Tiara Kittrell at Putnam has bought The Lost Queen, a debut YA fantasy by Aimee Phan (The Reeducation of Cherry Truong; We Should Never Meet). The book follows Jolie Lam and Huong Pham, reincarnations of Vietnam's legendary Trung sisters, as they discover their regal history and powers in hope of collecting immortal elements, allowing them to rectify past mistakes and keep them from falling into the wrong hands, all while navigating the horrors of present-day high school. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Oma Naraine and Janine Kamouh at William Morris Endeavor brokered the two-book deal for North American rights.
Emily Settle at Feiwel and Friends has acquired Renfield by Alex Brown, a sapphic YA retelling of Bram Stoker's Dracula, set during the Great Depression and featuring Violet Renfield, the daughter of a Filipino pensionado, who teams up with a newly turned Lucy Westenra to do the impossible: kill Dracula once and for all. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Amy Bishop-Wycisk at Trellis Literary Management handled the deal for world rights.
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 story follows Billie Cooper, recently promoted from corn dog girl to ride operator at California Land's most exciting new attraction, but when someone mysteriously dies on her ride, she only has one night to 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 in summer 2026; Janine Kamouh at William Morris Endeavor sold North American rights.
Catherine Laudone at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has acquired world rights to Benny on the Case by Edgar Award-winning author Wesley King (OCDaniel; Sara and the Search for Normal), a middle grade mystery and coming-of-age story in one. Benny, a boy with Mosaic Down syndrome, navigates entering a new mainstream classroom and standing up to bullies while working with a new friend to expose a local government conspiracy threatening to close down the retirement home where he lives with his mother, the owner. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Brianne Johnson at HG Literary negotiated the deal.
Calista Brill at First Second has bought world rights, in a three-book deal, to the Box Tales series by James Burks, young graphic novels about the adventures of a girl and her friend, a cardboard box; Kiara Valdez will edit. Publication of book one, which follows Bea and Box as they experiment with growing strawberries in Bea's backyard, is slated for fall 2025; Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author.
Katie Cunningham at Candlewick Press has acquired world rights to Fairy Walk by author-illustrator Gaia Cornwall (Jabari Jumps), a picture book about the magic of nature and the thrill of exploration. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management brokered the deal for world rights.
Jennifer Alise Drew at Restless Books has bought Rus and Moose by Chuchu Wang, a picture book debut inspired by the author's travels around the U.S. in a semi-truck. It tells the story of a hardworking truck driver and a moose who journey from Maine to Florida and back again, seeing things Moose has never seen before and having many adventures together. Publication is set for fall 2025; Janine Le at Janine Le Literary Agency sold world rights.
Della Farrell at Holiday House has acquired debut picture book The Undeniable Chemistry Between Art and Science, written and illustrated by Jen White. The story follows two children on a journey in which they discover how interconnected the subjects of science and art really are. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Christie Megill at the CAT Agency handled the deal for world rights.
Laura Godwin at Henry Holt/Godwin Books has bought Nowruz, a picture book by Iranian American author Zohreh Ghahremani (l.), illustrated by Susie Ghahremani (Memory Garden), about a girl's efforts to prepare her home for Persian New Year, a holiday observed by Iranians and millions of other people around the world. The exclusive submission for world rights was brokered by Lilly Ghahremani at Full Circle Literary, and will publish in winter 2026.
Susan Van Metre at Walker Books US has acquired world rights to Mom Bod by Nikki Powers (l.), illustrated by Amanda Calatzis. This picture book is a love letter from mother to child and from mother to self that honors the physical and spiritual metamorphosis of a body through giving birth, parenthood, and age. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties represented the author, and Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency represented the illustrator.
Anne Schwartz at Random House/Anne Schwartz Books has bought world rights for Melanie's Names, a picture book by debut author Devon Rohana Galarza (l.), illustrated by G. Brian Karas, in which a whip-smart girl makes up creative names for everything around her, to express her feelings after her brother passes away. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; the author represented herself, and Brenda Bowen at the Book Group represented the illustrator.
Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to The Invisible String Family Celebration, a picture book by Patrice Karst (l.) illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, a re-imagining of the classic picture book The Invisible String that features a diversity of families and locales in all-new artwork and related changes in text. Publication is planned for summer 2025; Mary Cummings at Great River Literary represented the author, and Mela Bolinao at MB Artists represented the illustrator.
