Claire Stetzer at Inkyard Press, with Natasha Bardon at Magpie Books/HarperCollins UK, has acquired Megan Scott's The Temptation of Magic. Pitched as A Discovery of Witches for teens, this contemporary YA fantasy trilogy follows a girl searching for a hidden message in an art collection that would destroy the Wake, a shadowy organization that governs all supernatural creatures and will kill her if they discover the deadly ability she's hiding. Publication is set for winter 2024; Tamara Kawar while at ICM Partners did the three-book deal for North American rights on behalf of Stephanie Thwaites and Isobel Gahan at Curtis Brown UK.
Alexandra Aceves at Holiday House has bought YA contemporary debut The Loudest Silence by Deaf author Sydney Langford, a dual-POV story that follows the friendship between 16-year-old singer Casey, who is grappling with sudden hearing loss, and soccer captain Hayden, whose generalized anxiety weighs on his every move, after the two teens bond over the shared dream of a life in music. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Emily Forney at BookEnds Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Danielle Collins at S&S/Beach Lane Books has acquired Shell Song, a family-history-based picture book by author-illustrator Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson. When a girl's Japanese American grandfather is unjustly arrested and sent to an incarceration camp in Hawaii during WWII, collecting seashells becomes a source of comfort and hope for him, his family, and future generations. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency sold world rights.
Sydnee Monday at Kokila has bought, in a preempt, world rights to Ruby René Had So Much to Say by debut author and educator Ashley Iman (l.), illustrated by Gladys Jose. The picture book follows a curious Black girl who finds herself in trouble for talking too much in school, even though she's just excited to share what she knows—until she finds the perfect outlet. Publication is planned for summer 2024; Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Laura Godwin and Kortney Nash at Godwin Books have acquired world rights to Merry Christmas, Dear Mars by Penny Parker Klostermann (l.), illustrated by Estrela Lourenço. In this picture book, Martians long for Santa to stop on the red planet, and when he finally does, everything possible goes wrong... until some Martian upgrades make him fit to deliver presents all over. Publication is set for fall 2024; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and James McGowan at BookEnds represented the illustrator.
Alice Jonaitis at Random House has bought world rights to It's Not Easy Being Santa Claus by Marilyn Sadler (l.), illustrated by Steph Laberis, a story about a grumpy Santa Claus who decides to try out various jobs, only to discover he is happiest being himself, in a two-book deal. Publication is slated for fall 2023; the author represented herself, and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Denene Millner at S&S/Denene Millner Books has acquired, in a preempt, world rights to At Night, They Danced by Victoria Scott-Miller (l.), owner of Liberation Station Bookstore, illustrated by Toni Chambers, a bedtime picture book about two brothers who share in their parents' stay-at-home date night by turning it into a family dance party. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Regina Brooks and Emma Loy-Santelli at Serendipity Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Kelly Delaney at Crown has bought, in an exclusive submission, This Land, a primer about Native lands that inspires curiosity in readers about who was here before them, written by Ashley Fairbanks and illustrated by Bridget George, both Anishinaabe. Publication is planned for summer 2024; Race2Dinner and Jess Regel at Helm Literary Agency represented the author, and Nicole Geiger at Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Erica Finkel at Abrams has acquired, in a preempt, When You See Me, a picture book by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (l.), illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani, in which a girl who feels invisible in her all-white class finds friendship and community with a new Muslim student. Publication is set for spring 2024; Paige Terlip at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Marilyn Brigham at Amazon Crossing Kids has bought Simon Says Good Night by Israeli author-illustrator Orit Bergman, translated by Annette Appel. The picture book is a bedtime twist on the childhood game "Simon Says," in which a boy's toys must follow his commands, or else go to sleep. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Mickey Chesla at TBP Agency represented Kinneret-Zmora-Dvir Publishing in the deal for world English rights.
