Andrew Karre at Dutton has acquired Salt the Water by National Book Award finalist and Printz Honoree Candice Iloh (Every Body Looking). In this YA novel-in-verse, a free-spirited genderfluid teen drops out of 12th grade after a confrontation with a teacher. But when a family crisis forces them to take on adult responsibilities, their dreams of living life off the grid with their friends crash into the harsh realities of a world full of roadblocks. Publication is planned for 2023; Patricia Nelson at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Brittany Rubiano at Disney Hyperion has signed author William Ritter (Jackaby) to pen the first book in a new line of Buffy the Vampire Slayer YA prequel novels focusing on fan-favorite characters. Bloody Fool for Love features notorious vamp Spike as he plans the ultimate heist to win back his paramour Drusilla during turn-of the-century London. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; Lucy Carson at the Friedrich Agency sold world rights.
Carolina Ortiz at HarperAlley has bought, at auction, YA graphic novel Strange Bedfellows by two-time Ignatz Award-winning comic artist Ariel Slamet Ries. Oberon is finding his way back after a very public "breakdown," but when he develops the ability to conjure his dreams in real life—including a facsimile of his high school crush—he might have more on his plate than he thought. Publication is set for summer 2024, with an untitled second book to follow in summer 2026; Linda Camacho at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.
Cassidy Leyendecker at Disney Hyperion has acquired, in a six-figure, two-book deal, Witch's Dice from debut YA author Kaylie Smith. In a world on the brink of war where one more roll from a magical dice may set you down a dangerous path, Calla Rosewood joins a ragtag group of witches who venture into a demonic enchanted forest to find a way to reset their fate, only to discover the forest may be more than any of them bargained for. Publication is slated for winter 2023 and winter 2024; Emily Forney at BookEnds Literary brokered the deal for world English rights.
Hannah Smith at Owl Hollow Press has bought Shared Sin, a dark historical mystery by Beverly Patt (Best Friends Forever: A World War II Scrapbook). When 16-year-old Victoria Robbins feels trapped by her high-society life, her only escapes include visits with her neighbor, Miss Lizzie Borden, reading Sherlock Holmes serials and—when the urge overtakes her—stealing. When Mr. and Mrs. Borden are murdered and Lizzie is accused of committing the crime, Victoria goes to great lengths to solve the mystery and ensure she does not become like Lizzie Borden. Publication is planned for spring 2023; Clelia Gore and Adria Goetz at Martin Literary & Media Management handled the deal for world English rights.
Cassandra Pelham Fulton at Scholastic/Graphix has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to two standalone middle-grade graphic novels, Luna and Ouch, by Megan Wagner Lloyd (l.) and Michelle Mee Nutter, the creators of Allergic and the forthcoming Squished. In Luna, a 12-year-old girl and her father have moved to the town where her late mother grew up, and Luna attempts to understand her mother through the naturalist notebooks she left behind, all while trying to make a new friend, connect with her very formal grandmother, and reconcile her ideas of family and feeling at home. In Ouch, a car accident puts 11-year-old River, an outdoor adventurer, in the hospital with a broken pelvis, and she has to figure out how to stay occupied as she recovers and consider how she can return to her old life as she faces a new normal. Luna is set for publication in 2025; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented Lloyd, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented Nutter.
Kiara Valdez at First Second has bought The Odyssey by Rex Ogle writing as Rey Terciero (l.) and illustrator Joe Casanova, a middle grade graphic novel following a mouse on an epic journey back to his home in Ithaca. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Brent Taylor at Triada US negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Liz Kossnar at Little, Brown has acquired middle grade novel Learning to Fall by debut author Sally Engelfried. Twelve-year-old Daphne is sent to stay with her estranged father, who helps her rediscover their shared passion for skateboarding, but Daphne can't overcome her fears—and trust her dad again—until she learns what really happened when he didn't show up for her at a skate park years ago. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Kathleen Merz at Eerdmans has bought world English rights to The Miracle Seed by Martin Lemelman, a middle grade graphic novel melding history, science, and adventure, about the Judean Date Palm that culminates with its resurrection in 2020 after 2000 years of extinction. Publication is planned for spring 2023; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the author-illustrator.
Brittany Rubiano at Disney Hyperion has signed Sam Hay to write Camp Lil’ Vills, a humorous chapter book series narrated by kids who must stop younger versions of the Disney Villains, including Cruella de Vil and Ursula, from devious exploits and nefarious acts at a magical summer camp. Books one and two are slated for winter 2023, with book three following in summer 2023; Gemma Cooper at the Bent Agency sold world rights in a three-book deal.
