Kelsey Horton at Delacorte Press has acquired When Songbirds Bleed by Emma Jackson (A House of Vipers), in which a group of privileged teens spend a final summer at their beloved Maine beach house and decide to attempt a secret excursion in a private plane, only to endure a devastating crash—and their only hope for rescue lies in a wilderness cult that doesn't intend for them to leave. Publication is slated for summer 2027; Rachel Beck at Liza Dawson Associates brokered the deal for world rights.
Emily Duffy at Union Square Kids has bought, in a preempt, Fiddle Finder and the Golden Goose Chase by James Burks (Bird & Squirrel), a middle grade graphic novel about a boy who goes on an adventure to solve a mystery. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency handled the two-book deal for world English rights.
Krista Vitola at S&S and Yashaswi Kesanakurthy at S&S Canada have acquired, at auction, two books by Rachel Poliquin. The first book, How to Play Hockey Like a Viking God, is an illustrated younger middle grade about 11-year-old Rune who lives in a tiny frozen town. When Rune decides to "borrow" his famous great-grandfather's hockey stick, he discovers an ancient mystery that connects his town and family to the Viking gods and a pantheon of malevolent Frost Giants and monsters ready for battle. Publication is set for summer 2027; Amy Tompkins at Transatlantic Literary did the deal for world rights.
Mary Colgan at Chronicle Books has bought world English rights to the Lark series, an illustrated early chapter book series by Jenn Bishop (l.), illustrated by A.A. Vacharat. The series follows the adventures of a girl with a big imagination and her stubbornly practical older brother Silas, who live with their grandparents. The first book in the series, Lark Grows a Cat, will publish in fall 2027; Katie Grimm at Curtis Brown represented the author, and Kelly Dyksterhouse at Tobias Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Alessandra Balzer at Macmillan/Balzer + Bray has acquired North American English rights to Caldecott Honoree David Ezra Stein's Baby Bunny Won't Stop, an interactive picture book that puts readers in charge of a baby bunny with daredevil tendencies who finds himself in increasingly outlandish and precarious situations. Publication is planned for winter 2027; Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties negotiated the deal.
Sylvie Frank at Flamingo Books has bought, in a preempt, I Love You No Matter What by debut author-illustrator and former Lilly Pulitzer print designer Paige Spearin. Pitched as Beatrix Potter for the millennial parent, it celebrates parental love and support as a bunny navigates everyday challenges and joys, from drink spills to sibling squabbles. Publication is slated for spring 2027, with two untitled books to follow; Gwen Beal at UTA sold world rights.
Laura Godwin at Macmillan/Godwin Books has acquired Tokki's Tricks by Aram Kim, a picture book retelling of a beloved Korean folktale featuring a quick-witted rabbit who must outsmart a determined softshell turtle who has deceived him. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal for North American rights.
Emma Ledbetter while at Abrams bought rights for Shy, a picture book by Julie Andrews (l.) and Emma Walton Hamilton (c.), illustrated by Eva Byrne (r.). Inspired by Andrews's real-life "singing" dog, the story stars a shy puppy who discovers the magic of music. Publication is set for August 2026; Emma Ledbetter and Sara Sproull will edit. Janine Kamouh at William Morris Endeavor represented the authors and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to The Book of Various Children, about a cast of quirky children—from the brave, to the inventive, to the forgetful, to the goofy—with intersecting storylines, by Dev Petty (l.), illustrated by Keiko Hayner. Publication is planned for winter 2028; Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Sophie Sheumaker at BookEnds Literary represented the illustrator.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought world rights to You'll Remember Sycamore by Derrick Barnes (l.), illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice (the team that created I Got You), about how growing up in a loving, affirming home impacts kids and how those experiences mold them. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Regina Brooks at Serendipity Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Stephanie Pitts at Putnam has acquired world rights to Jake Makes Mistakes by Carrie Finison (l.), illustrated by Daniel Wiseman, the duo behind Don't Hug Doug and Even Steven. The new picture book is about a boy who feels terrible every time he messes up—until he sees that everyone makes mistakes and learns to talk positively to himself through his blunders. Publication is set for spring 2028; Linda Epstein at Emerald City Literary Agency represented the author, and Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary represented the illustrator.
Naomi Shulman at PJ Publishing has bought world rights to From Me to You, L'Dor V'Dor by Sara Holly Ackerman (l.), illustrated by Dan Tavis, a board book that follows a grandfather sharing his time, knowledge, and love with his very young granddaughter through everyday activities. Publication is slated for summer 2027; Tricia Lawrence while at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown represented the illustrator.
Liz Kossnar at Little, Brown has acquired Christian Trimmer's YA debut, Grace at the End of the World, a road-trip story set during a zombie apocalypse, in which 19-year-old Grace, overcome with grief after the death of her last living relative, makes a rash decision: to go in search of her celebrity crush, pop star Harry Park. On the perilous road trip to California, she finds an unlikely best friend in Aidan and meets other survivors who show her that life is still worth fighting for. Publication is set for winter 2027; Brenda Bowen at the Book Group did the deal for North American rights.
Sydnee Monday at Kokila has bought debut novel-in-verse Girl Gods by National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 Honoree K-Ming Chang (Bestiary), in which two queer teen girls, propelled by rage and grief, make a deal with a Chinese sea goddess for the ability to project their consciousness into different bodies so that they might escape the cycle of reincarnation. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Julia Kardon and Ellen Goff at HG Literary sold North American rights.
Eileen Rothschild at Wednesday Books has acquired, in a preempt, Cerulean by Sajni Patel (A Drop of Venom), a dark feminist YA reimagining of The Little Mermaid meets Pirates of the Caribbean, about a fierce Atlantean princess's high-stakes adventure across sea and land, alongside a ghostly pirate, to seek retribution on men who prey on sirens for their powers. Publication is slated for summer 2027; Katelyn Detweiler at Jill Grinberg Literary Management sold North American rights.