Hilary Van Dusen at Candlewick Press has acquired world English rights to a picture book biography, The Five Sides of Marjorie Rice by Amy Alznauer (l.) (The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity), illustrated by Anna Bron, the story of a puzzle as old as mammoths and the unlikely girl who grew up to solve it. It's slated for spring 2025; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Catherine Laudone at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has bought world rights to The Wire Zoo: The Story of Wire Sculptor Elizabeth Berrien by Natasha Wing (l.), illustrated by Joanie Stone, a picture book biography about Elizabeth Berrien, a neurodivergent artist who is known as the godmother of the contemporary wire sculpture movement. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Andrea Cascardi at Transatlantic Agency represented the author, and Claire Morance at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee Books has acquired world rights to Toypurina: Tongva Leader, Medicine Woman, Rebel by Cheyenne M. Stone (l.) and Glenda Armand (c.), illustrated by Katie Dorame (r.), a picture book biography about the Tongva medicine woman who led a resistance against Spanish colonial mission rule in California. Publication is set for summer 2024; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the authors, and the illustrator represented herself.
Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books has bought world rights for Solstice Wish, a picture book by Kate Allen Fox (l.), illustrated by Elisa Paganelli, which interweaves STEM concepts with themes of hope and human connection through a solstice celebration centered around a beach bonfire. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Leslie Zampetti at Odom Media Management represented the author, and Christina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.
John Rahm at River Horse Children's Books has acquired world rights to Behold! It's Unipig! by Patrick Hueller (l.), illustrated by C.S. Jennings, about a young pig who thinks of himself as a super special, secret breed of Unicorn-Pig. Publication is scheduled for summer 2023; the author was unagented, and Timothy Travaglini at Transatlantic Agency represented the illustrator.
Dainese Santos at Simon and Schuster has acquired at auction Build a Girlfriend by Elba Luz, pitched as a reverse How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. 18-year-old Amelia is said to be cursed, like all the women in her family, to never keep a partner. Determined to break the curse, she sets out to find all her exes, research why they broke up with her, and become the perfect partner—and maybe get revenge on an old ex along the way. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Emily Forney at BookEnds Literary did the two-book deal for world English rights.
Vicki Lame at Wednesday Books has acquired world English rights to Ashley Schumacher's In the Orbit of You, a YA romance in which two childhood friends turned strangers find each other again when they score a 99% compatibility on a personality matching test, only to start falling in love as everything around them threatens to tear them apart once more. Publication is planned for winter 2024; Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Samia Fakih at First Second has bought world rights to The Masked Princess, written by Ted Anderson (l.) and illustrated by Ollie Roswell, a YA graphic novel where high-schooler Noel, cosplaying his childhood favorite character at an anime con, becomes an overnight hero after helping a fellow cosplayer, and ends up exploring his gender and discovering new aspects of his identity amid the backdrop of fandom and sudden fame. Publication is set for 2025; Jennifer Chen Tran, now at Folio Literary Management, represented Anderson while at Bradford Literary, and Paloma Hernando at Einstein Literary represented Roswell.
Megan Ilnitzki at HarperAlley has acquired, in a six-figure auction, Tarik's Bazaar Adventure by George Jreije (l.) (Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria), illustrated by Umair Najeeb Khan (Rida & Madiya). Based on the author's experience, this coming-of-age middle grade graphic novel follows 12-year-old Tarik as he navigates the highs and lows of middle school after being diagnosed with alopecia. Publication is planned for winter 2025, with a second book to follow in winter 2026. Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Alex Wolfe at Penguin Workshop has bought, at auction, world rights to two books in a new middle grade series, Quantum Galactic Sports League by J. Scott Savage (l.), illustrated by Brandon Dorman. Last Kids on Earth meets Space Jam when uncoordinated Wyatt gets selected through contractual mishap to lead a team of tweens in an intergalactic football tournament against aliens, with the fate of the Earth at stake. Book one is scheduled for fall 2024; Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author, and Lott Representatives represented the artist.
Jessica Smith at Aladdin has acquired, at auction in a two-book deal, Maple's Theory of Fun by Kate McMillan (l.) and Ruthie Prillaman, a diary-style series for middle graders about Maple McNutt, an anxious and inventive 11-year-old who performs a scientific experiment to uncover the secret to becoming fun. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Alexandra Weiss at Azantian Literary Agency sold world rights.
