Polo Orozco at Putnam has acquired, in a preempt, When I Was Death, a speculative YA debut by Alexis Henderson (The Year of the Witching). Roslyn is brought into the fold of an enigmatic group of girls who may have answers about her sister's mysterious death, only to discover a far more sinister reality: the girls have been recruited by Death incarnate to do his bidding, and now Roslyn must decide if she'll strike the same deal. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Jenny Bent at the Bent Agency sold world English rights.
Tiffany Liao at Random House has bought Midnight's Vicious Toll by Vanessa Montalban, a YA horror romance pitched as a Nicaraguan Meet Joe Black meets The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, following 17-year-old Gris, the last surviving member of a cursed family pursued by Death, who is forced to confront her past when she begins to fall for a mysterious boy who only appears after midnight. Publication is scheduled for summer 2027; Danielle Burby at Mad Woman Literary Agency sold world English rights.
Miriam Newman at Candlewick has acquired world English rights to Nafiza Azad (l.) and Intisar Khanani's A Thousand Nights, an anthology inspired by Arabian Nights but in a fantasy setting. The narrative follows two teen girl refugees crossing a perilous desert to seek asylum in a neighboring country, and the young refugees they meet along the way, each sharing their own fantastical and inspiring stories, a diverse range of folk and fairytale style stories from contributors Hanna Alkaf, Sara Sharaf Beg, Loretta Chefchaouni, Heba Helmy, Zeyneb Holdridge, Ausma Zehanat Khan, Diana Ma, Ardo Omer, Haneen Oriqat, Sarah Mughal Rana, Farah Naz Rishi, Laila Sabreen, Zeba Shahnaz, Ream Shukairy, and Zaynah Qutubuddin. Publication is set for summer 2026; Katelyn Detweiler at Jill Grinberg Literary Management represented Azad, and Ellen Scordato at Stonesong represented Khanani.
Kiara Valdez at First Second has bought Nice to Meet You by Wishroomness, based on the hit Webtoon. In this YA contemporary romance graphic novel, college freshman Mew finds her handsome classmate Daze's lost student card and switches it with hers, hoping for a chance encounter, but when the two actually meet, Mew can't help but wonder if she's made the best decision of her life or the worst. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management handled the three-book deal for world rights.
Wendy Loggia at Delacorte Press has acquired The Paper Ballerina by C.M. Cornwell, in which Paper Ballerina is brought to life by her maker's tears and must craft a heart to become human, all while caught in the rift between her creator and her terminally ill sister. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Mary Cummings at Great River Literary sold world fights.
Margaret Anastas at Flamingo Books has bought, in an exclusive deal, world rights to debut picture books Owl Capone and an untitled second book by Christy Ewers (l.), both illustrated by Rob Sayegh Jr. Owl Capone tells the story of the kindest owl in the Windy Forest, who might have to change his approach after being double-crossed by his most trusted friend. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented herself as well as the illustrator.
Luana Kay Horry at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to Mountains & Me, a picture book by poet Rio Cortez (l.), illustrated by Rafael López. Set in the author's home state of Utah, a curious child embarks on a family hike, feeling both protected and intimidated by the sensory experience of the canyon, and is reminded by Mama that generations of women in their family also hiked these same mountains. Publication is set for winter 2027; Wendi Gu at HG Literary represented the author, and Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator.
Cecily Kaiser at RISE x Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to We Are Free by First Amendment legal scholar and educator Allison Matulli (l.) (I Am Because We Are), illustrated by Pura Belpré Author Honoree Edel Rodriguez (Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey), a picture book showcasing the ways freedom of speech rights and responsibilities are experienced by our youngest citizens. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Lilly Ghahremani at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties represented the illustrator.
Shulokhana Khan at Scholastic has acquired world rights to Love, Panda, a debut picture book by Elaine Su (l.), illustrated by Charlene Chua, a story told in letters from the perspective of a beloved lovey who is lost beneath the younger sister's crib. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; the author was unagented, and Tracy Marchini at BookEnds Literary represented the illustrator.
Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has bought Pop-Up Pond, a picture book by Taunya English (l.), and Cathleen Schaad has acquired world rights for illustration by Jennifer Ball-Cordero. An African American naturalist leads families on a hike to see the wonders of a vernal pool: a wetland nursery for frogs, salamanders, and damselflies. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Sarah Rockett at Tilbury House has acquired world rights to The Mermaid by Patty Brozo (l.), illustrated by Annie Bowler. Sirena is terrified of the water and can't swim, but with the help of her Poppo and a pair of ginormous orange swim trunks, nothing is impossible. Publication is set for spring 2026; the author represented herself, and Aliza Hoover at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Janet Bruins at Picnic Heist Publishing has bought world rights to Kindergarten Blues by Carolivia Herron (l.), illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic. Told in playful blues stanzas, this picture book follows a kindergartener as she navigates the highs and lows of school life. Publication is slated for 2027; the deal was unagented.
