Caroline Abbey at Random House has acquired two untitled middle grade novels by Tae Keller, winner of the 2021 Newbery Medal and the Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature. The first story is told from the perspectives of three friends, each asking big questions about their identity and the future, whose quest to find a mysterious book leads them to realize that answers—and friendship—are rarely ever easy. Publication of the two novels is set for 2023 and 2024; Sarah Davies at Greenhouse Literary did the deal for North American rights.
Rosemary Brosnan at Quill Tree has bought two untitled middle grade novels by Pura Belpré Award winner for middle grade fiction Ernesto Cisneros (Efrén Divided), with publication for the first title scheduled for fall 2024. Deborah Warren at East/West Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Trisha de Guzman at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Adrift by Tanya Guerrero (How to Make Friends with the Sea; All You Knead Is Love) The middle grade novel is a survival story about two cousins who are best friends, and the arduous journey they undertake to reunite when one of them is seemingly lost at sea. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Wendy Schmalz at the Wendy Schmalz Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Hannah Hill at Delacorte has acquired Ravenfall and an untitled sequel by Kalyn Josephson (The Storm Crow). This debut middle grade centers on Annabella and her psychic family, who run the magical Ravenfall Inn, as they team up with runaway Colin to stop an ancient creature from destroying the veil to the Otherworld and wreaking havoc on their small Oregon town. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Carrie Pestritto at Laura Dail Literary did the deal for world English rights.
Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has bought Gossamer Summer, a middle grade novel by H.M. Bouwman (A Crack in the Sea; A Tear in the Ocean). Four sisters make a friend, find a grubby fairy, and defend the neighborhood against evil birds in this book about grief, magic, and the power of stories. Publication is scheduled for summer 2023; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary sold North American rights.
Brett Israel at Dark Horse has acquired Basil and Oregano by Melissa Capriglione, pitched as The Great British Bake Off set at a magical boarding school. Magiculinary student Basil has devoted everything to winning the end-of-year competition, until a new girl arrives at school and Basil finds herself torn between her goals and her heart. Publication is set for summer 2022; Laurel Symonds at the Bent Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Julia McCarthy at Atheneum has bought Home for Horrors by Kay Davault. This middle grade graphic novel follows monster girl Iris as she heads into a human town to find a family for herself and her housemates after escaping a magically sealed house of horrors, but soon realizes that wicked forces are afoot. Publication is planned for summer 2023; Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Liza Kaplan at Philomel has acquired The Night Train by Lorelei Savaryn. This middle grade novel features twin sisters who, while traveling with their parents who renovate old homes, discover that their latest property lies right next to the site of a disastrous train crash that happened 150 years ago. When they wind up back in time, and onboard, the girls must uncover secrets of the past to finally set the train's inhabitants—and themselves—free. Publication is slated for spring 2023; Chloe Seager at Madeleine Milburn handled the deal for North American rights.
Kate Harrison at Dial has bought, at auction, Cabaret Macabre, the graphic novel debut by author-illustrator Mercedes Acosta. Set in a New Orleans rich with magical realism and characters inspired by legends around the world, this supernatural family drama features 13-year-old Kara, who discovers that a troupe of performers aren't what they seem—and neither is she. Publication is set for 2023; Nicole Geiger at Full Circle Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Tanya Trafford at Orca has acquired middle grade novel Project Bollywood by Mahtab Narsimhan in which a young filmmaker tries to recreate a Bollywood film for a school project, but encounters concerns about stereotyping. Publication is scheduled for winter 2022; Naomi Davis at BookEnds Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Whitney Leopard at Random House Graphic has bought Yummy: A History of Tasty Experiments by Victoria Grace Elliott, a nonfiction middle grade graphic novel about the surprising history of foods we know and love. Food sprite Peri explores both sweet and savory origins of everything from soda to pizza to pickles. Publication is planned for 2023; Steven Salpeter at Curtis Brown represented the creator for world rights.
