Karen Lotz and Andrea Tompa at Candlewick Press have acquired world rights to The Hotel Balzaar by Kate DiCamillo (l.), illustrated by Júlia Sardà. The fairy tale novella, set in the world of Norendy, tells the story of a girl and the mysterious countess who promises to tell her seven stories that will uncover the secret of her father's disappearance. A global release is scheduled for fall 2024; Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties represented the author, and Rebecca Sherman at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Namrata Tripathi at Kokila has bought Everything We Never Had by NBA finalist Randy Ribay (Patron Saints of Nothing). The YA novel is about the complicated dynamics of father and son relationships across four generations of a Filipino American family, told through intertwining timelines that focus on each character at age 16 facing a pivotal life moment. Publication is set for fall 2024; Beth Phelan at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Alvina Ling at Little, Brown has acquired This Book Won't Burn by Samira Ahmed (Internment), about a teenage girl who must stand up to her school's book-banning policies. Publication is planned for summer 2024; Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary and Media sold world rights.
Alyson Day at HarperTeen has bought at auction Zakiya N. Jamal's debut sapphic rom-com, If We Were a Movie. With the backdrop of the history of Black cinema, the book follows overachiever Rochelle as she is forced to work with her rival, the easygoing Amira, to determine who is trying to sabotage the historic Black movie theater they both work at—and try not to fall for her in the process. Publication is slated for winter 2025; Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media represents Electric Postcard Entertainment and sold North American rights.
Sara Goodman at Wednesday Books has acquired a debut YA horror novel by Tom O'Donnell titled Moonsick and a second untitled YA horror. The story, pitched as The Purge but with werewolves, follows a privileged high school student who turns into a werewolf one night and has to reconcile her old, comfortable lifestyle with her new life after a night of mayhem on the eve of graduation. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; Noah Ballard at Verve sold world English rights.
Alison Romig at Delacorte Press has bought, in a preempt, All's Fair in Love and Field Hockey by Kit Rosewater. Evelyn Feltzer is a walking memory of her mother's high school years—she has the perfect boyfriend, plays goalie on her prep school's field hockey team, and is on track to win Nationals. But when Rosa Alvarez crashes into Evelyn's life, will she step off her winning path and take a chance on something entirely new? Publication is set for summer 2025; Lauren Spieller at Folio Literary Management handled the deal for world rights.
Sarah Shumway Liu at Bloomsbury has acquired, in an exclusive deal, Love at Lake Majestic, a YA novel by Ellen Hagan (All That Shines) and David Flores, told in two voices. In a love story that begins with a lie, Mia Malik, an employee of the Lake Majestic Mountain House, takes a dare to convince teenage guest JP Abrigo to fall in love with her. Winning the bet is her ticket out of town, but when Mia discovers real feelings and JP rewrites a trauma from the past, they both realize that telling the truth and sharing who they really are might be the best ending of all. It's planned for spring 2025; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio sold world English rights.
Nicole Ellul at Simon and Schuster has bought Eleven Houses, a YA paranormal thriller by Colleen Oakes. The story follows Mabel Beuvry, a teen who lives on a remote island in Nova Scotia. She is one of 11 ancient families who maintain a house on the island solely for the purpose of trapping the dead that come up from the sea in a brutal storm once a decade. When the mysterious Miles Cabot arrives, he upends everything Mabel knows about the island—and herself. Ginger Clark at Ginger Clark Literary did the deal for world English rights, for publication in fall 2024.
Claire Stetzer while at Inkyard Press acquired Susan Lee's next YA rom-com, The Romance Rivalry. When a college-age romance book reviewer decides to follow popular romance tropes to find her own first love, a rival reviewer challenges her to see who can find love-via-trope first—and may just prove why enemies-to-lovers is the best of them all. Mabel Hsu at HarperCollins will edit, for publication in summer 2025 and a second untitled YA in fall 2026. Taylor Haggerty at Root Literary negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Annette Pollert-Morgan at Sourcebooks Young Readers has bought two middle grade fantasy novels in a new Feast and Famine series by debut author Carina Finn. In the first novel, The Last Great Heir, Rue Famine and Merriment Feast have been raised to believe that the other—and their House's opposing way of life—is the enemy. The two must duel on their 13th birthday to determine which heir will assume gaurdianship of the land for the next generation. Publication is slated for early 2025; Linda Epstein at Emerald City Literary sold world rights.
Kate Egan at Pixel + Ink has acquired Gamers, a middle grade series by E.C. Myers, in which a group of kids who love gaming comes together to form a competitive e-sports league, and discovers that strategies from gaming also help them handle other issues in their lives. Publication of the first book is scheduled for spring 2025; Eddie Schneider at JABberwocky Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Jaime Gelman at Little Bee Books has bought Jamie by L.D. Lapinski, a humorous middle grade novel about a non-binary child who learns to advocate for themselves and make their own place in the world after they're told to choose between attending an all-boys or an all-girls middle school. Publication is set for summer 2024; Mathilde Pineau at Hachette Children's Group sold U.S. and Canada English rights.
