Mallory Kass at Scholastic has acquired, in an exclusive submission, North American rights to The Gravewood, first in a YA duology by Kelly Andrew (I Am Made of Death), in a six-figure deal. A supernatural romance with dystopian elements, the novel features a Deaf girl living in post-climate collapse New England who offers up her blood to the cunning young leader of a local vampire cartel in exchange for desperately needed supplies—but when her secret gets out, the stakes turn deadly. Publication will begin in spring 2026; Josh Adams at Adams Literary handled the deal.
Stacey Barney at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought, at auction, Rebecca Barrow's horror YA novel-in-verse, Doe, the story of a viciously competitive cheer team in a small unnamed town that's told in three perspectives, the team itself, the voice of their power-hungry cheer captain who's desperate to escape her dead-end life, and the ravenous beast who hunts them all. Wild and hungry, the girls and the beast have more in common than they realize in this exploration of the feral nature of girlhood itself. Publication is set for summer 2026; Faye Bender at the Book Group sold North American rights.
Sara Goodman and Vanessa Aguirre at Wednesday Books have acquired Where There's Room for Us by Hayley Kiyoko (Girls Like Girls), a tale of romance and self-discovery set in a reimagined 1880s Victorian England where everyone is free to love whoever they choose. Publication is scheduled for November 2025; Katelyn Dougherty at Paradigm sold world rights.
Alex Lu at Random House Graphic has bought, in a preempt, in a six-book deal, Marionetta by Míriam Bonastre Tur (Hooky), based on the hit Webtoon. This YA fantasy graphic novel series follows Julia, who gets more than she bargained for when she visits a traveling circus of mysterious misfits who turn out to be immortals, and strikes a terrible bargain in order to survive. Publication of the first book is slated for fall 2026 as part of the Ink Pop line; Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management negotiated the deal for world rights.
Erinn Pascal at Andrews McMeel has acquired world English rights to Guritchi's debut manhwa, Battle Players. Pitched as Ready Player One meets The Hunger Games, the story follows teenage twins as they enter a deadly televised virtual reality gaming tournament to try to win the grand prize and afford lifesaving treatment for their sick little brother. David Purse at Inked Entertainment did the deal, with publication planned for spring 2027.
Emilia Sowersby at Roaring Brook Press has bought, in a preempt, Sentinels: Keepers of the Forest and two sequels by Kate O'Hearn, author of the Pegasus, Titans, Valkyrie, and Atlantis series. This eco-fantasy/adventure middle grade trilogy features warring squirrel clans and a single chosen squirrel from each clan who, when they unite, have the power to determine the survival of the forest and all its inhabitants. Publication is tentatively set for fall 2026; Kristin Ostby at Greenhouse Literary brokered the deal for North American rights.
Alison Romig at Delacorte Press has acquired Lindsay Currie's Dead and Breakfast, a spooky middle grade adventure about a 12-year-old artist stuck at a vampire-themed bed-and-breakfast who must return a cursed artifact to its rightful owner before it's too late, and a sequel. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027 and spring 2028; Shannon Hassan at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency sold world and audio rights.
Michael Green at Marble Press has bought world rights to Michelle Lin's (l.) graphic novel debut, The Riceball Fairy, illustrated by Alyssa Hutchings. Inspired by the films of Studio Ghibli, this middle grade adventure thrusts young Charlie and Lucy on a quest to return the Jade Emperor's favorite fairy in time to save Lunar New Year, thereby preventing the monster Nian from destroying humanity. Publication is set for fall 2026; Amy Thrall Flynn at Aevitas Creative Management represented the author, and Kaitlyn Katsoupis at Belcastro Agency represented the illustrator.
Heidi Kilgras at Random House has acquired world rights to Mini-Golf Fun!, an early reader by Tasha Hilderman (l.), illustrated by Kaly Quarles, in which a young mini-golfer putts their way through an elaborate course of windmills, mole hills, and waterfalls to an ice cream celebration. Publication is planned for summer 2026; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the author, and Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Lee Wade at Random House Studio has bought world rights to Pura Belpré Honor artist Leo Espinosa's author-illustrator debut. In My Papa Has a Red Mustache, a girl adores her papa but is embarrassed by his bright red mustache. Yet when the two are separated at a soccer game, the girl realizes that what makes her papa different makes him shine the brightest. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Elizabeth Rudnick at Gillian MacKenzie Agency negotiated the deal.
