Alex Borbolla at Bloomsbury has acquired Stonewall Honor author Justine Pucella Winans's (The Otherwoods) next YA novel, How to Survive a Slasher, and next middle grade novel, A Little Too Haunted, in a two-book deal. In Slasher, a queer teen who lives in a town famous as the site of the legendary Wolfman Massacres must use everything she knows about the rules of horror to stay alive when a prophetic manuscript puts her at the center of a new murder spree. In Haunted, a girl whose moms run a business flipping so-called "haunted" houses is pulled into the adventure of her life when their new project comes with an actual ghost. Publication is set for winter 2025 and fall 2025; Patricia Nelson at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency sold world English rights.
Milena Blue Spruce at Little, Brown has bought Such a Witch by Sarah Henning, a YA novel pitched as Wednesday meets Clueless set in a magic school, part rom-com, part murder mystery with a literal witch hunt. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Whitney Ross at High Line Literary Collective sold world rights.
Mora Couch at Holiday House has acquired Sarena Nanua (l.) and Sasha Nanua's YA historical fantasy A Riddle of Thorns, pitched as Divine Rivals meets The Inheritance Games. The book follows a girl who must compete against three strangers for her mother's mysterious inheritance: a plant said to have magical powers. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Pete Knapp and Stuti Telidevara at Park & Fine Literary and Media did the deal for world rights.
Ruta Rimas at Putnam has bought, in a six-figure auction, Fear of Falling, a co-created YA graphic novel with text by Suzanne Samin (l.) and art by Amalas Rosa. The book follows two former best friends from the Bronx: Aran, a Syrian American teen grappling with his mother's death, and Tao, a college basketball star with ADHD. When Tao moves back home after getting injured, both must confront the love they thought they'd left behind. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.
Tiffany Colón at Scholastic has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Bitter Bones by Lindsay Puckett (The Glass Witch; The Odds), an upper middle grade novel exploring disability through body horror. Pitched as Wednesday Addams meets American Girl dolls, the book follows Clay, a boy with too many bones, as he races to find his missing mother, a haunted dollmaker, before her cult-like following—or her creations—get to her first, though the road might also be paved with his own bones. Publication is set for fall 2025; Samantha Fabien at Root Literary sold world English rights.
Kate Harrison at Dial has bought Narwhal vs. Kindergarten and an untitled picture book by Vanessa Roeder, the Irma Black Award-winning author-illustrator of King Penguin. Hugo is a narwhal whose horn always gets in the way, whether on the bus, during recess, or in art class—so much so that he resigns himself to hiding it. But when his kindergarten class plays a baseball game, Hugo finds that critters of all shapes and sizes face their own unique challenges. Publication is planned for summer 2025; Rebecca Sherman at Writers House sold world rights.
Nicole Fox at Rise x Penguin Workshop has acquired author-illustrator María Coco's Camp Night, a wordless picture book about a small family's peaceful night camping that's shaken awake by an unexpected yet delightful surprise that will change their lives forever. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; Lori Steel at SteelWorks Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Namrata Tripathi at Kokila has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Sundust by Zeke Peña, an author-illustrator debut about siblings who chase a piece of fallen sun and find the wonders of the vibrant desert landscape they call home. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights.
Erika Turner at Little, Brown has acquired North American rights to The Urban Owls: How Flaco and Friends Made the City Their Home by Emmy-winning author Christian Cooper (l.) illustrated by Kristen Adam, a picture book about how owls like Flaco experience the city, and how young readers can protect and admire them in the urban environment. Publication is set for winter 2025; Gail Ross at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment represented the author, and Alice Jin Zhang at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Rotem Moscovich at Knopf has bought world rights to Darwin's Orchids by Martha Brockenbrough (l.), illustrated by Eliza Wheeler. This nonfiction picture book tells the story of how, with the help of family and friends, chronically ill Charles Darwin came to predict the relationship between one mysterious pollinator and one special flower—the orchid—130 years before the creature was observed by scientists. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Jennifer Laughran represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé represented the illustrator, both at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
Ann Kelley at Random House Studio has acquired, in a preempt, two picture books by Delano Brown (l.). The first, My Neighborhood, illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu, follows two brothers on a journey through their inner city to visit the barbershop, skateboard in the park, pick up lessons on the chessboard, and embrace the bustling energy of the people and places that make their neighborhood feel like home. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Ariana Philips at Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency represented the author, and Jessica Saint Jean at Jill Grinberg Literary Management represented the illustrator.
