Andrea Tompa at Candlewick Press has acquired world rights to Vibhi and the Voice, a picture book by Newbery Honor author Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Cindy Derby. Vibhi is afraid of the dark, but when she encounters a girl made of darkness who's afraid of the light, she puts aside her fears to make a friend. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Brent Taylor at Triada US represented the author, and Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Jess Harold at Henry Holt has bought world rights to Side by Side by Newbery Honor author Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Brizida Magro, a picture book celebration of unity, about the many things people do side by side, from reading to sharing meals to protesting, and how the act of being together helps us connect and understand one another. Publication is set for winter 2026; Brent Taylor at Triada US represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Rotem Moscovich at Knopf has acquired world rights to Tenacious Won't Give Up by Pam Vaughan, illustrated by Leanne Hatch. A girl named Tenacious lives up to her name as she tackles learning to ride a bike, and ultimately discovers that it's about trying smarter as well as harder. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Brent Taylor at Triada US represented the author, and Janine Le at Janine Le Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Jessica Anderson at Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Ramadan for Everyone: A Muslim Community Story by Aya Khalil, illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh (The Night Before Eid), a picture book about faith, taqwa, self-esteem, and acts of service during the holy month of Ramadan, scheduled for winter 2026. Brent Taylor at Triada US represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
David Levithan at Scholastic has acquired, in a three-book deal, The School for Wicked Witches by Washington State Book Award winner Will Taylor (The Language of Seabirds). Set in a comedically reimagined Oz, the story follows 11-year-old Ava Heartstraw as she fights to escape the grim School for Wicked Witches and prove to everyone that she's good—even if she has to get a little wicked along the way. The first book is scheduled for fall 2024, with a sequel, The Secret of Nettle Tower, to follow in winter 2025, and an unnamed third book in fall 2025. Brent Taylor at Triada US did the deal for world rights.
Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has bought four novels by Newbery Honor author Rajani LaRocca. The deal includes The Sound of Magic, a middle grade fantasy about a girl who battles the lasting effects of colonialism and greed to save her homeland, for publication in winter 2024; Nothing but the Truth, a YA reimagining of Sita's story from The Ramayana, for publication in 2025; Mystery Party, a middle grade novel in which six middle schoolers are invited to a reclusive billionaire's mansion but must solve the mystery of his unexpected disappearance, for publication in 2026; and Chemistry Lessons, a YA rom-com inspired by Jane Austen's Emma that explores the true nature of beauty, for publication in 2027. Brent Taylor at Triada US did the high-six-figure deal for world English rights.
Kelsey Sullivan at Disney-Hyperion has bought Mystery Royale by Kaitlyn Cavalancia, a YA debut mystery about an ordinary girl who gets brought into a magical world in which she has to solve a murder to win an inheritance. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Brent Taylor at Triada US negotiated the two-book deal for U.S., Canadian, and open market rights.
Kate Prosswimmer at McElderry Books has acquired A Bite of Pepper by Balazs Lorinczi, a YA graphic novel. The coming-of-age romance follows Pepper Mint, a born vampire, who would rather focus on skateboarding than finding a bride so that they can become fully immortal. But when the enigmatic and artistic Ana enters the picture, Pepper starts thinking about her future in a new way. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Brent Taylor at Triada US negotiated the deal for world rights.
Elizabeth Lee at Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to Dan of Green Gables by Rey Terciero, illustrated by Eisner Award nominee Claudia Aguirre. A twist on Anne of Green Gables, this YA graphic novel tells the story of a queer, half-Mexican teenager named Dan who is forced to live with his grandparents in rural Tennessee when his mother abandons him. With the help of his Mawmaw and his new friends, Dan makes an unlikely home for himself at 1600 Green Gables. Publication is planned for summer 2025; Brent Taylor at Triada US represented the author, and Kate McKean at Howard Morhaim Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Kiara Valdez at First Second has bought The Odyssey by Rex Ogle writing as Rey Terciero and illustrator Joe Casanova, a middle grade graphic novel following a mouse on an epic journey back to his home in Ithaca. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Brent Taylor at Triada US negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has acquired Marker Snyder's debut upper middle grade graphic novel, First Kiss with Fangs, in which a 13-year-old vampire gets his adult fangs on the first day of school and struggles to know where he fits in. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Brent Taylor at Triada US brokered the deal for world rights.
Elizabeth May at Kensington has acquired world rights to bestselling paranormal and romantasy author Aurora Ascher’s five previously self-published titles in her Hell Bent series, plus a yet-to-be published (and as yet untitled) series finale. Brent Taylor at Triada US brokered the deal. Kensington said the series is “a spicy paranormal romance in which six demons escape from hell to party and meet human women in Montreal, unwittingly setting in motion a series of events that will topple the hierarchy of the underworld.” The first book in the deal, My Funny Demon Valentine, which was first published in 2021, will be republished by Kensington in January 2025.
Liz Pelletier at Red Tower Books/Entangled has acquired world rights to TikTok star Hannah Nicole Maehrer’s Assistant to the Villain, in which the sunshine assistant to a grumpy villain discovers she's not only crushing on her boss but there's a rat in their lair, trying to take them both down. Brent Taylor at Triada US negotiated the three-book deal.