Polo Orozco at Putnam has acquired, in a preempt, Suddenly a Murder by debut author Lauren Muñoz. Pitched as One of Us Is Lying with faux Great Gatsby flair, this contemporary YA locked-room mystery follows seven friends at a glamorous, 1920s-themed getaway at Ashwood Manor, where they party like Roaring Twenties socialites—until one of them is murdered. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Jodi Reamer at Writers House negotiated the deal.
Stephanie Guerdan at HarperTeen has bought Finding My Elf by David Valdes (Spin Me Right Round). Single All the Way meets Simon vs. the Home Sapiens Agenda in this queer YA romcom about Cam, who's trying to find the "the one" and also trying to find himself—while spending winter break working at a hectic Santa's Village. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Annie Bomke at the Annie Bomke Literary Agency handled the deal for world rights.
Farrin Jacobs at Little, Brown has acquired Right Here, Right Now by Shannon Dunlap, a YA novel about possibilities and unexpected connections in the vein of Sliding Doors that follows two teens whose lives collide in multiple universes. Publication is set for winter 2024; Kerry Sparks at Levine Greenberg Rostan did the deal for world English rights.
Lily Kessinger at Clarion Books has bought Lexi Ryan's new and yet untitled standalone YA duology—a romantic dark fantasy series set in the world of These Hollow Vows. Publication for book one is slated for summer 2024; Dan Mandel at GreenburgerKids brokered the deal for world rights.
Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee Books/Yellow Jacket has acquired Soup by Oliver Gerlach (l.), illustrated by Kelsi Jo Silva. This YA graphic novel tells the story of Soup, a cook in a fantasy world who discovers her boss's villainous grip over her beloved town and decides it's time to dismantle his power through a magical cooking competition. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Stephanie Winter at P.S. Literary negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Jake Bray at Wise Wolf has bought, in a four-book deal, Red as Blood by Sorboni Banerjee (l.) and Dominique Richardson. Pitched as Riverdale meets fairy tale, the YA mystery follows a biracial Snow White and an Indian-American Little Mermaid as they investigate the disappearance of their best friend, with her chopped-off golden braid and cryptic letters the only clues, and Snow White's Prince Charming the prime suspect. Publication is planned for spring 2023; Tamar Rydzinski at Context Literary Agency did the four-book deal for North American rights.
Alyson Day at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to Glass by Newbery Honor author Kathryn Lasky. This upper middle-grade fantasy novel tells the backstory of Cinderella's teenage godmother Bess, who is trapped by her family in a glass palace until she breaks their evil spell and becomes a force for good. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Brenda Bowen at the Book Group brokered the deal.
Alvina Ling at Little, Brown has bought two projects from Newbery and Caldecott Honor author Grace Lin titled Chinese Menu and Little Night Says Goodnight. The first book is a middle grade nonfiction book that celebrates Chinese food and folktales, and the second is a picture book that provides a gently mythological explanation to what happens when nighttime falls. Publication for the first title is set for fall 2023 and the second for fall 2026; Rebecca Sherman at Writers House sold world rights.
Foyinsi Adegbonmire at Feiwel and Friends has acquired The Beanstalk Murder by P.G. Bell (The Train to Impossible Places), pitched as The BFG meets Knives Out. In this humorous middle grade fantasy, a dead giant falls on a small village and two apprentice witches are whisked away on a magical beanstalk to solve his murder, but how can you investigate a murder mystery when you risk being stepped on by your suspects? Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Gemma Cooper at the Bent Agency did the two-book deal for North American rights.
Erin Clarke at Knopf has bought world rights to Alice Atherton's Grand Tour, a middle grade novel by Lesley M.M. Blume (Everybody Behaves Badly), about 10-year-old Alice, who is sent to live for a summer in southern France with Sara and Gerald Murphy and their three young children and pet monkey, where she meets and learns important lessons from real-life luminaries of the day, including Hemingway, Picasso, Sergei Diagehliv and his Ballet Russes dancers, and Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Molly Friedrich and Lucy Carson at the Friedrich Agency negotiated the deal.
