Karen Chaplin at Quill Tree has acquired, at auction, Their Will Undone by R.J. Valldeperas, the first book in a debut YA fantasy duology in which an Inca girl imprisoned in a priestess temple is summoned to the palace by an unexpected marriage proposal from the emperor, and must contend with both his infuriatingly handsome right-hand man and the dark magic growing inside her—and decide whether she'll be a bride or a weapon. Publication is planned for 2025; Melanie Figueroa at Root Literary did the two-book deal for North American rights.
Katherine Pelz at 8th Note Press has bought the debut YA novel To Have and Have More by New York magazine staff writer Sanibel Chai, in one of TikTok's first book acquisitions. Pitched for readers of The Summer I Turned Pretty and K.L. Walther's The Summer of Broken Rules, it is an exploration of entitlement, friendship, and identity that follows the journey of a Korean girl adopted into a wealthy white family as she grapples with her place in a world of casual racism and white privilege. Publication is set for fall/winter 2024; Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group sold North American English rights in the six-figure deal.
Alison Romig at Delacorte has acquired The Silenced by Diana Rodriguez Wallach (Hatchet Girls). When a group of childhood friends meet at an abandoned reform school for girls, Hazel Perez is accidentally knocked unconscious and awakes with a thirst for payback that isn't her own. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; Lane Heymont at the Tobias Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Gianna Lakenauth at Knopf has preempted world rights to An Embroidery of Souls by Ruby Martinez, a YA romantasy that follows Jade, who can stitch love, embroider away death, and unspool memories. She's a thread speaker in the queendom of Mérecal where a creature is on the hunt, and it's up to Jade and a boy whose soul shines brighter than the universe to stop it. A second untitled book will follow; publication is slated for fall 2025 and fall 2026, respectively. Sarah N. Fisk at the Tobias Literary Agency handled the deal.
Tricia Lin at Random House has bought It's All or Nothing, Vale, a middle grade novel in verse by Newbery Honoree Andrea Beatriz Arango (Iveliz Explains It All). After a major injury, Valentina tries to regain her title of top épée fencer, but she's confronted at every turn by the frustrations of her new chronic pain as well as the new girl who took her #1 spot. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Rebecca Eskildsen at Writers House negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Anna Sargeant at Sourcebooks Explore has acquired Outrageous Outer Space by Kim Arcand (l.) and Megan Watzke, a nonfiction middle grade book with photographs about the spooky, wacky, and terrifying parts of space. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Mackenzie Brady Watson at Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency sold world rights.
David Linker at Harper has bought world rights to Princess Bulldog, a chapter book trilogy by Lovi Goyal Yu (l.), illustrated by Stephanie Laberis, about a flying bulldog princess, her friends, and their magical adventures protecting the Friendship Fountain and all of pupdom.The first book, Princess Power Trip, is set for summer 2026; Gemma Cooper at the Bent Agency represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has acquired world rights to Preciosa by Carlos Aponte (Across the Bay; A Season to Bee), as well as a second untitled picture book. Preciosa tells the story of how a boy finds a stray dog in the debris after a massive hurricane hits Puerto Rico, and how together they help to rebuild their community. Publication is slated for spring 2026; John Rudolph at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret did the deal.
Jennifer Stokes at OwlKids Books has bought world rights to Time to Leave by Lana Button (l.), illustrated by Yong Ling Kang, a picture book about a girl who can't control her stormy tantrums until she learns how to prepare herself for rainy weather. Publication is planned for spring 2026; the author was unagented, and Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the illustrator.
Feather Flores at Atheneum has acquired, in a preempt, world rights to Like a Mother Bear by poet and educator Mary E. Cronin (l.), illustrated by J Yang (If You're a Kid Like Gavin). This nonfiction picture book biography celebrates the life of PFLAG founder, queer rights activist, and loving mother figure Jeanne Manford, told in a mix of prose and quotes from the letters Jeanne wrote to and received from queer kids across the country. Publication is set for spring 2027; Lori Steel at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Julia Sooy while at Henry Holt bought, in an exclusive submission, The Sphere of Women: Eunice Newton Foote, Groundbreaking Climate Scientist by Rebecca Donnelly (l.) (Total Garbage), illustrated by Mercè López. The picture book introduces young readers to the life and work of the inventor, scientist, and women's rights activist who first identified the connection between carbon dioxide levels and changing atmospheric temperatures. Kate Farrell will edit; publication is scheduled for winter 2026. Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency represented the author, and Mela Bolinao at MB Artists represented the illustrator.
Jiahui Zhu at Yeehoo Press has acquired Pebble Without a Cause by Stephanie Campisi (l.), illustrated by Jiarui Jiang, a picture book about the power of perspective, in which a little pebble learns that even with a small size and physical limitations, there are things you can do that no one else can. Publication is slated for winter 2025; Haley Casey at Creative Media Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Lynne Polvino at Clarion has bought world rights to Under One Roof by Baptiste Paul (l.) and Miranda Paul (c.), illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal (r.), a picture book that invites readers to peek under the roofs of a diverse group of kids, celebrating family and home and providing comfort to those missing loved ones who are traveling, deployed, imprisoned, deported, or living far away. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented Baptiste Paul, Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary represented Miranda Paul, and Stephen Barr at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has acquired world rights to two picture books, in an exclusive submission, by Pura Belpré Award-winning author Ruth Behar (l.). The first book, A Snowy Hanukkah for Luz, illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Marjorie Priceman, tells the story of a girl and her grandmother who prepare for a community celebration amid a blizzard while discussing the true meaning of the holiday. Publication is set for fall 2025; Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Birch Path Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Lillian Miao at Paraclete Press has bought world rights to The Christmas Elephant: A Nativity Story by Maria Antonia (l.), illustrated by Laura Zarrin, a picture book in which a girl wants to be an elephant in the Christmas play, but her know-it-all sister says she'll ruin everything. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Stephanie Cardel at Lighthouse Literary represented the author, and Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency represented the illustrator.
