Tiffany Shelton at Wednesday Books has acquired, in a preempt, in a two-book deal, debut author Lauren Blackwood's Within These Wicked Walls, an Ethiopian-inspired Jane Eyre retelling in which Andromeda—an unlicensed debtera—is hired to rid a castle of its dangerous curses, only to fall in love with the boy whose life hangs in the balance. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021; Lauren Spieller at TriadaUS Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Jennifer Newens and Olivia Ngai at West Margin have bought world English rights to The Visit, a YA graphic novel by the late Rabbi Rafael Grossman and Anna Olswanger (c.) that looks at one episode in the “Let my people go” movement of the 1960s to free the Soviet Jews. Yevgenia Nayberg (r.) will illustrate. Publication is slated for May 2022; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the authors and illustrator.
Zachary Clark at Scholastic has acquired, in an exclusive submission, the Skyborn trilogy, a middle grade series by Jessica Khoury (The Mystwick School of Musicraft). In a world where everyone is born with wings but is forbidden from flying free, Ellie of the lowly Sparrow Clan sets out to become a knight and defend her people—only to fall in with a band of outcasts who challenge her idea of right, wrong, and what truly makes a hero. Publication for the first book is set for spring 2021; Lucy Carson at the Friedrich Agency brokered the three-book deal for world rights.
Chris Hernandez at Razorbill has bought, in a preempt, debut author-illustrator Phil Corbett's Kitty Quest, plus an additional book in this middle grade graphic novel series pitched as Dog Man meets The Lord of the Rings. The story follows two young adventurers who have become the newest members of Kitty Quest, a guild charged with protecting the island of Pawdor. But the duo soon discovers there's a big learning curve when it comes to standing up to rampaging monsters, disgruntled ghosts, and vengeful wizards. Publication of the first book is planned for summer 2021; Helen Boyle at Pickled Ink did the deal for North American rights.
Amy Cloud at HMH has acquired, in an exclusive submission, in a two-book deal, world rights to Sloth Sleuth by Cyndi Marko (the Kung Pow Chicken series). The middle grade graphic novel series features an ace sloth detective and a cast of suspicious characters. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021 and spring 2022; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency negotiated the deal.
Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has bought, at auction, debut author Nina Hamza's Ahmed Aziz's Epic Year, pitched as an Indian Muslim Holden Caulfield with a side of Merci Suarez, about a sixth grader who moves from Hawaii to freezing Minnesota and has his life changed with the help of three classic books. Publication is slated for summer 2021; Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Trident Media Group brokered the deal for North American rights.
David Linker at HarperCollins has acquired, in a two-book deal, world rights to Max and the Moonbean by bestselling author-illustrator Rob Scotton (Splat the Cat and Russell the Sheep). The books star Max, a shy young dog who dreams of adventure, and a moon-being, who becomes his best friend. Publication is set for summer 2022 and summer 2023; the author was unagented.
Yasemin Uçar at Kids Can has acquired world rights to author-illustrator Jonathan Roth's Rover and Speck, first in a humorous science-based graphic novel series for younger readers about two "lost" planetary rovers who team up on their quest to discover the universe and their places within it. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Natalie Lakosil at Bradford Literary Agency negotiated the three-book deal.
Renee Kelly at Penguin Workshop has bought author-illustrator Benson Shum's Alex's Good Fortune, in which Alex and her family share their special Chinese New Year traditions with friends. Publication is planned for spring 2021; Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary handled the deal for world English rights.
Liza Kaplan at Philomel has bought world rights to novelist Jenny Torres Sanchez's debut picture book, With Lots of Love. The book follows a girl named Rocio as she discovers the importance of finding pieces of home wherever she is. André Ceolin will illustrate. Simultaneous English and Spanish publication is slated for spring 2022; Kerry Sparks at Levine Greenberg Rostan represented the author, and Mela Bolinao at MB Artists represented the illustrator.
Sylvie Frank at S&S/Wiseman has acquired world rights to Elaine Vickers's (Like Magic) (l.) picture book debut, Thankful. Samantha Cotterill has signed on to illustrate. The picture book is a celebration of family, togetherness, and everyday pleasures, based on a tradition from the author's own family of writing "thankful" moments on slips of paper and linking them to form chains. Publication is set for fall 2021; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Sydnee Monday at Kokila has acquired world rights to #DisabledAndCute creator Keah Brown's (The Pretty One) (l.) picture book debut, Sam's Super Seats. Sharee Miller (Don't Touch My Hair!) will illustrate. The story, about loving yourself, laughter, and the importance of rest, follows a girl with cerebral palsy who goes back-to-school shopping with her best friends. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Alexander Slater at Trident Media Group represented the author, and Monica Odom at Odom Media Management represented the illustrator.
Rebecca Davis at Boyds Mills & Kane has bought North American English rights to Catastrophe! A Story of Patterns, written by Ann Marie Stephens (l.) and illustrated by Jenn Harney. The picture book features intrepid cats embarking on a fishing expedition that highlights the mathematical concept of patterns. Publication is planned for fall 2021; Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt represented the author, and Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the illustrator.