Nicolas Magliato at Penguin Workshop has acquired, in a two-book deal, world rights to The Only Ghost in Town, written and illustrated by Tara Hannon (Birtle), an illustrated chapter book series, exploring the subjects of friendship, belonging, and being the new kid, about a young ghost who moves to a new town inhabited by humans and must learn to fit in. The first two books will be published simultaneously in summer 2025; Elizabeth Bennett at the Transatlantic Agency did the deal.
Siobhan Ciminera at Simon Spotlight has bought world rights to Troll Trouble by Joe McGee (l.), illustrated by Ethan Long, in which, Vampyra and her friends must pass three tests to get a key ingredient for monster stew, and a second book, Hide-and-Seek Pup, in a new Ready-to-Read series based on the Junior Monster Scouts chapter books. Publication is planned for summer 2024; Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Celia Lee at Simon & Schuster has acquired, in a preempt, North American rights to I Am Not Happy! by Caroline L. Perry (l.) (The Corgi and the Queen), illustrated by Sydney Hanson. In this humorous picture book, an always smiling quokka explains why, despite appearances, he is not the happiest animal on Earth, with the misunderstood marsupial imploring humans to never judge a quokka by its cover. Publication is slated for spring 2025. Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Tara Walker and Samantha Swenson at Tundra Books have bought world rights to Vampire Jam Sandwich by Casey Lyall (l.) (A Spoonful of Frogs), illustrated by Nici Gregory (Oh, Monty!). The picture book reveals the urban legend of the reason why jam sandwiches must never be left within reach of vampires. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency represented the author, and James Catchpole at the Catchpole Agency represented the illustrator.
Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook Press has acquired, at auction, world rights to George Saġġana Edwardson (l.) and NBA finalist Debby Dahl Edwardson's (c.) Welcome to Iñupiaq Nunat, illustrated by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson (r.) (Eagle Drums). This picture book follows a modern Iñupiat family as they share their connection to their land, heritage, and history in the Arctic, culminating in Nalukataq, an annual festival celebrating the bowhead whale and the arrival of spring. Publication is set for fall 2025; Faye Bender at the Book Group represented the authors and the artist.
Laura Kincaid at Holiday House has bought world rights to The Mithai Box Is Not Empty by Namrata Agarwal (l.), illustrated by Parvati Pillai. In this celebration of kindness and Indian desserts, a girl hosts a chai party and shares a box of her favorite sweets; she worries there won't be enough for her too, but her Dadi has a surprise. Publication is planned for summer 2025; the author and illustrator were unagented.
Amy Novesky at Cameron Kids has acquired world rights to Tiny Garden by Deborah Underwood (l.), illustrated by Jax Chow, a picture book about a child with big dreams for a small patch of Earth. Publication is slated for spring 2025. Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the illustrator.
Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has bought world rights to Up Periscope!: How Engineer Raye Montague Revolutionized Shipbuilding, a picture book biography by Jennifer Swanson (l.) about a tenacious hidden figure who created the first computer program to design entire ships for the U.S. Navy, illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison (A Computer Called Katherine). Publication is set for fall 2024. Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary Agency represented the author and illustrator.
Jennifer Stokes at Owlkids Books has acquired world rights to Diaper Kid by Loretta Garbutt (l.), illustrated by Hayley Lowe, a picture book about a reluctant toddler making the big switch from diapers to underwear. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; the author represented herself, and Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Taylor Norman at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has bought Let's Be Bees by Caldecott Honor artist Shawn Harris, a picture book in which a parent and child pretend to be different animals, insects, and other wonders of nature. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights.
Nick Thomas at Levine Querido has acquired rights to The First Day of May by Henrique Coseir Moreira, a wordless picture book in early comics style about a girl's first day outside after a long winter. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Carin Bacho Carniani at the Koja Agency sold world English rights on behalf of Planeta Tangerina.
Sunita Apte at Reycraft has bought Letters to Mother Earth by debut author-illustrator Maryam Khalifah, where letters from all over the world are filled with imaginative wishes to help alleviate environmental issues in hopes of inspiring conversations of real change. Publication is scheduled for 2026; Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency Agency sold world English rights.
Carol Hinz at Lerner/Millbrook has acquired world English rights to If I Were a Fungus by Gaia Stella. In this introduction to the world of fungi, a child imagines what life would be like if he were a fungus. Publication is set for spring 2024; the author-illustrator represented herself in the deal for world rights.
