Jessica Anderson at Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano Books has acquired, in a preempt, A Divine and Deadly Vow by Cairo Aibangbee, an epic YA enemies-to-lovers romantasy debut set amid the warring pantheons of Greek and Nigerian mythologies. Publication is planned for winter 2027; Gyamfia Osei at Andrew Nurnberg Associates sold North American rights.
Anna Parsons at Simon Pulse has bought The Risks of Falling by Taylor Hartley. In this YA romantic drama, perfectionist Halle finds herself lost in a national park with her nemesis and her best friend's ex, River, during a ski trip gone wrong. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Danielle Burby at Mad Woman Literary Agency sold world rights.
Maya Marlette at Scholastic has acquired Jasmine Guillory's debut YA novel, It's Only Dancing, about a former ballet dancer whose plans for summer family camp with her parents and sister include long walks, good books, and alone time, only to find herself drawn to the staff dancers, and one hip-hop instructor in particular, despite swearing she was done with dance forever. Publication is set for fall 2026; Holly Root at Root Literary sold world English rights.
Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has bought The Turing Test by Cait Levin, the Mathical Book Prize–winning author of Imposter. This YA girl-powered adventure into the future of technology and corruption by those who control it finds an emancipated teen uncovering secrets that the world's leading tech company will kill to keep hidden. Publication is slated for spring 2028; Chip Rice at WordLink sold world rights.
Tiffany Liao at Random House has acquired, at an eight-imprint auction, Roshani Chokshi's middle grade fantasy The Goodfolke Family and its sequel. Chokshi's return to middle grade follows two half-fae sisters who sneak back into Faerie in order to reconcile their father, the exiled prince, with his royal family. But families are tricky and fairy ones even more so, and the sisters must reckon with the marvels and manipulations of a world forbidden by their parents for a reason. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Jordan Hill at New Leaf Literary & Media brokered the deal for North American rights.
Alessandra Balzer at Macmillan/Balzer + Bray has bought, in a preempt, North American rights to P.S. Are We Friends Now? by real-life friends John Schu (l.) (Louder Than Hunger) and Jasmine Warga (A Rover's Story). Told in alternating letters by two middle-graders who are assigned to each other as pen pals, it's the story of how they write their way through easy lies and hard truths, and ultimately learn to show up for one another. Publication is set for fall 2027; Molly O'Neill at Root Literary represented Schu, and Brenda Bowen at the Book Group represented Warga.
Kristin Zelazko while at Candlewick acquired world rights to the middle grade graphic novel Voyager Twins Forever by Katie Venit (l.), illustrated by Jon Chad; Deborah Noyes and Hilary Van Dusen will edit for MIT Kids Press. The story follows the space probes Voyager I and Voyager II, personified and imagined as twins in an emotionally complex relationship. Publication is scheduled for summer 2028; Joyce Sweeney at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Stephen Barr at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Jordan Blanco at Ink Pop has bought My Neighbor Yokai by noho, a middle grade contemporary fantasy manga series with an anime adaptation on Crunchyroll. At the age of 20, Buchio the housecat sprouts a second tail and becomes a cat spirit; curious about why, he decides to take a journey of self-discovery joined by various spirits and human companions. Publication will begin in spring 2027; Chiara Tognetti at Chiara Tognetti Rights Agency negotiated on behalf of East Press for world English rights.
Sarah Mackenzie at Waxwing Books has acquired world rights to Sir Ursalot by Astrid Sheckels, an illustrated chapter book about a brave bear who sets out on a quest to take treasure from a dragon in order to win a new sword. Caroline Starr Rose will edit; publication is slated for fall 2027. Bruce Butterfield represented the author.
Caitlyn Dlouhy at Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books has bought One Big Yard by debut author-illustrator Zara Fina Stasi, a picture book about two children who meet by daring to peek to the other side of a fence installed in the middle of a communal yard, both children wishing, then plotting, to remove the fence. Publication is planned for summer 2027; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary sold world rights.
