Zareen Jaffery at Kokila has acquired, in a multi-bidder, six-figure auction, Will They, Won't They, the debut YA from Stonewall Honor and Lambda Award-winning author Maulik Pancholy, an enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy that follows an Indian-American teen from Queens and the son of an internationally renowned Bollywood actor when they meet at a glitzy gay wedding in Mumbai and get swept up in a "will they/won't they" media circus full of high-profile, romantic sizzle. Publication is planned for summer 2026; Jessica Regel at Helm Literary sold North American rights.
Celine Wang at 8th Note has bought, in a two-book deal, Sing the Night and Elegy for a Dream by Megan Jauregui Eccles, a YA romantasy in which an ambitious soprano makes a Faustian bargain with a ghost trapped in a mirror to win a magical singing competition and restore her dead father's legacy, pitched as The Phantom of the Opera meets The Night Circus. Publication is set for 2025 and 2026; Lauren Galit at LKG Agency sold world English rights.
Kelsey Horton at Delacorte has acquired Shiny Happy People, a speculative horror novel by Clay McLeod Chapman. A teen girl notices people around her changing into upbeat strangers from a mysterious new drug plaguing their town, and she must team up with the new boy to discover what is happening before they are next. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; Temple Hill Entertainment and Nick McCabe at Gotham Group sold world rights.
Kiara Valdez at First Second has bought world rights to Tripping Over You, a YA graphic novel by Suzana Harcum (l.) and Owena White, adapted from their webcomic of the same name. It follows the secret romantic relationship between an energetic theater kid, Milo, and his withdrawn classmate, Liam. It will be published in three volumes; the first is slated for 2025. The authors were unagented.
Caitlin Tutterow at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has acquired Landslide by Betty Culley, a middle grade novel about a perceptive boy who's unsure what to do with his feelings of dread about the shifting massive landfill next to his home, and where his dad works. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Peter Phillips at Tundra has bought Fantastic Frog and the Amazing Tad Lad by author-illustrator Brandon Reese (Cave Dada), a middle grade graphic novel pitched for fans of InvestiGators and Dog Man about two goofy, genetically engineered amphibians in a battle to save their polluted swamp, with a second book to follow. Publication is set for summer 2025 and spring 2026; Jennifer Mattson at Andrea Brown Literary Agency sold world rights.
Jenna Lettice and Jasmine Hodge at Random House have acquired, in a four-book deal, world rights to Llama Quest, a fantasy chapter book series by Megan Reyes (l.) (the Heroes of Havensong series), illustrated by Kay Davault, about a boy who goes on an adventure with a mysterious girl and a magical talking llama to search for 12 magical stones that were stolen from their kingdom. Publication will begin in spring 2025; Jenniea Carter and Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media represented the author, and Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management represented the illustrator.
Sarah Ketchersid at Candlewick Press and Jane Winterbotham and Deirdre McDermott at Walker Books UK have jointly bought Oh Dear, Look What I Got!, a picture book collaboration from Michael Rosen (l.) and Helen Oxenbury, a rhyming read-aloud where a child's visit to the shop brings a delightful animal surprise. The book is slated for simultaneous publication in the U.S. and U.K. in April 2025, 35 years after the creators' We're Going on a Bear Hunt. Charles Walker at United Agents represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself in the deal for world rights.
Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has bought world rights to You Can Count on a Cat: And Other Poems About Cats, written and illustrated by Barney Saltzberg (One of These Is Not Like the Others), a celebration of our fantastic, fabulous, finnicky, furry feline friends. It's planned for fall 2026; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal.
Matt Phipps at Putnam has acquired world rights to At the Cookout, a debut picture book by Nadia Fisher, which follows a girl searching all over the family's summer cookout for her favorite cousin—and when he's not running through the sprinklers, turning the Double Dutch ropes, playing spades with the uncles, or chatting with the aunties, she finally finds him in the most unexpected place. Publication is set for summer 2025; Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the deal.
Lauri Hornik at Penguin/Rocky Pond Books has bought North American rights to Mama Hug by Emma Straub (l.), illustrated by Stevie Lewis, a rhyming picture book featuring a day in the life of a mother and baby. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Janine Kamouh and Claudia Ballard at William Morris Endeavor represented the author, and Edward Maxwell at Transatlantic Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Mark Podesta at Henry Holt has acquired world rights to A House in My Barrio by Paola Santos (l.) (How to Eat a Mango), illustrated by Olivia Sua (Water Day; Uno Más, One More). The picture book follows a boy named Manuel who, after a beloved pillar of his community named Mamá Elena is bedridden, inspires his family and neighbors to come together to support the woman who has done so much for him and the people he loves. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Taylor Martindale Kean represented the illustrator.
Stephanie Pitts at Putnam has bought world rights to Those Nicholas Brothers Could Move! by Golden Kite Award winner Sherri L. Smith (l.), illustrated by two-time Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner Frank Morrison, a picture book biography of Fayard and Harold Nicholas, the groundbreaking tap-dancing duo best known for their dazzling tap routines on stage and screen. Publication is set for summer 2027; Kirby Kim at Janklow & Nesbit represented the author, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Melanie Nolan at Knopf has acquired Cassandra Clare's The Wicked Powers trilogy, the final installment of Clare's 23-book YA fantasy series, The Shadowhunter Chronicle, which follows Kit Herondale, Ty Blackthorn, and Drusilla Blackthorn from The Dark Artifices series as they are drawn into the final conflict between the demons; as well as a new romantasy duology, In Fire Foretold, which centers a young woman who must learn to control her dangerous magical abilities in order to save her kingdom, all while finding herself torn between two brothers—the kingdom's princes, born to a cursed royal bloodline. Michelle Frey will edit. Publication will begin in spring 2026; Suzie Townsend and Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media sold North American rights.
