Nick Thomas at Levine Querido has acquired rights to The Art Thieves by Andrea L. Rogers (Man Made Monsters). This YA novel, set in an about-to-be-apocalyptic future, tells the story of a Cherokee girl who meets a time-traveling art thief and has to make a terrible choice for her and her family. Publication is scheduled for spring 2024; Emily Sylvan Kim at the Prospect Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Whitney Leopard at Random House Graphic has bought world rights to I'd Like You to Like Me, a debut YA graphic novel by Kat Schneider. This graphic novel follows 15-year-old Meg during two weeks at Pioneer Bible Camp, a Pentecostal sleepaway camp in the Adirondacks, where first love challenges Meg's faith and view of the world forever. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency did the two-book deal.
Jennifer Ung at Quill Tree has acquired, at auction, debut author Sophia Lee's YA rom-com Eliza, from Scratch, in which an overachieving high school senior finds herself enrolled in a culinary arts class, where she meets an irritating but charming rival and uses her late grandmother's recipes to discover big truths about love, grief, family, and herself. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Penny Moore at Aevitas Creative Management brokered the two-book deal for North American rights.
Hannah Hill at Delacorte Press has bought You're Dead to Me by Amy Christine Parker (Flight 171). Pitched as Gossip Girl meets Happy Death Day, this YA horror novel follows high school outcast and anonymous social media gossip Ruby, who comes face to face with her own ghost dressed in a blood-splattered prom dress. With less than a week until the dance, Ruby must unmask her killer and thwart her own murder—or die trying. Publication is set for fall 2024; Lucienne Diver at the Knight Agency sold world rights.
Cindy Harris at Andrews McMeel has acquired debut author-illustrator Jessica Ricole's middle-grade graphic novel series, Magie and the Soules. Twelve-year-old Magie struggles to adapt to life at a magical boarding school where she's the only student without a Soule, a mystical companion, and must choose between who she wants to be versus who everyone expects her to be. Publication begins in fall 2025; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Catherine Laudone at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to I Am Not Your Hat! by author-illustrator Lisa Bentley. This picture book follows Bert and Dot, two birds who always stick together until Bert allows others to think Dot is his fabulous hat instead of his best friend. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency represented the author-illustrator.
Tracey Keevan and Emily Duffy at Union Square Kids have acquired author-illustrator Pam Fong's picture book The Clock, about the evolution of a clock and the importance of second chances. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Abigail Frank at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates brokered the deal for world rights.
Jennifer Stokes at Owlkids Books has bought Embroidered, a picture book by author-illustrator Farida Zaman. Inspired by the handmade blanket the author wrapped her daughter in as a baby, the story shows that the kantha is created stitch by stitch, under a hot Bengali sun, embroidered by generations of women, and conveys layers of love, memories, Bengali traditions, and experiences. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency sold world rights.
Maria Modugno at Random House Studio has acquired world rights to When I Redraw the World by Audrey Vernick (l.), illustrated by Heather Fox, a celebration of kid dreams in which a child imagines what the world would look like if they could redraw everything, envisioning a place that is kinder and more hopeful. Publication is set for fall 2025; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties represented the illustrator.
Sue Tarsky at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to Pickling Time by Marzieh Abbas (l.), illustrated by Darshika Verma, a cumulative picture book about a child learning how to pickle fruits and vegetables with her grandmother in India. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Lynnette Novak at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Atlanta Japp at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Amy Novesky at Cameron Kids has acquired world rights to Dear Georgia, This Is Yayoi by Anita Yasuda (l.), illustrated by Jamie Green, a picture book biography about the surprising correspondence and ensuing transcultural embrace of mentorship, persistence, creativity, and friendship between artists Yayoi Kusama and Georgia O'Keeffe. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Lori Steel at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Brett Duquette at Little Bee Books has bought world rights to Already, All the Love by Diana Farid (l.) (Wave), illustrated by Shar Tuiasoa (Punky Aloha), a board book welcoming parents to slow down and marvel at their baby. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Kiara Valdez at First Second has acquired Hazel (l.) and Bell's YA graphic novel Always Raining Here, adapted from the webcomic of the same name. It follows a down-to-earth courtship between two gay teenagers as they fumble with high school, parental expectations, their dreams, and each other. Publication is scheduled for 2025; Kurestin Armada at Root Literary negotiated the deal for world rights excluding France and Italy.
