Irene Vázquez and Nick Thomas at Levine Querido have bought Arcadia by debut author Willow Naomi Curry. The YA book is an intergenerational mystery following one family's attempts to uncover the impacts of environmental racism on their historically Black Houston neighborhood. Publication is scheduled for spring 2023; the author represented herself, with support from Kristina Kearns of Fern Agency, in the deal for world rights.
Margaret Quinlin at Peachtree has acquired, at auction, Who Owns the Moon? And Other Conundrums of Exploring and Using Space by Cynthia Levinson (l.) (Fault Lines in the Constitution) and Jennifer Swanson (Save the Crash-test Dummies).This nonfiction, upper middle grade text introduces readers to the technologies that make ventures to moons, asteroids, and other planets possible, while exploring the legal, political, and ethical implications of human and robotic exploration and development of space. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary represented Levinson, and Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary Agency represented Swanson in the deal for world rights.
Karen Wojtyla at Margaret K. McElderry Books has bought, at auction, new fantasy middle grade novel Hither & Nigh by bestselling author Ellen Potter, and its sequel. The story follows a group of kids uncovering their own magical powers as they discover a hidden New York City, where monsters roam Central Park, Finfolk haunt the Hudson River, and the fate of a missing boy is in their hands. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Alice Tasman at the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Beverly Horowitz and Lydia Gregovic at Delacorte Press have acquired, in an exclusive submission, Heroes Like Us by activist and author Onjali Q. Raúf (The Boy at the Back of the Class), a single volume of two novellas—The Day We Met the Queen, following The Boy at the Back of the Class hero Ahmet and his friends after they receive a special invitation, and The Great Food Bank Heist, in which a boy and his friends plan a stakeout to catch a group of thieves stealing from the local food bank. Publication is set for fall 2022; Silvia Molteni at PFD did the deal for North American rights.
Andrew Arnold at HarperAlley has bought world English rights to the middle-grade graphic novel The Kinda Sorta Normal Life of Joshua Jones by E.A. Carrington (l.), illustrated by Kitt Thomas, about a boy who finds a magical wish-granting star and uses it to wish for endless snow days. Publication is scheduled for summer 2023; Danielle Chiotti at Upstart Crow Literary represented the author, and Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Erika Turner at Versify has acquired world English rights to Slime Shop, a middle grade graphic novel by YouTube slime queen Karina Garcia (l.), writer Kevin Panetta (c.), and artist Niki Smith (r.); Weslie Turner will edit. Bailey, her sister Sophia, and their friend Jayden run a slime shop out of Bailey's bedroom. But what Bailey doesn’t know is that when she’s not around, the slimes come to joyful life. When a crusty old slime named Boris insists that she’s sending them to their doom, three slimes set out on a quest to prove that she's only trying to make other kids—and their slimes—happy. Publication is slated for summer 2023; Brandi Bowles at UTA and Adam Krasner at Two West Entertainment represented Garcia, and Charlie Olsen at InkWell Management represented Panetta and Smith.
Alyssa Miele at Quill Tree has bought What Happened to Rachel Riley by Claire Swinarski (What Happens Next; The Kate in Between). Pitched as Where'd You Go Bernadette? for tweens and told through a series of texts, emails, and podcast transcriptions, this middle grade novel follows new kid Anna Hunt as she investigates why Rachel Riley, former golden girl of middle school, is now the school's pariah. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Alex Slater at Trident Media Group brokered the deal for North American rights.
Ariel Richardson at Chronicle has acquired the picture book Safe Crossing by author-illustrator Kari Percival, in which young citizen-scientists help frogs and salamanders cross a busy road during spring migration. From woods to vernal pools, this picture book tells how two children's questions lead a community to build an under-roadway tunnel for amphibians. Publication is set for spring 2024; Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary handled the deal for world rights.
