Sara Goodman at Wednesday Books has acquired North American rights to James L. Sutter’s YA debut, Darkhearts, a contemporary romance aimed at readers of More Happy Than Not and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. When David quit his band, he missed his shot at fame, trapping him in ordinary high school life while his former best friends Chance and Eli became the hottest teen pop act in America. When Eli commits suicide, David and Chance are thrown back into contact, trading their frenemy status for a confusing, tentative romance. Publication is set for spring/summer 2023; Josh Adams at Adams Literary did the two-book deal.
Tamara Grasty at Page Street has bought Amparo Ortiz's YA novel Last Sunrise in Eterna, the enchanted home of elves off the coast of Puerto Rico where human visitors are rarely allowed. It's the last place that Sevim Burgos, who makes a living snatching elf corpses, would ever want to go—until she's forced to ally herself with an elf prince to save her kidnapped mother. Publication is scheduled for 2023; Linda Camacho at Gallt & Zacker brokered the deal for world English rights.
Nick Thomas at Levine Querido has acquired world rights to The Prince & the Coyote, an historical YA novel from Pura Belpré Honor author David Bowles (l.), illustrated by Amanda Mijangos. After his city falls in 1418 and his family is slaughtered, the 16-year-old crown prince of Tetzcoco goes on the run from a tyrant. Adopting the name Nezahualcoyotl—Fasting Coyote—he manages to survive, retaking his homeland and establishing a powerful new alliance: the Aztec Empire. Publication is slated for fall 2022; Taylor Martindale Kean at Full Circle Literary represented the author; the illustrator represented herself.
Lisa Sandell at Scholastic has bought The Numbers Girl, a YA novel by Cambria Gordon. Based on true events, this is a tale of hidden female brain power during WWII in America, when math geniuses were plucked from high schools and colleges to work in a secret ballistics lab computing firing tables for soldiers overseas. The novel follows Eleanor Schiff from Philadelphia to Muroc Air Force Base to Pearl Harbor and finally, to the skies over Guadalcanal, and asks the question, what happens when ordinary people do extraordinary things? Publication is planned for fall 2023; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Calista Brill at First Second has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Eisner-nominated cartoonist Tyler Page's memoir-inflected middle grade graphic novel, Husky Boy, in which Tyler, who is about to start seventh grade, has gained a lot of weight over the summer and starts being teased, even by his own friends. As Tyler navigates the already murky seventh grade waters, he also deals with body image issues, the pressure to "act like a man," and fraying friendship. Alex Lu will also edit. Publication is scheduled for 2024; Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management did the deal for world rights.
Karen Chaplin at Quill Tree has bought North American rights, at auction, to Angela Hsieh's middle grade fantasy graphic novel The Traveler's Guide to Geozoology, winner of the HarperCollins Children's Books 2020 Diverse Voices Open Inbox contest. In this debut, Lu feels distant from her grandmother San, both because of a language barrier and because her grandmother's adventures as a geozoologist take her far and wide. When San Ah-ma's monthly letters stop, Lu uses her ah-ma's old journal, written in a language that Lu can barely read, to try to close the physical and emotional distance between them. Publication is set for winter 2024; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency handled the deal.
Kiara Valdez at First Second has acquired world rights to Area 51 and Unwanted Guests, the first two titles in the Strange Mystery Comics middle grade graphic novel series. Steve Foxe (l.), the writer for the series, artist Fran Bueno (c.) (Area 51) and artist Naomi Franquiz (r.) (Unwanted Guests) will take strange events and examine what occurred. Jill Freshney will also edit; publication is planned for 2024. Aurora Barlam at Astound US represented Bueno, Desiree Wilson at the Bent Agency represented Franquiz, and Steve Foxe was unagented.
Stacey Barney at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought at auction Texas Bluebonnet Award author Bobbie Pyron's Mermaids and Other Signs of Life, a middle grade novel in verse in which a fifth grader in a coastal Florida town starts therapy for depression and grapples with how to tell her best friends about her struggles. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Birch Path Literary brokered the deal for North American rights.
Kait Feldmann at Clarion has acquired, at auction, Kevin Goes First by debut author-illustrator Hala Tahboub. Upon discovering a ladder towering high in the sky, a motley group of friends (including a duck in a top hat, a hobby horse, an inseparable fox and gorilla, and human Kevin) discuss what might be up there and who will climb up first. When Kevin races up without consensus, he finds that he needs his friends alongside him for what awaits atop. Publication is set for fall 2023; Rebecca Sherman at Writers House did the two-book deal for world rights.
Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has bought Marcus Cutler's author-illustrator debut, I Do Not Eat Children. As the pages turn, a wily monster insists over and over that it does not eat children, even as the children nearby disappear one by one, until only one perceptive girl remains. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Maria Russo at Astra/mineditionUS has acquired world rights to My Indigo World: A True Story About the Color Blue by Rosa Chang. In this nonfiction picture book, Korean American debut artist Chang tells the story of creating a community garden and making art that celebrates indigo and its importance in Korean culture, along with many other cultures around the world. Publication is slated for spring 2023; Chang represented herself.
