Picture Books
WHEN OLD BECOMES NEW by Jessica Stremer, Nicole Wong
Cook Prize Silver Medalist Jessica Stremer's WHEN OLD BECOMES NEW, in which imagination meets sustainability and engineering, demonstrating how repurposed objects like fabric, rubber, cardboard, plastic, and metal can be transformed in creative ways, illustrated by Nicole Wong, to Sally Morgridge at Holiday House, for publication in fall 2026, by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency for the author, and by James McGowan at BookEnds for the illustrator (world).
HONEYBIRD BLUE by Taunya English, Raissa Figueroa
Taunya English's HONEYBIRD BLUE, in which a girl and her dad go on a nature walk, looking for birds, and find green, brown, yellow, black; blue is the trickiest to spot, but if she uses her budding nature skills, along with some patience, she and blue might finally meet, illustrated by Coretta Scott King Honor winner Raissa Figueroa, to Caitlin Johnson at Harper Children's, for publication in summer 2026, by Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author, and by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).
MEET ME IN YOUR HEART by Heather Brewer, Raissa Figueroa
Author of LOVE IS POWERFUL Heather Brewer's MEET ME IN YOUR HEART, in which we learn that even when we can't be physically with those we love, our bonds of connection and affection will survive distance and time until we can meet again, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa, to Karen Lotz at Candlewick, in a nice deal, for publication in spring 2026, by Hilary Harwell at kt literary for the author, and by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).
WONDERFULLY WILD by Jessica Stremer, Josee Masse
Jessica Stremer's WONDERFULLY WILD, in which students' hearts shatter when an old willow tree falls during a storm; but when one student suggests growing a new tree, the class embarks on a wonderfully wild idea to rewild their entire campus, illustrated by Josee Masse, to Catherine Laudone at Paula Wiseman Books, for publication in summer 2025, by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency for the author, and by Claire Easton Morance at Painted Words for the illustrator (world).
RAY'S BIG DAY by Josh Lewis
Josh Lewis's RAY'S BIG DAY: A JOURNEY AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT, when a girl launches from the sun into outer space, she knows she's destined for adventure, but who knew everything in space was so far apart?, to Katie Heit at Scholastic, for publication in July 2024, by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency (world).
TRAPPED IN THE TAR PIT by Jessica Stremer, Alexander Vidal
Author of GREAT CARRIER REEF Jessica Stremer's TRAPPED IN THE TAR PIT, in which a crack in the Earth's crust causes sticky tar to seep up to the surface and an unsuspecting animal finds itself in a perilous predicament, and thousands of years later scientists make a mammoth discovery, illustrated by Cook Prize Gold Medalist Alexander Vidal, to Andrea Welch at Beach Lane Books, for publication in fall 2025, by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency for the author, and by Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary for the illustrator (world).
PLIGHT OF THE PELICAN by Jessica Stremer, Gordy Wright
Jessica Stremer's PLIGHT OF THE PELICAN: HOW SCIENCE SAVED A SPECIES, exploring how scientists discovered the cause behind a decline in bird populations, a chemical called DDT, initiating one of the biggest grassroots environmental movements in U.S. history and the creation of the Endangered Species Act; a Books for Better Earth title, illustrated by Gordy Wright, to Sally Morgridge at Holiday House, for publication in spring 2025, by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency for the author, and by Susan Penny at The Bright Group for the illustrator (world).
A SANTA LIKE ME by Tonya Abari, Raissa Figueroa
Tonya Abari's A SANTA LIKE ME, about a child who starts to question if Black Santa is real, losing his holiday spirit, only to find it again as family, friends, and an extra special visit help to restore the magic of Christmas, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa, to Alexandra Hightower at Little, Brown Children's, for publication in fall 2025, by Natalie Lakosil at Looking Glass Literary & Media for the author, and by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).
