Lisa Yoskowitz at Little, Brown has acquired blues musician Shawn Amos's debut, Cookies & Milk, in a five-house auction. The middle grade novel follows a boy's summer navigating kitchen hijinks, new friendships, the scars of his parents' divorce, and racism as he helps his father open the world's first chocolate chip cookie store in 1970s Hollywood. The story is based on the author's experiences growing up the son of Wally Amos, the founder of Famous Amos Cookies. Publication is set for spring 2022; David Kuhn and Penny Moore at Aevitas Creative Management brokered the two-book, six-figure deal for North American rights.
Megan Ilnitzki at HarperCollins has bought The Prince of Nowhere, a debut middle grade fantasy novel by Rochelle Hassan. Pitched as When You Reach Me meets Howl's Moving Castle, this standalone story follows a girl and a shapeshifter who must travel to a mysterious place called Nowhere and work together to save the future from a villain who only cares about the past. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; Erica Bauman at Aevitas Creative Management did the deal for North American rights.
Andrea Colvin at Little, Brown has acquired Samuel Sattin (Bezkamp; Side Quest) and Jen Hickman's (Bezkamp; Moth & Whisper) middle-grade graphic novel, Buzzing, in which a boy learns to make friends and manage his OCD through imaginative gaming, while navigating feelings towards his classmate Micah. Aria Balraj will edit. Publication is slated for winter 2023; Dara Hyde at Hill Nadell Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Andrew Arnold at HarperAlley has bought animator Jason Pamment's middle-grade graphic novel debut, The Treasure in the Lake, at auction. Iris and Sam, once best friends, now growing apart, discover a hidden city in a mysteriously dry lake, and must reconnect before they're swept away. Publication is planned for winter 2022; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties handled the two-book deal for North American rights.
Mari Kesselring and Ashley Wyrick at Jolly Fish Press have acquired Tia Lugo Speaks No Evil, a middle grade contemporary novel by Danette Vigilante. Tia Lugo, an asthmatic 13-year-old Puerto Rican girl living in New York City, witnesses a murder late one night from her bedroom window. Terrified that the killer will do anything to keep her silent and desperate to find the courage to speak out, Tia turns to her grandmother's favorite shopping spot: the botánica. Publication is set for fall 2021; the author represented herself.
Justin Krasner at Macmillan/Odd Dot has bought world rights to The Joke Machine author Theresa Julian's next skill-building humor book, 101 Hilarious Pranks and Practical Jokes, teaching kids how to incorporate physical humor such as goofy faces, silly voices and cool body moves to make their friends and family laugh. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021; Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Della Farrell at Holiday House has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Rainbow Shopping by Qing Zhuang, a picture book set in Manhattan's Chinatown that celebrates the joys of a mother-daughter trip to the grocery store, for publication in summer 2022. Wendi Gu at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates negotiated the deal for world rights.
Chris Hernandez at Razorbill has bought, in an exclusive submission, author-illustrator Jack Noel's picture book debut Skater Baby. In the story, a precocious baby sneaks away from mom, snags a skateboard, and begins a daring and disruptive joyride through the park. As the baby continues to take something from one unsuspecting adult after another, a crowd soon gives chase but no one seems to be able to catch the daredevil tyke. Publication is slated for fall 2021; Claire Wilson at RCW did the deal for world rights.
Daria Harper at Chronicle Books has acquired When Molly Ate the Stars by Joyce Hesselberth, the Bologna Ragazzi Nonfiction Honoree behind Mapping Sam. In this picture book, Molly has to figure out what to do to make things right after she gobbles up every star in the sky, leaving the whole world dark and gloomy. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Erica Rand Silverman of Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal for world rights.
Kayla Tostevin at Page Street Kids has bought world rights to Moles Present the Natural Tolls of Digging Holes by debut author-illustrator Springer Badger, a rhyming picture book that explores the many kinds of holes we dig and their impact on our planet. Publication is planned for fall 2021. The author-illustrator was unagented.
Courtney Code at Abrams has bought world rights to The Boy and the Sea by Camille Andros (l.) (The Dress and the Girl), illustrated by Amy June Bates (Gittel's Journey), about the merit of introspection and how a special place can be a person's Polaris. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary Agency represented the author, and Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt represented the illustrator.
Marilyn Brigham of Amazon/Two Lions has acquired Bright Winter Night, written by Alli Brydon and illustrated by Ashling Lindsay. This picture book follows a group of woodland animals who work together, despite their differences, to build a sleigh, and then race to see the Northern Lights. Publication is set for November 2022; Lori Nowicki of Painted Words represented the author, and Arabella Stein at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Sarah Shumway at Bloomsbury has acquired Every Body Shines, a YA short story anthology that celebrates body diversity and fat acceptance in contemporary fiction and fantasy. In addition to a story from editor Cassandra Newbould (of the Fat Like Me podcast), the contributors are Nafiza Azad, Chris Baron, Sheena Boekweg, Linda Camacho, Kelly DeVos, Alex Gino, Claire Kann, amanda lovelace, Hillary Monahan, Francina Simone, Rebecca Sky, Monique Gray Smith, Renée Watson, Catherine Adel West, and Jennifer Yen. Publication is set for spring 2021; Jordan Hamessley at New Leaf brokered the deal for world rights.
