Stacey Barney at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has acquired North American rights to Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis, a YA thriller about a cutthroat competition for the world’s best thieves, including the teen girl who must win to save her parents’ lives. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Chelsea Eberly at Greenhouse Literary Agency sold North American rights in a three-book deal, and Lionsgate Studios bought film rights.
Anne Hoppe at Allida has bought, at auction, An Impossible Thing to Say by Arya Shahi, debut author and co-founder of PigPen Theatre Co., a novel in verse exploring the challenges faced by immigrant families that stars Omid, an Iranian-American teenager searching for his voice—be it in English or Farsi, Shakespearean dialogue or rap lyrics—in 2001. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Rebecca Sherman at Writers House negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Brian Geffen at Henry Holt has acquired Paige Hender's YA graphic novel The House Outside Hart Creek. The story follows Edie Birch, a teen who reconnects with her estranged family only to discover secrets and trauma that go back generations. When she teams up with a local folklore nerd, their sleuthing leads to the discovery that she comes from a long line of witches. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Linda Camacho at Gallt and Zacker Literary did the deal for North American rights.
Clarissa Wong, while at HarperCollins, bought world rights to Fitting Indian by Jyoti Chand (l.), illustrated by Tara Anand; Megan Ilnitzki will edit. Pitched as Never Have I Ever meets Spinning, this YA graphic novel follows Nitasha as she navigates pressure and expectations from her traditional South Asian family, the challenges of high school—and her mental health. Publication is set for winter 2024, Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the author and the illustrator.
Kate Prosswimmer at S&S/McElderry has acquired Monster Camp, a lightly spooky middle grade story by Sarah Henning, aimed at fans of Ghost Squad and Halloweentown. It follows 11-year old Sylvie as she joins a monster LARPing (live action role playing) summer camp, but finds herself in the performance of her life after realizing that she's the only human among real monsters. Publication is set for summer 2023; Whitney Ross at Irene Goodman Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Marilyn Kretzer at Blackstone Publishing has bought Wayfinders by Bryan Chick (the Secret Zoo series), in which a grieving 12-year-old girl and her neurotic father must travel in a beat-up Winnebago to return a group of lost fairy-tale creatures to an enchanted forest while eluding the pursuit of a witch and her criminal gang. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group sold North American English rights.
Allyn Johnston at S&S/Beach Lane Books has acquired two more illustrated picture books by author-illustrator Katie Mazeika. The first, The Seven Sisters of Nela Park, is based on the author's family and blends STEM, history, and a holiday-themed story about seven newly emigrated sisters who found work blowing glass bulbs at Nela Park, Thomas Edison's lightbulb factory in Cleveland at the turn of the 20th century. The second, still untitled, is about a boy who with his family selects, orders, and then builds a Sears catalog kit house piece by piece, with the help of friends and neighbors. Publication is slated for fall 2024 and 2025, respectively; Sorche Elizabeth Fairbank at Fairbank Literary did the deal for world rights.
Frances Gilbert at Doubleday has bought The Artist by author-illustrator Ed Vere. A brave little artist goes on an epic adventure to share her creativity with the world, in a picture book that celebrates imagination, originality, and the beauty of coloring outside the lines. Publication is slated for spring 2023; Barry Goldblatt at Barry Goldblatt Literary Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Karen Chaplin at Quill Tree has acquired North American rights to Shirley Ng-Benitez's author-illustrator debut, Down, Through, Up. A girl struggles with change and rediscovers herself somewhere new while finding ways to connect to the roots of home in this multigenerational picture book honoring sewing, San Francisco, and the threads of heritage that stitch her family together. Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency handled the deal, for tentative publication in spring 2024.
Catherine Laudone at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has bought The World in Our Backyard by Starboy author-illustrator Jami Gigot, a picture book about the worlds, both real and imaginary, waiting to be found in our backyards. Publication is planned for summer 2024; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Alyza Liu at S&S/Atheneum has acquired author-illustrator Stuart Hausmann's debut picture book. Linus, a sweet, plucky line from Linneopolis, can't quite fit into the rigid structure of his straight-laced town. Only an adventure far from home will show Linus how important it is to be yourself, and inspire change in others. Publication is scheduled for spring 2023; Gwen Beal at United Talent Agency did the deal for world rights.
