Julie Strauss-Gabel at Dutton has acquired North American rights, at auction, to You've Found Oliver by Dustin Thao, a standalone novel that takes place in the same universe as Thao's debut, You've Reached Sam. A year after Sam's death, his best friend Oliver accidentally calls his number, and someone else answers the phone. The two strangers develop a strong connection and decide to meet up in person. Publication is planned for fall/winter 2025; Jenny Bent at the Bent Agency did the seven-figure deal.
Nicole Ellul at S&S has bought A Traitorous Heart by Erin Cotter (By Any Other Name), pitched as A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Bridgerton, a YA historical novel set in Renaissance France in which the noble niece of the royal spymaster must prove her worth to her uncle by matchmaking her closest friend (and ex-lover), the Princess of France, with the despised King of Navarre in order to prevent a war, while falling for the brazen young king herself. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Hilary Harwell at KT Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Eileen Rothschild at Wednesday Books has acquired, in a preempt, North American rights to Julia Alexandra's debut novel Nightmare on the Celestial, a YA fantasy meets dark romantasy set on a sinister cruise ship that siphons magic from its staff for the entertainment of the privileged guests aboard, where a teen resurrector must join the crew to fight for her magic and her life. Publication is scheduled for winter 2026; Ellen Goff at HG Literary negotiated the two-book deal.
Gabbi Calabrese at Sourcebooks Fire has bought Murder Land and an untitled YA thriller by Carlyn Greenwald (Sizzle Reel; Time Out), pitched as Bodies Bodies Bodies meets a queer One of Us Is Lying set at a pseudo-Disneyland. The book follows Billie Cooper, ride operator at California Land's most exciting new attraction, but when someone mysteriously dies on her ride, she must prove that she had nothing to do with it and stay alive as more people are dropping dead and an increasingly desperate killer stalks the park. Publication is set for summer 2025, with book two set for summer 2026; Janine Kamouh at William Morris Endeavor sold North American rights.
Joshua Dean Perry at Tiny Ghost Press has acquired As One Door Closes, a YA romantasy by Christopher Hartland (Against the Stars). To enter the afterlife one must cross through a door, unlocked by the Angel of Death, but when the keys to those doors are stolen no one can die; with the population of Earth expanding at an unsustainable rate, Death sends her half-angel/half-human son Orpheus to find them. Publication is planned for spring 2026.
Joy Peskin at FSG has bought, in an exclusive submission, Breakout and Mean, two middle-grade novels by Christina Wyman (Jawbreaker). Breakout follows a girl whose battle with serious acne brings out the worst in her relationship with her mother; it's scheduled for fall 2025. Mean is about a girl who struggles with a reputation as a mean girl, and is scheduled for fall 2026. Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Wiggler's Big Joke and a second graphic novel by Eisner-winning creator Kaeti Vandorn for the I Like to Read Comics line. A jokester worm named Wiggler tests out a new batch of jokes on her friends thinking it's all good fun until one of her jokes touches a nerve. Publication is slated for 2026; Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management sold world rights.
Lee Wade at Random House Studio has bought North American rights to Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell's A Cold Winter Walk Is What I Need, in which a child finds joy in a solitary walk, recognizing the importance of slowing down and acknowledging the creatures that make up the natural world around him. Publication is set for fall 2027; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio negotiated the deal.
Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has acquired, in a four-house auction, Tessa Blackham's picture book debut, The Ribbon, about a ballet dancer who first finds courage in a gifted red ribbon until she can, at last, realize it in herself. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary Agency brokered the two-book, six-figure deal for North American rights.
Tamar Brazis and Maggie Rosenthal at Viking have bought three picture books featuring the work of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver (l.), illustrated by two-time Caldecott Honor illustrator Melissa Sweet. Publication for the first book is slated for spring 2026; Jesseca Salky at Salky Literary Management and Charlotte Sheedy at Charlotte Sheedy Literary sold world rights.
Paula Wiseman at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has acquired world rights to Heartfelt, a picture book by Elaine Vickers (l.), illustrated by Sam Cotterill, a celebration of all the ways we can show love to one another: as families, as friends, and all across our world. Publication is set for January 2025; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Agency represented the illustrator.
