Lauri Hornik at Penguin/Rocky Pond Books has bought Newbery Honor author Veera Hiranandani's YA debut, Look Under Me. Leela Keswani, a lonely teen and budding artist growing up in early '90s suburban New York, enters into a complicated relationship with two boys in her art class. Desperate for a confidant, she writes a letter to her favorite rock star as she tries to work through her new relationships, her biracial/interfaith identity, and moving past the long-term grief she and her mother have experienced since her father died in the Pan Am 103 plane bombing. Publication is set for summer 2026; Sara Crowe at Sara Crowe Literary sold world English rights.
Lindsey Hall at Tor Teen has acquired, in an exclusive submission, The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard (the Luminaries trilogy), about a group of teens trying to solve a series of gruesome murders in an autumnal small town where old legends now haunt the present day. Publication is scheduled for summer 2025; Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media sold North America English rights in a six-figure deal.
Kristin Allard at Norton Young Readers has bought, at auction, world rights to Maybe Tomorrow I'll Know by Alex Ritany, a YA romance with a body swap twist pitched as If I See You Again Tomorrow meets Every Day. Laurie wakes up in a girl's body with no memories, only to discover he's stuck in a time loop with 100 days to figure out whose body he's in and how to break the loop—all while inconveniently falling in love with a boy who forgets him at the end of each day. Publication is slated for winter 2026; Jenna Satterthwaite at Storm Literary Agency did the two-book deal.
Wendy Loggia at Delacorte Romance has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Guard My Heart by Sabrina Fedel (All Roads Lead to Rome), a romance about a girl who dreams of being a Division I ice hockey goalie, but first must navigate a senior year full of challenges. When a hockey player offers a deal to boost her skills, her focused ambition meets unexpected romance. Pulication is planned for spring 2027; Michelle Hauck at Storm Literary Agency sold world and audio rights.
Gretchen Durning at Putnam has bought debut author Yuvashri Harish's Kill Your Darlings, a YA horror novel pitched as Hocus Pocus meets Madeleine Roux. Two teens accidentally unleash the monsters of their favorite horror stories, and the witch who wrote them, on their small town on Halloween night. Publication is set for fall 2026; Keir Alekseii at Azantian Literary negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Allison Moore at 8th Note Press has acquired Learning to Fall by Peach Morris. The sapphic upper-YA coming-of-age novel centers a teen who discovers new love and pushes her own limits after joining a roller derby league filled with fearless women and nonbinary teammates who aren't afraid to speak their minds (or body slam each other). The first book is scheduled for summer 2025; Silvia Molteni at Peters Fraser & Dunlap brokered the two-book deal for North American rights.
Kristin Rens at HarperCollins has bought, at auction, Twix and an untitled sequel by Printz Honor author Jennifer Donnelly. In the first novel, an anxious little rat living in New York City must embark on a perilous journey to rescue his missing brother from the domain of a sinister rat king. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the deal for U.S. and Canada English rights.
Naomi Shulman at PJ Publishing has acquired Trouble Finds Evie Lefkowitz by Diana Harmon Asher. What could be more humiliating than your mom dating your assistant principal? Evie's about to find out in this novel about surviving the uncertainties of middle school, sticking up for what you believe, and becoming the person you're meant to be. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Rick Margolis at Rising Bear Literary sold world rights.
Bobbie Bensur at Paw Prints Publishing has bought two books in a new math-centric graphic novel series for middle graders called McGill & Lee, by author and publisher Florenza Lee (l.) and author and math and science teacher Bridget McGill (c.), illustrated by Abi Fox (r.). The first book, Invasion of the Mutant Plications, follows an unlikely yet dynamic duo—math whiz McGill and imaginative Lee—as they face an unexpected challenge: intergalactic invaders posing as tricky math problems. Publication is set for October 2025; Jesse Byrd at Moonbeam Literary & Media sold world rights.
Kate Prosswimmer at McElderry Books has acquired world rights, in a three-book deal, to the It's Almost Time For series by Maisha Oso (l.) illustrated by Tom Knight, a humorous series that takes children through all the things they might do in preparation for a holiday, starting with It's Almost Time for Halloween. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Susan Penny at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Ann Rider at Clarion, before she retired, bought world English rights to The First Library: The True Story by and for Black America by Brittany J. Thurman (l.), illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera; Kate O'Sullivan will edit. Located in the author's hometown of Louisville, Ky., this nonfiction picture book tells the true story of the Western Library, the first library in the U.S. built for the Black community, run by self-trained Black librarians. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency represented the author, and Victoria Sanders at Victoria Sanders & Associates represented the illustrator.
Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has bought world rights to The ABCs of Inclusion by Beth Leipholtz (l.), illustrated by Rồng Phạm (c.) and Vinh Nguyễn (a.k.a. Vườn Illustration) (r.), a picture book about disabilities. The stories of 26 real children with diagnoses like autism, hearing loss, anxiety, epilepsy, and Down syndrome teach young readers that it's okay to be different―in fact, it's what makes us special. The book is set for fall 2025; Dani Segelbaum at Arc Literary Management represented the author, and Alice Jin Zhang at Astound US represented the artists.