Dainese Santos at Simon and Schuster has bought world rights to The Never-Ending Goodbye by Leila Boukarim (l.) (The Lost Words; Zips and Eloo), illustrated by Afsaneh Sanei, a humorous kid's-eye view of what happens when you visit a Middle Eastern home. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Lilly Ghahremani at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Dana Chidiac at Henry Holt has acquired North American rights to Upside Down Iftar by Maysa Odeh (l.), illustrated by Nadine Issa. This picture book follows a girl, Malak, as her grandmother teaches her to make her family's favorite makloubeh for iftar, the fast-breaking meal shared during Ramadan. But will her cooking satisfy her family of foodies? Publication is set for winter 2026; Sara Crowe at Sara Crowe Literary represented the author, and James McGowan at BookEnds Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Margaret Raymo at Little, Brown has acquired J vs. K, by Newbery Medalists Kwame Alexander (r.) and Jerry Craft, an illustrated middle grade novel about the intense rivalry between the two most talented and creative fifth graders at Dean Ashley Public School. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Deneen C. Howell at Williams & Connelly and Judith Hansen at Hansen Literary Management negotiated the deal for world rights.
Nicole Ellul at Simon & Schuster has bought The Wand Keepers, a debut middle grade fantasy series by Tiffany McDaniel (Betty; On the Savage Side), starting with A Sky Full of Dragons, which follows a young witch named Spella, whose magical hat-making aunt is kidnapped just before Spella's first day at Dragon's Knob, a school for wand witchery and magic. Publication is set for fall 2024; Jennifer McDaniel at McDaniel Law brokered the two-book deal for world rights, excluding France, Italy, Japan, and the U.K. & Commonwealth.
Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has acquired Fooled by Susan Haas (l.) and Lexi Haas, the first middle grade novel by the co-authors of Lexi Haas's memoir The Year of the Buttered Cat. This humorous contemporary fiction story centers on a classroom of middle schoolers with disabilities who create an imaginary "wizarding school" that seemingly becomes real and turns the whole school upside down. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary sold world rights.
Rachel Diebel at Feiwel and Friends has bought author-illustrator Audrey Meeker's next middle grade graphic novel, Last One Picked, about 14-year-old Annabeth, who gets thrown into the world of volleyball with no experience, no friends, and no knee pads, and must learn to enjoy the sport despite her insecurity around her body. Publication is scheduled for winter 2027; Jessica Mileo at InkWell Management handled the deal for world rights.
Rotem Moscovich at Knopf has acquired Elaine by author-illustrator Anden Wilder. In the picture book, a chicken named Elaine journeys through the big city in search of artistic inspiration and discovers that the best art comes from sharing your true self with the world. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary did the deal for world rights.
Stephanie Pitts at Putnam has bought, in a six-way auction, the first two books in the Zebra and Yak picture book series by Eisner Award-nominated graphic novelist Paul Friedrich. The series launches with The Backwards Alphabet Book, in which readers follow Zebra and Yak on a humorous adventure as they navigate their way through a very mixed-up alphabet. Publication is set for summer 2025, and book two will follow in summer 2026; Gillian MacKenzie at Gillian MacKenzie Agency sold North American rights.
Joy Peskin at FSG has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to A Dad Can, a picture book celebration of the complexities and joys of fatherhood co-written by former Ugandan street kid, foster child advocate, and foster and adoptive parent Peter Mutabazi (l.) (Now I Am Known) and adoptive parent Pat Zietlow Miller (c.) (Be Kind), illustrated by Tamisha Anthony (r.) (Most Perfect You). Publication is planned for winter 2027; Erin Murphy represented Mutabazi and Ammi-Joan Paquette represented Miller, both at Erin Murphy Literary Agency, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Claire Tattersfield at Flamingo Books has bought world rights to Dear Squirrel: Notes from the Nuts You Left Behind by Kathy Kelly (l.), illustrated by Reggie Brown, a picture book about a squirrel searching for all the nuts that he's buried for winter but discovers they're all off having grand adventures. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Lynnette Novak at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Caitlin Johnson at HarperCollins has acquired Honeybird Blue, a picture book by Taunya English (l.), illustrated by Coretta Scott King Honor artist Raissa Figueroa, in which a girl and her dad go on a nature walk, looking for birds, and find green, brown, yellow, and 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. Publication is set for summer 2026; Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Natascha Morris at the Tobias Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Jess Harold at Henry Holt has bought world rights to House of Joy: A Celebration of Lucille Clifton, Author and Poet by Clifton student Miranda Paul (l.) (Speak Up; One Plastic Bag), illustrated by Jerry Jordan (Ida B. Wells Marches for the Vote). Publication is slated for fall 2026; Erin Murphy represented the author and Ammi-Joan Paquette represented the illustrator, both with Erin Murphy Literary Agency.
Sydnee Monday at Kokila has acquired world rights to Charley's Honky Tonk Mission, a picture book celebrating Charley Pride, America's first Black country music star, written by Beatrice Winifred Iker (l.) and illustrated by Miguelina Milien. Publication is planned for summer 2026; Chelsea Hensley at KT Literary represented the author, and Aliza Hoover at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press has bought world rights to You Did It by Bea Birdsong (l.), illustrated by Madi Wong, pitched as a readaloud for the last days of school and a celebration of all that students have tried and asked and learned during their school year. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Melissa Edwards at Stonesong represented the author, and Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