Mabel Hsu at HarperCollins/Tegen has bought, in an exclusive submission, Emergency Quarters by debut author Carlos Matias (l.), illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Award winner Gracey Zhang. Adapted from Matias's 2021 New York Times Metropolitan Diary finalist for entry of the year, the book follows a Dominican-American boy finally allowed to walk to school without his parents. But the quarters his mother gives him "for emergencies" prove difficult to hold onto as the delicious foods, baseball cards, and arcade games of Queens call his name. Publication is set for May 2024; Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the author and illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Michelle Lee at Dial has acquired historical researcher and curator Kimberly Annece Henderson's (l.) debut picture book Dear Yesteryear, with Ciara LeRoy hand-lettering the text. Inspired by Henderson's Instagram project @Emalineandthem, Dear Yesteryear is an open letter to the past from the present that uses archival photographs of Black Americans from the turn of the 19th century. Publication is slated for spring 2023; Monica Odom at Odom Media Management represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Namrata Tripathi at Kokila has bought world rights to Mama's Panza, a picture book about a child who loves how their mother's big round belly, or panza, shakes when Mama laughs, and can be played like a drum, and can be rested on like the softest pillow, written by Isabel Quintero (l.) (My Papi Has a Motorcycle; Gabi, A Girl in Pieces) and illustrated by Iliana Galvez. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Peter Steinberg at Fletcher & Company represented the author, and Sylvie Hamel at Anna Goodson Illustration Agency represented the illustrator.
Feather Flores, while at Chronicle Books, acquired world rights, at auction, to The Ofrenda That We Built, written by mother-daughter duo Jolene Gutiérrez (l.) and Shaian Gutiérrez (c.), illustrated by Gabby Zapata (r.) in her picture book debut. This celebration of Día de Muertos invites readers of all backgrounds to join in the building of the family ofrenda, one special element at a time. Publication is set for fall 2024; Elizabeth Lazowski will edit. Kaitlyn Sanchez at Context Literary Agency represented the authors, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary represented the illustrator.
Ann Kelley at Random House Studio has bought world rights to The Lonely Goose by Lela Nargi (l.) (The Honeybee Man), illustrated by Anne Hunter (Where's Baby?). This nonfiction picture book follows the lives of Canada geese as they perform their courtship rituals, raise nests full of chicks, migrate with the seasons, and brave the world alone. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the illustrator.
Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to At Our Table, an inclusive celebration of our nation's bounty, by Patrick Hulse (l.), illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (Powwow Day). The picture book emphasizes making space for children to appreciate and honor everything our country has room for, from longtime traditions to contemporary rituals. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Studio Goodwin Sturges represented the author and illustrator.
Ken Geist at Orchard Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Don't Blow Your Top! by Ame Dyckman (l.), illustrated by Abhi Alwar. In this social-emotional picture book, Big Volcano helps a frustrated Little Volcano with some self-calming techniques to prevent an explosive outburst (maybe). Publication is planned for fall 2023; Scott Treimel at Scott Treimel NY represented the author, and Alexandra Levick at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Celia Lee at Simon & Schuster has acquired world rights to host of the Queer Kids Stuff YouTube series and viral Ted Talk video Lindz Amer's (l.) picture book Hooray for He, She, Ze, and They!, a celebration of pronouns and gender euphoria, illustrated by Kate Alizadeh. Publication is set for 2024; Claire Draper at the Bent Agency represented the author, and Mandy Suhr at Miles Stott represented the illustrator.
Hilary Van Dusen at MIT Kids Press/Candlewick Press has bought world rights to nonfiction picture book I'm a Photon by Eve M. Vavagiakis (l.), in which readers are introduced to photons, the fundamental particle of light, by a photon narrator, illustrated by Mike Malbrough (Love Is Here); Kristin Zelazko will edit. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; the author represented herself, and Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Meg Gaertner at Jolly Fish Press has acquired The Most Important Animal of All, a picture book by Penny Worms (l.), illustrated by Hannah Bailey. When a teacher challenges her class to come to their own conclusions about the most important animal of all, seven children champion seven animals for the top spot. Publication is slated for spring 2023; Gwen Bennett at Big Leap International Sales Agency sold North American rights.
Jiahui Zhu at Yeehoo Press has bought world English rights to The Palace Rat by Lynne Marie (l.), illustrated by Eva Santana. When Henri's life as the pampered pet of King Louis XIV comes to an end, will he remain homesick for his palace days, or ultimately discover the meaning of true riches? Publication is set for fall 2023 in the U.S. and mainland China; Marisa Cleveland at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Malena Baston at IMC Illustration Agency represented the illustrator.
Claire Stetzer at Inkyard Press has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Ann Liang's I Am Not Jessica Chen. After getting rejected by every Ivy League she applied to, a teenage art student makes a wish to become her enviably perfect cousin, Jessica Chen—only to wake up in Jessica's body, and discover firsthand the cost of being the “model" student at an elite, cutthroat academy. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency handled the deal for world English rights.