Megan Ilnitzki at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to Drawn to Change the World by #KidLit4Climate founder Emma Reynolds (Amara and the Bats). This middle grade nonfiction graphic novel anthology features profiles of 16 youth climate activists who have been campaigning for change all over the world. Each profile is illustrated by a different artist, with illustrations by Derick Brooks, Natasha Donovan, Teo DuVall, Gloria Félix, Devon Holzwarth, Erin Hunting, Margarita Kukhtina, Victoria Maderna and Federico Piatti, Bill Masuku, Ann Maulina, Natasha Nayo, Emma Reynolds, Shivana Sookdeo, Anoosha Syed, and Jade Zhang. Publication is set for summer 2023; Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra represented the author, Erin Casey Westin at Gallt and Zacker represented Derick Brooks, Peter Ryan at Stimola Literary Studio represented Teo DuVall, Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented Devon Holzwarth, Atlanta Japp at Advocate Art represented Erin Hunting, Jennifer Linnan at Linnan Literary represented Shivana Sookdeo, Taylor Martindale Kean at Full Circle Literary represented Anoosha Syed, and the other artists represented themselves.
Anne Schwartz at Random House/Anne Schwartz Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights for Born Naughty: My Childhood in China, written by debut author Jin Wang (l.), with Tony Johnston (c). This nonfiction chapter book—featuring illustrations by Anisi Baigude (r.)—recounts the story of the author's hardscrabble, adventure-filled, and joyful childhood growing up in a tiny mud hut in Inner Mongolia. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Susan Cohen at Writers House represented the co-authors, and Jennifer Herrington at Harvey Klinger represented the illustrator.
Erica Finkel at Abrams has acquired world rights to The Woofington, an early chapter book series by Donna Gephart (l.) and Lori Haskins Houran (c.), illustrated by Josh Cleland (r.), about a resort run by dogs, for dogs—where every guest feels like a Very Important Pooch. The inaugural title, Welcome to the Woofington, is scheduled for spring 2024; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary represented the authors, and Amanda Hendon at Advocate Art represented the illustrator in the three-book deal.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought world rights to Tíos and Primos, Jacqueline Alcántara's author-illustrator debut, after a nine-house auction. Inspired by Alcántara's family trips, the story follows a girl visiting her extended family in Honduras for the first time and finding that their love for her is bigger than the language barriers between them. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Adriana Dominguez at Aevitas Creative Management negotiated the two-book deal.
Grace Kendall at FSG has won at auction Threads: Zlata's Ukrainian Shirt, written and illustrated by Lina Maslo. Based on her own family history, Maslo's picture book depicts the terrible cost of the Ukrainian famine-genocide inflicted by the Communist Soviets in 1932–1933, and one girl's treasured link to her heritage. Publication is slated for winter 2024; Amy Thrall Flynn at Rubin Pfeffer Content did the deal for world rights.
Maria Correa at Random House has acquired world rights to Welcome, Pink! by Laan Cham, a picture book about a girl named Pink who finds herself in a new world, ruled by two rival creatures, and must learn to navigate the complex emotions of being caught in the middle of an argument. Publication is set for summer 2024; Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has bought world rights to How to Eat a Mango, a picture book by debut author Paola Santos (l.) in which a girl picks and eats mangoes with her abuelita and discovers a deeper connection to her people. Juliana Perdomo (Sometimes All I Need Is Me) will illustrate. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio represented the illustrator.
Nick Thomas at Levine Querido has acquired Ancient Night (Noche Antigua), with illustrations and story by David Álvarez (l.) and words by David Bowles. The picture book is a twist on two Nahua traditions: the rabbit that the Feathered Serpent placed on the moon, and Yaushu, the Lord Opossum who ruled the earth when humans were first created, and who stole fire from the gods to keep them warm. Publication of both the English and Spanish editions is set for spring 2023; Janet Soto Centeno and Susana Figueroa negotiated the deal for world English and Dutch and U.S. and Canada Spanish on behalf of Fondo de Cultura Económica; the author represented himself.