Regan Winter at Disney-Hyperion has bought world rights to the Monster Middle School middle grade series by Brandon T. Snider (l.), illustrated by Scott Brown. Four kids learn that their boring middle school is actually a sentient monster that needs their help capturing another monster that has escaped into their town. Publication of the first book is planned for summer 2027; Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator in the two-book deal.
Nancy Siscoe at Knopf has acquired world English rights to The Seventeenth Quest by Elisabeth Kamakawiwoole, with black-and-white illustrations by Elise Hurst. In this debut middle grade novel with echoes of The Wild Robot and The Little Prince, a curious robot and a daring girl embark on an unforgettable quest and discover what it means to be human. Publication is set for fall 2026; Steven Malk at Writers House represented the author, and Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Ruqayyah Daud at Little, Brown has bought, in an exclusive submission, The Unsung Hero of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman, set in the same world as her acclaimed middle grade animal fantasy, The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest. The novel follows a cowardly jackrabbit thrust into a race against impending doom in order to save the wandering souls he guides—and himself—from oblivion. Publication is scheduled for summer 2027; Molly O'Neill at Root Literary sold world English rights.
Krista Vitola at Simon & Schuster has acquired North American rights to The Witch at Bittersweet End by debut author Talia Military. In this spooky middle-grade story with horror and mystery elements, a girl moves to a sleepy small town and discovers it is hiding many dangerous secrets, aimed at fans of Small Spaces and The Bellwoods Game. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Gemma Cooper at Gemma Cooper Literary negotiated the two-book deal.
Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has bought, at auction, Henry Clark's middle grade novel Time Travelers Welcome, in which two siblings try to help their best friend overcome a tragic loss by playing a game where they have to figure out which of the guests at their family's B&B is a time-traveler in disguise. Publication is planned for spring 2028; Michelle Witte at Mansion Street Literary Management brokered the deal for world rights.
Emily Daluga at Chronicle has acquired world English rights to To Her Own Beat by Brinda Shah, a middle-grade novel-in-verse about Sumati, a Bharatanatyam dancer who is finding her voice and her confidence amid the fat-shaming she receives while preparing to perform at her sister's wedding and do a solo in her dance class. Publication is slated for spring 2027; Eric Smith while at P.S. Literary and David Gyulai at P.S. Literary handled the deal.
Martha Mihalick at Greenwillow Books has bought, at auction, No Room for Birds and a second untitled picture book by debut author Eloise Narrigan. Deep in the birch woods, Guin the Goat Witch does all her important witchy work all by herself, but soon she finds she is not alone in her tidy little hut. Some bird is trying to make itself at home on her shelf, but a spell for unwelcome birds should do just the trick… right? Publication is set for summer 2027; Alexandra Levick at Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights.
Martha Rago at Random House has acquired Tita Berredo's If You Try to Draw a Monkey, part of the Seuss Studios line of Beginner Books, inspired by selections from Dr. Seuss's archival sketches, and celebrating the joy and adventure of drawing one thing that becomes many others along the way. Maria Correa will edit; publication is scheduled for spring 2028. Sorche Fairbank at Fairbank Literary sold world English rights.
Christy Ottaviano at Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano Books has bought Snow Day with Daddy by Gina Perry. In this nod to Virginia Lee Burton's Katie and the Big Snow, puppy Marie is a hard worker and eager to help her dad snowplow their town. But before they can finish, an unexpected problem presents itself that will require help from others in their community. Publication is planned for winter 2028; Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Mary Kate Castellani has acquired two author-illustrated picture books by Shadra Strickland, in an exclusive submission. Be Big is a chant that encourages girls to feel big within and out; Day Trip is a semi-autobiographical story celebrating the beauty of togetherness and quality time between a mother and daughter who try to escape the heat of a summer day. Publication is set for fall 2027 and 2028; Lori Nowicki at Painted Words sold world rights.
Samantha Swenson at Tundra Books has bought world rights to Pip the Little Seahorse by Emily Arrow (l.), illustrated by Ashlyn Anstee, a picture book about a seahorse named Pip whose squeak is too small to be heard amid the cacophony of the bigger, louder creatures in the ocean. Publication is slated for spring 2027; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Catherine Laudone at S&S/Beach Lane has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Rulers of the Deep Blue Sea by Tim McCanna (l.) (Cold), illustrated by Gavin Scott, a rhyming nonfiction picture book about great white sharks, orcas, and what happens when these two apex predators meet. Publication is scheduled for summer 2028; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Nicky Lander at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Michael Yuen-Killick at Red Comet Press has bought world rights to A Gentle Light: The Story of Noor Inayat Khan by Shirin Shamsi (l.), illustrated by Tara Anand, a picture book biography about Noor Inayat Khan, the first female (and first Muslim) radio-operating British Special Operations Executive operating in France during World War II. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch Literary Services represented the author, and Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights to Hanging Out with Nani, a picture book poetry story by Geisel Honoree Vikram Madan (l.), and Cathleen Schaad has bought world rights to illustrations by Ishaa Lobo, in which a boy in a South Asian family bonds with his maternal grandmother when she comes from India to help with a new sibling. Publication is set for spring 2028; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Dena Neusner at Apples & Honey Press has bought world rights to Solly and the Elephant by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso (l.) (Regina Persisted), illustrated by Siona Benjamin, a picture book based on a Bene Israel folktale from 17th-century India about a young man whose kindness to an elephant saves his life. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; the author and illustrator represented themselves.