Eileen Rothschild at Wednesday Books has bought, in an exclusive submission four new horror-thrillers by Vincent Ralph (Lock the Doors; Secrets Never Die) with the series pitched as Fear Street meets American Horror Story and set in the town of Bleak Haven, a great place to live and the worst place to die. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Pete Knapp at Park and Fine Literary and Media negotiated the deal on behalf of Claire Wilson at RCW Literary for North American rights.
Alexa Wejko at Soho Teen has acquired Sunlight Playing Over a Mountain by Selina Li Bi, a contemporary YA novel inspired by Chinese mythology. The story follows Jasmine Cheng, who has grown up on her erratic mother's fanciful tales—such as that Jasmine's missing father is Pangu, god of chaos. But when a family secret unfolds, Jasmine must choose whether to stay in her fantasy world or face the truth. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Linda Camacho at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency sold world English rights.
Rosemary Brosnan at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has bought Another, horror novelist Paul Tremblay's (A Head Full of Ghosts; The Cabin at the End of the World) first novel for middle graders. The book follows 12-year-old Casey, who is dealing with the fallout after being cyberbullied by a classmate. A strange new playmate, Morel, shows up at Casey's home, made of a clay-like substance, with the eerie, featureless appearance of a mannequin. As Morel stays in Casey's house, his influence over the entire family grows in sinister ways. Publication is set for July 2025; the submission was shepherded by Tremblay's longtime adult editor, Jennifer Brehl at William Morrow. Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management sold North American rights.
Megan Ilnitzki at HarperCollins has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Bashir Boutros and the Jewels of the Nile by George Jreije (Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria). This middle grade fantasy duology follows shy 11-year-old Bashir Boutros as he finds a mysterious golden ring and accidentally awakens a centuries-old jinn. Publication for the first book is scheduled for summer 2025; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Margaret Ferguson at Holiday House/Margaret Ferguson Books has bought The Cure for Boredom, the next middle-grade novel by Christina Uss. It tells the story of a boy who loses his ability to sleep in a freak accident, of his journey to try to reclaim that ability, and the friends he makes and the things he learns and experiences along the way. Publication is tentatively planned for spring 2026; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency sold world rights.
Robyn Chapman at First Second has acquired The Crow Princess, a middle grade graphic novel by Vivian Zhou (Atana and the Firebird). This modern fairy tale tells the story of a girl who rescues a wounded crow who is, in reality, the daughter of the crow god. Publication is slated for 2027; Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency sold world rights.
Margaret Raymo while at Versify bought world rights to Do It for the People, created by Newbery, Caldecott, and Coretta Scott King Honorees Derrick Barnes (l.) and Gordon C. James (Crown: An Ode to a Fresh Cut). Luana Kay Horry will edit. In this illustrated middle grade collection of essays and poems, Barnes and James explore America's relationship with the Black Athlete, and uplift athletes who have risked their careers and livelihoods by choosing to use their platforms to protest against racism and injustice. Publication is set for fall 2026; Regina Brooks at Serendipity Literary Agency represented both the author and illustrator.
Luana Kay Horry at HarperCollins/Amistad Books for Young Readers has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Seven Million Steps by Derrick Barnes (l.) and Christian Gregory (c.), illustrated by Frank Morrison (r.). This picture book chronicles the two-and-a-half month trek in 1976, on foot, from Los Angeles to New York, by activist/comedian/humanitarian Dick Gregory in order to bring attention to hunger across the globe. Publication is scheduled for winter 2026; Regina Brooks at Serendipity Literary Agency represented the authors, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the artist.
Joanna Cárdenas at Kokila has bought, in an exclusive submission, Pulitzer Prize-winning illustrator Fahmida Azim's (Muslim Women Are Everything; Amira's Picture Day) debut author-illustrated picture book, Nothing Bad Has Happened Yet, about a woolly bear caterpillar and June beetle who help each other through the fears and worries of existing in a bird-eat-worm world. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Lilly Ghahremani at Full Circle Literary sold world rights.
Rotem Moscovich at Knopf has acquired world rights to Tenacious Won't Give Up by Pam Vaughan (l.), illustrated by Leanne Hatch. A girl named Tenacious lives up to her name as she tackles learning to ride a bike, and ultimately discovers that it's about trying smarter as well as harder. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Brent Taylor at Triada US represented the author, and Janine Le at Janine Le Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has bought world rights to A Pathway for Pollinators by Michelle Schaub (l.), illustrated by Blanca Gómez, an invitation to plant pollinator pathways to mitigate the loss of habitat. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Lisa Amstutz at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Rebecca Sherman at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Della Farrell at Holiday House has acquired world rights to Stone by Stone: A Rock's Journey Through Time by Melissa Koch (l.), illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov. This nonfiction picture book takes readers on a journey through the world's stone structures, revealing their geological and sociological significance. Publication is set for spring 2026; Laurel Symonds while at the Bent Agency represented the author, and Rebecca Sherman at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Angus Yuen-Killick at Red Comet Press has bought world rights to the nonfiction picture book Fortune Cookies for Everyone by Mia Wenjen (l.) (Food for the Future), illustrated by Colleen Kong-Savage (Piano Wants to Play), which tells the history and “true” story behind a favorite sweet treat. It's slated for fall 2025; Lary Rosenblatt at 22 MediaWorks represented the author, and Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Karen Li and Nan Froman at Groundwood have acquired world rights to My Mom Is Like a Kite by Lisl H. Detlefsen (l.), illustrated by Nathalie Dion. The story focuses on a child experiencing the ups and downs of a mother's struggle with an unspecified mental illness, and learning ways of coping without self-blame or stigma. Publication is planned for winter 2026; Jennifer Mattson at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and the artist represented herself.