Anna (Sargeant) Luketic at Sourcebooks eXplore has acquired What Butt? by Kari Lavelle, first in a two board-book deal, in which toddlers will guess which animal each butt belongs to while reading silly rhymes and making animal sounds. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency sold world rights.
Ashley Hearn at Peachtree Teen has acquired Delali Adjoa's debut The Free Verse Society, a YA romance pitched as The Sun Is Also a Star meets Dead Poets Society, in which two teens struggling through impossible circumstances connect through their high school poetry club, and the power of the written word tears down the walls they've built around their hearts. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Lindsay Auld at Writers House brokered the deal for world rights.
Jen Klonsky and Simone Roberts-Payne at Putnam have bought, in an exclusive submission, Last Kiss of Summer by debut author Jessica M. Felleman. When Sera Watkins returns to Cape Cod after two summers away, she vows to stay away from Luke, the boy who broke her heart. The trouble is, Luke literally has a piece of her heart: as babies, the two underwent a rare surgery that connected them forever. After receiving difficult news, Sera wonders if it's time for a second chance at love—before it's too late. Publication is set for summer 2026; Jessica Harriton and Lanie Davis at Alloy Entertainment did the two-book deal for North American rights on behalf of Jess Regel at Helm Literary.
Stefanie Chin at Union Square Kids has acquired Cynthia Prith's YA debut And All Her Ghosts, about a girl in a ghost-riddled world who discovers she has no heartbeat, the new boy who seems to know about her past, and their race to fix death before the government—or her mother—stops them. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Maeve MacLysaght at Aevitas Creative Management negotiated the deal for world rights.
Samia Garcia-Fakih at First Second has bought world rights to We Were Revolutionaries, a YA graphic novel memoir by Juan González (l.), Julio Anta (c.), and Mar Julia (r.) about Juan González and his co-founding of the Young Lords Party. Publication is planned for 2027; Sam Stoloff at Frances Goldin Literary Agency represented González, Jessica Mileo at InkWell Management represented Anta, and Charlie Olsen at InkWell Management represented Julia.
Whitney Leopard at Random House Graphics has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights for two middle grade graphic novels by Violet Chan Karim (Summer Vamp). The first, Beast Friends, takes Maya to a science fair competition where she discovers that her best friend might actually be a werewolf. It's scheduled for spring 2027; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency handled the deal.
Tracy Gates while at Viking bought Happy Songkran Day! The Thai New Year Celebration by Thai American author-illustrator Dow Phumiruk; Maggie Rosenthal will edit. From sunup to late into the warm night, a girl shares the joys of family, forgiveness, delicious food, a temple visit, and a country-wide water fest of Songkran Day. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency sold world rights.
Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights for Gabriel's Winter Count, a picture book by Andrea M. Page (Hunkpapa Lakota) (l.), and Diane M. Earley has acquired world rights for illustrations by Alfreda Beartrack Algeo (Kul Wicasa Lakota). A Lakota boy forgets to give his parents a gift when they leave to serve, and while staying with his grandparents, he learns about winter counts, becomes the keeper of his family's stories, and creates a special gift for when his parents return. Publication is set for fall 2026; Adriana Domínguez at Aevitas Creative Management represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Anna (Sargeant) Luketic at Sourcebooks eXplore has bought world rights to All Brains Welcome by Johanna Peyton (l.), illustrated by Olga Popova, a celebratory picture book in which a group of neurodivergent kids share how they see the world. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Taylor Martindale Kean at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Lauren Ashleigh at Illustration USA represented the illustrator.
Daria Harper while at Chronicle Books acquired world rights to Touch a Truck! by Carrie Finison (l.), illustrated by Viola Wang, a rhyming, tabbed novelty book inviting the youngest vehicle fans to explore eight trucks, with a surprise at the end; Ariel Richardson will edit. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Linda Epstein at Emerald City Literary Agency represented the author, and Susan Penney at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Winsome Bingham at Reycraft has bought, in an exclusive submission, world English rights to Music Plants Hope by Tonnye Fletcher (l.), illustrated by Natalia Bruno, which tells the true story of a string quartet that performed a special concert for an audience comprised entirely of plants. Publication is set for spring 2026; Joyce Sweeney at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Jaime Gelman at Little Bee Books has acquired world rights to I Wish That You Knew by Rebecca Gardyn Levington (l.), illustrated by Alyssa Russell, a picture book about a child at their late grandmother's unveiling ceremony, reflecting on and celebrating the special relationship they shared. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency represented the author, and Christie Megill at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Bobbie Bensur at Paw Prints has bought, in a two-book deal, world rights to Rachel and Abby: Name Their New Baby Brother! and Rachel and Abby: Search for the Afikomen! by William Stieglitz (l.), illustrated by Daniel Sulzberg, leveled readers following two sisters as they embrace their Jewish heritage and traditions. Publication is planned for spring 2026; the author was unagented, and Dan Cramer at Page Turner Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
