Jodi Keller at Marble Press has acquired Into the Deep Blue, a YA contemporary novel by debut author and Nicholl Fellowship winner Jennifer E. Archer, which follows human hurricane Nick and always-fine Fiona, whose mothers have both died, leaving them to work through insurmountable grief—and maybe fall for each other. The novel, which is being made into a movie starring Sabrina Carpenter, is set for fall 2024; Christa Heschke and Daniele Hunter at McIntosh & Otis brokered the deal for world English rights.
Jessica Anderson at Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, Greta Ever After by Melissa Dassori (J.R. Silver Writes Her World), a middle grade novel pitched for fans of Judy Blume and Gail Carson Levine, about an ordinary girl desperate to make herself stand out in seventh grade through a string of little white lies, with a pinch of fairy tale magic. Publication is scheduled for winter 2025; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency did the deal for world rights.
Jaime Gelman at Little Bee Books has acquired world rights to four books in a new chapter book series, Neecy and Nay Nay, by Simone C. Dankenbring (l.) and Syrone C. Harvey (c.), illustrated by Maya Henderson (r.), about the adventures of twin Black girls. Publication for books one and two is planned for spring 2025, with book three in summer 2025 and book four in fall 2025. Regina Bernard Carreno at Ladderbird Literary Agency represented the author, and Lori Steel at Red Fox Literary represented the illustrator.
Karen Wojtyla at McElderry Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, North American rights to Rosa by Starlight by Hilary McKay (l.), illustrated by Matt Rockefeller, in which a lonely English orphan is abandoned in an old hotel in Venice by her outrageously awful aunt and uncle, and when she rescues a drowning kitten from a canal, she sets off a chain of surprising—and magical—events that show her where her home really is. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Danielle Collins at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has acquired, in an exclusive submission, A Friend for Fox, a debut picture book by Enrico Lorenzi. When Fox is the only one left awake to enjoy his favorite evening treat, a cup of hot cocoa, he goes in search of some new friends to share it with. Publication is set for fall 2025; Heather and Ethan Long at Tugeau 2 brokered the deal for world rights.
Jill Davis at Astra/Hippo Park has bought Paper Bot by author-illustrator Micah Player, a picture book that explores the tender and conflicting nature of sibling relationships and age-gaps. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; Lori Nowicki at Painted Words negotiated the deal for world rights.
Mora Couch at Holiday House has acquired world rights to I Am a Bon Dancer by Brandi-Ann Uyemura (l.), illustrated by Amy Matsushita-Beal. This picture book debut focuses on a Japanese American girl's celebration of the Obon Festival—the celebration of departed souls—as well as the larger story of the Japanese diaspora and the Japanese community in Hawaii. Publication is planned for summer 2025; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and the artist was unagented.
Marilyn Brigham at Amazon/Two Lions has bought world rights to Neighbots by Sarvinder Naberhaus (l.), illustrated by Christophe Jacques, about a human family and a robot family who become next-door neighbors and go to great lengths in their attempts to figure out how to get along. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