Tamar Brazis at Viking has acquired world rights to Here by bestselling YA author Ally Condie (l.), illustrated by Jaime Kim (Where Are You From?). Condie's debut picture book is a meditation on mindfulness and connecting to yourself and nature through the senses. Publication is slated for summer 2023; Jodi Reamer at Writers House represented the author, and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Neal Porter at Holiday House/Porter has bought world rights to Listening to Trees: The Woodworking Ways of George Nakashima by Holly Thompson, illustrated by Toshiki Nakamura, a picture book biography written in haibun form (a combination of haiku and prose) that celebrates the life and work of this visionary Japanese American craftsman. Publication is set for summer 2023; Jamie Weiss Chilton at Andrea Brown Literary represented the author, and Tamara Shannon at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Julie Matysik at Running Press Kids has acquired world rights to The Blue Scarf by Mohamed Danawi, illustrated by Ruaida Mannaa. The picture book features a refugee girl from a Blue world who loses her beloved scarf and sets off on a journey to find it, arriving at various worlds of different colors—ultimately discovering it was with her all along. Publication is scheduled for October 2022; Naima Danawi at Illozoo represented the author and the illustrator.
Courtney Code at Abrams has bought Roxie Loves Adventure by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen (l.), illustrated by Leeza Hernandez, about a pampered pug who must brave the wild suburban yard after accidently locking herself outside. The character is based on pug Instagram star (and the author's dog) @FoxyRoxieThePug. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the author and illustrator.
Jessica Anderson at Little, Brown/Ottaviano has acquired, at auction, world rights to The Night Before Eid: A Muslim Family Story, written by Aya Khalil (l.) (The Arabic Quilt) and illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh. The picture book features three generations of Egyptian Americans bonding over holiday traditions and a precious recipe in preparation for Eid al-Fitr. Publication is slated for winter 2023; Brent Taylor at TriadaUS Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Elizabeth Law at Holiday House has bought Five Stories written and illustrated by Ellen Weinstein, illustrator of Yayoi Kusama: From Here to Infinity. A celebration of our country's multiculturalism and an ode to city life, this picture book is about a five-story tenement building on New York's Lower East Side—and the families who have called it home—over the course of 100 years. Publication is set for summer 2023; Elizabeth Bewley at Sterling Lord Literistic sold world rights.
Julia Tyler at Page Street Kids has acquired world rights to The Best Kind of Mooncake by debut author-illustrator Pearl AuYeung; Kayla Tostevin will edit. Based on a true story, this picture book centers on the arrival of a hungry stranger at a street market community in British-occupied Hong Kong. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; the author-illustrator represented herself.
Carol Hinz at Lerner/Millbrook has bought two nonfiction photo books by executive producer at The Greater Good Science Center and the award-winning podcast The Science of Happiness, Jane Park. Hidden Animal Colors introduces seemingly plain animals who display surprising, bright colors not easily caught on camera. Hidden Creature Features introduces lesser known but intriguing animal adaptations and anatomy. Publication is slated for spring 2022 and fall 2022, respectively; Miranda Paul at Erin Murphy Literary did the two-book deal for world rights.
Rotem Moscovich at Knopf has acquired, at auction, North American rights to Give This Book Away! by Darren Farrell (l.), illustrated by Geisel Honor recipient Maya Tatsukawa. Press Here meets Be Kind in this picture book that introduces the act of giving—quite literally—in a concrete way for kids to understand. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties represented the author, and Wendi Gu at Sanford J. Greenburger & Associates represented the illustrator in the six-figure, two-book deal.
Marilyn Brigham at Amazon/Two Lions has bought world rights, at auction, to Anni Dreams of Biryani, written by Namita Moolani Mehra (l.) and illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat, plus a second untitled picture book by the author. Set in Little India, the first picture book follows a cooking-obsessed girl who is determined to uncover the secret to the best biryani recipe in the world. Publication is set for summer 2022; Naomi Davis at BookEnds Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Andrea Hall at Albert Whitman has acquired world rights to Bonnie's New Old Outfit by Madison Moore (l.), illustrated by Danielle Bennett. When Bonnie can't find the perfect first day of school outfit, her family helps her upcycle her wardrobe using maker techniques, including embroidery, knitting, and natural dyes. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; the author and the illustrator were unagented.