Andrea Tompa at Candlewick has bought world rights to Ups and Downs: A Book of Mixed Emotions by Mike Wohnoutka, illustrator of the Geisel Medal-winning See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog. This picture book goes beyond "happy," "sad," and "angry" to explore the many emotions that a child can experience in a day. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; the author-illustrator was unagented.
Christopher Robbins at Familius has acquired See You Later, Alligator by Because I'm New author-illustrator Brad Sneed, a lift-the-flap picture book that celebrates the playful banter between parent and child and the love they show for each other during the most ordinary moments of their day. Publication is planned for 2024; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Denene Millner at S&S/Denene Millner Books has bought in a two-book deal, at auction, The River Is My Sea by Rio Cortez (l.) (The ABCs of Black History), a picture book about a child's Saturday walk with their abuela and the love they share for the Hudson River, Harlem, and Yemaya, the Ocean Mother Goddess of Santería, a widely worshipped Yoruba Orisha. Ezra Jack Keats Award winner Ashleigh Corrin will illustrate. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Wendi Gu at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented the author for world English rights, and Nicole Geiger at Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator.
Liza Kaplan at Viking has acquired world rights to A Flicker of Hope by Cynthia Harmony (l.), illustrated by Devon Holzwarth. This picture book chronicles the parallel journey north of a Mexican girl's father in search of harvest, and the migration of Monarch butterflies that will lead her Papá home. Publication is set for fall 2023 with a simultaneous Spanish edition translated by the author; James McGowan at BookEnds represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Catherine Laudone at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has bought, at auction, world rights to Jerry Changed the Game by Don Tate (l.), illustrated by Cherise Harris. This picture book biography tells the story of Jerry Lawson, a largely self-taught Black engineer who revolutionized the video gaming industry by creating the first home gaming console to use removable cartridges. Publication is expected in fall 2023; Caryn Wiseman at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Shadra Strickland at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Aneeka Kalia at Viking has acquired world rights to Super Pizza and Kid Kale by Phaea Crede (l.), illustrated by Zach Smith. In this comic-style picture book, best friends Super Pizza and Kid Kale are delicious do-gooders dedicated to helping humans, but when Super Pizza's popularity goes to their crust, it leaves their veggie pal feeling rotten. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Moe Ferrara at BookEnds Literary represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Cheryl Eissing at Flamingo Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to A Book for Bear by Ellen Ramsey (l.), illustrated by MacKenzie Haley, in which Bear, enlisting help from his friend Ellen, tries imaginative disguises in his quest for a book of his very own. Publication is slated for summer 2023; Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Wendy McClure at Sourcebooks Jabberwocky has acquired world rights to Cooler Than Lemonade by Harshita Jerath (l.), illustrated by Chloe Burgett, about a girl named Eva who's always full of ideas, but when her lemonade stand meets one tough challenge after another, she happens upon her coolest idea yet—selling her favorite Indian dessert, Kulfi—and realizes that giving up is her only obstacle to success. Publication is planned for March 2023; Beth Marshea at Ladderbird Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Katie Scott at Kids Can Press has bought world rights to Beatrice and Barb by Kate Jenks Landry (l.), illustrated by Vivian Mineker. When Beatrice adopts a Venus flytrap named Barb, she discovers what it means to care for someone you love. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; the author represented herself, and Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Jasmin Rubero at Kokila has acquired world rights to A Is for Aretha by professional harpsichordist and first-generation Guyanese American Leslie Kwan (l.), illustrated by Rachelle Baker. The ABC board book features Black women musicians whose artistry and activism changed the way we hear and interact with music, one song at a time. Publication is set for spring 2023; Judy Linden at Stonesong represented the author, and Linda Camacho at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Karen Li and Nan Froman at Groundwood have bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Sometimes I Feel Like a River and Sometimes I Feel Like an Oak by Danielle Daniel (l.), in which children explore why they identify with different elements of nature. Josée Bisaillon (c.) will illustrate River and Jacqueline Traverse (r.) will illustrate Oak. Publication is planned for spring 2023 and spring 2024; Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrators represented themselves.
