Claire Stetzer at Inkyard Press has acquired, in an exclusive submission, in a six-figure deal, Ann Liang's I Could Give You the Moon, in which the darling socialite at an elite Beijing boarding school must outsmart the mysterious new student after discovering a vision of both their futures—one where she loses everything, and he recovers everything he's lost—even as she fights her growing attraction to the enemy. Publication is slated for winter 2026; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency sold world English rights.
David Linker at HarperCollins has bought, in an exclusive submission, 16 Forever, a YA novel by Lance Rubin. Every year, on what should be his 17th birthday, Carter somehow wakes up 16 again, remembering nothing from the past year. But when Carter meets Maggie, it becomes clear they once knew each other, maybe even loved each other. And Maggie may be Carter’s one shot at discovering the solution to his condition. The only problem? She wants nothing to do with him. Publication is set for summer 2025; Mollie Glick at CAA brokered the deal for world rights.
Kelly Delaney at Crown has acquired, in a preempt, The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday by Kelsey B. Toney, a darkly funny novel about Delia, who suffers from endometriosis. Unable to secure a proper diagnosis, she self-medicates her extreme pain with marijuana, which leads to expulsion from her fancy prep school and the dissolution of her life plan. Publication is scheduled for summer 2025; Moe Ferrara at BookEnds Literary handled the deal for world rights.
Jennifer Ung at HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books has bought K-Jane by Lydia Kang, a YA contemporary novel that follows a Korean American Nebraskan teen who, frustrated that everyone seems to know more about Korean culture than she does, attempts a self-guided crash course in K-pop, K-dramas, K-beauty and more before her little brother is born. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Eric Myers at Myers Literary negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Lynne Missen at Tundra Books has acquired two YA novels by Something More author Jackie Khalilieh. You Started It, a rom-com in which a messy, type-A girl determined to check items off the senior year bucket list she once shared with her ex, schemes to win him back by fake-dating a younger, obnoxious new student. And Everything Comes Back to You, a romance featuring a Palestinian Canadian girl intent on being the perfect Arab daughter after news of her older sister's accidental pregnancy shakes her family's foundation, but struggles to abide by expectations placed on her when she falls in love. Publication is set for summer 2025 and summer 2026; Valerie Noble at Donaghy Literary Group sold world English rights.
Cheryl Klein at Algonquin Young Readers has bought John Cochran's middle-grade debut, Breaking into Sunlight. The novel follows the intense weeks after 12-year-old Reese finds his father collapsed on the floor from an overdose, as his family splits apart, he struggles to keep the secret of his dad's addiction, and he tries to figure out what to do when his world doesn't look the way it should. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Isabelle Bleecker at Nordlyset Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Margaret Ferguson at Holiday House/Ferguson has acquired Yoli's Favorite Things by Patricia Santana, a middle grade novel set during the Vietnam War. Yolanda Sahagún compares her Mexican American family of nine siblings to that of the von Trapps with seven kids from The Sound of Music. But when her beloved brother Chuy is drafted into the army, Yoli looks to teachers and Martin Luther King Jr. for advice, and determined to protect Chuy, she makes a pact with God. But what happens if God doesn't keep his part of the bargain? Publication is planned for spring 2025; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency did the deal for world English rights.
Anna Parsons at Aladdin has bought Exit Nowhere by Juliana Brandt, a middle grade Jumanji meets escape room novel about four middle school rivals trapped in a haunted mansion, where they must win a series of games to break free or be stuck in the house forever. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; Natalie Lakosil at Irene Goodman Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Joy Bean at Arctis Books USA has acquired the first three books in the middle grade series Alea Aquarius by Tanya Stewer (l.), illustrated by Claudia Carls (c.), an ecological fantasy adventure that follows mermaid Alea as she and the other members of the Alpha Crew journey to find the ancient Sea People and save the water world from destruction. The first two books in the series will be translated from the German by Matt Anderson (r.) and will be published in fall 2024; Tina Amour at TI Books Agency sold world English rights.
