Annette Pollert-Morgan at Sourcebooks Fire has bought North American English-language rights to If He Had Been with Me and If Only I Had Told Her author Laura Nowlin's YA/crossover time-slip murder mystery, Mystery Mary and the Undertaker's Apprentice. A contemporary young woman who is transported back in time and trapped in Victorian-era New York teams up with a handsome undertaker's apprentice and a local suffragist to unmask a serial killer while hiding the secret of her true identity, pitched as Outlander meets A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Publication is set for 2026; Ali McDonald at 5 Otter Literary brokered the deal.
Bria Ragin and Nicola and David Yoon at Joy Revolution have acquired Amalie Howard's next YA novel, Rebel Heiress, a historical romance with an academic twist on She's the Man, about a brilliant almost-spinster who meets her match in a dangerously handsome mathematician while pretending to be her cousin at Cambridge University. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency did the two-book deal for world rights.
Rachel Diebel at Feiwel and Friends has won, at auction, Morbid Curiosities, a YA debut by S. Hati (And the Sky Bled), a thriller where an ambitious teen enrolls at an elite science institute to secure her dream career, only to find ominous notes around campus warning her to run, strange mutations in the forest, and a mysterious girl who begs for help, along with a second, untitled novel. Publication is planned for winter 2026; Allegra Martschenko at Ladderbird Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Alison Romig at Delacorte Press has bought Christmas Trees & Weak Knees by Katrina Emmel, a contemporary dual POV YA romance set on a Tennessee Christmas tree farm in which a teen singer-songwriter with stage fright finds herself helping a famous musician with a bad case of writer's block finish his album before the New Year. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Jordan Hamessley at JABberwocky Literary Agency sold world rights.
Jessica Smith at Aladdin has acquired Britnee Meiser's upper middle grade novel, Jane Stays Dreaming. Reality and fantasy collide when shy high school freshman Jane uses her larger-than-life anonymous blog to sabotage a budding relationship between the new girl in school and Jane's childhood friend, who Jane may feel more strongly about than she ever thought. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; Uwe Stender at Triada US sold world English rights.
Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has bought Mollie and the Wolves by Newbery Honor author Margi Preus (Heart of a Samurai), a middle grade portrait of environmental activist Mollie Beattie, who worked to repopulate Yellowstone National Park with wolves. Publication is set for summer 2026; Stephen Fraser at Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency sold world English rights.
Candice Keimig at ABDO has acquired world rights to six chapter books by Terry Catasús Jennings's (l.) Cami Campos series, illustrated by Megan Dillon. The series follows Cami as she navigates American holidays with the backdrop of her Cuban and Latine customs, exploring the intersection of culture, family, and sense of self. Publication is plannned for fall 2025; Natalie Lakosil at Looking Glass Literary & Media represented the author, and Christina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Tara Walker at Tundra has bought world rights to Tom Nancy, a picture book by Mac Barnett (l.), illustrated by Dilys Evans Founder's Award winner X. Fang. Tom Nancy is the story of a trickster sheep who convinces a human boy to trade places with him. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Steven Malk at Writers House represented the author, and Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio represented the illustrator.
Tamar Brazis at Viking has acquired world rights to The Sweater by Larissa Theule (l.) (Mouseboat), illustrated by Teagan White (the Bunny Roo series), in which a group of animals work together to care for a weary little bird when he stumbles into their thicket looking for shelter. Publication is set for spring 2026; Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt Agency represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Martha Mihalick at Greenwillow Books has bought Be the Light: How She Became Angela Davis by author-illustrator Daria Peoples, a picture book illuminating the life and work of activist Angela Davis. Publication is scheduled for summer 2025; Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency brokered the deal for North American rights.
Mike Yuen-Killick at Red Comet Press has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to The White Crow, a picture book written and illustrated by Kathryn Otoshi (One; Lunch Every Day), about a crow who, despite its difference, finds its way to acceptance and love. Publication is planned for spring 2026; the author represented herself.
Grace Maccarone at Holiday House has bought world rights to Thank You, School by Louise Borden (l.), illustrated by Paige Keiser. In the picture book, kids across the country go to school and thank each person that helps them during their day, including bus drivers, teachers, custodians, and more. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Eileen Robinson at Charlesbridge Moves has acquired world rights to Sometimes We Pray by Mary Wagley Copp (l.), illustrated by Felishia Henditirto. Inspired by the author's spiritual journey and subsequent study of different religions, this picture book is an inclusive, accessible exploration of the many ways people spend time in prayer. Publication is set for spring 2026; Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency represented the author, and Alice Jin Zhang at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Bobbie Bensur at Paw Prints Publishing has bought world English rights to a picture book by Emmy Award–winning journalist Ed Gordon (l.), illustrated by Sophia Green, in an exclusive submission. In Daddy's Promise, a father makes a pledge to his daughter: to always love her, support her, uplift her, and protect her, no matter what. Publication is scheduled for October 2025; Regina Brooks at Serendipity Literary represented the author, and Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the artist.
Sarah Rockett at Tilbury House has acquired world rights to My Backyard Used to Be by debut author Lynn Baldwin (l.), illustrated by Megan Elizabeth Baratta, about a child playing in the backyard who ponders the history of the land—from the present to the prehistoric—imagining all the people and animals that played there before. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Jennifer Newens at Martin Literary Management represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Lili Rosenstreich at Kalaniot has bought Brave Like Esther: A Purim Story by Rebecca Gardyn Levington (l.), illustrated by Aysa Aizenstein. Told from Esther's point of view, this rhyming picture book is a modern retelling of the Purim tale in which Esther empowers readers to speak up against injustices in their own lives. Publication is slated for January 2026; Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