SMALL-GIRL TONI AND THE QUEST FOR GOLD by Giselle Anatol, Raissa Figueroa
University of Kansas English professor Giselle Anatol's SMALL-GIRL TONI AND THE QUEST FOR GOLD, celebrating the rich and prolific works of Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison through a fictionalized narrative about young Toni's quest to change the world with her stories, starting with her very own town, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa, to Tamar Brazis at Viking Children's, for publication in spring 2024, by Alexandra Levick at Writers House for the author, and by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).
HOORAY, IT'S THREE KINGS DAY! by Annette M. Clayton, Jone Leal
Annette M. Clayton's HOORAY, IT'S THREE KINGS DAY!, in which a Latinx girl is disappointed when her abuela's "surprise" is a tattered family heirloom; as the family shares holiday memories, she begins to see the heirloom in a different light, illustrated by Jone Leal, to Christopher Robbins at Familius, for publication in fall 2024, by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency for the author (world).
TOGETHER WE ARE SUNSHINE by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Raissa Figueroa
Author of YOUR NAME IS A SONG and ABDUL'S STORY Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow's TOGETHER WE ARE SUNSHINE, a celebration of sisterhood in which three girls navigate the natural world and their own relationships, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa, to Ann Kelley at Random House Studio, for publication in summer 2025, by Paige Terlip at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author, and by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).
WASH DAY LOVE by Tanisia "Tee" Moore, Raissa Figueroa
Author of I AM MY ANCESTORS' WILDEST DREAMS and BLACK GIRL MAGIC Tanisia "Tee" Moore's WASH DAY, showcasing a sacred rite of passage in Black culture—the hair wash day routine—and on Saturday, it goes down in a girl's house, if momma can catch her, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa, to Tracy Mack at Scholastic, for publication in spring 2025, by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for the author, and by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency for the illustrator (world).
Chapter Books and Middle Grade
HUGO AND THE PIRATES by Erin Barker
Indie Next author-illustrator of MR. PUMPKIN'S TEA PARTY Erin Barker's HUGO AND THE PIRATES, following the adventures of a sloth and the quirky pirate crew of the Black Pearl, pitched for fans of Ben Clanton and Geronimo Stilton, to Feather Flores at Atheneum, in a very nice deal, in a two-book deal, for publication in spring 2027 and spring 2028, by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency (world).
THE CASE OF THE MISSING TREASURE by Christee Curran-Bauer
Christee Curran-Bauer's THE CASE OF THE MISSING TREASURE, in the Pigeon Private Detectives chapter book series, following pigeon detectives as they're torn between catching up on some R & R while on vacation and catching the culprit who stole a hidden treasure, using the scientific method, to Suzy Capozzi at Union Square Kids, in a two-book deal, for publication in fall 2025 and spring 2026, by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency (world).
FIRE ESCAPE by Jessica Stremer, Michael Garland
Author of the forthcoming GREAT CARRIER REEFJessica Stremer's FIRE ESCAPE: HOW ANIMALS AND PLANTS SURVIVE WILDFIRES, exploring how animals detect and respond to wildfires, the positive changes that occur to the landscape after the flames die out, and how the increased frequency and severity of wildfires due to global warming is changing everything, illustrated by Correll Book Award Winner Michael Garland, to Sally Morgridge at Holiday House, for publication in summer 2024, by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency for the author (world).
THE NIGHTWOODS by Lucy Brown
Lucy Brown's THE NIGHTWOODS, following a lonely young girl who lives in an antique shop at the edge of the woods; when items from the shop start to go missing, she's drawn to the woods, where she encounters a wolf girl who introduces her to a world of incredible wonders, curious creatures, and new friends, to Kate Meltzer at Roaring Brook Press, in a pre-empt, in a two-book deal, for publication in fall 2024, by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency (world). Film: Addison Duffy at UTA
UNTITLED by Carole Lindstrom
Caldecott Award-winning WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS author Carole Lindstrom's two untitled books, the first a debut middle grade which features life on the prairie from the perspective of a young Metis girl who assists as a spy against the government, in order to save her people's land and way of life, to Mary Kate Castellani at Bloomsbury Children's, in a two-book deal, for publication in 2024 and 2025, by Natascha Morris and Sarah Fisk at The Tobias Literary Agency (world).