Namrata Tripathi at Kokila has acquired, in a six-figure preempt, Golden State by William C. Morris Award-winning author Isabel Quintero (Gabi, a Girl in Pieces; My Papi Has a Motorcycle). The YA novel follows 18-year-old Maricela, who, after finding out her father has another family he's been keeping secret from her, embarks on a road trip through California to meet her half-brother for the first time. Publication is scheduled for summer 2023; Peter Steinberg, in his first sale at Fletcher & Company, brokered the deal for world rights.
Gretchen Durning at Razorbill has bought The Depths by Nicole Lesperance (The Wide Starlight), a YA literary gothic horror set on a remote tropical island rather than a haunted European estate. After she suffers a near-fatal freediving accident, 17-year-old Addie tags along on her mother's honeymoon to a private island where she unearths dark secrets—wandering ghosts, bloodthirsty flowers, and a deep pool where no one feels pain—before realizing the island might not be willing to let her go. Publication is set for fall 2022; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary did the deal for North American rights.
Krista Vitola at Simon & Schuster has acquired Sweet Clarity, the latest YA novel by Rhiannon Richardson. After being caught kissing a girl at her Christian summer camp, Clarity must face her newly discovered sexual identity and what it means for her relationships with friends, family, faith, and the girl who may be her first love. Publication is scheduled for spring 2023; John Cusick at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management brokered the deal for world rights.
Kristin Rens at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has acquired, at auction, All That's Left in the World and a second untitled YA novel by debut author Erik J. Brown. Andrew and Jamie are strangers who find each other after a deadly pathogen has killed off most of the world—and everyone they love. On the road together in search of civilization, it's clear both boys are hiding things from one another. Publication is planned for March 2022; Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Emily Easton at Crown has bought, at auction, in a six-figure deal, North American rights to The Q plus an untitled second book by Amy Tintera (All These Monsters; Reboot). In this near-future YA, a girl raised in a walled quarantine zone and the son of a Presidential candidate abducted and dropped into the zone by parachute must go on the run toward the only exit before they are hunted down by mercenaries. Publication is slated for fall 2022 and fall 2023, respectively; Emmanuelle Morgen at Stonesong represented the author.
Kate Prosswimmer at S&S/McElderry has bought, at auction, Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun, a Black girl magic middle grade fantasy duology by journalist and hair care educator Tola Okogwu pitched as Black Panther meets X-Men. When Onyeka discovers that her hair has psychokinetic powers, her mother reveals that she is Solari, part of a secret group of Nigerian mutants that train at the Academy of the Sun. Publication is set for summer 2022; Clare Wilson at Rogers, Coleridge & White negotiated the deal for world rights, made jointly with Ali Dougal and Melissa Gitari at Simon & Schuster Children's U.K.
Caroline Abbey and Jenna Lettice at Random House have acquired, at auction, Creep's Cove by Travis Nichols. This highly illustrated middle grade series introduces readers to the "everyday" lives of island-dwelling kid monsters (a fame-thirsty vampire, a stuffed animal-dissecting alien, a short-tempered kaiju, and many others). Publication is planned for summer 2022; Daniel Lazar at Writers House handled the three-book deal for North American rights.
Rachel Matson at Scholastic Branches has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Pets Rule, written by Susan Tan (l.) (the Cilla Lee-Jenkins series) and illustrated by Wendy Tan Shiau Wei, in a four-book deal. In this early chapter book series, a Chihuahua named Ember has grand plans for world domination, and assembles a group of minions (other pets) to help him rule the neighborhood. Publication of the first book is slated for summer 2022; Daniel Lazar at Writers House represented the author, and Christine Hong at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Susan Rich at Little, Brown has acquired Berry Song by Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade. The picture book follows a Tlingit girl who accompanies her grandmother to pick wild berries over the seasons, absorbing the elder's wisdom about our kinship with the land and the song that connects us all. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions negotiated the deal for world rights.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Paulsen has bought world rights to Wild Horses by Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely; Bunny Roo, I Love You). The picture book, with story and photographs by the author, shows the magic and majesty of wild horses in the deserts of Arizona, where Marr spent so much time with the horses in the wild that they began to recognize her. Publication is set for summer 2022; Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House brokered the deal.
