Rachel Sonis at Penguin Workshop has acquired, in a two-book preempt, No Rules Tonight by Banned Book Club creators Kim Hyun Sook (l.) and Ryan Estrada. Based on Hyun Sook's real-life experiences, this YA graphic novel, pitched as Persepolis meets Love, Actually, takes place in 1980s South Korea under the brutal Fifth Republic and follows a group of students as they embark on a Christmas break trip to the Jiri Mountains, where one magical weekend empowers them to ask the ultimate question: what would you do if you only had one night of freedom? Publication for the first book is set for fall 2024; Janine Kamouh at WME did the deal for North American rights.
Carolina Ortiz at HarperAlley has bought, in an exclusive submission, Julio Anta (l.) and Red Dryer's coming-of-age YA graphic novel Second Generation Blues, following Luis Menendez as he struggles to escape from the burden of being the only son in a hardworking Cuban American family and endless responsibilities at their restaurant to reach for his own dreams and the promise of first love. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Jessica Mileo at InkWell Management Literary Agency represented the author, and Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management represented the illustrator.
Dan Ehrenhaft at Blackstone Publishing has acquired, in a preempt, world rights to The Empire Wars series, in a three-book, six-figure deal, by Akure Phénix. Pitched as Get Out meets The Hunger Games, it's a story about loyalty, trust, and fighting for what's yours. Publication of the first book is scheduled for spring 2024; Lynnette Novak at the Seymour Agency brokered the deal.
Emily Seife at Scholastic has bought Where You See Yourself by debut author Claire Forrest. In this contemporary YA novel, a high school senior who is a wheelchair user navigates senior class traditions, internal and external ableism, and a blossoming romance, all while going on a series of college admissions visits across the country that force her to think about where she best fits in and who she wants to be. Publication is planned for 2023; Patricia Nelson at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Charlotte Greenbaum at Abrams/Amulet has acquired Bex Glendining's debut YA graphic novel, Indigo Port, about a young woman struggling with the grief of losing her estranged grandmother. While cleaning out her grandmother's apartment, the girl discovers there was more to her grandmother than meets the eye, which takes her down a magical rabbit hole of love and forgiveness. Publication is set for spring 2025; Paige Terlip at Andrea Brown Literary Agency handled the deal for world rights.
Rosemary Brosnan at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has bought, in an exclusive submission, The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi (Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero). In this contemporary middle grade novel, aspiring journalist Maha Raheem interviews South Asian elders about Partition for a documentary project and reconnects with her family's history, but Maha's single-mindedness causes rifts with both her best friend and her Pakistani grandmother. Publication is slated for winter 2024 with a second, untitled middle grade novel in winter 2025; Kari Sutherland did the deal for world rights while at Bradford Literary Agency.
Samantha Suchland at Disney Press has acquired Izzy Hawthore: Destiny Awaits, a novelization by Bethany Baptiste of the 2022 Disney and Pixar movie Lightyear starring Chris Evans. Ambitious cadet Izzy has trained her entire life to be a Space Ranger, and when the legendary Buzz Lightyear falls out of the sky, a life-or-death mission becomes her one and only chance to live up the name of the greatest Space Ranger ever: her grandmother. Publication is scheduled for April 2022; John Cusick of Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management brokered the deal for world rights.
Meg Gaertner at Jolly Fish Press has bought Jiu-Jitsu Girl, a middle grade contemporary novel by debut author Jennifer Dutton. When her mom forces her to take Jiu-Jitsu lessons, 12-year-old Angie's plans for befriending the popular girls at her new school seem derailed. She'll need to navigate the perils of sixth grade and the "grossness" of Jiu-Jitsu to find out what kind of girl she is, and what kind she wants to be. Publication is planned for spring 2023; Ann Rose at Prospect Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Eve Adler at Union Square Kids has acquired world rights to the first two books in the Pigeon Private Detectives chapter book series by Christee Curran-Bauer. The first title, The Case of the Missing Tarts, follows pigeon detectives as they use the scientific method to find out who stole the delicious tarts they were eager to eat. Publication for books one and two is set for spring 2023. Natascha Morris, while at BookEnds Literary Agency, and James McGowan brokered the deal.
Joy Peskin at FSG has bought New Yorker contributor and kindergarten teacher Avi Steinberg's debut picture book A Story No One Has Ever Heard Before, which teaches kids how to spin a yarn from beginning to end with some help from a carrot with a fear of heights, an alien with a cat allergy, and a knight who would rather make a friend than wield a sword. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Danielle Svetcov at LGR Literary sold world rights.
Kait Feldmann at Clarion Books has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Cindy and Panda by author-illustrator Benson Shum, a picture book that follows Cindy who loves to bake and a panda who wants to help; their freestyle recipe may lead to disaster, but the pair have the perfect ingredients for a sweet-as-pie friendship. Publication is scheduled for summer 2023; Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary handled the deal.