Amy Novesky at Cameron Kids has bought world rights to Frida Kahlo's Crown by Walter Grant finalist and LatinxPitch co-founder Nydia Armendia-Sánchez (l.), illustrated by Pura Belpré Honoree Loris Lora. Employing the language of native Mexican flowers and plants, this picture book explores how Frida Kahlo got her crown of flowers—blossoming, wilting, surviving, thriving, and growing into one of the most beloved artists of all time. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Lori Steel at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Sally Heflin at Heflinreps represented the artist.
Anna Parsons at Aladdin has acquired world rights to This Book Is Definitely Not Cursed, a debut picture book by Megan Woodward (l.), illustrated by Risa Rodil, in which readers must take silly steps to break the curse set in motion by reading it. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Elisa Houot at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Doreen Thorogood at Good Illustration represented the illustrator.
Jessica Echeverria at Lee & Low Books will publish the second picture book from Megan Lacera (l.) and Jorge Lacera, creators of Zombies Don't Eat Veggies. In an homage to '80s films, The Wild Ones showcases a group of diverse kids who turn to the mythical monsters from their respective cultures to help them save the only home they've ever known. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; John Cusick at Folio Literary Management represented the author and illustrator.
Kathleen Keenan at Kids Can Press has bought world rights to The Red Roti by Namita Moolani Mehra, illustrated by Beena Mistry. Set during the Partition of India, this picture book follows the difficult journey of a girl who discovers that her love of cooking can bring a taste of home to heartbroken family members and refugees. Publication is set for fall 2024; Naomi Davis at BookEnds represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented.
Christopher Robbins at Familius has acquired world rights to The Blue Canoe by Sheryl McFarlane (l.), illustrated by Laurel Aylesworth. In this picture book, a girl simultaneously explores nature and the dreams and worries that come with a new sibling on the way, while spending time with her pregnant mother in their blue canoe on the lake. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Stacey Kondla at the Rights Factory represented the author, and Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Nivair Gabriel at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to No Room for Perfect by Catherine Laudone (l.), illustrated by Anna Aronson, a picture book about a child with delayed motor skills who discovers that trying your best is more important than being perfect while helping Grandpa bake cookies. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Dorian Maffei at Kimberley Cameron & Associates represented the author, and Susan Penny at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Stephanie Cohen while at Inkyard Press acquired world rights to Sandra Proudman's Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories; Meghan Maria McCullough will edit. The SFF YA anthology explores the Latinx experience through retellings of classics, myths, and fairytales, from Poe to "Sleeping Beauty." In addition to a contribution from Proudman, the anthology will feature stories by Olivia Abtahi, David Bowles, Zoraida Córdova, Saraciea J. Fennell, Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, Torrey Maldonado, Jasminne Mendez, Anna Meriano, Amparo Ortiz, Laura Pohl, Sandra Proudman, NoNieqa Ramos, Monica Sanz, Eric Smith, Ari Tison, and Alexandra Villasante. Publication is slated for winter 2024; Hannah Fergesen did the deal while at KT Literary; Kate Schafer Testerman now represents Proudman.
Mallory Kass at Scholastic Press has bought Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew (The Whispering Dark), a contemporary YA fantasy about a recent high school graduate who returns to her childhood home following the death of her estranged father. Expecting to send the empty old farmhouse up in flames, Wyatt instead finds herself face-to-face with the boy who made her leave it all behind. As the former childhood friends find themselves pitted one against the other by a watcher in the wood, they are forced to contend with the bitter past in order to salvage their future. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Josh Adams at Adams Literary negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Mara Delgado-Sanchez at Wednesday Books has acquired, at auction, Scroll of Heaven, first in the Guardian of the Scroll duology, by Shannon Lee (l.), daughter of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee, and Fonda Lee. In the story, 16-year-old Jun trains and dreams of competing in the Guardian's Tournament, a competition held every six years to determine who will be named the top warrior of West Longhan, worthy of protecting the sacred Scroll of Heaven. With the ambitious General Cobu stoking war with East Longhan, this year's tournament will be especially dangerous and fraught with national consequence, but Jun is eager to prove himself the realm's best martial artist and earn riches and status, even if that means setting aside the slim hopes of healing a childhood wound. Publication is set for spring/summer 2024 with the second book slated for spring/summer 2025; Jane von Mehren and Penny Moore at Aevitas Creative Management sold U.S., Canada, Philippines and open market rights.