Rosie Ahmed at Dial has bought, in a six-house auction, world rights to Barrio Rising by debut author Maria Dolores Aguila (l.), illustrated by Magdalena Mora, in a two-book deal. This picture book unfolds through the determined voice of a girl participating in the protest that led to the creation of the iconic Chicano Park in San Diego. Publication in both English and Spanish is scheduled for spring 2024; Lindsay Auld of Writers House represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Anne Schwartz at Random House/Anne Schwartz Books has acquired world rights to Sita Singh's (l.) Mango Memories, a picture book about an Indian girl harvesting mangoes with her family for the first time and wondering, as she listens to everyone's favorite "mango memory," if she'll find one of her own. Nabi H. Ali (Laxmi's Mooch) will illustrate; publication is set for summer 2024. Natalie Lakosil of Irene Goodman Literary Agency while at Bradford Literary Agency represented the author, and James Burns of the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Margaret Raymo at Little, Brown has bought world rights to Why Do Elephants Have Big Ears? as well as a second untitled nonfiction picture book by Steve Jenkins (l.) and Robin Page. In the tradition of their Caldecott Honor book What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?, this new title answers many age-old questions that kids ask about animals as well as plenty of new ones. The book is slated for summer 2023, and the second title will publish in fall 2023; the creators represented themselves.
Carolyn Yoder at Astra/Calkins Creek has acquired North American rights to The Dreambuilder's Blueprint by Alice Faye Duncan (l.) (Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop, Evicted), illustrated by E.B. Lewis. This nonfiction picture book will be based on Dr. Martin Luther King's talk "What Is Your Life's Blueprint?" to students in Philadelphia six months before his assassination. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and Jeff Dwyer at Dwyer & O'Grady represented the illustrator.
Karen Chaplin at Quill Tree has bought world rights, in an exclusive submission, to Kati's Tiny Messengers, written by Megan Hoyt (l.) and illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger. This true story details Dr. Katalin Kariko's scientific research into mRNA vaccines. A Hungarian immigrant bouncing from lab to lab, she refused to give up, eventually developing the vaccine used by Pfizer BioNTech to fight Covid-19. Publication is set for October 2023; Deborah Warren at East West Literary represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Alyssa Mito Pusey at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights to author-illustrator David Biedrzycki's ARTificial Intelligence, a picture book about robots, art, and finding your passion. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; the author represented himself.
Michele McAvoy at The Little Press has bought world rights to Skrum, a debut picture book by author-illustrator Bernard Gumz. This book follows tired old Barnabus across the globe as he's chased by a big purple monster with a ferocious appetite. What happens when Barnabus is forced to stop running and face his fears? Publication is slated for summer 2023; the author represented himself.
Camille Kellogg at Bloomsbury Children's has acquired If Tomorrow Doesn't Come by debut author and Lambda Literary Fellow Jen St. Jude. The YA novel is a celebration of queer love and a vital meditation on mental health. Set nine days before an asteroid is expected to obliterate Earth, it follows college freshman Avery Byrne as she desperately tries to unite her scattered family, grapple with her undiagnosed depression, and navigate a new romance with her best friend before it's too late. Publication is set for spring 2023; Erin Harris at Folio Literary Management brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Elizabeth Lynch at Harper Teen has bought two contemporary romances from Kelsey Rodkey (Last Chance Books). In Plus One, a girl who plays matchmaker for all her classmates tries to use her skills to find a date for her cousin's Sweet 16, but keeps running afoul of the cute but irritating boy next door. Publication is scheduled for summer 2023; Bridget Smith at JABberwocky Literary Agency sold world English rights.
Emily Seife at Scholastic has acquired Daphne Benedis-Grab's (I Know Your Secret) middle grade thriller, I Know You're Lying. When four seventh graders are called to the office, none of them expects to be accused of breaking into someone's locker, and unless one of them confesses, they will all be suspended. But when they discover that none of them committed the break-in, it's a race against the clock to discover who did and why. Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties did the deal for North American rights, for publication in 2022.
Elizabeth Lynch at HarperCollins has bought Chris Negron's (Dan Unmasked; The Last Super Chef) untitled middle grade novel in which Mortimer, whose elderly mentor taught him about keeping his community connected, must face down the city council—headed by his mother—when a neighbor proposes a new shopping center that will erase the neighborhood's complicated history. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Alyssa Jennette at Stonesong negotiated the deal for world rights.
Calista Brill at First Second has acquired The Bawk-ness Monster, a middle grade graphic novel by Natalie Riess (l.) and Sara Goetter about a group of kids who become cryptid hunters. Alison Wilgus will also edit. Publication is scheduled for 2023; Steven Salpeter at Assemble Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Erica Finkel at Abrams has bought, in a four-book deal, a contemporary chapter book series called Marya Khann, written by Yasmin author Saadia Faruqi (l.) and illustrated by Ani Bushry, featuring a third-grader whose plans may backfire, but whose persistence and heart are inspiring. In the first title, Marya Khan and the Incredible Henna Party, Marya wants a fancy birthday party just like her nemesis, but in her quest to persuade her family, she learns what really makes a great celebration. Publication is set for fall 2022; Kari Sutherland of Bradford Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers of the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Steve Geck at Sourcebooks Jabberwocky has acquired two picture books from author-illustrator Christie Matheson (Tap the Magic Tree). The first is A Mischief of Mice, a nature-inspired autumnal whodunit with a variety of forest creatures whose personalities match their funny collective nouns. It's planned for fall 2023, with the second, untitled book scheduled for spring 2025; Stacey Glick at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret sold world rights.