Erika Turner at HMH/Versify has bought world rights to The Meaning of Pride, a picture book by authors Rosiee Thor (l.) (Tarnished Are the Stars) and Taylor B. Barton (c.) (The Ninth Life), illustrated by Sam Kirk (r.), about the significance, beauty, and universality of the concept of pride, as celebrated by millions of queer people and their allies around the world. Publication is set for spring 2022; Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch Literary represented Thor and Barton, and Nicolas Gomez and Michelle Collins at A Non-Agency represented Kirk.
Ariel Richardson at Chronicle has acquired world rights to Rainbow Truck, a picture book that follows the journey of a colorfully decorated delivery truck across Pakistan, by authors Colleen Paeff (l.) and Hina Abidi (c.), illustrated by Saffa Khan (r.). Publication is slated for spring 2023; Clelia Gore at Martin Literary Management represented the authors, and the illustrator was unagented.
Claudia Gabel at HarperCollins has acquired Tirzah Price's YA debut, Pride & Premeditation, the first book in the Jane Austen Murder Mysteries series, which gives three of Austen's beloved novels murder mystery makeovers. In Pride & Premeditation, 17-year-old aspiring lawyer Lizzie Bennet attempts to solve a murder case while fighting off feelings for her rival Mr. Darcy. Publication is set for winter 2021, with Sense & Second-Degree Murder and Manslaughter Park to follow in winter 2022 and winter 2023, respectively; Taylor Martindale Kean at Full Circle Literary did the three-book deal for world rights.
Eileen Rothschild at Wednesday Books has bought, in a preempt, in a two-book deal, debut author Meg Long's Cold the Night Fast the Wolves. The YA sci-fi novel is a reimagining of the Iditarod sled dog race meets Mad Max. It follows a 17-year-old girl as she races to survive a dangerous sledding competition across the wilderness of her frozen planet with nothing but her skills and a feral wolf-hybrid she must learn to trust in order for either of them to survive. Publication is planned for winter 2022; Alexandra Machinist at ICM Partners negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Nancy Mercado at Dial has acquired, in a preempt, world rights to When We Make It by Elisabet Velasquez. The YA novel-in-verse is about a girl in 1990s Bushwick, Brooklyn, who wants to know what success looks and feels like in the midst of a war on drugs while navigating mental health issues, systemic racism, poverty, and gentrification. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Katherine Latshaw at Folio Literary Management brokered the deal.
Chris Hernandez at Razorbill has bought, in a preempt, Doom's Day Camp, Joshua Hauke's debut middle-grade graphic novel series. Pitched as The Last Kids on Earth meets The Babysitters Club, the series follows a boy named Doom who lives in an apocalyptic world where everyone has strange abilities, except his only "power" is his unusual ability to read. When the adults are forced to leave camp to face a mysterious new threat, Doom is put in charge of the other kids—a job which he is totally unprepared for. Publication of the first book is expected in spring 2022; Caryn Wiseman at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the two-book deal for world rights.
Harriet Low at HMH has acquired Monkey Business by Anita Sanchez, a middle grade chronicle of one of the most important trials in U.S. history, where the legality of teaching evolution was argued—and the American public was educated—that investigates the importance of journalistic reporting, the legal process, and the ethics of education. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Regina Ryan at Regina Ryan Publishing Enterprises negotiated the deal for world rights.
Jenny Bak, in her debut acquisition for Viking, has bought world English rights to author-artist Michael Rex's (Goodnight Goon) graphic novel series, Your Pal Fred, about an indefatigably friendly and optimistic lifelike robot adrift in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Publication for the first book is set for spring 2022; Timothy Travaglini at Transatlantic Agency handled the deal.
Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook has acquired, at auction, North American rights to author-illustrator Mark Pett's picture book, I Eat Poop. The book follows a young dung beetle named Dougie who has to hide the fact that he loves to eat poop from his other insect classmates, for fear that he'll be ostracized at school. In the end, readers discover that everyone has a secret they've been keeping. Publication is planned for spring 2021; Kerry Sparks at Levine Greenberg Rostan brokered the deal.
Haven Iverson at Sounds True has bought, at auction, world rights to Colter Jackson's picture book, The Rhino Suit, about a highly empathetic girl who builds a rhino suit to keep herself from feeling everything so deeply. Publication is scheduled for winter 2022; Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author-illustrator.
Trisha de Guzman at FSG has acquired, at auction, in a two-book, six-figure deal, Warrior Princess: The Story of Khutulun by author-illustrator Sally Deng. The book follows the life of the great-great granddaughter of Genghis Khan, a princess who could rule on the battlefield as well as—or better—than any soldier, and when faced with a potential marriage, learns that sometimes the best way to serve one's community is to stay true to oneself. Publication is slated for winter 2022; a second, untitled book will publish in winter 2023. Tracy Marchini at BookEnds did the deal for world English rights.
Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press has bought world rights to Where's My Cow? by Susan Blackaby, illustrated by Scott Brundage. The picture book features a young egret who longs to visit the seashore for the first time but is afraid she'll get lost and never see her dear friend Cow again. Publication is set for fall 2021; Marie Lamba at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Joni Sussman at Lerner/Kar-Ben has acquired world rights to Jane Breskin Zalben's (l.) A Bear for Bimi, a story about the friendship between a Jewish child and his new immigrant neighbor. Yevgenia Nayberg will illustrate. Publication is planned for fall 2021; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown represented the author, and Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the illustrator.
