Alison Romig at Delacorte Romance has acquired Buried Feelings, a YA novel by Kit Rosewater. Ex-best friends Ivy and Cam should be queer royalty at their high school—instead they can't stand each other. But when a San Francisco treasure hunt ropes them back together, they'll end up digging into their own complicated, buried history. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Lauren Spieller at Folio Literary Management sold world rights.
Krista Marino at Delacorte Press has bought, in an exclusive submission, in a two-book deal, Trans Panic by Logan-Ashley Kisner, a YA slasher horror novel in which a young trans teen finds herself stuck in a summer camp for queer youth that has been infiltrated by a serial killer; and Docile Creatures, a YA murder mystery thriller set in 1950s America, featuring two trans teens who get caught up in a deadly mystery after swapping identities. Publication is slated for fall 2026 and fall 2027; Chloe Seager at Madeline Milburn Ltd. did the deal for North American rights.
Regan Winter at Disney-Hyperion has acquired Ava's Bodega, a picture book series by author-illustrator Zara González Hoang. The contemporary neighborhood and plucky heroine of Alma's Way meets the magical possibilities of imagination from Bluey in this series starring optimistic, creative five-year-old Ava, who builds a magic bodega (in the back of her abuelo's real one) that has the answer to any kid's problem. Publication of the first book is set for spring 2027; Andrea Morrison negotiated the three-book deal for world rights.
Megan Abbate at Bloomsbury has bought, in an exclusive submission, Benny's Bright Qing Ming, a picture book by Michelle Jing Chan, which follows a boy as he prepares a surprise gift for his beloved uncle he's been waiting all year to see at the Tomb Sweeping Festival and holiday. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Michelle Frey at Knopf has acquired world rights to Answered Prayers by Autumn Allen (l.), illustrated by Charly Palmer, an ode to Black Muslim children that conveys their history and shines a light on their future. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Tina DuBois represented the author while at ICM Partners (the author is now represented by Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency), and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Michael Green at Marble Press has bought world rights to The Legend of Leo by Monica Acker (l.), illustrated by Mikel Valverde. If Frasier Crane was a dandelion, he would be Leo—imperious and vain, admonishing other weeds and any four-legged creature that dares come sniffing around his perfect petals. But Leo may not be as singular, or as golden, as he likes to believe. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency represented the author, and Paula Esparraguera at Art&Kö represented the illustrator.
Meredith Mundy at Abrams Appleseed has acquired, in a preempt, world rights to Just a Shell... Or Is It? and Just a Puddle... Or Is It? by Becca McMurdie (l.) (Building a Beak), illustrated by Paola Escobar (A Plate of Hope). These nonfiction picture books show how the same natural objects can be viewed by different people, animals and even trees, in completely different ways. Publication is set for spring 2026 and spring 2027; Joyce Sweeney at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Amy Kitcherside at Pickled Ink represented the illustrator.
Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow Books has bought world rights to The Escape Artist by biologist Thor Hanson (l.), illustrated by Galia Bernstein, the science-based story of one of the most renowned and popular escape artists of all time—an octopus named Inky. Publication is planned for July 2025; Laura Blake at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong represented the illustrator.