Arthur A. Levine at Levine Querido has bought The Toymaker, author-illustrator Cat Min's flip-flop of the Santa myth, where a child makes toys for grandparents and other old folk. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Maria Vicente of P.S. Literary negotiated the deal.
Andrea Davis Pinkney for Scholastic and Scholastic Canada has acquired, at auction, a picture book called When You Can Swim by author-illustrator Jack Wong, about the mysterious joys that nature's waters can bring to a child just learning to swim, and a meditation on gratitude for the unexpected gifts water has to offer. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Wendi Gu at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates handled the two-book deal for world English and French rights.
Mabel Hsu at HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books has bought, at auction, Oh, Olive!, Lian Cho's debut author-illustrated picture book. Olive's parents, renowned painters, expect her to follow in their footsteps: painting uniform, black triangles or monochromatic squares. But Olive's own art style—irrepressible, messy, colorful and unshapely—exasperates those around her and encourages being your own person and learning at your own pace. Publication is set for fall 2023; Rebecca Sherman at Writers House did the two-book deal for world rights.
Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has acquired Great Gatsby graphic novel illustrator Aya Morton's picture book debut, The Days Are Long, The Years Are Short. Inspired by the author's family, the book showcases the messy moments and lasting joys of raising tiny humans. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Birch Path Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Melinda Rathjen at WorthyKids has bought When I Was Your Age by debut author-illustrator Danette Byatt, set generations from now when humans are living on another planet. A grandmother reminisces to her grandson about her childhood on earth, marveling at both the similarities and the differences. Publication is scheduled for March 2023; Adria Goetz at Martin Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Jessica Garrison at Dial has acquired, at auction, world English rights to Let's Fly! by pilot Barrington Irving (l.) and Chana Stiefel (c.). The autobiographical picture book takes readers along on Irving's real-life adventures including his first test flight, building his own plane from donated parts, and becoming the first Black pilot to fly solo around the world. Shamar Knight-Justice (r.) will illustrate, publication is set for fall 2024. Peter Rubie of Fine Print Management represented Irving, Miranda Paul at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented Stiefel, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented Knight-Justice.
Christy Ottaviano at Little, Brown/Ottaviano has bought, in a two-book deal, world rights to Uno Más, One More, written by Silvia Lopez (l.) and illustrated by Olivia Sua. This bilingual retelling of the folktale "Always Room for One More" follows Don Manuel, Doña Lila, and their children and assorted pets as they welcome all to their one-room casita for a fiesta. Publication is slated for winter 2024; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Taylor Martindale Kean at Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator.
Alyza Liu at Simon & Schuster has acquired, at auction, Empanadas for Everyone, written by Jackie Azúa Kramer (l.) and illustrated by Lenny Wen, about a girl whose weekend visit to her tía's neighborhood teaches her the importance of community—and of empanadas. Publication is scheduled for summer 2023; Stephen Fraser at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Karen Boersma at Owlkids has bought Revenge of the Raccoons by multidisciplinary artist and author Vivek Shraya (l.), illustrated by Juliana Neufeld. This tongue-in-cheek story, inspired by recent events in major urban centers, satirizes recent raccoon "attacks," while poking fun at the human tendency to immediately fear difference. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Rachel Letofsky at CookeMcDermid negotiated the deal for world rights.
Jonah Heller at Peachtree has acquired world rights, in an exclusive submission, to Prak Fills the House by Kennedy Center teaching artist Donna L. Washington (l.), illustrated by debut artist Lauren Emmons. In this fractured fairy tale, Poppa Pig offers his house to whichever one of his three little pigs can fill it to the brim. Everyone assumes muscly Mo or beautiful Bo will do a fine job, but quiet and creative Prak might just surprise them all. Publication is set for spring 2024; Mary C. Moore at Kimberley Cameron & Associates did a two-book deal, and Tara Gonzalez at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the illustrator for one book.
Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has bought world rights to Great Carrier Reef by Jessica Stremer (l.), illustrated by Gordy Wright. This nonfiction picture book follows the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany as it gets stripped to down to its steel shell in preparation for a new life—as the world's largest artificial reef. Publication is slated for summer 2023; Natascha Morris of the Tobias Agency represented the author, and Susan Penny of the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Eve Adler at Sterling Children's Books has acquired world rights to Love Is a Story by Todd Tarpley (l.), illustrated by Sophie Leu, a picture book about the many ways that families show love for each other, from splashing in puddles to drinking hot cocoa together. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the author, and Gary Swift at Lemonade Illustration Agency represented the illustrator.