Janine O'Malley at FSG has bought, at auction, world rights to Vampurr by Justin Colón (l.), illustrated by Lenny Wen. In this picture book, a vampire kitten longs to find a loving home like her adopted siblings, but her unusual appearance and abilities send visitors fleeing her cemetery residence in fright, until an eerie fog rolls in, and with it a unique and unexpected creature of the night. Publication is set for spring 2026; Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Tara Walker at Tundra has acquired, at auction, world rights to Bright Lights and Summer Nights, a picture book by Shauntay Grant (l.), illustrated by Zach Manbeck, a restless baby's dreamy, luminous journey into the poetry and deep magic of soothing summer nights. Publication is tentatively slated for spring 2025; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Yolanda Scott and Natalia Vázquez Torres at Charlesbridge have bought world rights to the picture book Far, Far Away by Molly Beth Griffin (l.), and Jon Simeon has acquired world rights for illustration by Bao Luu. When Rowan and his two moms put in the effort to get outside of the city on a canoe-camping trip, they find wonder together in the natural world. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Jennifer Flannery at Flannery Literary represented the author, and Kate Powell and Alice Jin Zhang at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee Books has acquired world rights to A Taxi for Everyone: How Roy Velasquez Fought for Equality by Debbie Zapata (l.), illustrated by Laura Sandoval Herrera, a picture book biography about Roy Velasquez, who started a taxi business in Austin, Texas, to serve his community that was being segregated and discriminated against on public transportation. Publication is set for summer 2026; James McGowan at BookEnds Literary represented the author, and Aliza Hoover at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Krista Marino at Delacorte Press has acquired, in an exclusive submission, The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao (Song of Silver, Flame Like Night), a dark Chinese romantasy for fans of Kingdom of the Wicked, in which a young woman living in a demon-infested world must enter the fabled immortal realm and win a dangerous magical competition to save her dying mother, and an untitled sequel to follow. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Pete Knapp at Park and Fine Literary and Media sold North American rights.
Ruqayyah Daud at Little, Brown has bought, in an exclusive submission, debut author Elora Cook's YA novel, In the Company of Killers, pitched as The Sopranos meets Gossip Girl where 17-year-old mafia heiress Tasha Nicastro must team up with her former best friend, who happens to be the son of a rival mob, to track down her family's murderer. Publication is planned for winter 2025; Sabrina Taitz at WME Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Nicole Fiorica at McElderry Books has acquired Laura E. Weymouth's (The Voice Upstairs) next YA fantasy, Steel & Spellfire, pitched for fans of Divine Rivals and The Witch Haven. A gifted mage with clandestine romantic connections to a Royal Guard joins the court social season in an attempt to undo past wrongs, only to fall under suspicion when a creature with powers like her own begins slaughtering her fellow debutantes. Publication is set for summer 2025; Laura Crockett at Triada US did the deal for North American rights.
Wendy Loggia at Delacorte Romance has bought world English and audio rights for We've Hit Turbulence by Jessica L. Cozzi; Alison Romig will edit. A girl on a flight to visit her long-distance boyfriend—and hopefully get their bumpy relationship back on track—is dismayed to find that her seatmate on the plane is none other than her ex—the one her heart never really got over. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Marisa Cleveland and Elisa Houot at the Seymour Agency represented the author.
Emily Seife at Scholastic/Graphix has acquired world rights, at auction, 30 Ways to Kill Your Avatar, the next graphic novel from Claribel A. Ortega (l.) and Rose Bousamra, the Eisner Award-winning creators of Frizzy, pitched for fans of Ready Player One and The Sims. Grieving teen Aury's life is turned upside down when she is literally sucked into her favorite life simulation video game; now she has to find a way out before her brother beats the game and finishes her off for good. Publication is slated for 2028; Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media did the two-book deal for Ortega, and Tamara Kawar at DeFiore & Company represented Bousamra.
Kara Sargent at Aladdin has bought Lauren Magaziner's The Incorruptibles and an untitled sequel, launching an upper middle grade queer-inclusive fantasy series. In a future ruled by sorcerers who use their magic to oppress, human resistance fighters called Incorruptibles battle for safety with nothing more than tech and grit. Publication is set for summer 2025; Alexandra Levick at Writers House brokered the deal for North American rights.
Sarah Alpert at Algonquin Young Readers has acquired, at auction, Soy Sauce! by Laura G. Lee, a celebration of the iconic kitchen staple and the magical ways it makes life delicious, and The Red Thread, the reimagining of an ancient East Asian myth, told as a celebration of sisters and their special bond. Publication for Soy Sauce! is planned for winter 2025; Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary Agency negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Lee Wade at Random House Studio has bought world rights to The Snow Loves by Kirsten Hall (l.) (The Honeybee), illustrated by Marc Martin (We Are Starlings). In response to Lewis Carroll's "A Winter Poem," this picture book depicts the ways that cold, wintry microhabitats provide for and protect the creatures who reside within them. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented herself and the illustrator.
Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has acquired world rights to His Fairytale Life by Jane Yolen (l.), a picture book biography about Hans Christian Andersen intended for the youngest child, illustrated by Brooke Boynton-Hughes. Publication is slated for spring 2025 on the 150th anniversary of Andersen's death; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author, and Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Jaime Gelman at Little Bee Books has bought world rights to Street Puppy, Masjid Cat by Moniza Hossain (l.), illustrated by Wastana Haikal, a picture book about the unexpected friendship between a pampered house cat and a lonely stray dog. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Uwe Stender at Triada US represented the author, and Aliza Hoover at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Renee Kelly at Penguin Workshop has acquired North American rights to Diego Fuego the Firefighting Dragon, a picture book by Allison Rozo (l.) and Rafael Rozo (c.), illustrated by Vanessa Morales (r.), in which a young dragon, struggling with his allergy to smoke, becomes the hero of his fire-breathing family. Publication is scheduled for summer 2025; Elisa Houot at the Seymour Agency represented the authors, and Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator.