Rotem Moscovich at Knopf has acquired, at auction, world rights for How We Say I Love You by debut author Nicole Chen (l.), illustrated by SCBWI Portfolio honoree Lenny Wen. In this picture book, a Taiwanese American girl's family expresses the love they feel for each other through their actions, rather than through their words. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Jamie Weiss Chilton at Andrea Brown Literary represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook has bought Tomatoes in My Lunchbox, written by Costantia Manoli (l.) and illustrated by Magdalena Mora. This picture book features a girl who feels displaced in her new country when her teacher mispronounces her name, until she discovers that all it takes is one friend, one connection, to bring two worlds together. Publication is planned for spring/summer 2022; Jennifer Weltz at Jean V. Naggar Literary represented the author, and Steve Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Dana Chidiac at Dial has acquired world rights to Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller by Breanna J. McDaniel (l.), illustrated by Coretta Scott King and John Steptoe Award winner April Harrison. This picture book shares the life story of one of the most influential figures in American children's literature, whose work at New York Public Library and beyond established groundbreaking public access to stories about Black children and Black heroes. Publication is set for summer 2023; Wendi Gu at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented the author, and Regina Brooks at Serendipity Literary represented the illustrator.
Christy Ottaviano at Little, Brown/Ottaviano has bought world rights to The World's Loneliest Elephant: The True Story of Kaavan, written by Ralph Fletcher, illustrated by New York Times Best Illustrated winner Naoko Stoop (Sun and Moon Have a Tea Party). This picture book tells the true story of Kaavan the elephant, his rescue by veterinarian and animal rights activist Dr. Amir Khalil, and his unlikely bond with Cher. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; the author was unagented, and Brenda Bowen at the Book Group represented the illustrator.
Carolyn Yoder at Calkins Creek has acquired North American rights to Give the Ball to Lucy by Alice Faye Duncan (Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop; Just Like a Mama), illustrated by Keith Mallet, a picture book that details the story of Lusia Harris, a U.S. Olympian from the Mississippi Delta and the first woman to be officially drafted by the National Basketball Association. Publication is planned for 2024; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented.
Rebecca Glaser at Amicus Ink has acquired world rights to Peas in a Pod by Rachel Noble (l.), illustrated by Katie Rewse. In this picture book, Sophie and her father are two peas in a pod, but when Sarah and Billy come along, everything changes—for the worse. Will Sophie make room for more peas in the pod? Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Essie White at Storm Literary represented the author, and Robbin Brosterman at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Kayla Tostevin at Page Street Kids has bought world rights to I Want to Be Big! by Tiffany Golden (l.), illustrated by Sawyer Cloud. In this story of Black boy joy, Jaiceon's wish to be bigger than everyone leads to fantastic adventures but soon grows out of control. Publication is slated for winter 2023; Christa Heschke at McIntosh & Otis represented the author, and Amanda Hendon at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Amy Dean at Blue Manatee has bought world rights to A Christmas Eve Wish for Santa by Deb Adamson (l.) (I Miss Your Sunny Smile), illustrated by Anne Zimanski, a picture book that offers a blessing for Santa on his big night. Publication is set for December 2021; Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee Books has acquired world rights to The Iheards by The Whatifs author Emily Kilgore (l.), illustrated by Zoe Persico, a picture book about Mason and his Iheards: little creatures that whisper secrets and rumors in his ear until he learns to shift from spreading gossip to sharing positive thoughts. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Adria Goetz at Martin Literary Management represented the author, and James Burns at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Amy Novesky at Cameron Kids has bought world rights to Bus Stop by Angela H. Dale (l.), illustrated by Lala Watkins, a picture book about a snowy day and all the ways the neighborhood kids bide their time until the bus arrives. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary represented the illustrator.
