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.
