Carina Licon and Brian Geffen at Henry Holt have acquired, at auction, in a six-figure deal, I Wish You Would, a YA contemporary romance by debut author Eva Des Lauriers. When ex-best friends Natalia and Ethan reunite for their Senior Sunrise overnight at the beach, class president Natalia accidentally loses seven of the class's confessional letters—what they would do this year if they were braver. Now no one's secrets are safe. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Chelsea Eberly at Greenhouse Literary Agency did the two-book deal for North American rights.
Jennifer Thompson at Scholastic has bought world English rights to YA rom-com Just Another Meet Cute by Jenn P. Nguyen. A girl tries to track down the boy who saved her from a disastrous hike and succeeds, only to figure out too late that she's dating the wrong twin. Publication is scheduled for summer 2025; Sarah Fisk and Natascha Morris at the Tobias Literary Agency handled the deal.
David Levithan at Scholastic has acquired world rights, in a six-figure auction, to Saachi's Stories by Maia Kobabe (l.) (Gender Queer) and Lucky Srikumar, for the Graphix imprint. The coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel follows aspiring author Saachi, who struggles to navigate changing social dynamics and her evolving identity, as her friends start coupling up and everybody else seems to fit neatly into a boy/girl binary. A spring 2025 publication is planned; Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt represented the author-illustrators.
Emily Seife at Scholastic Press has bought Barakah Beats author Maleeha Siddiqui's next middle grade book, Ainy on Brand. In the novel, 12-year-old aspiring hijabi Ainy Zain is excited to design modest clothing for her mother's clothing boutique, but when Ainy's older sister decides to take her hijab off, and a boy from school gives Ainy unwanted attention, Ainy begins to doubt everything—her abilities, her relationships, and whether she's ready to wear hijab in the first place. Publication is set for 2024; Lauren Spieller at TriadaUS Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Anne Hoppe at Clarion Books has acquired Sarah Beth Durst's contemporary middle-grade novel Spy Ring, about two kids who discover the truth about a real-life female American Revolutionary War-era spy through a treasure-hunt adventure. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger brokered the deal for world rights.
Amy Fitzgerald at Lerner/Carolrhoda has bought Make a Little Wave by Kerry O'Malley Cerra (Hear Me), a middle grade novel about animal lover and cochlear implant wearer Sav, who is determined to stop a local restaurant from serving shark fin soup. When her activism grows increasingly reckless, Sav must face the consequences and find new ways to use her voice for shark conservation. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Janine Le at Janine Le Literary Agency handled the deal for world rights.
Andrew Arnold at HarperAlley has acquired world rights to Cushi by biology professor Jay Hosler. This graphic novel follows a cartoon ant born into a colony of leafcutter ants and examines how we seek to understand the natural world with the stories we tell one another. Publication is planned for winter 2024; Judith Hansen at Hansen Literary Management negotiated the deal.
Nick Magliato at Penguin Workshop has bought, in a two-book deal, North American rights to The Russell Bros by Caitlin Friedman (l.) and Jef Kaminsky (c.), co-writing as Jack R. Miller, illustrated by Mike Yamada (r.). In these illustrated chapter books, four Jack Russell Terrier brothers—Jack, Big Russell, Little Russell, and Just Russell—use super-cool vehicles, disguises, maps, and gadgets to tackle their very important mission: keeping their human family safe and happy. Publication is set for fall 2024; Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties represented the authors, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Lynne Missen at Tundra has acquired, in a preempt, Julia on the Go, a chapter book series by Angela Ahn (Peter Lee's Notes from the Field), illustrated by Julie Kim (Where's Halmoni?). Set in a lively community center, a young swimmer who gets into scrapes must seek out inspiration and help from her neighbors before her mishaps land her in the deep end. Publication for the first book, Swimming into Trouble, is slated for spring 2024, and an untitled sequel will follow in spring 2025; Laurel Symonds while at the Bent Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has bought world rights to In the World of Whales by Michelle Cusolito (l.), illustrated by Jessica Lanan. This nonfiction picture book follows one freediver's unique experience witnessing the birth of a sperm whale. Publication is scheduled for summer 2025; James McGowan at BookEnds Literary Agency represented the author, and Ed Maxwell at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented the illustrator.
Sylvie Frank at Disney Hyperion has acquired world rights to Embarrassed Ferret and an untitled sequel by Lisa Frenkel Riddiough (l.), illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi, a rhyming picture book about a school day full of blunders. Publication is planned for fall 2025 and fall 2026; Jennifer Mattson at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Stephen Barr at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Karen Lotz at Candlewick has bought world rights to The First Day of Peace, presented by storytelling nonprofit The Peace Studio and its co-founder, Maya Soetoro-Ng (l.), written by Todd Shuster (c.), and illustrated by Tatiana Gardel (r.). This picture book offers a modern parable of two feuding communities brought together by one child's idea of kindness, which spreads and sparks healing and peace in a time of environmental precarity. Publication is set for summer 2023; Jennifer Gates at Aevitas Creative Management represented Soetoro-Ng and Shuster, and Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented Gardel.
Justin Krasner at Odd Dot has acquired world rights to Building Block Books: My First Town by Merrill Rainey. In this take on classic children's building blocks, young builders are able to punch, build, and stack a 3D city of their own. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary handled the deal.
Sue Tarsky at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to Beauty and the Beaker by Sue Fliess (l.) (the Kid Scientist series), illustrated by Petros Bouloubasis, a twist on the fairy tale in which Beauty is a scientist who discovers green energy. Publication is scheduled for April 2024; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented the author, and Atlanta Japp at Advocate Art represented the artist.
Julia Recko at Feeding Minds Press has acquired world rights to The Soil in Jackie's Garden, a cumulative picture book by Peggy Thomas (l.), illustrated by Neely Daggett; Emma D. Dryden will edit. The story celebrates the cycle of growth in a garden from soil to plant to compost, with Jackie growing her favorite snack from a seed and returning plant scraps to the ground to create new soil so the cycle can begin again. Publication is set for spring 2024; Lisa Amstutz at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press has bought world rights to Samba! From the Streets of Brazil to the Sambódromo by Philip Hoelzel, illustrated by Andre Ceolin. The nonfiction book chronicles the story of Mestre Ailton Nunes, whose dedication to his underdog bateria led them to long-awaited victory and inspired generations of musicians to find their voice. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Miranda Paul at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Mela Bolinao at MB Artists represented the illustrator.
Elizabeth Schleisman at Beaming Books has acquired world rights to Elinor McGrath, Pet Doctor: The Story of America's First Female Veterinarian, a picture book biography by Jacqueline Johnson (l.), illustrated by Alette Straathof. When Elinor McGrath decided she wanted to be a veterinarian, the world told her no, but she was determined to show the world of veterinary medicine that accepting women wasn't the only change the profession needed. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Jennifer Herrington at Harvey Klinger represented the author, and Lucie Luddington at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