Jennifer Ung at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has bought, at auction, The Queen Bees of Tybee County, a middle-grade novel pitched as Better Nate Than Ever meets Dumplin', plus an untitled second book by Kyle Casey Chu, aka Panda Dulce, one of the original drag queens of Drag Queen Story Hour. This debut middle grade follows Chinese American seventh grader Derrick Chan as he discovers his queer identity and love for drag via contemporary Southern pageant culture. Publication is set for winter 2025 and winter 2026, respectively; Kristin Ostby at Greenhouse Literary Agency sold North American rights on behalf of Working Partners.
Josh Gregory at Albert Whitman has acquired South of Somewhere by Kalena Miller (The Night When No One Had Sex), pitched as Schitt's Creek meets The Baby-Sitters Club, in which 12-year-old Mavis moves to a small town with her father and siblings after her mother is accused of embezzlement and goes on the run from the FBI, forcing Mavis to discover what a home really is in a new place and uncover the truth about her once-wealthy family. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Stacey Kondla at the Rights Factory brokered the deal for world rights.
Hannah Smith at Owl Hollow Press has bought, in a preempt, world rights to The Horse Who Carries the Stars by Darby Karchut (Del Toro Moon). In this middle grade contemporary novel, 13-year-old Reece has both hands full dealing with a headstrong mare. When a wildfire threatens their corner of Colorado, it's going to take all of her horse skills and some Appaloosa luck to save the day and prove to herself—and her family—that she can handle Kip. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; the author represented herself.
Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee Books has acquired Band Camp! by Brian "Smitty" Smith, an early graphic chapter book series following four instruments—a triangle, an accordion, a ukulele, and a kazoo—becoming friends while at summer band camp. Publication for the first two books is slated for fall 2024; the author represented himself in the deal for world rights.
Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has bought world rights to Christy Hale's Serious Fun! Work and Play with Charles and Ray Eames, detailing how both work and play figured in their iconic design, architecture and photography collaborations. It's planned for spring 2025; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio negotiated the deal.
Liz Bicknell at Candlewick Press has acquired world rights to This Is Orange by Rachel Poliquin (l.), illustrated by Julie Morstad, a picture book guide to the color orange that takes readers through the color's background in unique social, historical, and artistic contexts, encouraging readers to see the world around them in unusual ways. Publication is set for fall 2025; Amy Tompkins at Transatlantic Agency represented the author, and Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the illustrator.
Kathy Landwehr at Peachtree has bought world rights to This Book Is Full of Holes by Nora Nickum (l.), illustrated by Robert Meganck, a nonfiction picture book about holes—shallow and deep, microscopic and visible from space, human-caused and natural, mysterious and familiar. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Lynnette Novak at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary represented the illustrator.
Tara Walker at Tundra Books has acquired world rights to Sand Cakes by Kallie George (l.), illustrated by Devon Holzwarth, a picture book about an imaginative child who loves to "bake" in the sand and share their creations with beachgoers, only to find that the ocean is much more eager to try their treats. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Andrea Hall at Beaming Books has bought world rights to Attack Bunnies by Laura Gehl (l.) (You're My Little Dragon), a picture book about the power of the pen—and kindness, illustrated by Gary Boller (Rover's Junkyard), in a two-book deal. Publication is set for spring 2024; Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary Studio represented the author, and Christina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Rick Rinehart at Muddy Boots has acquired world English rights to Franklin's Trees, a picture book by AJ Schenckman (l.), illustrated by Lauren Reese. This picture book biography focuses on President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's lifelong love of trees. Publication is planned for spring 2024; the author represented himself, and Alice Fugate at Joy Harris Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Michele McAvoy at The Little Press has bought world rights to Hank's Change of Heart, a picture book celebrating kindness by Cindy Williams Schrauben (l.), illustrated by Sasha Richards. Hank is obsessed with hearts; he wears them, finds them, adores and hoards them. When his passion becomes problematic, Hank discovers that maybe his collection holds a higher purpose. Publication is scheduled for February 2025; the author and illustrator represented themselves.
