Megan Ilnitzki at HarperCollins has won, at auction, world rights to Adoptee to Adoptee, edited by Shannon Gibney (l.) (Dream Country) and Nicole Chung (All You Can Ever Know), a YA anthology featuring new stories by adoptee authors, with contributions from Mariama Lockington, Rebecca Carroll, Matthew Salesses, Sun Yung Shin, Jenny Heijun Wills, Mark Oshiro, Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom, Eric Smith, Meredith Ireland, and Susan Devan Harness, among others. The book is set for fall 2023; Tina Dubois at ICM Partners represented Gibney, and Maria Massie at Massie & McQuilkin represented Chung.
Krestyna Lypen at Algonquin has acquired, at auction, Sugaring Off, by Edgar Award finalist Gillian French. In her fifth YA novel, French follows 17-year-old Owl, an explorer who is always her freest self while hiking the forested acres surrounding her family's New Hampshire maple sugar farm, and who has been left partially deaf by an early childhood tragedy that will come back to haunt her all these years later. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Alice Tasman at Jean V. Naggar Literary did the deal for North American rights.
Yolanda Scott at Charlesbridge has bought The Other Pandemic: An AIDS Memoir by author-illustrator Lynn Curlee for Charlesbridge Teen. The deeply personal, illustrated YA memoir is the author's account of coming of age during the gay liberation movement in New York City and living through the AIDS pandemic, losing multiple friends and his life partner. Publication is slated for spring 2023; Liz Nealon at Great Dog Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Kate Fletcher has signed graphic novelist Mel Valentine Vargas (l.) to create a graphic novel interpretation of award-winning YA novel Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina, about a Latina teen who is targeted by a bully at her new school and must discover resources she never knew she had. Publication is planned to coincide with the book’s 10th anniversary in 2024; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency brokered the deal for world rights, and Jen Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary represented Medina.
Katherine Jacobs at Zonderkidz has acquired world rights to a YA sports memoir by Olympian hockey legend Kendall Coyne (l.). As Fast as Her: Crushing Your Goals On & Off the Ice, written by Coyne and author Estelle Laure, aims to inspire and empower girls who've been told to "play small." Through her own experiences in the sports industry, Coyne aims to help young readers push toward, and past, their personal best. Publication is scheduled for January 2022; Frank Weimann at Folio Literary Management represented Coyne, and Sheryl Shade at Shade Global and Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented Laure.
Kieran Viola at Disney Hyperion has acquired Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl by Julie Kagawa. The book is the first in a two-book middle grade adventure series based on the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, a fictional society created by Walt Disney Imagineering that exists in lands, attractions, and various Easter eggs throughout Disney Parks worldwide. In this original story, 12-year-old Shinji sees his life take a turn when a magical guardian decides to use him as a conduit to awaken its power, and Shinji is summarily pursued by the nefarious Hightower Corporation, and aided by the benevolent Society of Explorers and Adventurers. Publication of the first book is set for April 2022, with book two to follow a year later; Laurie McLean at Fuse Literary did the deal for world rights.
Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow has acquired the first work of nonfiction by Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly, about Josefina "Joey" Guerrero, a Filipina woman with leprosy who worked as a spy for the guerilla underground on behalf of the Allies during World War II before emigrating to the Carville leprosarium in Carville, La. Publication is planned for 2023; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Liesa Abrams at Labyrinth Road has bought world English rights to Blood City Rollers, the debut graphic novel from writer/artist team Veronica Park Anderson (l.) and Tatiana Hill. Pitched as a tween Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Roller Girl, this quirky, funny, and queer middle grade graphic novel follows Mina, a talented ice skater recruited into an underground roller derby league as the "human jammer" on an otherwise all-vampire team who are hiding out in an abandoned mall. Publication is slated for summer 2023; Mandy Hubbard at Emerald City Literary represented the author, and Moe Ferrara at Bookends Literary represented the artist.
Lauri Hornik at Dial has acquired the picture book Fox & Moose by Tao Nyeu, in an exclusive submission. It tells the story of a pair of friends, fox and moose, journeying to meet the other, but both manage to lose the gifts they have made for each other. With a little luck and a little help, each friend is able to put together a last-minute gift. Publication is set for fall 2023; Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties brokered the deal for North American English rights.
Julia McCarthy at Atheneum has bought, in an exclusive submission, Hard Questions (Hardly Answered) by artist and musician Tim Fite, a picture book featuring brazenly curious, child-like questions, with quirky answers. Publication is scheduled for spring 2023; Kevin O'Connor at O'Connor Literary sold world rights.