Emma Ledbetter at Abrams Books for Young Readers and Anne Heltzel at Abrams/Amulet have bought three books written by professional surfer Maya Gabeira (l.).Gabeira's first picture book, Maya and the Beast, illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki, is a fairy tale of big waves and even bigger courage, inspired by Gabeira's personal story of resilience. Ledbetter will edit Maya and the Beast, slated for August 2022, and a second picture book planned for fall 2023. Heltzel will edit Gabeira's YA memoir, which is set for spring 2023. Cait Hoyt at Creative Artists Agency represented Gabeira for world English rights, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the artist.
Nancy Mercado at Dial has acquired world rights to This Is How We Play and This Is How We Talk by Caroline Cupp (l.) and Jessica Slice (c); the first book is illustrated by Abbey Bryant (r.). The authors, both disabled, interviewed dozens of other disabled people about their experience with play and communication to create these joyful celebrations of beautiful adaptation and connection. Publication is set for 2023 and 2024; Jill Marr of Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency and Clelia Gore at Martin Literary Management represented the authors, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Melissa Manlove at Chronicle Books has bought world rights to Shrinking Violet by Laurel Snyder (l.), illustrated by LeUyen Pham, about a girl whose fear makes her feel small and out of control, until a feathery friend is threatened and she learns how to grow past her fear to stand up for herself and others. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Tina Dubois at ICM Partners represented the author, and Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties represented the illustrator.
Julia McCarthy at Atheneum has acquired Lolo's Sari-Sari Store by Sophia N. Lee (l.), a picture book about a child's love for her Lolo and the sweet memories of helping in his sari-sari store before moving to the U.S. where she discovers new connections between her two homes, to be illustrated by Christine Almeda in her first picture book. Publication is set for summer 2023; Wendi Gu at Sanford J. Greenburger represented the author, and Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator.
Susan Kochan at Putnam has bought world rights to A Hat for House by Audrey Perrott (l.), illustrated by Druscilla Santiago. When a gust of wind takes House's hat right off his rafters, the entire neighborhood pitches in to help him find a new one before a strong storm rolls in. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; James McGowan at BookEnds Literary Agency represented the author, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Alex Borbolla at Atheneum has acquired, at auction, Take Pride in the Ride by Jenny Lacika (l.), a picture book anthem celebrating lowriders and the cultural importance they hold in Chicano communities; Diné/Chicana artist Nani Chacon will illustrate. Publication is planned for spring 2024. Miranda Paul negotiated the two-book deal for the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Renee Kelly at Penguin Workshop has bought Sassquatch by Sophie Corrigan (l.) (Pugtato Finds a Thing) and Michael Whaite, a picture book about a sassy sasquatch who is not a smelly beast with big feet, but is actually dying to be seen as he is, and is looking for the love of the world—a timely cautionary tale about the distracting dangers of fame and social media approval. Publication is set for August 2024; Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group sold world rights.
Catherine Laudone at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has acquired world rights to There's Always Room for One More, written by Robyn McGrath (l.) and illustrated by Ishaa Lobo. In this picture book, a girl struggles with her family trading in their old table for a new one, until she discovers that a bigger table means more room for family, friends, and making memories. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Amy Thrall Flynn at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Katherine Harrison at Knopf has bought world rights to Thank You, Moon by Melissa Stewart (l.) (14 Monkeys), illustrated by Jessica Lanan (The Fisherman & the Whale). Under a night sky, this nonfiction picture book describes how various animals adapt to the moon's phases to hunt, hide from predators, build homes, or build families. Publication is planned for summer 2023; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Ed Maxwell at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented the illustrator.
Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane has acquired world rights to This Wolf Is Different by Katie Slivensky (l.) in her picture book debut, illustrated by Hannah Salyer. This nonfiction story explores the journey of a young prehistoric wolf, who moves away from her pack and toward a new type of life with a child companion. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Karen Smith at Knopf has bought world rights for The Shape of Things by Dean Robbins (l.), illustrated by Matt Tavares (Twenty-One Steps). This nonfiction picture book follows the evolution of mapmaking, stretching all over the world—starting with prehistoric maps made from cave drawings, to Egyptian maps made from papyrus, to Native American maps made from rock, to modern-day electronic cartography. Publication is set for summer 2024; Marietta Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary represented the author, and Rosemary at Stimola Literary Studio represented the illustrator.
Martha Mihalick at Greenwillow Books has acquired world rights to Morris Award finalist C.E. Winters's (l.) debut picture book, Cut!: How Lotte Reiniger and a Pair of Scissors Revolutionized Animation, illustrated by Matt Schu. It tells the true story of the career of Lotte Reiniger, the animator and inventor who designed and directed the oldest surviving full-length animated film. Publication is scheduled for winter 2023. Barbara Poelle at Irene Goodman Literary represented the author, and Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Carolyn Yoder at Astra/Calkins Creek has bought world rights to The Painter and the President: Gilbert Stuart's Brush with George Washington, written by Sarah Albee (l.) and illustrated by Stacey Innerst. This nonfiction picture book is about the relationship between artist Gilbert Stuart and President George Washington during the painting of Stuart's iconic Washington portrait. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Susan Cohen at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Amy Novesky at Cameron Kids has acquired world rights to The Lion Queen by Rina Singh (l.), illustrated by Tara Anand, a picture book inspired by the story of Rasila Vadher, a real-life Lion Queen who protects the animals of the Gir National Park. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
