Wendy Loggia at Underlined has acquired Betsy Aldredge's 8 Dates and Nights. When New York City girl Hannah Levin is stuck in a small Texas town for Hanukkah, she longs for the big city and even bigger latkes, until she meets Noah, the only other Jewish teen for miles. She promises to help him save his family deli, the only remnant of Jewish life in the town, if he'll let her sulk in peace. in this rom-com pitched as Schitt's Creek meets Dash & Lily. Publication is slated for fall 2023; Christa Heschke and Daniele Hunter at McIntosh & Otis negotiated the deal for world rights.
Abby Huff at Capstone has bought world rights to Sixth-Grade Superhero!, the first title in The Fantastic Freewheeler, a debut graphic novel series written by Molly Felder (l.), in a four-book deal. Drew Daniels, aka the Fantastic Freewheeler, is a sixth-grader with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair and who also has a spectacular superpower that lets him learn all about something with a single touch. Publication is set for fall 2023; Felder represented herself, Emmajane Turner at the Bright Agency represented illustrator Scott Brown (c.), and Saritza Hernandez at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented illustrator Yury Guzman (r.). The artists will each illustrate two titles in the series.
Amy Fitzgerald at Lerner/Carolrhoda Books has acquired U.S. rights to Aisha Bushby's middle-grade novel A Pocketful of Stars, originally published in the U.K. in 2019. Thirteen-year-old Safiya has never seen eye to eye with her mother, but when her mother goes into a coma, Safiya begins having vivid dreams about her mother's childhood in Kuwait—dreams that may hold the key to their future. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Juliette Clark at Farshore brokered the deal.
Justin Krasner at Macmillan/Odd Dot has bought Pop-Up Planetarium! by Lynn Brunelle, an interactive nonfiction book that doubles as a portable planetarium. The text includes a season-by-season look at the skies, a guide to the constellations, and a pop-up planetarium to teach young readers how to bring the night sky to life. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency sold world rights.
Michelle Frey at Random House/Make Me a World has acquired two picture books by Shay Youngblood (Mama's Home), about a girl who anticipates being tall enough to reach the top of the librarian's desk so she can get her first library card and read all the books in the library, to be edited with Lois Evans. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Tanya McKinnon at McKinnon Literary negotiated world rights.
Cheryl Eissing at Flamingo Books has bought, in a preempt, world rights to the picture book The Missing Acorn by author-illustrator DK Ryland, about a squirrel on the hunt for his acorn who enlists the help of his woodland friends. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Kaitlyn Sanchez brokered the deal while at Context Literary Agency.
Lois Evans at Make Me a World has acquired world rights to Dani's Smile and an untitled second picture book written and illustrated by Lo Harris (illustrator of Mama's Home). After a classmate asks her why she loves her gap-toothed smile, Dani shares stories about her aunt's adventures and the way she sees beauty in all smiles, helping her peers find confidence in their own. Publication is set for summer 2025; the author represented herself.
Catherine Laudone at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has bought world rights to Signs of Friendship by Annie Silvestro (l.), illustrated by Ziyue Chen. This picture book follows Sally and Sonia, two best friends who communicate using sign language. But when Sonia starts hanging out with a new boy and his puppy, Sally fears she's losing her best friend—until she learns there's always room for more friends. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Mela Bolinao at MB Artists represented the illustrator.
Ruth Weiner at Seven Stories/Triangle Square has bought world rights to Dr. Syrus Marcus Ware's (l.) picture book, Abolition Is Love, illustrated by Alannah Fricker. Through interaction and conflict resolution with family, friends, and the community, a child learns that love is at the heart of a better world, becoming a young activist for social justice and safety for everyone. Publication is slated for August 2023; Ali McDonald at 5 Otter Literary handled the deal.
Emily Feinberg at Roaring Brook has acquired world rights to three picture books by Richard Ho (l.) (Red Rover; The Lost Package), beginning in spring 2024 with A Taste of Home, illustrated by Sibu T.P. (c.), tracing a group of children exploring the food of Manhattan's Lower East Side, from a kosher grocery to a Hispanic market to Chinatown and Little India, as they share their own experiences and family memories of what "home" means. Golem, Golem, Golem, a new spin on the traditional dreidel song featuring an accidental golem, illustrated by Carmel Ben-Ami (r.), will publish in fall 2024, and a third book will follow. Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt represented the author, James Burns at the Bright Agency represented Sibu T.P., and Carmel Ben-Ami represented herself.
Grace Maccarone at Holiday House has bought world rights to I Would Love You Still by Adrea Theodore (l.), illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max. This picture book follows a parent and child on an outing and inspires silly and sweet comparisons that highlight the unconditional nature of parental love. Publication is set for spring 2024; Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Becca Langton represented the illustrator on behalf of Clare Wallace at Darley Anderson Illustration Agency.
Sue Tarsky at Albert Whitman has acquired world rights to Octopus Acrobatics by Sue Fliess (l.) (Goldilocks and the Three Engineers), illustrated by Gareth Lucas, a picture book filled with facts about octopuses and all the wondrous things they can do. Publication is planned for March 2024; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented the author, and Alice Wilkinson at Meiklejohn represented the illustrator.
Elizabeth Schleisman at Beaming Books has bought world rights to Sometimes I Am Hot Lava by Jody Jensen Shaffer (l.), illustrated by Amélie Videlo, a picture book about managing feelings of anger and frustration. When Buddy gets mad, sometimes he is like hot lava; fortunately, he knows some mindful breathing techniques to help himself cool down. Publication is slated for spring 2024; the author represented herself, and Christina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Michele McAvoy at Blue Bronco has acquired world rights to Curlilocks and the Three Hares, a fractured fairy tale early reader by Andrew Hacket (l.), illustrated by Jan Dolby, in which the hares hop out of their salon and a girl takes her curls into her own hands. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023; Dan Cramer at Page Turner Literary Agency represented the author, and the artist was unagented.