Emily Settle at Feiwel and Friends has bought Skeleton Boys by CG Drews (The Boy Who Steals Houses). The author's first YA horror is about two boys whose all-consuming friendship takes a dark turn when one of them realizes the only way to stop the horrors clawing out of the other's drawings is to destroy the creator. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Tara Gilbert at Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Cassandra Pelham Fulton at Scholastic/Graphix has acquired, at auction, Please Be My Star by Victoria Grace Elliott, a YA rom-com graphic novel and genderswapped contemporary reimagining of Phantom of the Opera featuring Erika, who, as her loneliness takes on a life of its own, seizes an opportunity to write a play for the boy in her theater class who she's obsessed with, and who finds a creative voice that might lead her to new friendship and romance and into the center of her own perfect high school theater love story. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Steven Salpeter at Assemble Media negotiated the deal for world rights.
Mekisha Telfer at Roaring Brook has bought world rights to The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival, a middle-grade graphic memoir written by survivor Estelle Nadel (l.) and Bethany Strout (c.), illustrated by debut artist Sammy Savos. The memoir details Estelle's once-happy childhood growing up in a tight-knit Jewish family in a small Polish village, and its abrupt interruption when the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939. A harrowing story of survival, loss, new beginnings, and immeasurable acts of kindness. Publication is slated for winter 2024; Jessica Regel at Helm Literary represented the authors on behalf of In This Together Media, and Charlie Olsen at InkWell Management represented the illustrator.
Erinn Pascal at Andrews McMeel has acquired, in a two-book deal, the prose graphic novel Super Sports Society by Bryan Chick (l.) (the Secret Zoo series), illustrated by Brett Radlicki, in which a self-absorbed boy is sure he can get popular by making a travel sports team and it's all fun, farts, and baseball—until he discovers his only friend, an expert gamer, is a talented athlete who threatens to take his spot—in everything. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group handled the deal for world rights.
Karen Chaplin at Quill Tree has bought, at auction, Deephaven, first in a gothic horror/mystery middle-grade series and debut prose novel by graphic novelist Ethan Aldridge. In the novel, which will be lightly illustrated, Guinevere 'Nev' Tallow receives a mysterious acceptance letter to the secluded Deephaven Academy, and is initially eager for a fresh start in its halls, but something strange is afoot from the moment they arrive, from the whispered secrets of the students to the ragged thing that stalks the shadowy corridors. Publication is set for fall 2023; Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Candlewick Studio and Walker Books Group have signed a deal with Jo Ham, founding designer at HAM, whose character Rabbit celebrates the magic of everyday life, embracing adventure, joy, and artistic expression. Rabbit can be found on ceramics, textiles, prints and stationery sold around the world. In Yippee! Rabbit and Uh-Oh! Rabbit, things might not always go exactly to plan, but readers can be sure they will always involve plenty of fun, plenty of play, and plenty of imagination. Yippee! Rabbit will publish in September 2023, and Oops! Rabbit will publish in December 2023. Donna Cassanova at Walker Books will edit in the U.K., and Katie Ring will edit for Candlewick in the U.S. The unagented deal was for world rights.
Emma Ledbetter at Abrams has acquired world rights to an untitled picture book biography of Yo-Yo Ma by James Howe (l.), a musician and author of the Bunnicula series, and illustrated by Jack Wong, which follows the famed cellist's cross-cultural life journey, characterized by compassion and restless soul-questioning, and how this influenced his music. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Amy Berkower at Writers House represented the author, and Wendi Gu at GreenburgerKids represented the illustrator
Arthur Levine at Levine Querido has bought world rights to A Joyful Song by Lesléa Newman (l.), illustrated by Susan Gal, a picture book about a Jewish boy named Zachary, who is heading to his little sister's naming ceremony with his two moms. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author, and Gail Gaynin at Morgan Gaynin represented the illustrator.