Sarah Homer at HarperTeen has bought It's a Love/Skate Relationship by debut author Carli J. Corson, a sapphic YA romance pitched as She Drives Me Crazy meets She Gets the Girl, in which a star hockey player and an elite ice skater are forced to train together and sparks begin to fly both on and off the ice. Publication is planned for winter 2025; Claire Friedman at InkWell Management sold world English rights.
Alyza Liu at Simon & Schuster has acquired world rights to A Magic Fierce and Bright by Hemant Nayak, a YA fantasy in which a stubborn, magic-wielding teen fights her way across an enchanted India with a sentient motorcycle and a wickedly handsome thief in order to rescue her twin sister. Publication is slated for 2024; by Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has bought, in a preempt, world rights to Top Heavy, Rhonda DeChambeau's debut YA novel in verse, about 15-year-old Esme, a talented dancer who feels like she might capsize under the weight of her own chest, a book that examines friendship, family, social class, and the complicated relationship we have with our own bodies. Publication is set for summer 2025; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency handled the two-book deal.
Ashtyn Stann at Jolly Fish Press has acquired Mighty Millie Novak, a lower YA sapphic contemporary by debut author Elizabeth Holden, in which 16-year-old Millie must navigate her parents' divorce, tumultuous friendships, and her own self-doubt while exploring her new passion for roller derby. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Allison Hellegers at Stimola Literary Studio negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Emily Daluga at Abrams/Amulet has bought The Forgotten Summer of Seneca by Camryn Garrett, a middle-grade novel with a magical twist, about a girl grieving the loss of her father who finds a doorway to a preserved Seneca Village in Central Park, raising questions about belonging and change. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Beth Phelan at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency sold world English rights.
Joanna Cárdenas at Kokila has bought world rights to The Interpreter, a debut picture book by Olivia Abtahi (l.), illustrated by Monica Arnaldo (Are You a Cheeseburger?). Young Cecilia tries to balance her life as a soccer-loving kid and a translator for her Spanish-speaking parents, which involves so much responsibility and overtime that sometimes it feels like she'll split in two. Simultaneous publication in English and Spanish is set for spring 2025; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author, and Alexandra Levick at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Mary-Kate Gaudet at Little, Brown has acquired Take a Deep Breath, Big Red Monster by Caldecott Medalist Ed Emberley, a follow-up to his 1992 picture book Go Away, Big Green Monster!, in which the titular character as well as readers learn to manage anger. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; Rick Richter at Aevitas Creative Management sold world rights on behalf of International Literary Properties in an exclusive submission.
Kate O'Sullivan at Clarion has bought world rights to the picture book Lighthouse Ladies: Shining a Spotlight on Hardy Heroines by Kris Coronado (l.), illustrated by Islenia Mil. To man a lighthouse over a century ago required bravery, courage, and guts—a challenge tackled by hundreds across America, many of whom were not men! This book follows four intrepid and diverse women, celebrating the amazing feats they accomplished. Publication is slated for summer 2025; James McGowan at BookEnds Literary represented the author, and Aliza R. Hoover at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Michael Green at Marble Press has acquired world rights to The Tractor Squad by Heather Dawn Torres (l.), illustrated by Gary Laib, a picture book series where tractors explore the work that each season brings to the farm, and find that with a little teamwork, the tractors and their friends have the most fun of all. Publication will begin in fall 2024; Stephanie Hansen at Metamorphosis Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Brett Wright at Random House/Bright Matter has bought world rights to The Big Book of Barf: A Spewnami of Sick Science, Hurled History, and More in Ralphabetical Order by debut author Vicky Lorencen (l.), illustrated by Remy Simard. Publication is set for fall 2024; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Mela Bolinao at MB Artists represented the illustrator.