Namrata Tripathi at Kokila has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Kapaemahu, a bilingual picture book in Hawaiian and English, adapted from the Oscar-shortlisted animated film of the same name, by (from l.) Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, and Joe Wilson, and illustrated by Daniel Sousa, about the legend behind the four stones that stand on what is now known as Waikiki Beach. Long ago, four individuals of dual male and female spirit brought their healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii. They were beloved by the people for their gentle ways and miraculous cures and imbued four giant boulders with their powers, which still stand today. Publication is slated for spring 2022; Wendi Gu at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates did the deal for world English rights.
Sarah Ketchersid at Candlewick Press has bought world rights to Luigi, a picture book written by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, the creators of Library Lion. Luigi tells the story of a spider, mistaken for a kitten, who gradually comes to love his newly adopted home. Publication is planned for fall 2023; Jodi Reamer at Writers House represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to picture book More or Less by Governor General's Literary Awards finalist Alison Hughes (l.), illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Oge Mora. Using variations of only five words, this story takes on the mandate to reduce, reuse, recycle by celebrating living more sustainably, simply and generously, and reinforces that by having "less," something "more" meaningful can be gained. Publication is set for winter 2024; Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the artist.
Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has bought world rights to A-M-O-R Spells L-O-V-E by Michael Genhart (l.), author of Accordionly: Abuelo and Opa Make Music. The picture book, illustrated by three-time Pura Belpré Honor artist John Parra, is about a boy competing in the National Spanish Spelling Bee who learns of his own abuela's childhood experience when she was banned from speaking Spanish at school. Publication is slated for summer 2023; Nicole Geiger at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Adriana Dominguez and Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator.
Katherine Harrison at Knopf has acquired at auction world rights to Esperanza Caramelo by Lotería author Karla Arenas Valenti (l.), illustrated by Pura Belpré Honor artist Elisa Chavarri. In the vein of the Nutcracker or Doña Flor, this is a tale of spun-sugar ornaments come to life and cake catastrophe averted on the eve of Nochebuena. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to a picture book tentatively titled Feathers, written by Ken Schept and illustrated by Romina Galotta (Dear Librarian). In his picture book debut, Schept tells the story of a grandmother who collects feathers she finds because they help her remember family she's lost; her granddaughters continue the tradition after she dies. Publication is planned for winter 2023; the author represented himself, and Christy Ewers of the CAT Agency represented the artist.
Steve Geck at Sourcebooks Jabberwocky has acquired world rights to What Makes Us Strong by Coretta Scott King Award winner Charles R. Smith Jr. (l.), a collection of original poems that celebrates outstanding character traits shown by individuals from the past and present. Coretta Scott King Honor Award winner Shane W. Evans will illustrate. Publication is set for April 2022; Miriam Altshuler at DeFiore & Company represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Taryn Albright at becker & mayer! has bought world rights to Hear Me by the creator of the Here Wee Read Blog Charnaie Gordon, which features biographies of and quotes from speeches given by 12 prominent Black figures in U.S. history. Portrait and sketch artist Aeron Cargill will illustrate; publication is scheduled for spring 2023. The author represented herself, and Miranda Paul at Erin Murphy Literary represented the illustrator.
Della Farrell at Holiday House has acquired world rights to I'm Gonna Paint: Ralph Fasanella, Artist of the People, written by Anne Broyles (l.) and illustrated by Victoria Tentlor-Krylov, a picture book biography of folk artist and labor organizer Ralph Fasanella. Publication is planned for fall 2023; the author represented herself, and Rebecca Sherman at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Kayla Tostevin at Page Street Kids has bought world rights to Courage in Her Cleats: The Story of Soccer Star Abby Wambach by Kim Chaffee (l.), illustrated by Alexandra Badiu, a picture book biography that follows the successes and defeats of the U.S. Women's National Team player's career. Publication is slated for winter 2023; Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency represented the author, and Christine Hong at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Katie Cunningham at Candlewick has acquired world rights to Behold Our Magical Garden: Poems Fresh from a School Garden by Allan Wolf (l.), illustrated by Daniel Duncan, a poetry collection that celebrates the many wonders to be discovered in a school garden. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022; the author was unagented, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear has bought world rights to Three Canadian Pigs on Hockey Night by Jocelyn Watkinson, illustrated by Marcus Cutler. In order to save their bacon, the three little pigs face off against the big bad wolf and his team in a dramatic hockey game. In true Canadian fashion, after the pigs trounce their foes, they patch up their differences with a delicious meal and (wary) friendship. Publication is set for August 2022; the author represented herself, and Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency represented the illustrator.