Donna Bray at Macmillan/Balzer + Bray has acquired, at auction, The Picture Book Pirates by Vanessa Roeder (The Box Turtle). In this meta-to-the max picture book, three pirates search for a story by pillaging other books, from fairy tales to ABCs, until they come to realize they might need to write their own. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027 (in time for Talk Like a Pirate Day); Rebecca Sherman at Writers House did the two-book deal for world rights.
Kat Brzozowski at Feiwel and Friends has bought world English rights to Rewilded Home by Fiona Wong (l.), illustrated by Cornelia Li, in which a delicate eco-system populated by plants and animals gets disrupted by a family's arrival, but, with the help of a child, finds new life and growth under the care of a conscious community. Publication is set for early 2028; Ellen Goff at HG Literary represented the author, and Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Frances Gilbert at Doubleday has acquired world rights to If You Meet a Fairy by Julie Fruitticher (l.), illustrated by Dagmar Smith. In this immersive picture book, the reader is whisked into Fairy Land through a tiny door in a tree, where they encounter an enchanted garden, a magical tea party, and mischievous fairy pranks. Publication is slated for spring 2027; the author was unagented, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Howard W. Reeves at Abrams has bought world rights to Jovita Idar: A Fiery Young Journalist's Stand for Justice, a picture book biography by Gloria Amescua (l.) (Child of the Flower-Song People), illustrated by Dia Pacheco, which tells the story of Jovita Idar, a young Tejana journalist in 1900s Texas who was determined to use her voice and stand against the inequalities and injustices inflicted on her people. Publication is planned for fall 2027; Taylor Martindale Kean at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Carolyn Yoder at Astra/Calkins Creek has acquired world rights to The Bat Man: Merlin Tuttle's Quest to Save Bats by Heather Lang (l.), illustrated by Becca Stadtlander. This picture book biography follows Tuttle's evolution from a young bat enthusiast to a pioneering scientist and conservationist who has saved millions of bats by proving that they are social, gentle, and essential to a healthy world. Publication is set for spring 2028; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Joni Sussman while at Kar-Ben Publishing bought Cranky Hank and the Noisy Neighbors by Claire Blumenfeld (l.), illustrated by Pauline Gregory, the story of a grumpy old man who just wants some peace and quiet, and the upstairs neighbors whose Purim celebrations are about to change his mind. Leila Sales will edit; publication is scheduled for spring 2027. The author represented herself, and Robbin Brosterman at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Hannah Lambert at Little Simon has acquired world rights to Amazingly, Wonderfully, Perfectly You by Dianne White (l.), illustrated by Penelope Dullaghan, a board book about growing up and being true to yourself. Publication is slated for spring 2027; Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Scott Hull at Scott Hull Associates represented the illustrator.
Michael Green at Marble Press has bought Pay Attention, Oliver, written and illustrated by Katie Dwyer. Oliver has a big imagination and often lives in a world of color and make believe. When his mother grows frustrated with telling him to pay attention and tries to stop him from doing something truly important, he takes a stand, showing her all the small, beautiful things the world holds when one truly pays attention. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary sold world rights.
Jaime Gelman at Little Bee Books has acquired Coastal Creatures by Jess McGeachin, an illustrated nonfiction picture book about the animals and plants on the world's coastlines. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Emma Dorph at Hachette Australia sold North American English, Spanish, and French rights.
Rick Rinehart at Muddy Boots has acquired Adrift: A Fox's Journey at Sea, a picture book by Bonnie Kelso. A young fox who is swept out to sea in a storm must cling to a piece of driftwood to keep from drowning, landing on a remote island populated with other castaways. Publication is set for spring 2027; Liz Nealon at Great Dog Literary sold U.S. and Canadian rights.
Michele McAvoy at the Little Press has bought world rights to Fliff, a picture book by Ruth R.E. Williams, in which a humdrum bobble dreams of breaking free from his bobbly blanket and living life on the breeze, but will freedom be as rewarding as Fliff imagines? Publication is slated for fall 2027; the author was unagented.