Liz Bicknell, while at Candlewick, bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to At the Edge by David Elliott (l.), illustrated by Clover Robin, a collection of poems celebrating wacky and rare animals. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Jennifer Thompson at Scholastic has acquired, at auction, world rights to Home Is Here by Gianna Lakenauth (l.), illustrated by Bea Jackson, a picture book about a girl who moves from Guyana to Queens, and the loneliness, perseverance, and beauty in the journey of holding two homes in your heart. Publication is planned for summer 2026; Wendi Gu at GreenburgerKids represented the author, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Mekisha Telfer at Roaring Brook Press has bought, in a preempt, world rights to Cowboy Roots by debut author Faith Williams Schesventer (l.), illustrated by Tanisha Cherislin, a picture book that celebrates Black joy and the enduring legacy of Black cowboys. Publication is slated for winter 2026; Becca Langton at Darley Anderson Children's Book Agency represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Meredith Mundy at Abrams Appleseed has acquired world rights to Before You, a picture book by Anne Cavanaugh-Sawan (l.), illustrated by Karen Obuhanych, about ordinary things and events becoming charged with energy to be sunnier, saucier, and cozier when a child is added to the family. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Mary Cummings at Great River Literary represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Alyssa Mito Pusey at Charlesbridge has bought world rights to Cesar's Cerulean Surprise by Jenny Lacika (l.), and Cathleen Schaad has acquired world rights for illustration by Laura Sandoval Herrera. In this picture book, Cesar wants to borrow little sister Gabi's brand-new crayons, but she refuses to let him touch them. Publication is set for fall 2025; Miranda Paul at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Aliza Hoover at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Krista Vitola at Simon & Schuster has bought The Siren and the Star, Colby Cedar Smith's (Call Me Athena) next YA novel in verse, pitched as a Baroque High School Musical mixed with Blood, Water, Paint. It features a musical protégée who has chosen to join an elite ensemble traveling to a Baroque music festival in Venice, but she must break from her over-protective mother, learn to trust her newfound friends, and connect with a ghost from the past to find her true voice. Publication is set for fall 2025; Allison Hellegers at Stimola Literary Studio sold world English rights.
Michelle Frey at Knopf has acquired world rights to Suzanne Nelson's newest middle-grade novel, The Many Misadventures of the Merrivales, about a newly blended family that embarks on a surprise three-week road trip through Yellowstone National Park the morning after the wedding; it turns out that packing five newly minted stepsiblings into one rental RV is a setup for all sorts of hilarious disasters. Publication is projected for spring 2026; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Arthur A. Levine at Levine Querido has bought world rights to The Barking Puppy, a debut by Lori Lobenstine (l.), illustrated by Il Sung Na. The chapter book is the first in a series about a biracial girl, her adoring godmother, and the first "by dogs, for dogs" newspaper, which they sell to help a neighbor afford surgery for her puppy. Publication is slated for spring 2025; the author represented herself, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Liz Bicknell while at Candlewick Press acquired three board books by Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen. Your Farm, Your Forest, and Your Island present minimalist tableaus of familiar objects found in each location, with rhythmic texts perfect for reading aloud yet still imbued with Klassen's trademark wit; Katie Cunningham will edit. Publication is scheduled for February 2025; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights.
Carter Hasegawa at Candlewick Press has bought, at auction, world rights to Indigenous scholar and teacher Trisha Moquino's (l.) The Land We Live On, illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight. This debut picture book is a family story rooted in the Pueblo people's relationship with their land, which is also an invitation to young readers to practice active land acknowledgment in their communities. Publication is planned for 2028; Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Studio Goodwin Sturges represented the illustrator.
Jill Davis at Astra/Hippo Park acquired world rights to two picture books by Dianna Hutts Aston (l.) (Mermaids' Song to the Sea), illustrated by Renée Kurilla (The Flower Garden). In Birthday Safari, a trio of explorers travel by hot air balloon across the African landscape, marveling at the creatures of the great migration; it's set for fall 2025. In Fairies' Song to the Rainforest, the same trio trade their safari hats for gossamer wings and travel to endangered rainforests; it's set for fall 2026. Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Bunmi Ishola at WaterBrook has bought world rights to two books from Natasha Tripplett (l.) (The Blue Pickup). The first, Planted with Love, illustrated by Adriana Predoi (c.), is about a boy who arrives at a new foster home after living in many others. Although wary at first, he finally is able to help in his foster mother's garden, and through the power of her love, he learns about acceptance; it's set for spring 2025. The second, Downtown Doors, illustrated by Leah Giles (r.), is about a boy noticing all the doors as he walks through his city with his mom, emphasizing community, food insecurities, homelessness and the small ways we can care for each other; it's set for fall 2025. Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented Tripplett, Kate Powell and Alice Jin Zhang at Astound US represented Predoi, and Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented Giles.
Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press has acquired world rights to A Cowpoke's Christmas by Ann Ingalls (l.), illustrated by Lauren Gallegos. In this picture book, a young narrator and their family celebrate a bustling Christmas Day on their farm alongside horses, goats, and chickens. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; the author represented herself, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Christopher Robbins at Familus has bought world rights to I See You in the Stars: A Zodiac Book for Babies by Kelly Conroy (l.) (You Are My Everything), illustrated by Sadie Han. The board book takes readers on a celestial journey around the sun, introducing the 12 astrological signs along with their corresponding constellations, seasons, strengths, and symbols. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Sarah Stephens at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
