Cassandra Pelham Fulton at Scholastic/Graphix has acquired My Tokyo Summer by Abby Denson (l.) (Cool Japan Guide) and Utomaru (Kitty Sweet Tooth). In this YA graphic memoir, Abby, an art student based in New York City, embarks on a life-changing adventure when she enrolls in a summer session in Tokyo and collaborates on a comic with her Japanese pen pal, and they set out to exhibit together at Japan's biggest comics show. Publication is set for spring 2026; Seth Fishman at the Gernert Company did the deal for world rights.
Carolina Ortiz at HarperTeen has bought Alex Crespo's YA rom-com, Queerceañera, in which 17-year-old Joaquin Zoido is thrown into a whirlwind of telenovela-level drama when he finds himself fake-dating his childhood crush and newly minted escort to his "queerceañera." Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; Mary C. Moore at Kimberley Cameron & Associates negotiated the deal for world rights.
Nicole Fiorica at McElderry Books has acquired Conditions of a Heart by Bethany Mangle (Prepped; All the Right Reasons), a YA novel about a teen who must come to terms with her disability and what it means for her identity, her love life, and her future, when a school fight brings unwanted attention to the illness she's been concealing from her friends. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Jennifer Wills at the Seymour Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Olivia Valcarce at Inkyard Press has bought, in a preempt, Nav's Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love by Jessica Lewis (Bad Witch Burning), a queer YA rom-com in which Nav, who is an expert at flirting but allergic to love, agrees to give the painfully shy new girl lessons in romance to win over Nav's best friend, only to fall for the new girl herself. Publication is planned for summer 2024; Holly Root at Root Literary negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights.
Shaina Olmanson at Lerner/Zest Books has acquired Laurie Boyle Crompton's illustrated YA memoir in verse, The Denim Diaries: A Memoir, which follows the author's journey through her teen years as she struggles with body image and disordered eating, fights to overcome sexual trauma, and finds her way to recovery and self-acceptance. Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for world rights, for publication in winter 2024.
Jennifer Ung at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has bought Lily Xiao Speaks Out by Nicole Chen (It's Boba Time for Pearl Li), a middle-grade novel about a grunge-loving Taiwanese American tween who must use her voice to fight for ESL support at her school. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; Jamie Weiss Chilton at Andrea Brown Literary handled the deal for world English rights.
Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Baby Steps, a middle grade graphic novel by Maggie Edkins Willis (Smaller Sister). Bringing a new baby home seemed exciting and fun, until 14-year-old Erika's mother experiences a traumatic birth, followed by postpartum depression. As her mom recuperates and her stepfather moves away for work, it's up to Erika to care for the baby, which throws her life into chaos and alters her perspective on the real-life consequences of pregnancy and choice. Publication is set for spring 2026; Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Erin Haggett and Amanda Sun at Scholastic Canada and Emily Seife at Scholastic have bought Asking for a Friend by Ronnie Riley (Jude Saves the World), a middle grade novel in which a socially anxious, nonbinary 12-year-old lies to their mom about having friends at their new school—and has to make them quickly when Mom wants to throw them a 13th birthday party. Publication is slated for 2024; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency sold world rights.
Howard Reeves at Abrams has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Unexpected Undercover by Elisa Boxer, a middle grade anthology of 50 remarkable female spies that spans history and the globe, offering insight to how the women were recruited, why they became spies, and how they did their job. Publication is planned for 2025; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Joy Peskin at FSG has bought, in a preempt, J.S. Lemon's middle grade debut Moth, a story of Kafkaesque metamorphosis that grapples with issues of being sexualized before you're ready, navigating romantic feelings, and bodily autonomy. After 13-year-old Greta is sexually assaulted at a party, she finds herself turning into a moth, while also becoming who she truly is—strong, beautiful, and free. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio sold North American rights.
Jenny Bak at Viking has acquired North American rights to Ratty by Suzanne Selfors (l.), illustrated by Lavanya Naidu, a middle-grade tale that follows a boy who was transformed into a rat at birth, and 12 years later seeks to undo his family's curse so he can live a normal life. Publication is set for summer 2024; Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author, and Aliza R. Hoover at the CAT Agency represented the artist.
Alison Weiss at Pixel+Ink has bought Sky & Ty, a chapter book graphic novel series by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Steve Breen, about a cowgirl and her T. rex partner who run a Pony Express-style delivery service and get into heaps of trouble along the way. Book 1 will publish in spring 2024, with the second to follow a year later; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency did the deal for world rights.
Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane Books has acquired world rights to The Everything Trail by Meg Fleming (l.), illustrated by Chuck Groenink, a picture book trek through the redwoods that highlights elements big and small that make the forest an awe-inspiring place. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the author, and Stephen Barr at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Lauri Hornik at Penguin/Rocky Pond Books has bought world rights to Ama's Purse by Charlotte Cheng (l.), illustrated by Xindi Yan, in which a girl discovers the magic that unfolds from her grandmother's purse during a family road trip. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Karen Grencik at Red Fox represented the author, and Christy Tugeau Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Dana Chidiac at Henry Holt has acquired rights to A Bowl of Bitter Tea and a Piece of Rock Candy by debut illustrator Yan Gu. This picture book, a contemporary Chinese take on how a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine goes down, follows a girl named Mimi who does everything in her power to avoid drinking her grandmother's liangcha, a notoriously bitter tea from traditional Chinese medicine. Publication is set for fall 2025; Wendi Gu at GreenburgerKids did the deal for world English rights.
Weslie Turner at Versify has bought world rights, at auction, to Sounds Like Joy by Yesenia Moises (Stella's Stellar Hair). Young mermaid Joy finds a mysterious object whose sound inspires all her aquatic friends to join her in a dance. But when the object breaks, she needs her friends' help to recreate that magical feeling of fun. Publication is scheduled for summer 2025; Erica Bauman at Aevitas Creative Management negotiated the two-book deal.
Lee Wade at Random House Studio has acquired If You Spot a Shell, written and illustrated by Aimee Sicuro, a picture book celebration of a glorious and imaginative day at the beach, to publish in summer 2024. Andrea Morrison at Writers House brokered the deal for world rights.
Nica Mayer at POW! Kids Books has bought world English rights to Counting Cows and One Fussy Duck by Bryan Ballinger, about a sleepy janitor duck who is roused into a dreamy cleaning state by a cacophony of cows clowning around the stage. Does the janitor find a way to get the theater clean, or is it all just a dream? Publication is slated for early spring 2024; Lynnette Novak at the Seymour Agency negotiated the deal.
Megan Abbate at Bloomsbury has acquired Hannah Shafiroff's My Little Book of Big Jewish Holidays, a picture book treasury of when, why, and how Jewish holidays are celebrated, with pronunciations, common greetings, history, and food and celebration rituals explained. As 58% of Jewish families are interfaith, the book highlights diversity and inclusivity. Publication is planned for 2025; Sorche Fairbank at Fairbank Literary did the deal for world rights.
Michael Green at Marble Press has bought world rights to Rafa and the Wrong Legs by Angie Lucas (l.) (My Big Embarrassing Elephant), illustrated by Ana Sanfelippo. When little Rafa and Mama go grocery shopping, a dropped strawberry in a crowded market leads Rafa to a pair of legs that don't belong to Mama, but Rafa uses his sense of smell to circle back to the bakery section and a happy reunion with his mother. Publication is set for fall 2024; Allison Hellegers at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Lilli Tollefson at Astound US represented the artist.
Renee Kelly at Penguin Workshop has acquired world rights to Bobby and the Big Valentine by Timmy Woitas (l.), illustrated by Addy Rivera Sonda. In this picture book, a boy named Bobby is on a mission to make his friend and crush, Eddie, a Valentine big enough and bold enough to capture how much he loves him. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; the author represented himself, and Aurora Barlam at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press has bought world rights to Gus ❤️ the Bus by Lindsay Leslie (l.), illustrated by Geeta Ladi. The picture book stars a boy who falls in love with everything about buses after his first city bus ride. Gus's passion and knowledge come in handy when his family travels to a big city and gets lost. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency represented the author, and Tina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Harold Underdown at Kane Press has acquired world rights to A Tour of the Human Body, first in the Number Tours series, written by Jennifer Berne (l.), illustrated by Dawn DeVries Sokol. This nonfiction picture book gives readers a tour of the human body, using its most surprising numbers to explore its most fascinating facts. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Louise Fury represented the illustrator while at the Bent Agency.
Ginny O'Donnell at Cottage Door Press has bought world rights to Barn in Spring: Out to Explore by Chambrae Griffith (l.), illustrated by Taia Morley, a picture book about Barn gently nudging farm animals outdoors to gallop, munch, and chase before returning to the security of Barn to await another spring day. Publication is set for spring 2024; Mary Cummings at Great River Literary represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Michele McAvoy at The Little Press has acquired world rights to Broommates by Lynne Marie (l.) and Brenda Sturgis (c.), illustrated by Nico Ecenarro (r.). When two witchy sisters share a broom and a room, each sister knows exactly how they should decorate, but when their disagreement ends in disaster and a broken broom, they have to find a way to meet in the middle. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Jonathan Rosen and Marisa Cleveland at the Seymour Agency represented the authors, and Dan Cramer at Page Turner Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