Erica Sussman at HarperTeen has acquired at auction A Language of Dragons by debut author S.F. Williamson, a dark academia YA fantasy set in an alternate 1920s about language, loyalty, love and redemption, pitched as Bletchley Park… with dragons. HarperCollins UK will publish simultaneously in January 2025, with a sequel to follow in January 2026. Lydia Silver and Becca Langton at Darley Anderson negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Bria Ragin, David Yoon, and Nicola Yoon at Joy Revolution have bought Shelly Page's Brewed with Love, a queer contemporary romantasy debut in which a teen witch, desperate to save her family's apothecary and reputation after her stolen tonic wipes the memory of a rival, must begrudgingly partner with her first crush-turned-coworker to unmask the thief. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Rebecca Podos at Rees Literary Agency did the two-book deal for world rights.
Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Loveboat, Taipei author Abigail Hing Wen's new standalone YA novel, Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies, in a six-figure deal. High schoolers Tan Lee and Winter Woo babysit Tan's little sister when their parents take a trip to Hawaii. Tan's ex-girlfriend from Shanghai shows up on his doorstep with money stolen from her billionaire father, and the four end up on the run, with hackers chasing their every move. Publication is slated for August 2024; Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media sold North American rights.
Eileen Rothschild and Lisa Bonvissuto at Wednesday Books have bought world rights to Nobody in Particular and another untitled YA romance by Sophie Gonzales (Never Ever Getting Back Together). Young Royals meets Her Royal Highness in this sapphic romance that follows American-born Dani as she receives a scholarship to board at the prestigious Bramppath college, where she finds herself falling for the crown princess, Rose. Publication is planned for winter 2025; Jess Mileo at InkWell Management brokered the deal.
Rebecca Kuss at Disney Hyperion has acquired Wish Upon a K-Star by Kat Cho, a spin-off of her Once Upon a K-Prom, where a PR snafu means WDB idol Moonster must join Korea's most popular fake dating variety show with Seoul's newest K-drama darling in order to get their careers back on track—but what kind of disaster awaits them when they actually start to fall in love? Publication is set for May 2025; Beth Phelan at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Tiara Kittrell at Putnam has bought North American rights to debut author Jasmine Smith's Death Card, a Black and queer YA contemporary fantasy about a New Orleanian tarot reader and secret witch who is thrown when a pretty tourist's cards foretell that she will kill her by the end of the next full moon. David Purse at Inked Entertainment did the deal, with the book scheduled for release in 2025; Lane Clarke at ArtHouse Literary represented the author.
Ashley Hearn at Peachtree Teen has acquired If I Survive, a post-apocalyptic YA by Cassandra Newbould (Things I'll Never Say). In dystopic Seattle, healthcare is currency, the privileged live inside weather-proof domed cities—and Aegis Corp controls it all. Disabled medical mercenary Fox LaRosa fights for health equity, but when her sister disappears and becomes a political pawn, Fox will stop at nothing to get her back. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Ernie Chiara at Fuse Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Julia Patrick at VIZ Media has bought Curryuku's YA graphic novel series Not So Shoujo Love Story, based on the webcomic of the same name, in which romance superfan (and tomboy) Rei's plans to create the perfect high school romance for herself are derailed when the most popular girl in school declares herself a rival for Rei's heart; Publication of the first book is planned for 2025; Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management did the four-book deal for world rights.
Megan Ilnitzki at HarperTeen has acquired Home Has No Borders, a YA anthology of contemporary short stories by South Asian and diaspora authors that grapple with themes of home and belonging, edited by Samira Ahmed (l.) and Sona Charaipotra, with stories from S.K. Ali, Fatimah Asghar, Tashie Bhuiyan, Tanya Boteju, Tanuja Desai Hidier, Veera Hiranandani, Rajani LaRocca, Sheba Karim, Jasmin Kaur, Anuradha D. Rajurkar, Nisha Sharma, Nikesh Shukla, Navdeep Singh Dhillon, and an author from an open call for submissions. Publication is set for winter 2025; Joanna Volpe and Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media brokered the deal for world rights.
Shaina Olmanson at Lerner/Zest Books has bought Debbie Loren Dunn (l.) and Janet Fox's The Real Rosalind: The Scientific Brilliance of Rosalind Franklin, a YA biography of the woman who discovered DNA's double helix, and whose essential contributions were ignored in favor of those of three male scientists in the awarding of the 1962 Nobel Prize. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Tricia Lin at Random House has acquired, in a six-figure, four-book deal, The Graveyard Gift, book one in Fern's School for Wayward Fae, a whimsically gothic middle grade series by TikTok phenom and adult fantasy author PiperCJ (writing as Fern Forgettable). Rosemary Thorpe possesses the unfortunate gift of seeing exactly how people die, which leads her to be sent to Fern's School for Wayward Fae, where pupils are given a choice at age 16—return to the human realm, or remain in the world of the fae. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Carolyn Forde and Alexandra D'Amico at Transatlantic Agency sold world English rights.