Jessica Anderson at Little, Brown/Ottaviano has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and America by Newbery Honor author Rajani LaRocca (l.), illustrated by Huy Voun Lee, a picture book that explores the unique paths to U.S. citizenship through naturalization. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Brent Taylor at Triada US represented the author, and Claire Morance at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Mabel Hsu at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to If by Matthew Burgess (l.), illustrated by Matthew Forsythe. This picture book follows a child who, confronted with the dreaded "what ifs" at bedtime, chooses to pursue the kinds of questions that bloom into dreamy imaginings. Publication is set for summer 2025; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Judith Hansen at Hansen Literary represented the illustrator.
Christy Ottaviano at Little, Brown/Ottaviano has bought world rights to Ruby Fifer Maps Her World by Jane Yolen (l.), illustrated by Dow Phumiruk. This STEM-focused picture book follows Ruby, a curious child who is eager to map the world around her, as she captures each observation in her birthday journal. Publication is scheduled for winter 2025; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author, and Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Tamar Brazis and Meriam Metoui at Viking have acquired Bigfoot's Big Heart by Sarah Glenn Marsh (l.), illustrated by Ishaa Lobo. The story follows a lonely Bigfoot, sad to always be hiding away in his cave, who decides to write Valentine's Day letters to his equally lonely mythical friends hiding out all across the world—only to have the letters lost then found by some unlikely new friends along the way. Publication is planned for fall 2024. Katelyn Detweiler at Jill Grinberg Literary Management represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Melissa Manlove at Chronicle has bought world rights to When You Find the Right Rock by Mary Lyn Ray (l.), illustrated by Felicita Sala, a celebration of children's sense of wonder and connection with nature. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Rick Margolis at Rising Bear Literary Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Agency represented the illustrator.
Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books has acquired world rights to Ping's Perfect Pot by Helen H. Wu (l.) (Tofu Takes Time), illustrated by Zihua Yang. In this story of persistence and not giving up, a girl tries to make the perfect pot for the tangerine tree she and her grandfather purchased for Lunar New Year. Publication is scheduled for December 2024; the author represented herself, and Tina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Cecily Kaiser at RISE x Penguin Workshop has bought four Jewish-themed board books from author, illustrator, and product designer Suzy Ultman. The books feature a multi-faceted approach to Jewish traditions, each one centering around a single holiday or cultural aspect. The series launches in fall 2024 with I Like Your Chutzpah & Other Likable Yiddish Words, and will feature future titles on Shabbat, Passover, and more; Kathleen Brady at the Current Company did the four-book deal for world rights.
Claudia Gabel at HarperTeen has acquired Jordyn Taylor's historical YA thriller Rebel Girls of Rome, a dual-timeline story of Lilah, a Jewish girl whose understanding of her family's history is upended when a locket stolen by the Nazis during WWII is rediscovered, launching her on a journey of discovery through Rome as she tries to find out what happened to her great-aunt Bruna, long believed to have died in Auschwitz. Emilia Rhodes will edit; publication is set for winter 2025. Danielle Burby at Mad Woman Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Kristin Daly Rens at Balzer + Bray has bought, in a preempt, The Daggers of Ire by J.C. Cervantes (The Storm Runner series), the first in a new middle grade fantasy series following a bruja whose discovery of an ancient grimorio leads her to embrace her power and confront the mysterious legend at the heart of her town. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Holly Root at Root Literary negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights.
Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has acquired Keepers of the Marsh by Maura Jortner, a middle grade novel set in the swampy depths of Galveston, Texas, where drastically different twin sisters Lana and Gracie must team up to take on witchy magic, stormy history, and family secrets. Publication is planned for summer 2025; Rena Rossner at the Deborah Harris Agency handled the deal for world rights.
Angus Yuen-Killick at Red Comet Press has bought world rights to the picture book My Book and Me by Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park (l.), illustrated by two-time Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka. The book, conceived and developed in collaboration with The Rabbit hOle in Kansas City, is a poem about a child's love of books and reading. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown represented the author, and Brenda Bowen at the Book Group represented the artist.
