her grandfather disappears, Emeline knows the forest has taken him, and she must finally face the woods or lose him forever. Publication is slated for 2022; Danielle Burby at Nelson Literary did the deal for North American rights.
Rachel Del Grosso at Wise Wolf has bought world rights to Runaway Train and Grenade Bouquets by Lee Matthew Goldberg. The first book in the YA series is set in the early '90s, charting the journey of aspiring grunge singer Nico Sullivan, who goes off the rails when her sister dies of a brain aneurysm, and runs away at the encouragement of her delinquent friends; the sequel is about Nico's band and their rise to fame in NYC. Publication is set for spring and summer 2021; Natalie Kimber at the Rights Factory brokered the two-book deal.
Ruqayyah Daud at Little, Brown has acquired Alexandria Rogers's middle-grade debut, The Witch, the Sword, and the Cursed Knights, a fantasy adventure about a boy and girl who, much to their dismay, discover they are destined to be knights of the legendary round table. Publication is scheduled for winter 2022; Katelyn Uplinger at D4EO Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has bought world rights to Riding the Trail: Cherokees Remember the Removal by Cherokee authors Traci Sorell and Will Chavez, illustrated with photographs from Chavez and the Cherokee Nation archives. This nonfiction title for middle-grade readers tracks young Cherokee leaders on the "Remember the Removal" bicycle ride, a 950-mile ride from Georgia to Oklahoma that retraces the northern route of the Trail of Tears and shows how their ancestors' forced removal still informs contemporary reality. Publication is set for summer 2024; Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt represented the co-authors.
Allyn Johnston at S&S/Beach Lane has acquired world rights to Owl's Journey by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Jeanette Winter, a picture book about the journey of the saw-whet owl that arrived in New York City via the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Publication is planned for fall 2021; Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown represented the author, and Susan Cohen at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Kaylan Adair at Candlewick has bought, at auction, world rights to the picture book What Are Words, Really? written by photographer and author Alexi Lubomirski (l.), illustrated by Pura Belpré Illustration Honor-winning artist Carlos Aponte (Across the Bay). Lubomirski, whose engagement photographs of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made headlines worldwide, offers young readers rhyming advice on the ways that words can affect us and how to change your words for the better. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Anne Bohner at Pen & Ink Literary represented the author, and John Rudolph at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the illustrator.
Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook has acquired world rights to How to Hug a Pufferfish by author-illustrator Ellie Peterson, about a pufferfish who establishes boundaries when it comes to her personal space and shows her ocean friends that she cares in her unique way. Publication is scheduled for 2022; Adria Goetz at Martin Literary Management handled the deal.
Alyson Day at HarperCollins has bought world rights to Milloo's Mind by Reem Faruqi (l.), the true story of Maryam Faruqi, the author's grandmother, who lived in India in the 1920s when school was seen as unimportant for girls. Yet with courage and determination, she managed to rise to the top of her class and go on to educate thousands of children in India and Pakistan. Hoda Hadadi will illustrate; publication is planned for 2023. Rena Rossner at the Deborah Harris Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Anne Schwartz at Random House/Schwartz has acquired world rights to How to Ride a Dragonfly by debut author Kitty Donohoe (l.), illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf (Sophie's Squash and A Hippy-Hoppy Toad). After shrinking to the size of an insect, a child learns how best to ride a dragonfly, joust a honeybee, dine with fairies, and much more. Publication is set for summer 2022; Stephen Fraser at Jennifer De Chiara Literary represented the author, and Judy Sue Goodwin Sturges and April Prince at Studio Goodwin Sturges represented the illustrator.
Kate O'Sullivan at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has bought world rights to the picture book Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night by debut author Megan Litwin (l.), illustrated by Nneka Myers. This ode to the winter season is also a twist on the beloved nursery rhyme. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Lindsay Auld at Writers House represented the author, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary represented the illustrator.
Rotem Moscovich at Knopf has preempted world rights to Becoming Charley by Gaston author Kelly DiPucchio (l.), illustrated by Loveis Wise. The picture book explores self-acceptance and being true to oneself by following a caterpillar's journey to becoming a unique butterfly. Publication is scheduled for spring 2023; Steven Malk at Writers House represented the author and illustrator.
Michelle Bisson and Alison Deering at Capstone have acquired world rights to My Sister, Daisy by Adria Karlsson, a picture book based on the true story of an older brother's compassionate adjustment to his younger sibling's gender transition. Linus Curci will illustrate; publication is planned for fall 2021. Naomi Davis at BookEnds Literary represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented.
Kelsey Skea at Amazon/Two Lions has bought world rights to I Am Able to Shine and a second untitled book by husband-and-wife team Korey Watari and Mike Wu, author-illustrator of the Ellie series. This #OwnVoices picture book follows a persistent Asian American girl named Keiko who overcomes obstacles to accomplish anything she can dream of. Publication is set for spring 2022 and spring 2023; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the author and illustrator.
Rachel Murray and Kate Farrell at Holt have acquired world English rights to Santa Jaws, written by Bridget Heos (l.), a picture book about a great white shark Santa who brings treats to all the shark pups in the ocean. Galia Bernstein will illustrate; publication is slated for fall 2021. Liza Voges at Eden Street Literary represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Deborah Shine at Star Bright has bought world rights to Leaves to My Knees, a math picture book by Ellen Mayer (l.) designed to build children's understanding of measurement, to be illustrated by Nicole Tadgell. Publication is scheduled for October 2022; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Carolyn Yoder at Calkins Creek has acquired world rights to The Founding Mothers and Fathers of Black America, written by Wade Hudson (l.). The picture book will spotlight the founding of Black America and the pioneering Black men and women who laid its foundation. E.B. Lewis will illustrate; publication is planned for fall 2023. Hudson represented himself, and Lewis was represented by Jeff Dwyer at Dwyer & O'Grady.
Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear has bought June Almeida, Virus Detective! The Woman Who Discovered the First Human Coronavirus by Suzanne Slade (l.), illustrated by Elisa Paganelli. This picture book biography explores the life of virologist June Almeida, whose groundbreaking work is helping researchers today in the fight against Covid-19 and other illnesses caused by viruses. Publication is set for spring 2021; the author represented herself, and Christine Hong at Astound US represented the illustrator.
