Erica Sussman at HarperTeen has acquired The Scarlet Veil, first in a new duology by Shelby Mahurin (Serpent & Dove). Célie Tremblay, newest recruit of the reformed Chasseurs, investigates a string of murders in Cesarine—all of them magical creatures, all of their bodies drained of blood. She follows the trail to the heart of a vampire lair, capturing the attention of its cruel but beautiful king and awakening an evil unlike Belterra has ever seen. The first book is slated for fall 2022; Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic did the three-book deal for world rights.
Maggie Lehrman at Abrams has bought, in an exclusive submission, #Viral, a new YA novel by Corinne Duyvis (The Art of Saving the World). This near-future thriller follows an autistic high-schooler who goes viral with her livetweets when she finds herself as the only survivor trapped on a zombie-infested island. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency sold world English rights.
Samia Fakih at First Second has acquired Humanities 101, Myisha Haynes's YA graphic novel about Hakeem, a boy who moves to a strange town with mysterious supernatural occurrences, and falls in love with an alien, and another untitled YA graphic novel. Publication is scheduled for 2024; Judy Hansen at Hansen Literary Management negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Lauri Hornik at Penguin/Rocky Pond Books has bought Listen Along with Izzy McKenna by cartoonist Aubrey Nolan in a preempt. The debut YA graphic novel tells the story of 15-year-old Izzy McKenna who, having spent her life wrestling with anxiety and depression, finds herself uniquely equipped to save her seaside town of Port Juniper from an alien invasion. Publication is set for spring 2025; Anjali Singh at Ayesha Pande Literary handled the deal for world rights.
Lisa Tenaglia at Black Dog & Leventhal has acquired world rights to A Child's Introduction to Pride by Sarah Prager (l.), illustrated by Caitlin O'Dwyer. The YA book is an introduction to the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement throughout history with kid-friendly explanations of terms like identity, gender, and more. Publication is planned for May 2023; Carrie Howland at Howland Literary represented the author, and Aurora Barlam at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Amy Fitzgerald at Lerner/Carolrhoda Lab has bought Ann Jacobus's YA novel The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent. Eighteen-year-old Delilah is finally feeling stable after getting help for her alcohol addiction, depression, and anxiety, and she finds a sense of purpose volunteering at a suicide crisis line. But her world shifts again when her beloved, terminally ill aunt asks her to help her "die with dignity." Publication is slated for spring 2023; Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary Studio brokered the deal for world rights.
Whitney Leopard at Random House Graphic has acquired world rights, in an exclusive submission, to Dustin Bolton's middle grade sci-fi fantasy graphic novel trilogy series, Kudzu. Humanity struggles to survive after the great flood and a boy, Kudzu, finds himself protecting the world's last hope when he finds earth's last guardian. Publication will start in 2024; the creator represented himself.
Melissa Manlove at Chronicle Books has bought world rights to Laurel Snyder's (l.) Fairy Hunter, illustrated by Trung Le Nguyen, a graphic novel memoir about Snyder's life between age eight and 10, when she believed in fairies and hunted for them constantly, though everyone told her they weren't real. At eight, Laurel wasn't sure what "real" was anymore—not her parents' disintegrating marriage, and not the flashes of light and color that swirled around her, that nobody else could see—until a new friend, and poetry, taught her how to keep believing. Publication is set for fall 2025; Tina Dubois at ICM Partners represented the author, and Kate McKean at Howard Morhaim Literary Agency represented the artist.
Jenne Abramowitz at Scholastic has acquired Elise McMullen-Ciotti's Hedge Over Heels, a middle grade novel about a seventh-grade girl who has always moved a lot because of her mother's military career, and the hedgehog, friends, and crush who help her to open up to new relationships and experiences. Publication is scheduled for fall 2022; Linda Camacho at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Jennifer Ung at Quill Tree has bought world rights to Made in Asian America: A History for Young People by historian Erika Lee (l.) and two-time Newbery Honoree Christina Soontornvat. This work of middle-grade nonfiction tells the story of how generations of Asian Americans have transformed the U.S. and how they shaped what it means to be American today. Publication is planned for winter 2024; Sandra Dijkstra at Sandra Dijkstra Literary represented Lee, and Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary represented Soontornvat.
Marilyn Brigham at Amazon Crossing Kids has acquired Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup written by Zira Naurzbayeva (l.) and Lilya Kalaus (c.), and translated from Russian by Shelley Fairweather-Vega. The middle grade fantasy novel weaves the unique mythology of Kazakhstan into a story of friendship and courage as a group of kids embarks on an adventure through both current-day Kazakhstan and a fantasy world. Publication is slated for spring 2023; the authors represented themselves in the deal for world rights excluding Russian and Kazakh.