Young Adult
IF WE NEVER END by Laura Taylor Namey
Alex Borbolla at Bloomsbury has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Laura Taylor Namey's If We Never End. Sylvie's summer takes a mystical turn when her latest thrift find comes with a ghost boy attached. With no memory of who he is, the two set out to solve the mystery, putting both love and life on the line. Publication is planned for winter 2026; Natascha Morris at the Tobias Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal.
MY FAIR MONSTER by Adrienne Rivera
Adrienne Rivera's MY FAIR MONSTER, in which a regional horror host announces a monster costume contest, and a beauty pageant queen knows she's found a way to prove she's not just a flake—it just requires the help of a grumpy special effects makeup artist to partner up and turn her into a pageant-worthy monster, to Lauren Knowles at Page Street, for publication in fall 2025, by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency (world English).
TIME AND TIME AGAIN by Chatham Greenfield
Fellow of Reese Witherspoon Book Club's LitUp program Chatham Greenfield's TIME AND TIME AGAIN, a queer romance that follows two disabled teens in a time loop: one, who has been stuck for 26 days, and the other, who comes crashing in (literally) after hitting the first with their car; as the two enjoy endless days of no consequences, they start to fall for each other—but how do you plan for a future together when tomorrow may never come?, to Alex Borbolla at Bloomsbury Children's, in a good deal, at auction, in a two-book deal, for publication in spring 2024, by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency (world English).
JUST ANOTHER MEET CUTE by Jenn P. Nguyen
Jenn P. Nguyen's JUST ANOTHER MEET CUTE, about a girl who tries to track down the boy who saved her from a disastrous hike and succeeds, only to figure out too late she's dating the wrong twin, to Jennifer Thompson at Scholastic, for publication in summer 2025, by Sarah Fisk and Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency (world English).
GOOD MOURNING by Circe Moskowitz, Caleb Hosalla
Circe Moskowitz's GOOD MOURNING, a debut YA graphic novel pitched as Schitt's Creek meets HGTV, in which a Black vampire trades in the city and her coven for a quiet New England inn, only to find it more run-down than advertised; after (accidentally) murdering the current owner, she places herself in charge and ends up falling in love with running a bed and breakfast—and with the handywoman, who knows her vampiric secret, illustrated by Caleb Hosalla, to Michelle Lee at Dial, in a pre-empt, for publication in fall 2024, by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency for the author, and by Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency for the illustrator (world English).
THE UNSTOPPABLE BRIDGET BLOOM by Allison Bitz
Allison Bitz's debut THE UNSTOPPABLE BRIDGET BLOOM, a body-positive coming-of-age novel pitched as Glee meets Once in which a 16-year-old pansexual fat musical theatre ingenue is challenged not to sing for an entire year by her Broadway-pipeline boarding school's dean and must choose between finding a new way to shine or going home to the stifling rural hometown where she's never belonged, to Erika DiPasquale at Harper Teen, in a two-book deal, for publication in summer 2023, by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency (world).
LEAP by Simina Popescu
Simina Popescu's LEAP, a queer coming-of-age about two dancers navigating adolescence, their sexuality, first love, and heartache in a conservative post-communist city, to Mekisha Telfer at Roaring Brook Press, in a pre-empt, for publication in spring 2024, by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency.
NO HARM DONE by Circe Moskowitz
Circe Moskowitz ed.'s NO HARM DONE, pitched as a cross between SLASHER GIRLS & MONSTER BOYS and Jordan Peele's Twilight Zone, a collection of Black horror stories that explores and dives deep into the genre from the creative minds of both debut and established Black writers, including Kalynn Bayron, Ryan Douglass, Sami Ellis, Brent Lambert, Ashia Monet, Linda Raquel Nieves Perez, Joel Rochester, Liselle Sambury, and Joelle Wellington, to Alicia Sparrow at Chicago Review Press, for publication in fall 2023, by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency (world).
