Carolina Ortiz at HarperCollins has acquired world rights, in a preempt, to debut author Louangie Bou-Montes's Don't Fear the Reaper, pitched as Cemetery Boys meets Undead Girl Gang, where the 16-year-old Afro-Latinx son of the local mortician accidentally reanimates the dead body of the boy he had more than friendly feelings for and has to uncover the truth about his family's necromantic abilities to keep him alive for good. Saritza Hernández at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal for publication in fall 2024.
Rachel Diebel at Feiwel and Friends has bought, at auction, Stay Here with Me, Maggie Horne's (Hazel Hill Is Gonna Win This One) YA debut. Pitched as a cross between Some Girls Do and Netflix's The Half of It, the novel is a queer love story that centers on two best friends (and recent exes, after one of them came out as gay) who find themselves developing feelings for the same girl. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Claire Friedman at Inkwell Management did the deal for North American rights.
Nick Thomas at Levine Querido has acquired world rights to Pedro & Daniel by debut author Federico Erebia (l.), illustrated by Julie Kwon. The coming-of-age YA novel follows two Mexican American brothers, Pedro and Daniel, from childhood to adulthood as they navigate the colorism and homophobia that rock their family life, and the bond that gets them through. Publication is scheduled for spring 2023; the author represented himself, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Alexa Pastor has bought, in an exclusive submission, Robbie Couch's You Again and a second untitled queer YA contemporary novel. After the death of his best friend Dylan leaves him heartbroken and adrift, gay teen River enters an immersive study aimed at boosting his ability to forge bonds with classmates. Just as researchers begin to help River form new relationships (and maybe even fall in love), he finds himself wondering if Dylan is really gone for good... or if he's losing his grip on reality. Publication is slated for summer 2024 with the second book to follow in 2025; Moe Ferrara at BookEnds Literary negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Megan Brown at IDW has acquired Low Orbit, the debut YA graphic novel by Kazimir Lee. Azar and Tristan are high schoolers who bond over a rented house, a broken arm, and two equally broken homes. When Azar stumbles across the Exiles of Overworld, a famous science fiction book written by Tristan's father, she finds an escape—but as she struggles to navigate her own sexuality and complicated relationships, she must leave the fantasy world behind. Publication is set for February 2026; Bob Mecoy at Bob Mecoy Book Services handled the deal for world rights.
Alyson Heller at Aladdin has bought debut author AY Chan's contemporary middle grade novel Modesty Seto and the Legend of Xiaoxi Fu, first in a planned series in which a 12-year-old Taekwando champion must learn to overcome her own perceived obstacles and use a centuries-old ancestral book to help her journey. Publication of the first book is planned for summer 2024, with a second untitled novel to follow in summer 2025. Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency sold world rights.
Kait Feldmann at Clarion has acquired, at auction, author-illustrator Lenny Wen's picture book, Wolfgang in the Meadow and an untitled second book. The first book is about an ambitious ghost named Wolfgang who works hard for his happily ever afterlife, but suddenly loses his powers and is faced with a grave question—what are you supposed to do after you've made all your spookiest dreams come true? Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Alexandra Cooper at Quill Tree has bought, at auction, world rights to two picture books by poet Shauntay Grant (l.). One Day We Will follows a child and parent attending a protest, reflecting on how inextricably we are bound to the past, but how the smallest choice can sometimes make a difference and lead us to a better future; Gordon C. James (c.) will illustrate, for publication in fall 2024. When I Wrap My Hair is an ode to the many-generational tradition of hair-wrapping, and how its roots tie past and present together; Jenin Mohammed (r.) will illustrate, for publication in early 2024. Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented Grant, Regina Brooks at Serendipity Lit represented James, and Christy Tugeau Ewers at the CAT Agency represented Mohammed.
Caitlyn Dlouhy at Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books has acquired world rights to Baby Ballerina by Sharon Draper (l.), illustrated by Ebony Glenn. A nervous little ballerina isn't sure she's ready for the stage, until a fellow dancer proves to be even more nervous, and she must jete in to help. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Tanya McKinnon at McKinnon Literary represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Claire Nist at Crown has bought world rights to Tate's Wild Rescue by Jenny Turnbull (l.) and illustrated by Izzy Burton, a picture book told through letters between an animal-loving girl who offers a variety of wild animals to be her best friend and protect them from the wild, and the animals who are frankly not impressed. Publication is set for summer 2024; Melissa Nasson at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the author, and Susan Penny at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Kate Fletcher at Candlewick has acquired world rights to When You See Us by Katherine Hocker (l.), illustrated by Svabhu Kohli. This picture book is a love song to graceful, creepy, beautiful, and comical dragonflies, midges, mayflies, mosquitoes and other underwater insects. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Mary Cummings at Great River Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Julia Sooy at Odd Dot has bought, at auction, Seeds and Leaves by author-illustrator Mirka Hokkanen. In this seasonally themed series, plant life cycles are explored from the point of view of the anthropomorphic vegetation. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024 and fall 2024, respectively; Laurel Symonds at the Bent Agency negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Luana Kay Horry at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to The Big Squeeze by Molly Harris (l.), illustrated by Alison Hawkins. This picture book tells the story of an eager sponge who absorbs everyone else's mess until she grows soggier, heavier, stinkier—and discovers that self-care is just as important as caring for others. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Sera Rivers at Martin Literary & Media Management represented the author, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Kelsey Skea at Amazon/Two Lions has bought Joy Givens's (l.) debut picture book, The Unstoppable Jamie, inspired by the author's son, in which a boy with Down syndrome relies on his cape, his family, and ultimately himself during a superhero's journey into the heart of New York City. Courtney Dawson will illustrate; publication is set for fall 2023. Danielle Chiotti at Upstart Crow Literary represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Alexandra Cooper at Quill Tree has acquired world rights to Mr. Pei's Perfect Shapes: The Story of Architect I.M. Pei by Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature winner Julie Leung (l.), a picture book biography that follows the life of the architect responsible for some of the world's most iconic buildings, illustrated by Yifan Wu in her debut. The book explores Pei's inspirations, from the childhood rock gardens of his family's estate in Suzhou to his thinking behind some of his most famous designs. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Wendi Gu at GreenburgerKids/Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Rachel Sonis at Penguin Workshop has bought Mother of Sharks by shark scientist Melissa Cristina Márquez (l.) (Wild Survival), illustrated by Devin Elle Kurtz, a picture book that blends the autobiographical with the fantastical about Márquez's journey to becoming a marine biologist and advocate for the oceans' top predator. Publication is scheduled for May 2023; Alexandra Weiss at Azantian Literary Agency represented the author, and Seth Fishman at the Gernert Company represented the illustrator in the two-book deal for world rights.
Carolyn Yoder at Calkins Creek has acquired world rights to Introducing Sandwina: The Strongest Woman in the World! by Vicki Conrad (l.), illustrated by Jeremy Holmes. The picture book biography explores the life of turn-of-the century circus strong woman, Katie Brumbach, who defied gender conventions, juggled bowling balls, championed women's rights, and could balance 1,000 pounds on her chest. Publication is set for fall 2024; Sarah Stephens at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Rebecca Sherman at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Kayla Tostevin at Page Street Kids has bought world rights to Scorch, Hedgehog of Doom by Cate Berry (l.), illustrated by Margherita Grasso, in which a classroom hedgehog struggles to prove her fearsomeness. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Wendi Gu at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