Nicolás Ore-Giron at Roaring Brook Press has acquired Look Alike by author-illustrator Nátali de Mello in her U.S. debut. A curious capybara ventures beyond the urban riverbanks of Brazil in search of something that cannot be found there, in a humorous picture book about biodiversity inspired by Nátali's home country. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Janine Le at Janine Le Literary Agency sold world rights.
Luana Kay Horry at HarperCollins has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to The Late Birdby Sha'an d'Anthes (aka FurryLittlePeach), a picture book about an owl who is always sleeping in late (at least according to the early birds), and who finally finds out the truth about perception, finding your parliament, and fitting in. Publication is set for winter 2027; the author represented herself.
Gabriela Baron at Charlesbridge has acquired A Light for Lucinda by author-illustrator Olga Herrera, a picture book about a child's experience with her family during the Cuban Revolution. When military violence erupts in the streets outside Lucinda's home, the family joins together finding love, hope, and light amid the chaos and strife. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary sold world rights.
Alexandra Cooper at Quill Tree has bought North American rights, at auction, to author-illustrator Danielle Ridolfi's debut picture book, When Dark Clouds Come is a rendering of the kaleidoscopic sights, sounds, and colors that comprise a storm—dark, swirling, and moving closer with every page turn, as it blankets the world in wondrous change. Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency sold world rights, for publication in fall 2025.
Christianne Jones at Capstone has acquired Just Like Rabbit by author-illustrator Katy Hudson (Too Many Carrots). In this picture book, Frog does everything he can to change who he is and be just like rabbit, but when disaster strikes, Frog must decide who he's really meant to be. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency sold world rights.
Cheryl Eissing at Flamingo Books has bought world rights to Big Rig Pig by Claire Tattersfield (l.), illustrated by Rob Sayegh Jr., about Big Rig truck driver Miles Bacon, who can haul just about anything. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Sophie Cudd at the Book Group represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Luana Kay Horry at HarperCollins has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights excluding Canada, to Unlimited, written by Gary R. Gray Jr. (l.) (I'm From), and illustrated by fine artist and debut children's illustrator Sam Onche. In this rhythmic picture book, a Black child transcends stereotypes and others' opinions, while exploring their vibrant identity and limitless future. Publication is set for fall 2027; Steven Malk at Writers House represented the author, and Ellen Goff at HG Literary represented the artist.
Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has acquired, at auction, world rights to Black Cat Island, a picture book inspired by a peculiar slice of 19th-century history, written by New Yorker staff writers Casey Cep (l.) and Kathryn Schulz (c.), illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Aaron Becker. A real-world 101 Dalmatians, the story introduces a greedy man who collects black cats on an island in the Chesapeake Bay with the intention of harvesting their fur, and the two clever felines who lead a daring midwinter escape. It's slated for winter 2027; Charlie Olsen and Kimberly Witherspoon at Inkwell Management represented the authors, and Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt represented the artist.
Irene Vázquez at Levine Querido has bought world English rights to I Want to Eat My Brother, a picture book by Hélène Gaudy (l.), illustrated by Simone Rea (c.), and translated from the French by Julia Grawemeyer (r.). Come dinnertime, Oskar's parents have a lot of tasty suggestions, but Oskar would prefer something that's not on the menu: he wants to eat his little brother. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Patrícia Guerreiro Nunes at Birds of a Feather Agency did the deal on behalf of Éditions Cambourakis; Grawemeyer represented herself.
Adria Haley at Tommy Nelson has acquired world rights to What If the World Was a Letter by Hilary Echols (l.), illustrated by Vũ Thủy Ngọc Hà, a picture book about the immeasurable, unending power of love, and all the ways it's reflected in the natural world; Laura Helweg will edit. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Lori Steel at SteelWorks Literary represented the author, and Sol Salinas at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Margaret Anastas at Flamingo Books has bought world rights to Please Don't Scare the Ghost and a second title by Carrie Williford (l.), illustrated by Allysa Adams. The first book follows a timid ghost and his human buddy on Halloween night and the creatures they see on the town; it's set for summer 2026. Elise Howard at DeFiore & Company represented the author, and Heather and Ethan Long at Tugeau 2 Art & Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Nancy Paulsen and Caitlin Tutterow at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books have acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Creek Crawling by Sophia Gholz (l.) (The Boy Who Grew a Forest), illustrated by Nicole Wong, a picture book about a boy and his mother discovering all kinds of treasures as they spend a golden summer day together in the creek behind their house. Publication is slated for summer 2027; Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Associates represented the author, and James McGowan at BookEnds Literary represented the illustrator.