Kelsy Thompson at Jolly Fish has bought It Happened on Saturday, a middle grade contemporary novel by debut author Sydney Dunlap. After 13-year-old Julia nearly becomes a victim of human trafficking, she must find the courage to speak up about her experience or else her friend could end up becoming a victim too. Publication is set for spring 2023; Ann Rose at Prospect Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Jill Davis at Astra/Hippo Park has acquired world rights to One Cool Duck, an early graphic chapter book series by Mike Petrik (Silly Sounds of Halloween) in which Duck and his posse of animal pals discover the true meaning of being cool. The first two books are scheduled for spring 2023, with two titles to follow; Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary negotiated the four-book deal.
Renee Kelly at Penguin Workshop has bought, in a two-book deal, Geisel Honor winner Jonathan Fenske's A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Walk into a Book, first in a new picture book series, in which a unicorn, dinosaur, and shark break the fourth wall as the narrator tries to tell the story. Publication is planned for March 2023; Carrie Hannigan at HG Literary sold world rights.
Jill Davis, while at HarperCollins, acquired world rights to Daniel Wiseman's author-illustrator debut, Lunch Buddies; Andrew Arnold at HarperAlley will edit. This early reader graphic novel series is about a kid and his best friend, a talking sandwich. The series is slated to begin fall 2023; Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary handled the deal.
Anna Roberto at Feiwel and Friends has bought Kate Jean Neal's picture book Powerful You, about the importance of saying "yes" or "no" to create space for oneself. Publication is scheduled for 2023; Catherine Drayton at InkWell Management brokered the deal on behalf of Philippa Milnes-Smith at the Soho Agency for North American rights.
Katie Hearn at Annick Press has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to When I Gave Dad a Sign by author-illustrator Jack Wong. In this picture book, an immigrant father-and-daughter duo uniquely come to each other's aid, as well as come into their own, as they navigate their new English-speaking world. Publication is set for fall 2023; Wendi Gu at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates negotiated the deal.
Catherine Laudone at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has bought world rights to Maggie Edkins Willis's picture book debut, A Friend for Ghost. Ghost has always been too shy to say hello to his neighbors, but when a girl moves in next door who seems to love Halloween as much as he does, he decides to step out of his comfort zone and make a new friend. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the deal.
Hannah Lambert at Little Simon has acquired rights to author-illustrator Rachel Qiuqi's board book We Are Earthlings, a celebration of unity and the important roles we all play to take care of the home we share. Publication is planned for spring 2023; Natalie Lakosil at Irene Goodman Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Susan Rich at Little, Brown has bought world rights to When the Stars Came Home by Brittany Luby (l.) (of Anishinaabe descent; the author of Encounter) with art by Natasha Donovan (Métis; illustrator of Thomas King's graphic novel Borders). This contemporary story centers on an Anishinaabe child's feelings of homesickness after moving to the city, and his parents' ingenious projects that strive to make the city feel like home. Publication is set for fall 2023; Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author, and Lindsay Auld at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Andrea Tompa at Candlewick has acquired world rights to Orpheline by Katelyn Aronson (l.), illustrated by Dow Phumiruk. In this mermaid lost-and-found story, lonely Cora finds a merbaby washed ashore near her seaside home and is convinced that she's hers to keep. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Christa Heschke at McIntosh & Otis represented the author;, and Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Tamar Brazis at Viking has bought Mouseboat by Larissa Theule (l.) (Kafka's Doll), illustrated by Abigail Halpin. The picture book is about a girl coming to terms with her mother's death as she navigates a small boat through a maelstrom. Publication is planned for spring 2023; Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt sold world English rights, and the illustrator represented herself, for world rights.
Luana Kay Horry at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to Ana Siqueira's (l.) Room in Mami's Corazón, illustrated by Nomar Perez (Coquí in the City), a picture book in which Lara and Mami do everything together, but when Mami brings a new amigo, Pedro, along, Lara worries there's no room in Mami's corazón for both of them. Publication is slated for winter 2024, and simultaneously in Spanish. Andrea Walker at Olswanger Literary represented the author, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator; Siqueira is now represented by Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary.
Mikala Carpenter at Starry Forest has bought world rights to The Way We Say Hello by Andrea Denish (l.), illustrated by BlueBean. A child discovers greetings from around the world in their search for a way to say "hello" to a newborn sibling. Publication is set for fall 2022; the author represented herself, and Atlanta Japp at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Molly Shen Yao at Yeehoo Press has acquired world rights to Lights On! by Donna B. McKinney (l.), a nonfiction picture book about deep-ocean creatures whose bodies produce light in extreme environments. Daniella Ferretti will illustrate; publication is scheduled for spring 2023 in the U.S. and mainland China. The author represented herself, and Sylvie Hamel at Anna Goodson Management represented the illustrator.