Mary Lee Donovan at Candlewick has acquired, in a preempt, a trilogy of picture books by debut author-illustrator Ruth Whiting about Lonely Bird, a mysterious little artist who lives in a house with humans, yet has adventures that are uniquely, solitarily her own. The first book, Lonely Bird, is due out in fall 2023; Jessica Saint Jean at Jill Grinberg Literary Management negotiated the three-book deal for world rights.
Frances Gilbert at Doubleday Books for Young Readers has bought Catching Flight by Rebekah Lowell, a meditative picture book about hope and possibility, depicted through the metaphor of birds and their flight. Publication is scheduled for spring 2023; Paige Terlip at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author-illustrator for world rights.
Donna Bray at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has acquired The Year Without a Summer by author-illustrator Keith Negley (Mary Wears What She Wants). The story takes place in 1816, when ash from a volcano in Indonesia covered the sky throughout Europe, causing a chain reaction of events that led to the invention of the bicycle. Publication is set for spring 2022; Rebecca Sherman at Writers House did the two-book deal for world rights.
Rotem Moscovich at Knopf has bought world rights to Baller Ina by author-illustrator Liz Casal, a debut rhyming picture book about a ballerina who helps her basketball team leap to victory, celebrating the multifaceted nature of kids. Publication is planned for summer 2023; Elizabeth Bewley at Sterling Lord Literistic brokered the deal.
Becky Nesbitt at Convergent has acquired world rights to A Message in the Moon, written by actor, producer, and author Roma Downey (l.), illustrated by Holly Hatam. The picture book delivers a message to help parents talk to their children about the feeling of longing when someone has gone away. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Shannon Marven at Dupree Miller and Associates handled the deal.
Margaret Anastas at Flamingo Books has bought world rights to Sleepy Sheepy, a picture book about the antics of a young sheep who won't settle down to sleep, written by Lucy Ruth Cummins (l.) and illustrated by Pete Oswald. Publication is scheduled for January 2023; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator in the two-book deal.
Grace Maccarone at Holiday House has acquired world rights, in a two-book deal, to the first two titles in a bilingual picture book series about friends who speak English and Spanish in a dual-language classroom: Let's Be Friends/Seamos amigos and We Play Soccer/Jugamos al fútbol by Premio Actitud Award winner René Colato Laínez (l.), based on his experiences as a teacher at one of Los Angeles Unified School District's most innovative bilingual elementary schools. The books will be illustrated by Nomar Perez; publication will start in winter 2022. Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Karen Smith at Knopf has bought, in a two-book deal, world rights to There Was a Blue Sky by Jody Jensen Shaffer (l.), illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal, about how our food chain takes shape, from the smallest critters to the biggest creatures. Publication is planned for summer 2023; James McGowan at BookEnds Literary represented the author, and Stephen Barr at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Kate Farrell at Henry Holt has acquired, at auction, world rights to Not He or She, I'm Me by A.M. Wild (l.), illustrated by Kah Yangni, and a second untitled picture book. A celebration of gender diversity, the picture book debut follows a joyful day in the life of a nonbinary kid who knows that, no matter from which angle you look, they will always be themself. Publication is set for spring 2022; Melissa Nasson at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the author, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Kathleen Keenan at Kids Can Press has bought world rights to Dark Cloud by Anna Lazowski (l.), illustrated by Penny Neville-Lee, an exploration of how depression can look and feel, using symbolic imagery kids can understand. It features a girl who has a dark cloud that follows her around and, at first, keeps her from doing her favorite things but slowly, she learns how to live with her cloud at her side. Publication is scheduled for spring 2023; Moe Ferrara at BookEnds Literary represented the author, and Jodie Hodges at United Agents represented the illustrator.
Alison Deering at Capstone has acquired world rights to Penny, the Engineering Tail of the Fourth Little Pig, a picture book from Cece Loves Science authors Kimberly Derting (l.) and Shelli R. Johannes (c.), illustrated by Hannah Marks (r.). In this reimagining of The Three Little Pigs, Penny isn't just the fourth little pig—she's an engineer. So when big bad Wolfgang destroys her brothers' homes, Penny comes to the rescue, using her engineering know-how to save her family from his huffing and puffing. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Lara Perkins and Laura Rennert, both at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, represented the authors, and Kate Kendrick at Astound US represented the illustrator.