Krista Marino at Delacorte has acquired, in an exclusive submission, The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow (l.) (Girl in Pieces) and Liz Lawson (The Lucky Ones), a YA mystery pitched as Big Little Lies meets Veronica Mars that asks the question "what would Agatha Christie do? " Alice Ogilvie’s five-day disappearance used to be the biggest scandal in Castle Cove—until her ex-boyfriend is accused of murdering his new girlfriend, and Alice must pair up with her tutor to clear his name by using the wisdom of the mystery queen herself, Agatha Christie. Publication is set for summer 2022; Andrea Morrison at Writers House and Julie Stevenson at Massie and McQuilkin Literary represented the authors for world English rights.
Phoebe Yeh at Crown has bought, in a five-way auction, Imposter Syndrome and Confessions of Alejandra Kim, the YA debut of Patricia Park, an American University professor and the author of Re Jane. Alejandra, a Korean American Latina in her senior year, navigates growing pains, grief, best friendship, and identity politics. Publication is scheduled for spring 2023; Sarah Burnes at the Gernert Company sold North American, POM rights.
Holly Rice at Disney has signed author Linsey Miller (Mask of Shadows duology) to write the first two books in the new Princes YA series. Each novel will retell a classic Disney story from an iconic Disney Prince's perspective. The first book follows Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid and the second features Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty. Publication for the first book is slated for fall 2022; Rachel Brooks at BookEnds Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Claire Stetzer at Inkyard Press has acquired Kismat Connection by debut author Ananya Devarajan. Pitched as When Dimple Met Rishi meets How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, this #OwnVoices YA romance follows a girl whose family legacy dictates that she will marry her first boyfriend, so she ropes her best friend into a fake dating experiment to prove the existence of her free will—not knowing that he is already in love with her. Publication is planned for summer 2023; Ann Leslie Tuttle at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Christy Ottaviano at Little, Brown/Ottaviano has bought, in an exclusive submission, North American rights to No Going Back by Patrick Flores-Scott, the author's third YA novel. It’s the Friday after being released from a year of juvenile detention, and biracial Antonio Sullivan is heading home for a fresh start. His parole terms state he can't drink, can't break the law, can't see his father, and he must be on time to meet his parole officer on Monday before school… or else he’s headed back to detention. Antonio has one weekend, one crazy friend, one old flame, and a dad who won't give up. What could go wrong? The book is set for spring 2023; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency did the deal.
Hannah Milton at Little, Brown has acquired at auction An Echo in the City by debut YA author K.X. Song. The novel follows two teenagers—an aspiring photographer and the son of a police officer trying to find his own path—falling in love and coming of age amid the Hong Kong protests. The book is scheduled for 2022; Lauren Spieller at TriadaUS negotiated the deal for world rights.
Deanna McFadden at Wattpad has bought world rights to Float by debut author Kate Marchant. The novel centers on Waverly, who after her parents' divorce finds herself yanked from her comfortable life in Alaska to spend the summer in her aunt’s beach town. Waverly begins to clash with an arrogant, jaded beach bum named Blake. Things take a turn after Blake learns Waverly's embarrassing secret—that she can't swim—and her one-time nemesis, who's the town lifeguard, offers to teach her. Publication is slated for winter 2022; the author represented herself.
Martha Mihalick at Greenwillow has acquired, in a five-house auction, How It All Ends, a middle grade story of being both overwhelmed and awed at the discovery of who you are, who you might become, and all the possibilities in between. It’s the graphic novel debut of Emma Hunsinger, creator of the Eisner Award-nominated New Yorker comic sensation How to Draw a Horse. The book is planned for 2023, with a second, untitled graphic novel set for 2025; Molly O'Neill at Root Literary brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Beverly Horowitz at Delacorte has bought The Night Bus Hero, a middle grade novel by Onjali Q. Raúf, author of The Boy at the Back of the Class. The Night Bus Hero tells the story of a boy who has a reputation as a bully. When he is caught playing a prank on a homeless man, the boy feels ashamed; he tries to turn his reputation around and discovers it won't be easy. Publication is planned for spring 2022; Sylvia Molteni at Peters Fraser and Dunlop negotiated the deal for U.S./Canadian/open market (no EU/CAN) rights.
Krista Vitola at Simon & Schuster has acquired North American rights, in an exclusive submission, to The Cobra's Song by Supriya Kelkar, about a 10-year-old Indian American girl who comes from a family of famous classical Hindustani music singers. When someone suspicious comes to town, she is sure her neighbor has become an ichchaadari naagin, a cobra that can turn human, intent on revenge for an old wrongdoing. She must overcome her fears and harness the power of her voice before the naagin turns the whole town into a kingdom of snakes. Publication is set for spring 2023; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary did the deal.
Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has bought, in a two-book deal, in an exclusive submission, North American rights to middle grade debut Breda's Island by Printz Honor-winning YA author Jessie Ann Foley. When Breda Moriarity is caught stealing yet again, her mother sends her to her grandfather's remote dairy farm in Ireland for the summer. Interweaving contemporary issues with ancient Irish legends, the book tells the story of the deep love we have for family and place, of a girl starting to find herself, and of the concessions many immigrants must make when choice or necessity forces them to leave the only home they've ever known. Publication is slated for summer 2022; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties handled the deal.
Emily Seife at Scholastic has acquired, in an exclusive submission, middle grade novel The Girl in The Lake by NAACP Image Award nominee India Hill Brown. Set at a family lake house, the book follows 12-year-old Celeste, her brother, and their cousins who must learn the truth about their family's history after they begin to see a ghostly presence that seems to have a message for them. Publication is scheduled in spring 2022; Holly Root at Root Literary sold world rights.
Karen Lotz at Candlewick Press and Tanya Rosie at Walker Books UK have bought world rights to #OwnVoices picture book My Bollywood Dream by Avani Dwivedi, about a young aspiring director on her journey to see a Bollywood film in Mumbai. As she travels to the theater with her family, she captures the sights and sounds of the city with her camera and envisions a Bollywood film unfolding before her eyes. Publication is planned for spring 2023, simultaneously in the U.S. and U.K.; Shadra Strickland at Painted Words negotiated world rights.
Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has acquired, at auction, All the Beating Hearts by bestselling author Julie Fogliano (l.), illustrated by Society of Illustrators Gold Medalist Cátia Chien. In an exploration of perseverance and kindness, a gentle narrator guides the reader through a bustling morning of work and play. But day inevitably turns to night, and it is in this quiet space of shared existence we discover the core of what brings us together. Publication is set for spring 2023; Steven Malk at Writers House handled the deal for world rights.
Jean Feiwel at Feiwel and Friends has bought I Am Golden, a picture book by bestselling author Eva Chen (l.) (Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes). Featuring illustrations by Sophie Diao, the book is an ode to the immigrant experience, as well as a manifesto of self-love for Chinese American children. Publication is slated for winter 2022; CAA brokered the deal for world English rights.
Caitlyn Dlouhy at S&S/Dlouhy has acquired world rights to The Talk by Newbery Honor author Alicia D. Williams (l.) (Genesis Begins Again), a picture book about the difficult conversation a Black family has with their son, warning him about the challenges he faces due to racism, illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu in her publishing debut. Publication is scheduled for winter 2023; Brenda Bowen at the Book Group represented Williams, and Jessica Saint Jean at Jill Grinberg Literary Management represented Uchendu.
Susan Dobinick while at Bloomsbury bought, and Megan Abbate will edit, an as-yet untitled picture book by Debbie Levy about the Friendship Train, which chugged across the U.S. in November 1947 collecting millions of pounds of food for the people of Europe who were still suffering from the devastations of World War II and facing a harsh winter. The efforts of American schoolchildren were central to the success of the enterprise, which led, two years later, to the "Merci" Train, filled with thank-you gifts from the people of France. Boris Kulikov will illustrate. Publication is planned for spring 2023; Caryn Wiseman represented the author in the deal for world rights, and the illustrator was unagented.
Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow acquired world rights to debut picture book Trucks on Trucks by Sorche Fairbank—because the only thing better than a truck is a truck on another truck. Debut artist Nik Henderson will illustrate; publication is set for summer 2022. Bernadette Baker-Baughman at Victoria Sanders & Associates did the two-book deal for the author, and Chad Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook has bought, in a preempt, nonfiction picture book The Whale Who Swam Through Time by Alex Boersma and Nick Pyenson, following the extraordinary journey of a bowhead whale, whose life spans more than 200 years. The whale's interactions with humans and the ever-changing Arctic evolve as she raises young, survives hunters, witnesses warmer climates, and swims among her great-grandchildren. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022; Bridget Matzie at Aevitas Creative Management brokered the deal for world rights.
Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee Books has acquired world rights to Grumpy New Year by Katrina Moore (l.) illustrated by Xindi Yan, a picture book about Daisy going to visit her grandpa in China to celebrate Lunar New Year. She is too excited to sleep and is less jolly than she hoped, while spending time with him and preparing for the holiday. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Jeffrey Salane at Little Simon has bought world rights to two board books by the author of Curls and Glow, poet Ruth Forman (l.), illustrated by Talia Skyles. The first book, Bloom, joyfully celebrates hair, and the second book, Ours, celebrates skin tone. The books are slated to publish in spring 2022 and summer 2022, respectively; Kerry Sparks at Levine Greenberg Rostan represented the author, and Shadra Strickland at Painted Words represented the artist.