Rosemary Brosnan and Cynthia Leitich Smith at Heartdrum have bought, in a preempt, debut author Cheryl Isaacs's The Unfinished, a YA horror novel about a Kanien'kéha:ka girl who stumbles on a black pond in the forest and becomes haunted by an ancient evil and Unfinished beings who steal people from the town, and must turn to the culture she never felt connected with before to save everyone, including her missing best friend. Publication is set for fall 2024; Natalie Lakosil at Irene Goodman Agency negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights.
Liz Kossnar at Little, Brown has acquired The Library of Memories, a middle grade graphic novel written by Eisner-nominated author Barbara Perez Marquez (l.) (The Cardboard Kingdom) and illustrated by Lissy Marlin (the Magic Misfits series), in which 11-year-old Copenhagen must fix the mysterious Library of Memories in order to regain her memory, but there's someone in the library whose memories may be too painful to recover willingly. Publication is planned for winter 2025; Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management sold world rights.
Martha Mihalick at Greenwillow Books has bought world rights to League of Littles by Casey Lyall (l.), illustrated by Ken Niimura, a graphic novel that follows the adventures of the newest recruits to an international organization that protects and supports the needs of youngest siblings around the globe. Publication is scheduled for winter 2025; Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency represented the author, and Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Anne Hoppe at Allida has acquired Secrets, an autobiographical middle grade graphic novel, by debut author-illustrator Cindy Chang. Secrets follows sixth-grader Cindy, the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, as she navigates relationships at home, at school, and on an unexpected trip to Taiwan. Amid struggling with her parents' taboo separation and family secrets, Cindy seeks to find her artistic style and to use her own voice. Publication is slated for winter 2025; Rebecca Sherman at Writers House brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Regan Winter at Disney-Hyperion has bought author-illustrator Greg Foley's World's Best Greatest Ever middle grade graphic novel series. After a school assignment challenges Dex Dingo to be whatever he wants, Dex decides he wants to be the world's best greatest ever… at something. Each book follows Dex as he pursues the "coolest jobs," only to watch his plans go awry. Publication of the first book is set for summer 2024; Gwen Beal and Albert Lee at United Talent Agency did the two-book deal for world rights.
Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights to Werewolf Hamlet, a middle-grade novel by Kerry Madden-Lunsford (Gentle's Holler). In the novel, Angus wants to stage a version of Hamlet with werewolves for his fifth-grade legacy project while coping with a brother transformed by addiction and with financially struggling parents. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Marie Lamba at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Luana Kay Horry at HarperCollins has bought world rights to Ilima Todd's (l.) debut picture book, Our Sacred Mountain, illustrated by Shar Tuiasoa (Punky Aloha). This eco-conscious ode to place, space, and heritage, tells the story of Native Hawaiians peacefully protesting the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea to protect their sacred mountain. Publication is scheduled for winter 2024; Natascha Morris and Lane Heymont at the Tobias Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Andrea Hall at Beaming Books has acquired world rights to Mae and Gerty and the Matter with Matter by Elaine Vickers (l.), illustrated by Erica Salcedo, a picture book celebrating a love of siblings and science, and the things in our lives that truly matter. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Erin Tisdel at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Jill Davis at Astra/Hippo Park has bought world rights to Dianna Aston's (l.) Mermaids Song to the Sea, illustrated by Renée Kurilla, in which three mermaids sing songs of gratitude and protections to animals real and fanciful in the biome of the coral reef. It's set for publication in 2024. Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Wendy McClure and Kerry Finnamore at Sourcebooks Jabberwocky have acquired world rights to How This Book Got Red by Margaret Chiu Greanias (l.), about a red panda who finds out that none of her panda books have pandas like her in them, so she decides to write her own book. Melissa Iwai will illustrate, for publication in fall 2023. Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency represented the author in a two-book deal, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Allison Cohen at Running Press Kids has bought world rights to M Is for Mystical by Emma Mildon (l.), illustrated by Sara Ugolotti. This interactive picture book offers an introduction to spirituality and ancient wisdom for mini mystics. Publication is scheduled for winter 2024; Marilyn Allen at Allen Literary Agency represented the author, and Amanda Hendon at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Shannon Pennefeather at Minnesota Historical Society Press has acquired world rights to How to Draw a Tree by David LaRochelle (l.), illustrated by Colleen Muske. This picture book invites children to celebrate the diversity of trees and experience the power that comes from observation. Publication is slated for fall 2025; the author represented himself, and Kelly Dyksterhouse at Raven Quill Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Brian Sockin at Persnickety Press has bought world rights to Jeffrey Turner's Love, Earth, a picture book narrated by Earth that lets kids know she needs some help and provides examples of what they can do to help her out and care for the environment. Publication is planned for April 22, 2023 (Earth Day); Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the author.