Stephanie Guerdan at HarperTeen has acquired Where Shadows Bloom by Catherine Bakewell, a YA romantasy where two girls battle shadow monsters—and their growing feelings for each other—as they seek truth in a beautiful, mysterious palace. The story follows 17-year-old Ofelia and her lovelorn knight, who must face shadow monsters, a mysterious garden, and a king hiding dark secrets to find Ofelia's mother. Clare Vaughn will complete edits; publication is set for spring 2025. Jordan Hamessley at JABberwocky Literary Agency sold world English rights.
Alison Romig at Delacorte Press has bought Signed Sealed Dead by Cynthia Murphy (Win Lose Kill Die), in which true-crime obsessed Paige and her family move across the Atlantic to her father's eerie hometown and become embroiled in the town's dark history. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Antonia Pelari at Scholastic UK negotiated the deal on behalf of Steph Thwaites at Curtis Brown UK for North American rights.
Annette Pollert-Morgan at Sourcebooks Fire has acquired world English rights to As Fate Would Have It by Katy Upperman, a YA contemporary romance about a girl whose world is upended when a fortune teller's prediction goes tragically wrong, pushing her out of her comfort zone and into a new life and a new love. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Pam Gruber at High Line Literary Collective did the two-book deal.
Olivia Swomley at Candlewick/ MITeen Press has bought The Eliza Effect: True Tales of Affection, Deception, and Conversation with AI by Ashley Walker. Part narrative nonfiction and part memoir, this YA book examines how artificial intelligence personas, such as ELIZA, Siri, and ChatGPT, found their voices—and how talking to them teaches us about what it means to be human. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Kelly Dyksterhouse at Tobias Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has acquired North American rights to Let It Glow, the debut middle-grade novel from YA author Marissa Meyer (l.), co-authored with Sydney Taylor Notable author Joanne Levy, about twin sisters separated at birth who meet by chance at tryouts for a holiday pageant. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Jill Grinberg at Grinberg Literary Management represented Meyer, and Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented Levy.
Erika Turner at Little, Brown has bought Unboxing Libby, a debut middle-grade novel by librarian and non-binary graphic novelist Steph Cherrywell, a middle grade novel pitched as ChatGPT meets American Girl dolls, about preteen androids who must make their own way in a new human colony on Mars, and learn to accept their individuality even if it means being sent to the junkyard. Publication is set for winter 2025; Marie Lamba at Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Melinda Rathjen at WorthyKids has acquired world rights to Bonnie the Bee Charmer and the Faire of Worlds, a contemporary fantasy middle grade novel by Ellie Kirk. A bee-loving girl is drawn into an otherworldly magical traveling faire and must fight to save the faire and its giant bees from sinister forces before she can return home with the means to save her family's endangered apiary. Peggy Schaefer will edit; publication is slated for summer 2025. Mary Cummings at Great River Literary sold world rights.
Stephanie Pitts at Putnam has bought, at auction, world rights to Worm Makes a Sandwich by Brianne Farley, a humorous picture book about composting told from the point of view of a worm and his friends, who turn organic waste into rich, fertile soil, which in turn nurtures the veggies that go into a delicious sandwich—with only a little help from a human gardener. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Paul Rodeen at Rodeen Literary Management did the two-book deal.
Lauri Hornik at Penguin/Rocky Pond has acquired world rights, at auction, Alexandra Katona's (l.) picture book, Finding My Wave, illustrated by Sara Palacios, a story about a girl getting ready to go surfing with her abuelita, about the struggle between love and fear, and what it truly takes to overcome life’s challenges. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Kendra Marcus and Minju Chang at BookStop Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Laura Godwin at Godwin Books has bought world English rights to When Beavers Move In, a debut picture book by Alison Pearce Stevens (l.) (Animal Climate Heroes), illustrated by Natasha Donovan (When the Stars Came Home). The science writer and Métis illustrator have teamed up to showcase the extraordinary ways the Tulalip Tribes are healing their traditional lands by relocating beavers into the Cascade Mountains. Publication is set for winter 2026; Alexandra Weiss at Azantian Literary represented the author, and Lindsay Auld at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Suzy Capozzi and Emily Duffy at Union Square Kids have acquired world rights to Hope Rode by Lauren H. Kerstein (l.), illustrated by Becca Stadtlander, a picture book about the courageous pack horse librarians who brought the gift of reading to rural Kentuckians in the 1930s. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Feather Flores at Atheneum has bought world rights to Alight: How the Red-Crowned Parrot Found a New Place to Belong by Jennifer Torres (l.), illustrated by Molly Magnell, a nonfiction picture book about how the Red-Crowned Parrot, originally native to Mexico, learned to survive and thrive in new environments in the U.S. as a naturalized species. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Mary Lee Donovan at Candlewick Press has acquired world rights to Love Is Hard Work by Dan Paley (l.), illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov. The nonfiction picture book explores the art and life of Corita Kent, the American artist, teacher, and advocate for social justice. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Amy Thrall Flynn at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the author, and Rebecca Sherman at Writers House represented the artist.