Kendra Levin at Simon & Schuster has acquired world rights to two books by Laurel Goodluck (l.) (Forever Cousins). In an ode to strong women, Fierce Aunties! celebrates those who surround children with love and support; Steph Littlebird (c.) (My Powerful Hair) will illustrate, and publication is set for spring 2025. Stories Are the Heart of the World is a picture book about the gift of storytelling a Native child receives from those around him, beginning before birth all the way to young adulthood, illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt (r.) (What Your Ribbon Skirt Means to Me); it's set for spring 2026. Nicole Geiger at Full Circle Literary represented Goodluck, who is Mandan, Hidatsa, and Tsimshian; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented Littlebird (a registered member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde); and Jacqui Lipton at Tobias Literary Agency represented Nicole Neidhardt (a registered member of the Navajo Nation).
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought world rights in an exclusive two-book deal to a pair of debut solo picture books by singer-songwriter, educator and storyteller Randy Preston (l.). The first book, First Drum, illustrated by Tamisha Anthony, is a onomatopoetic, musical journey from bass drum to snare, djembe to steel pan, as readers discover new and familiar drums, and the one beat that we hear first. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; the second book, What's That Noise?, will follow. Deborah Warren at East/West Literary represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has acquired world rights to Elsa's Chessboard by debut author Jenny Andrus (l.), illustrated by Julie Downing (Night in the City). Inspired by the author's grandmother, the picture book tells the story of Elsa who takes her chessboard with her everywhere, and how chess helps her bridge the divide when she is forced to flee her home in Vienna and seek refuge in San Francisco during WWII. Publication is planned for spring 2025; the author represented herself, and Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the illustrator.
Liz Bicknell at Candlewick Press has bought world rights to Seven by Sandra Nickel (l.), illustrated by Aimee Sicuro; Kate Fletcher will edit. The picture book follows an unusual pigeon who uses his extraordinary sense of smell rather than following traditional advice to find his way home. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Victoria Wells Arms at HG Literary represented the author, and Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Janine O'Malley at FSG has acquired world rights to Scarecited: Scared and Excited on the First Day of School by Alliah L. Agostini (l.) (Big Tune), illustrated by Lala Watkins, in which a young student navigates the first day by naming her big, mixed emotions with made-up, mashed-up compound words. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Miranda Paul at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio represented the illustrator.
Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane Books has bought world rights to What Marcel Found: The Incredible Discovery of the Lascaux Cave Paintings by Cedar Pruitt (l.), illustrated by David Litchfield. This nonfiction picture book tells the story of how, while exploring the forest near his home in 1940, a boy named Marcel found a hidden cave that was to become one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history. Publication is set for summer 2026; Mary Cummings at Great River Literary represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Hannah Lambert at Little Simon has acquired world rights to Hush Little Dozer by Rebecca Colby (l.), a board book for the youngest construction fans and a nod to the classic "Hush, Little Baby" lullaby, illustrated by Katya Longhi. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Kate Powell at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Katie Ten Hagen at Magination Press has bought world rights to You'll Be There by Amanda Rawson Hill (l.), illustrated by Joanne Lew Vriethoff, a narrative of loss intended to guide young readers through the grief that accompanies loss, and reflecting on small but dynamic moments that last forever. Publication is slated for May 2024; Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author, and Mela Bolinao at MB Artists represented the illustrator.
Madeleine Dunphy at Web of Life has acquired world rights to If You Lived in the Sea, Who Would You Be? by debut author Julie Johnston (l.), illustrated by Meg Sodano. This nonfiction rhyming picture book asks interactive questions to inspire young readers to imagine what it would be like to live in the sea while learning about the quirky and obscure creatures that make their home beneath the waves. Publication is set for fall 2024; the author and artist represented themselves.
Michele McAvoy at The Little Press has bought world rights to Birthday Bash, a picture book by sailing captain Blair Williamson (l.), illustrated by Taylor Woolley, in which a tiny Bug creates chaos for an uptight, disaster-prone Mouse as she prepares for her birthday party on her houseboat. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; the author represented herself, and Dan Cramer at Page Turner Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Maria Dismondy and Adam Blackman at Cardinal Rule Press have acquired world rights to Do-It-Yourself Dollhouse by Shannon Anderson (l.), illustrated by Giulia Pintus. This parallel story explores the divergent economic experiences of two girls through their experiences with their dollhouses, one ready-made and static, the other constantly ready to be remade and dynamic. Publication is slated for fall 2024; the author was unagented, and Amy Milligan at Illo Agency represented the illustrator.