Sarah Alpert at Algonquin Young Readers has bought the middle grade superhero adventure Boy 2.0 by Tracey Baptiste. When foster kid Coal Keegan is held at gunpoint and discovers he has the power to make himself invisible, he must uncover the answers about his past he's been longing for and face off against the dangerous scientists who might have made him—and definitely want to use him for their own gain. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency brokered the deal for North American rights.
Megan Peace at Scholastic/Graphix has acquired, in an exclusive submission, the debut middle-grade graphic novel The New Girl by Instagram star Cassandra Calin. Based on the author's own experience, 12-year-old Lia and her family immigrate to Canada from Romania, immersing Lia in a new world where everything is different—her language, her friendships, and even her body. Publication is set for summer 2024; Seth Fishman at the Gernert Company negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Kelly Loughman at Holiday House has bought world English rights for the middle grade fantasy novel The Library of Curiosities by Jenny Lundquist, in which 11-year-old Rowan Fitzgerald travels to live with her secretive, estranged grandfather, only to discover the library he runs is filled not with books, but magical objects called curiosities. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Adria Goetz at KT Literary brokered the deal.
Kiara Valdez at First Second has acquired in a preempt the middle grade graphic novel Lunch by Heather Nuhfer (l.), illustrated by Patricia Daguisan. Tia's first day of school nerves disappear when she realizes that when she eats the same lunch as her classmates, she can hear their thoughts. Not only does she realize the popular kids are just as insecure as she is, but she also learns how complicated our relationships with food can be, and how it can be used to create community. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Kathleen Ortiz at KO Media Management did the deal for world rights.
Lauri Hornik at Rocky Pond Books has bought, in a nine-house auction, A Little Like Magic by Sarah Kurpiel. A girl reluctantly ventures out with her mother to see the ice sculpture competition at her local park, taking her plastic horse in her pocket for comfort. When she gets home, her pocket is empty, but when she returns to see the finished sculptures, the park is magically transformed, and a familiar creature in the icy menagerie is waiting just for her. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Alexandra Levick and Rebecca Sherman at Writers House co-agented the two-book deal for world rights.
Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Good Morning, Morning by Maya Myers (l.) (Not Little), illustrated by Jennifer K. Mann (Maple & Rosemary), a sensory picture book about greeting nature as the sun rises. Publication is set for spring 2026; Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the author, and Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties represented the illustrator.
Esther Cajahuaringa at Knopf has bought world rights to Crack Goes the Cascarón by Sara Andrea Fajardo (l.), illustrated by Rocío Arreola Mendoza, a picture book about a spunky kid who wants to play tricks on his family only to realize he has met his match in his grandma, featuring an egg-citing Latin American tradition. Publication is scheduled for winter 2025; Nicole Geiger at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Naomi Kirsten at Chronicle has acquired world rights at auction to The Secrets of the Jellies by Karen Jameson (l.), illustrated by Marie Hermansson, in a two-book deal. Pitched as an aquarium exhibit inside a picture book, this STEM title explores the spectacular world of jellyfish. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Kathleen Rushall represented the author and Caryn Wiseman represented the illustrator, both with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
Laura Demoreuille at Scholastic has bought world rights to Give Back by Gina Bellisario (l.), illustrated by Alicia Más, the story an intergenerational family and their neighborhood who come together to give back as they prepare for a community food drive and dinner. Publication is planned for fall 2024; Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Amy Milligan at Illo Agency represented the illustrator.
Meredith Mundy at Abrams Appleseed has acquired world rights to Inventions to Count On by Dana Marie Miroballi (l.), illustrated by Sawyer Cloud, a counting book that celebrates Black inventors. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Amanda Hendon at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press has bought world rights to Big Boy and the Steam Team by Marsha Diane Arnold (l.), illustrated by Adam Gustavson, about the restoration of Big Boy 4014, the world's largest operational steam locomotive, and its "against all odds" journey—rescue from the scrapyard to half a century in an outdoor train museum to restoration by a group of steam locomotive specialists. Publication is set for spring 2025; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary represented the illustrator.
Jonathan Eaton, while at Tilbury House, acquired world rights to Listen! Wonder! Ask! by debut author Elly Berke (l.), illustrated by Luciana Navarro Powell, a pass-it-forward tale of kindness, friendship, and the connections we discover when we listen to others, wonder, and ask about our coming-here stories. Sarah Rockett will edit; publication is slated for fall 2024. The author represented herself, and Deborah Warren at East West Literary represented the illustrator.
Anna Sargeant at Sourcebooks has bought world rights to When Bumblebees Go to Sleep, a bedtime board book by Claire Bobrow (l.), illustrated by Natalia Vasilica, in which young readers will learn that bumblebees fall asleep just like we do… but inside flowers. Publication is planned for summer 2025; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the author, and Christina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.
