Alex Wolfe and Elizabeth Lee at Penguin Workshop have bought The Hardest Ones to Fool by Christina Li (The Manor of Dreams), a YA paperback original thriller about a teenage scammer pretending to date three boys. When her best friend turns up dead, she becomes convinced one of them is involved. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Jess Regel at Helm Literary sold world rights.
Kristin Allard at Norton Young Readers has acquired We Became Wild, a YA debut by H.D. Carver, in which two teens, reeling from the loss of the friend who held them together, flee their dangerous home lives to chase their friend's dream of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, on a journey that could change everything they thought they knew about themselves. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret negotiated the deal for world rights.
Eileen Rothschild at Wednesday Books has bought Talons and Nightshade by debut author Jessi Ann York, a dark, queer YA fantasy of obsession, passion, and consumption in a world fighting to break free of its "eat-or-be-eaten" ethos, featuring the first human girl to study among the winged harpyia people of Chroma; when a de-feathered corpse appears in her research studio, they question if they made a grave mistake. Publication is set for winter 2027; Elizabeth Copps at Copps Literary Services sold world English rights.
Alyson Heller at Aladdin has acquired the upper middle grade novel Crash into Crush by Julia DeVillers, in an exclusive submission. In this rivals to crushes rom-com, two teens are driven to distraction as sparks fly in their driver's ed class. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Melissa Edwards at Stonesong sold world rights.
Michael Green at Marble Press has bought Glow by Nancy Stone, a magical realism novel for middle-grade readers. Cordelia and Frano are as different as storm clouds and sunshine, but it's up to them to save the last of the legendary glow storks from the massive hurricane bearing down on their Florida home. Publication is scheduled for April 2026; Ammi-Joan Paquette while at Erin Murphy Literary Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Whitney Leopard at Random House Graphic has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Rebecca Mock's middle grade solo debut graphic novel, Dare You to Dance, about Gracie, a young ballerina who enrolls in a prestigious summer dance workshop and struggles with being away from home. Determined to push herself, she makes a rival of one of the best dancers in class—now only if she can get that dancer, and the instructors, to see how serious she is about ballet. Publication is set for summer 2026; Chelsea Eberly at Greenhouse Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Julia McCarthy at Atheneum has bought No Ordinary Women: How Progressive Era Reformers Reshaped America by P. O'Connell Pearson, middle grade nonfiction about the progressive movement in the U.S. between 1890 and 1920, and the many inspiring women who drove the changes the movement inspired. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Susan Hawk at Upstart Crow Literary handled the deal for world rights.
Siobhan Ciminera at Simon Spotlight has acquired world rights to Cyndi Marko's Ghost Pouncers, an illustrated young chapter book that addresses the age-old problem facing cats when their food source is threatened by ghosts—who you gonna call? Publication is planned for summer 2027; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency negotiated the deal.
Jill Santopolo at Philomel has bought Lucy Ruth Cummins's Read with Me series, five silly and helpful books that use decodable text and the Science of Reading theory to teach kids to read, with one part of the story meant to be read by an adult and the other by a child. Publication is scheduled for summer 2027; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management did the deal for world rights.
Rotem Moscovich at Knopf has acquired, at auction, Euphemia and the Nowhere Spring, a picture book by debut author-illustrator Kelsey Ó Ciardha, about an eager, stir-crazy lamb who decides to throw a birthday party for Spring to bait it out of hiding, but realizes there's someone she must say goodbye to first. Publication is slated for spring 2028; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Caitlyn Dlouhy at Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books has bought world English rights to Bunny Bunny by Doreen Cronin (l.), illustrated by Brian Cronin, a mischievous romp about four bunnies who leave their cozy home in town to explore the forest. When they meet a curious bear, the group realizes they'll have to stick together if they want to win this high-stakes game of hide-and-seek. Publication is set for spring 2027; Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties represented both the author and the illustrator.
Ainslie Campbell-Schwartz at Candlewick has acquired world rights to Some Kids Are Dolphins by David Elliott (l.), illustrated by Kate Fedos, a celebration of all the kinds of creatures children can be and the marvelous creatures they already are, in the vein of Elliott's And Here's to You. Liz Bicknell will edit; publication is planned for spring 2027. Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Sara Sargent at Random House has bought world English rights to Scritch! Scratch!, a picture book by Teri Sloat (l.) (Zip! Zoom! On a Broom), illustrated by debut U.S. illustrator Zuzana Čupová, about a trio of siblings who hear a spooky old witch lurking in their pumpkin patch. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary represented both the author and the illustrator.
Anna Luketic at Sourcebooks eXplore has acquired world rights to The Flying Fire Fighters by Heather Alexander (l.), illustrated by John Joseph, in which a brave crew of planes and trucks works together to put out fires and save the day. Publication is slated for summer 2027; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency represented the author. and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Sydnee Monday at Kokila has bought Look to the Sky: The Genius of Maurice White by debut author Glenn Hightower (l.), illustrated by Lance Evans, a picture book biography of Maurice White, the musician and creator of the band Earth, Wind, and Fire. Publication is set for fall 2027; the author represented himself, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Catherine Laudone at S&S/Beach Lane Books has acquired world rights to Living Stars, a narrative nonfiction picture book about a family that works together to turn their backyard into a firefly sanctuary, by Britt Crow-Miller (l.), illustrated by Josée Masse. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Sally M. Kim at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Claire Morance at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Dena Neusner at Apples & Honey Press has bought world rights to Under the Rubble by Emmy Award-winning journalist Elisa Boxer (l.) (Hidden Hope), illustrated by Oksana Drachkovska, a picture book about how the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto buried canisters full of letters and artifacts about their daily experiences, which were found after the Holocaust. The book is set for spring 2026; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency represented the author, and Amy Milligan at the Illo Agency represented the illustrator.
Deidra Purvis at Free Spirit has acquired Santiago and Great Bear: A Friendship Written in the Stars by debut author-illustrator Lisa Johnston Hancock. In the picture book, Santiago, a boy who feels lonely after moving to the countryside, wishes on Ursa Major for a friend—and the Great Bear falls from the sky. Cassie Labriola-Sitzman and Cathy Hernandez will edit; publication is slated for summer 2026. Ana Crespo at East West Literary Agency sold world rights.