Alexandra McKenzie at Charlesbridge has bought world rights to the picture book Ramp It Up! by Katrina Tangen (l.), and Kristen Nobles has acquired world rights for illustration by Wendy Wen. Zoe is planning a party for all of her toys on the roof of her toy house, but there's no accessible way to the pool. After some trial and error with different shapes and angles, Zoe and the toys are ready for the best party ever. Publication is planned for fall 2026 as part of Steamworks; the author represented herself, and Susan Penny at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Nicole Ellul at Simon & Schuster has acquired Kristin O'Donnell Tubb's YA debut, The Spiritualists. After her sister's death, a young clairvoyant gets dragged into a dangerous game of revenge in a turn-of-the-century New York City that's fallen under the spell of the spiritualist movement, the perfect setting for an elaborate heist planned by a group of psychics who are determined to right past wrongs. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Josh Adams at Adams Literary handled the deal for North American rights.
Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has bought, in an exclusive submission, Murder for the Modern Girl author Kendall Kulper's new YA historical romance, A Time Traveler's History of Tomorrow, in which a scientifically gifted girl and a charming runaway accidentally set off the apocalypse at Chicago's 1934 World's Fair and find themselves falling back in time to 1893, where they must figure out how to save the universe and return home. Publication is set for fall 2025; Sara Crowe at Sara Crowe Literary sold world rights.
Lisa Yoskowitz at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to How She Fell by Tess Sharpe, a YA thriller about a teen filmmaker who sends her last moments to her best friend, revealing she did not fall off the bluffs like everyone thinks—she was pushed. Dot Reeves keeps the truth of Liberty's murder secret as she searches for her killer and plots to take revenge—and justice—into her own hands. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret negotiated the deal.
Justine Bylo at Entangled/Mayhem Books has bought The Golden Huntress by Katherine Quinn. In this treasure-hunting romantasy, Charlie Pierce and Jack Slade are heirs to rival Collector families who hunt for the powerful relics of fallen gods. When she gets stuck with Jack in the dangerous Spiritwoods Charlie discovers something chilling: it's not the magic they should fear—it's their fellow heirs. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Cole Lanahan at the Seymour Agency did the two-book deal for world rights.
Marilyn Kretzer at Blackstone has acquired, in an exclusive submission, YouTuber, Twitch streamer, and former BuzzFeed producer Kelsey Impicciche's Heart of the Moon. A betrayed siren princess must join forces with a backstabbing pirate captain to reclaim her sister, unlock ancient magic, and overthrow the ruthless Pirate King before the ocean is lost to chaos. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media sold North American rights.
Zareen Jaffery at Kokila has bought, at auction, Hail Mariam by Huda Al-Marashi (co-author of 2024 Walter Dean Myers Award Honor novel Grounded), a contemporary spin on Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. This middle grade novel follows Mariam Hassan, an Iraqi American sixth grader who is the only Muslim in her Catholic school, as she navigates faith, family, friendship, and the burdens of representation. Publication is set for 2026; Tanusri Prasanna at DeFiore & Company brokered the two-book deal for North American rights.
Whitney Leopard at Random House Graphic has acquired Stone Lion by Debbie Fong (Next Stop), a middle grade contemporary fantasy graphic novel. When Rollie agrees to visit and watch over his grandmother in rural Taiwan for the summer, he thought it was going to be an easy way to earn some credit with his parents—too bad the slumbering spirit living inside a stone lion statue has other plans when Rollie accidentally wakes him up. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Janna Morishima at Janna Co. sold world rights.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought, in a preempt, Hijacked by Goats by Ann Braden (Into the Rapids), a middle grade novel about a 12-year-old girl whose brain keeps telling her to punish herself, and her experience in treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Publication is planned for summer 2027; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Catherine Frank at Peachtree has acquired world rights to Elaine Vickers's latest middle-grade novel, The Sweet Spot, about 12-year-old Trip, whose plans for a perfect baseball season go sideways when an unexpected teammate shows up. Suddenly Trip is grappling with questions about legacy and what it really means to win, in a story pitched as The Sandlot meets toxic masculinity. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Ammi-Joan Paquette while at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Rotem Moscovich at Knopf has bought world rights to Imagine a Horse by Julie Fogliano (l.), illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Erin Stead, a picture book about the freedom of being yourself and all the feelings and failures that come with it. Publication is set for spring 2027; Steven Malk at Writers House represented the author, and Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the illustrator.
Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has acquired world rights to The Thing About Pie by Amy Hest (l.), illustrated by Christopher Thornock, a picture book in which a child bakes a very special pie and takes it on an epic bicycle journey across town and park to a very special destination—a picnic with Grampa. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; the author represented herself, and Lori Steel at SteelWorks Literary represented the illustrator.
Pam Bobowicz while at Workman Kids bought world rights to First Night at Dad's by Elizabeth Rudnick (l.), illustrated by Yaara Cellier; Cheryl Klein will edit. In this story about a family going through a divorce, Henry navigates big changes and big feelings as he spends his first night away from his mother at his father's new home. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Gillian Mackenzie at Gillian Mackenzie Agency represented the author, and Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Esther Cajahuaringa at Knopf has acquired, at auction, two picture books by author-illustrator Vikki Chu in her authorial debut. The first book, Wake Up, Poppyville!, is about two travelers who stumble upon the charming and fantastically weird town of Poppyville. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Kait Feldmann at KT Literary sold world rights.
Arthur A. Levine at Levine Querido has bought world rights to Rainbow Cookies, a picture book by Lesléa Newman (l.) (Joyful Song), illustrated by Z.B. Asterplume. A girl rallies her friends and family to show the power of love and acceptance when Ms. Madeleine's Pride-inspired rainbow cookies spark backlash. Publication is set for spring 2026; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author, and Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Karen Chaplin at Quill Tree has acquired world rights to Festival of Lights by Erica Lyons (l.) and Reenita M. Hora (c.), illustrated by Kamala Nair (r.), a picture book about two holidays that celebrate light—Hanukkah and Diwali, in which two girls both love all the celebrations in their classroom, but each feel funny that their holidays aren't being celebrated; they discover that their differences are something that they have in common, as they teach their classmates about the joy of spreading light. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented both authors, and Sol Salinas at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Kei Nakatsuka at Bloomsbury has bought world rights to A Day with No Words by Tiffany Hammond (l.). founder of the social media account Fidgets and Fries, illustrated by Kate Cosgrove, a picture book that explores what life is like for families who use nonverbal communication, relying on tools such as a tablet to express themselves. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; Annette Bourland at Bourland Strategic Advisors represented the author, and Janet DeCarlo at Storybook Arts represented the illustrator.
Mike Yuen-Killick at Red Comet Press has acquired world rights to Flowers of the Season by Mishy Wang (l.), illustrated by Bianca Austria. Inspired by the Chinese art motif Sìjì Mínghuā, "Flowers of the Four Seasons," a girl and her aunt tend to a garden throughout the seasons; in each, the girl learns about a flower that helps answer the question: what do you do when you're waiting for the other shoe to drop, when someone you love is dying? Publication is set for spring 2026; Paige Terlip at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Andrew Behr at Astound US represented the illustrator.
David A. Robertson at Tundra/Swift Water Books has bought world rights to Canada by Ojibwe author Richard Wagamese (l.), illustrated by Anishinaabe artist Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley. The picture book is based on a poem by the late author in which an Indigenous child struggles with a school assignment that asks, "What makes you proud to be Canadian?" and calls on the strength of their ancestors to find the answer. Publication is slated for March 2026; Chris Casuccio and John Pearce at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author, and Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists represented the illustrator.
Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights to The Sleepover Rock by Jenn Moudahi (Métis) (l.), and Ellie Erhart has acquired world rights for illustration by Elke Boschinger. Nervous about going to his first sleepover, Myles decides to bring his special rock to help him sleep, and gets a big surprise. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Lane Clarke at Ultra Literary Agency represented the author, and Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary represented the illustrator.
Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books has bought world English rights to The Boredom Monster by Mariana Ellery (l.), illustrated by Clara Reschke. When Cameron is pulled into the land of Boredom, everything seems terribly tedious and drowsily dull, but with the help of the Boredom Monster, he learns to celebrate the silence of a distraction-free world and finds his creative spark. Publication is planned for summer 2026; Paige Terlip at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Amy Fitzgerald at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
