Brittany Rubiano at Disney Hyperion has acquired world rights to Mind the Gap, the debut YA novel by Brenda Janowitz (The Grace Kelly Dress; The Audrey Hepburn Estate), a coming-of-age story about a Jewish American teen on a European gap-year adventure that is 13 Little Blue Envelopes meets Love and Gelato, for the Melissa de la Cruz Studio. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; Jessica Regel at Helm Literary represented the author.
Kelsey Murphy at Viking has bought, at auction, Amber Chen's YA silkpunk fantasy Of Jade and Dragons. Inspired by Qing Dynasty history and the Chinese classic The Butterfly Lovers, it follows a girl who must disguise herself as a boy and enter the dangerous Engineer's Guild trials to unravel the mystery of her father's murder, while aligning with a secretive prince with plans of his own. Publication is set for summer 2024; Anne Perry at the Ki Agency brokered the two-book deal for world English rights; Meg Davis represented the author.
Monica Perez at Versify has acquired children's librarian Marcie Flinchum Atkins's YA debut One Step Forward, a verse novel that tells the true story of Matilda Young, the youngest suffragist to picket the White House as a Silent Sentinel and to be imprisoned at Occoquan during the Night of Terror, whose story shows us that we can be one of many voices and still make a difference. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Roseanne Wells at Lucinda Literary did the deal for world rights.
Samia Fakih at First Second has bought Rox, Piper & Snips, Jade Armstrong's YA graphic novel about a magical team of teenage girls who are short-staffed, burned out, and struggling to balance their normal lives with their jobs as heroes. Publication is planned for 2025; Seth Fishman at the Gernert Company negotiated the deal for world rights.
Amy Cloud at Clarion has acquired Tracy Badua's next two middle grade titles: Thea and the Mischief Makers, about a girl who accidentally provokes the revenge of two grumpy duwendes after wrecking their home in a tree in her backyard, and must team up with her friends to fend off the havoc-wreaking goblins; and Airbnboo, about a boy who must figure out a decades-old mystery before the ghost haunting his family's summer vacation rental takes over his body to enact revenge. Publication is set for fall 2024 and fall 2025; Natalie Lakosil at Irene Goodman Literary Agency handled the deal for North American rights.
Hannah Fries at Storey Publishing has bought world rights to World of Rot by Britt Crow-Miller (l.), illustrated by Bruno Valasse, a nonfiction book for middle graders about the wriggly, slimy, super-cool decomposers our planet depends on. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Adriann Zurhellen at Folio Literary Management represented the author, and Amy Kitcherside at Pickled Ink represented the illustrator.
Anne Schwartz at Random House/Anne Schwartz Books has acquired world rights to Dream for the Land by Laekan Zea Kemp (l.), illustrated by Leo Espinosa (Islandborn). Told through the eyes of a Latino child, this picture book follows his family throughout their day, as they struggle with the drought that is ruining their farm's crops. The child maintains his hope for the farm by wishing for rain, and a healthier, more bountiful world. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented the author, and Elizabeth Rudnick at the Gillian MacKenzie Agency represented the illustrator.
Taylor Norman while at Chronicle bought world rights to A Day in the Life of a Day by Chelsea Lin Wallace (l.), illustrated by Adam Rex, a story told from the perspective of the Day that journeys through the moments big and small across the entire universe, from the number of laughs to the number of planes that take off, for publication in fall 2025. Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Steve Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Lee Wade at Random House Studio has acquired The Cliff House by Guojing, a depiction of empathy, resilience, and environmental consciousness in which a growing family's small acts of kindness are returned with unexpected love in their moment of greatest need. Publication is scheduled for summer 2025; Isabel Atherton at Creative Authors sold world English rights.
Margaret Anastas at Flamingo Books has bought Stacy Ebert's debut picture book, Iris Shines, in which a girl loves to sing, dance, and dress up for her adoring fans, who might not be so adoring after all. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Nica Mayer at POW! Kids has acquired world English rights to The Story of a Pig Named Joe and His Quest to Be Fancy by author-illustrator Bryan Ballinger, about a simple country pig who takes it upon his creative self to become the beloved musician he knows that he can be, if only he can find the right audience. Publication is set for early spring 2024; Lynnette Novak at the Seymour Agency negotiated the deal.