Andrew Karre at Dutton has bought, in an exclusive submission, Man O'War by Cory McCarthy. The YA novel follows River, a competitive swimmer and trans teen, on a journey of self-discovery, from internalized homophobia through layers of coming out, gender-affirming surgery, and true love. Publication is scheduled for 2022; Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Deeba Zargarpur at Simon & Schuster has acquired Summer's Edge, a supernatural YA thriller from Dana Mele (People Like Us). Pitched as The Haunting of Hill House meets I Know What You Did Last Summer, the novel centers five estranged friends who return to the summer lake house on the anniversary of their friend’s death. But when unexplainable events begin happening, the group suspects there's an uninvited guest in their midst—one intent on revenge. Publication is slated for spring 2022; Elana Roth Parker at Laura Dail Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Jordan Brown at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has bought North American rights to an untitled YA nonfiction project by Brandy Colbert, examining the causes, aftermath, and legacy of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. Publication is planned for fall 2021, timed to the 100th anniversary of the Massacre; Tina Dubois at ICM Partners brokered the deal.
Alexandra Sehulster at Wednesday Books has acquired Jennie Wexler's YA contemporary romance, Where It All Lands, a Sliding Doors-esque love story exploring first love, second chances, and all the paths we take to find our way back to each other. Publication is scheduled for spring/summer 2021; Creative Artists Agency did the deal for world English rights.
Julie Rosenberg at Razorbill has bought Finding Her Edge, a YA novel by Jennifer Iacopelli (Break the Fall). This retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion features a 16-year-old competitive ice dancer who must confront her family's mounting debt, her current partner's inexplicable romantic interest, and the reemergence of the partner she left behind as she trains for the biggest competition of her life. Publication is set for spring 2022; Alice Sutherland-Hawes at Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Carmen Johnson at Amazon/Skyscape acquired world rights to Brown Boy Nowhere by Sheeryl Lim. The #OwnVoices novel follows a 16-year-old Filipino American student who is uprooted from his diverse San Diego community to an all-white Midwest high school, where he is determined to find a way back west until he meets an ex-cheerleader outcast who captures his heart and forever changes the way he views small-town America. Publication is slated for summer 2021; Sharon Belcastro at Belcastro Agency handled the deal.
Kristin Rens at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has bought, in an exclusive submission, world English rights to the middle grade novel Between Two Brothers, by Crystal Allen (How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy). Thirteen-year-old Isaiah "Ice" Abernathy idolizes his older brother and dreads the day he'll leave for college. But when a catastrophic event changes the dynamics of their strong bond, Isaiah hatches a risky plot in an effort to heal their relationship. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Jennifer Rofé at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Maggie Rosenthal at Viking has acquired The Wild Huntsboys by Martin Stewart (Riverkeep). The novel follows 11-year-old Luka as he struggles to adapt to life in a country at war with a foreign power—and inadvertently kicks off his own war with a deadly horde of faeries. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has bought The Chief and the Thief, a middle grade novel by James Bird (The Brave). Benjamin Waterfalls, a troubled boy who has stolen once too often, is sent to a Native American boot camp for rehabilitation. There, he meets Nimi, the girl next in line to be tribal chief, whose unconventional and seemingly magical ways lead him to see himself and his purpose in life from another perspective. Publication is set for winter 2022; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio sold North American rights.
Alyssa Miele at Quill Tree has acquired, in a preempt, Jules Machias's debut middle-grade novel, Halfway Through the Crossfade. This dual-narrative #OwnVoices story follows two 13-year-olds—genderfluid Ash and emotional Daniel—as both learn to reject binaries and embrace kindness while secretly caring for a rescued Pomeranian named Chewbarka. Publication is planned for summer 2021; John Cusick of Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management brokered the deal for world English rights.
Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook has bought world rights to Nucleus Gallery owner Ben Zhu's debut picture book Dessert Island. In this tale, a monkey is stranded on an island of cake, while a fox is stranded on an island of dirt. When their fortunes collide, the two learn the true meaning of good luck. Publication is slated for spring 2021; Judy Hansen at the Hansen Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Farrin Jacobs at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to former SNL writer and frequent New Yorker contributor Simon Rich's (l.) debut picture book, I’m Terrified of Bath Time, a bathtime story from the bathtub's point of view, illustrated by Tom Toro (How to Potty Train Your Porcupine). Publication is set for spring 2022; Daniel Greenberg at Levine Greenberg Rostan represented the author, and Julia Eagleton at Janklow and Nesbit represented the illustrator.
Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane has acquired world rights to Would You Come, Too, a picture book by Liz Garton Scanlon (l.), illustrated by Diana Sudyka, described as a celebration of imaginative children exploring the wonders of the natural world. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Anna Roberto at Feiwel and Friends has bought North American rights to Grace and Box, written by debut children's book author Kim Howard (l.), illustrated by Megan Lotter. Box delivered a refrigerator earlier in the week, and by the end of it, Grace and Box had already been to space, gone camping, and explored the depths of the sea together. Publication is slated for winter 2021; Jennifer Weltz at Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented.
Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has acquired world rights to Susin Nielsen's (l.) picture book Apartment Cat, celebrating feline and human friendship in the story of two lonely Manhattan cats who spy each other from their apartment windows and then secretly explore the city together, until one gets locked out and must find a way home. Vivien Mineker will illustrate. Publication is planned for summer 2022. Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author and Lemonade Illustration Agency represented the artist.
Clarissa Wong at HarperCollins has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to One Day, by Joanna Ho (l.), a picture book in the form of a mother's ode to her son that weaves in themes of anti-toxic masculinity, illustrated by Faith Pray. Publication is set for winter 2023; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Molly O'Neill at Root Literary represented the illustrator.