Deeba Zargarpur at Simon & Schuster has acquired world rights to The Rainbow Bangles by Thushanthi Ponweera (l.), illustrated by Maithili Joshi, in which best friends Selvi and Divya, who live in Sri Lanka's tea country but whose mothers work overseas, have to navigate jealousy and loneliness when only one girl's mother returns. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Jacqui Lipton, previously at Raven Quill Literary Agency, represented the author, and Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Courtney Code at Abrams has bought world rights to My Daddy Is a Cowboy by debut author Stephanie Seales (l.), illustrated by CG Esperanza. Inspired by the Compton Cowboys, the picture book follows a child and her father as they take an early-morning horseback ride through their town. Publication is set for spring 2024; Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency represented the author, and Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt & Zacker represented the illustrator.
Yasmin Uçar of Kids Can Press has acquired world rights to Lion on the Inside: How One Girl Changed Basketball by Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir (l.) with Judith Henderson (c.), illustrated by Katherine Ahmed (r.), about Abdul-Qaadir (aka Qisi) who stood by her beliefs to become the first NCAA Division I basketball player to wear hijab on the court and who played one-on-one basketball with President Obama in the White House. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary Studio represented the authors, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Carol Hinz at Lerner/Carolrhoda has bought world rights to The Rock in My Throat by Kao Kalia Yang (l.), illustrated by Jiemei Lin. In this picture book memoir, a Hmong refugee girl navigates life at home and school in America while carrying the weight of her selective mutism. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Megan Abbate at Bloomsbury has acquired world rights to Change Is in the Air by Debbie Levy (l.), illustrated by Alex Boersma, a nonfiction picture book, that offers a realistic yet hopeful perspective on climate change, highlighting Earth's powers to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, and humanity's powers to change, protect, and innovate. Publication is projected for March 2024; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Bridget Wagner Matzie at Aevitas Creative Management represented the illustrator.
Naomi Kirsten at Chronicle has bought world rights to When a Tree Falls by Kirsten Pendreigh (l.), a nonfiction picture book journey through the life of a tree after it falls and becomes a nurse log, regenerating the forest and providing a nutrient-rich space for new seedlings and other plants and animals to thrive. Matthew Cruikshank will illustrate; publication is scheduled for spring 2025. Natalie Lakosil at Irene Goodman Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Carolyn Yoder at Astra/Calkins Creek has acquired George Washington's Spectacular Spectacles: The Glasses That Saved America by Selene Castrovilla (l.) (Revolutionary Friends), illustrated by Jenn Harney ("Smelly" Kelly and His Super Senses). This nonfiction picture book focuses on General George Washington at the end of the Revolutionary War, and how his speech—and the fact that he needed glasses to read it—stopped a mutiny. Publication is set for spring 2025; Bibi Lewis at the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency represented the author, and Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the illustrator.
Heidi Kilgras at Random House has bought, in a preempt, world rights for Sleep, Little Dozer, a picture book about construction vehicles by Diana Murray (l.), illustrated by Cleonique Hilsaca; Maria Correa will edit. When Mama has to work late, Little Dozer does not think he will be able to fall asleep — but Papa knows his bedtime routine, right down to Mama's special song. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Brianne Johnson represented the author while at Writers House, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Meg Gaertner at Jolly Fish Press has acquired The Bear and Her Book, a picture book by Frances Tosdevin (l.), illustrated by Sophia O'Connor, in which a book-loving bear sets off to see the world and discovers the magical places that books can take her. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Gwen Bennett at Big Leap International Sales Agency brokered the deal for North American rights.
Joni Sussman at Kar-Ben has bought world rights to All Aboard for Noah's Ark! by Elana Azose (l.), a picture book about a pair of eccentric, event-planning hedgehogs who team up with Noah for an unforgettable (and very well-organized) journey on the high seas. Monica Garofalo will illustrate, for publication in spring 2024. Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Tina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books has acquired Peg Gets Crackin' and a second untitled picture book about Peg by author-illustrator Jo Renfro. This story about a chick who doesn't want to hatch shows how it feels to get out of your comfort zone and experience a world of possibilities. Publication for book one is set for spring 2024 and book two for spring 2025; Samantha Wekstein at Thompson Literary Agency did the two-book deal for world rights.