Jen Besser with Kate Meltzer and Emilia Sowersby at Roaring Brook have bought world rights to If I Could by Matt Zurbo (l.), illustrated by Patrice Barton. Inspired by one of the author's "365 Children's Books in 365 Days" featured in the New York Times, this picture book is a poetic celebration of the limitless love between a parent and their child. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Marti Blumenthal at 59 Management and Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Pam Bobowicz at Workman Kids has acquired, in an exclusive submission, The ABCs of Queer History by journalist and poet Seema Yasmin (l.) (What the Fact?!), illustrated by Lucy Kirk, a journey through key individuals, movements and moments across a range of identities and experiences. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Lilly Ghahremani at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Carolyn Yoder at Astra/Calkins Creek has bought world rights to Writing Towards Justice: The Life and Reporting of Alice A. Dunnigan, the story of a pioneering African American journalist, written by Peggy Thomas (l.), illustrated by Tonya Engel. Publication is set for spring 2026; Lisa Amstutz at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Kelly Pelsue at Morgan Gaynin Agency represented the illustrator.
Andrea Hall at Beaming Books has acquired world English rights to I Do Not Like Saturdays by Ugo Anidi (l.), illustrated by Moka Celess. Muna wants to be a princess with beautiful hair and a ball gown—not a girl with isi owu on her head. But when she's asked to be the flower girl at her aunt's wedding, Muna realizes that being a princess isn't what she thought. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Lynnette Novak at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Maria Dismondy and Adam Blackman at Cardinal Rule Press have bought world rights to The Law of Birthdays, a debut picture book by podcast host Brenna Jeanneret (l.), illustrated by Marina Kondrakhina, about a girl who refuses cake at the King's birthday despite a royal decree to the contrary. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Dan Cramer at Page Turner Literary Agency represented the author, and Amy Milligan at Illo Agency represented the artist.
Alexandra Cooper at Quill Tree has acquired, in a five-house auction, world rights to Sunrise Nights by Brittany Cavallaro (l.) and Jeff Zentner. Pitched as a YA Before Sunrise, it tells the story, in verse and dialogue, of a boy and a girl who make a connection on Sunrise Night—a final-night tradition at an arts camp that gives campers free reign to roam the campus and town until dawn—and make a pact not to communicate until the next Sunrise Night; instead, for one night each summer, they learn, and then re-learn, who they are and who they could be to each other. Publication is set for June 2024; Taylor Haggerty at Root Literary represented Cavallaro, and Charlie Olsen at InkWell Management represented Zentner.
Vicki Lame at Wednesday Books has bought, in a preempt, Mare of Night by Emma Noyes, a fantasy romance trilogy pitched for fans of The Vampire Diaries and Atlas Six, in which Charlie finds herself investigating a recent disappearance and the Norse symbols that appeared in its wake with mysterious newcomer Elias, and discovers a world made of magic, gods, and monsters—and a first love fated to fall apart. Publication is planned for 2025; Kimberly Whalen at the Whalen Agency negotiated the six-figure deal for North American rights.
Holly West at Feiwel and Friends has acquired North American rights to a dark romantic fantasy duology by Jessica S. Olson (A Forgery of Roses), starting with Den of Liars, in which 19-year-old Lola St. James gambles her most closely hidden truth at a dangerous magical casino as she works to charm the devious owner, infiltrate his vault, and steal his darkest secret. Publication for book one is slated for winter 2025 with the second in winter 2026; Christa Heschke at McIntosh & Otis brokered the deal.
Lily Kessinger while at HarperTeen bought One Killer Problem by Justine Pucella Winans (Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything); Alice Jerman will edit. The comedic YA mystery follows Gigi, a bisexual teen with IBS and an attitude, who convinces her murder-mystery obsessed, bookish best friends to investigate the suspicious death of their favorite teacher. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; Jordan Hamessley at New Leaf Literary & Media did the deal for world English rights.
Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has acquired technology educator Cait Levin's debut YA novel Imposter, in which a tech-savvy girl experiencing gender discrimination in her coding elective finds redemption on the school's RoboSub team, where competing requires collaboration with boys who don't want her there. Publication is planned for summer 2025; Chip Rice at WordLink USA negotiated the deal for world rights.
David Linker at HarperCollins has bought three books in the Wolf Girl series, illustrated middle-grade adventures by Australian comedian and author Anh Do. When disaster separates Gwen from her family, she must fend for herself, all alone in the wilderness. When a wolf puppy, a Labrador, a Chihuahua, and a greyhound come to her aid, Gwen discovers talents she didn't know she possessed. Publication for the first book is set for winter 2025; Patrick Hughes and Harvey Russell at Foundation Media Partners brokered the deal for North American rights.
Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has acquired debut author Adam Rosenbaum's The Ghost Rules, a middle grade novel about a boy who can now see some surprisingly silly and hardly scary ghosts in the wake of his older brother's passing. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management handled the deal for world rights.
Joy Bean at Arctis Books USA has bought the middle grade novel King Bro! by Jenny Jägerfeld, which follows 11-year-old Marcus, a transgender person who learns to be honest about who he is when he befriends a boy he wants to create a real friendship with. B.J. Woodstein will translate from the Swedish; publication is scheduled for fall 2024. Lena Stjernström at Grand Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Marilyn Brigham at Amazon Crossing Kids has acquired world English rights to Lenny Among Ghosts by Frank Maria Reifenberg (l.), translated from the German by Rachel Reynolds. This middle grade novel is a whimsical, spooky story in which a boy's parents unwittingly enroll him in a boarding school for ghosts. Publication is set for fall 2024; Andrea Seibert at DTV Verlagsgesellschaft represented the author, and the translator represented herself.
Taylor Norman at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to The Thirteenth Day of Christmas, written and illustrated by Adam Rex. When a young man's true love sends him every single gift listed in the song "The 12 Days of Christmas," he is compelled to figure out why and learn the true meaning of the season along the way. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Steven Malk at Writers House handled the deal for world rights.
Janine O'Malley at FSG has acquired, at auction, world rights to I Quit!, a picture book by Kristen Tracy (l.), illustrated by Federico Fabiani, a misadventure told from the POV of a deeply self-centered, impulsive rescue cat, who decides to quit being a house pet when she gets fed up with her family's rules. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Sara Crowe at Sara Crowe Literary represented the author, and Jessica Saint Jean at Jill Grinberg Literary Management represented the illustrator.
Stephanie Pitts at Putnam has bought world rights to Pigs Dig a Road by Carrie Finison (l.) illustrated by Brian Biggs, a picture book about pig construction workers building a new road to the country fair—a project beset with problems and mistakes, until they figure out they need to use teamwork to get the job done. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Linda Epstein at Emerald City Literary Agency represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Naomi Kirsten at Chronicle has acquired, at auction, The Book That Can Read Your Mind by Marianna Coppo (Fish and Crab; Petra). Inspired by 17th-century magic books, this interactive picture book features a magic show led by a magician, Lady Rabbit, that knows exactly what the reader is thinking. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Debbie Bibo at Debbie Bibo Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Mabel Hsu at HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, Monica Arnaldo's The Museum of Very Bad Smells, a dare-to-scratch-n-sniff mystery involving the disappearance of a prized exhibit at the Museum of Very Bad Smells. Everyone is a suspect, and only readers can help solve the mystery by smelling each disgusting clue to help save the day before the grand opening. Publication is set for summer 2024; Alexandra Levick at Writers House sold world rights.
Michael Green at Marble Press has acquired world rights to Linden, a picture book written and illustrated by Colleen Muske, which explores the life cycle of a grand old tree and its relationship with the community that loves and cares for it. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Kelly Dyksterhouse at Tobias Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Kate Fletcher at Candlewick has bought world rights to the picture book Gather Grateful by Megan Litwin (l.), illustrated by Alexandra Finkeldey, an autumnal journey that follows animals and humans alike as they share food, warmth, and love in preparation for the coming winter. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Lindsay Auld at Writers House represented the author, and Adriann Ranta Zurhellen at Folio Literary Management represented the illustrator.
Kathy Landwehr at Peachtree has acquired world rights to Making Light Bloom: Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Lamps by Sandra Nickel (l.), illustrated by Julie Patchkis. The picture book biography tells the story of the hidden talent behind the famous and beloved Tiffany lamps—a roomful of female artisans led by Driscoll, who designed hundreds of the lamps and windows most people assumed were designed by Tiffany himself. Publication is set for summer 2025; Victoria Wells Arms at HG Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Feather Flores while at Chronicle bought world rights to When Twilight Comes, a nonfiction picture book by Marcie Flinchum (l.), illustrated by Michelle Morin; Melissa Manlove will edit. The book is about crepuscular animals and plants, as seen in one day from dawn to dusk. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Roseanne Wells did the deal while at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency, and the illustrator represented herself.
Josh Gregory at Albert Whitman has acquired world rights to Our Congress, a picture book about the U.S. Congress by lawyer Christy Mihaly (l.) (Free for You and Me; The Supreme Court and Us), illustrated by Doruntina Beqiraj. The book follows the adventures of a girl and a mysterious cat in the U.S. Capitol, introducing Congress's function and role in the nation's history. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary Studio represented the author, and Lillian Mazeika at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