Howard W. Reeves at Abrams has acquired world rights to Wifredo's Jungle: The Power of Wifredo Lam's Art, a picture book biography of the Chinese Afro-Cuban artist, written by Newbery Honor author Margarita Engle (l.). illustrated by Kirkus Prize finalist Jacqueline Alcántara. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Michelle Humphrey at Martha Kaplan Agency represented the author, and Adriana Domínguez, now at Aevitas Creative Management, negotiated the deal for the illustrator while at Full Circle Literary.
Karen Li at Groundwood Books has bought world rights to My Street Remembers by Karen Krossing (l.) (Monster vs. Boy), illustrated by Cathie Jamieson, a narrative nonfiction picture book telling the story of one North American street's development through history, from the Ice Age to the present day, with a focus on Indigenous peoples, the effects of colonialism, and a healing path toward a community of the future, the first in a series titled Better Paths. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown Ltd. brokered the deal.
Luana Kay Horry at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to The Ten Tins by Alliah L. Agostini (l.), illustrated by debut artist Taylor Adams-Bass. In this humorous rhyming picture book, neighborhood children from various backgrounds try to solve the mystery of a ubiquitous blue cookie tin: will they ever find cookies inside, or just more sewing kits? Publication is planned for fall 2026; Miranda Paul at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Jessica Saint Jean at Jill Grinberg Literary Management represented the illustrator.
Celia Lee at Simon and Schuster has bought world rights to Abdul's Poem by Jamilah Thompkins Bigelow (l.), illustrated by Tiffany Rose. Abdul knows how to write stories, but poems are a new challenge—they scamper across the page—but when he taps into his emotions, he realizes you don't have to be perfect to create art. Publication is set for spring 2027; Paige Terlip at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink represented the illustrator.
Stacey Roderick at Owlkids has acquired world rights to Simmy and Maddy's Snow Day by debut author Pawan Singh (l.), illustrated by Meneka Repka (The Mango Monster). In this wordless picture book that celebrates friendship, creative collaboration, and belonging, two girls build and dress a snow-person in a unique twist on a snow-day tradition. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; the author represented herself, and Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency represented the illustrator.
Carri Schmidt at Cottage Door Press has bought world rights to Barn in Fall: Festival Fun on the Farm by Chambrae Griffith (l.), illustrated by Taia Morley, a picture book celebrating autumn on the farm as Barn opens her doors to young guests who choose pumpkins, ride hayrides, and interact with the farm animals. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Mary Cummings at Great River Literary represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Cecily Kaiser at RISE x Penguin Workshop has acquired world rights to Big Little Baby and Peek-a-Boo Baby?, a pair of original board books by All the World author Liz Garton Scanlon (l.), illustrated by Trudy Tran, for publication in summer 2025 and summer 2026. Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Polo Orozco at Putnam has acquired Sibylline, a dark academia YA fantasy by Melissa de la Cruz (Descendants; Blue Bloods). It follows three friends who are rejected from the title university but infiltrate the elite school to study the arcane discipline of magic, not expecting to uncover Sibylline's dangerous history—and their romantic feelings for each other—along the way. Publication is slated for spring 2026, with a sequel to follow a year later; Richard Abate at 3 Arts Entertainment brokered the deal for world rights.
Ashley Hearn at Peachtree Teen has bought a YA gothic horror novel by Autumn Krause (Before the Devil Knows You're Here). Inspired by Jane Eyre, The Portrait of Dorian Gray, and Japanese folklore, Blood Art is set in a strange English manor where evil "muses" torment a handsome young artist, the subjects of possessed portraits slip out of their frames to stalk the halls at night, and an 18-year-old half-Japanese girl arrives with secrets of her own: a mysterious yōkai painting has appeared on her back and threatens to cover her body entirely. Publication is set for fall 2026; Susan Hawk at Upstart Crow Literary did the deal for world rights.
Camille Kellogg at Bloomsbury has acquired world rights to Finding Prince Charming, the YA debut of Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms author Jamar J. Perry. In this contemporary rom-com, Tyriq, a Black teen about to start college, and Desmond, a prince hiding his true identity, meet and pretend to date, all while looking for something real. Publication is planned for summer 2025; Caitie Flum at Liza Dawson Associates negotiated the deal.
Emily Seife at Scholastic has bought, in an exclusive submission, Alienated, a middle grade novel by Edgar Award-winning author Christina Diaz Gonzalez (Concealed; Invisible). It tells the story of a boy who stumbles into a secret manhunt for spies only to discover that his own parents may be involved in a plot to destroy the world. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency sold world rights.
Lauri Hornik at Penguin/Rocky Pond Press has acquired Asha Means Hope by Pooja Makhijani (l.), illustrated by Nadia Alam (Awake, Asleep), a picture book about a girl whose extended family jumps into action to provide support when the girl's mother begins to suffer from postpartum depression. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch Literary represented the author, and Elena Giovinazzo, while at Pippin Properties, represented the illustrator.
Monica Perez, while at Versify, bought world rights to Sometimes a Dream by Gabriella Aldeman (l.), illustrated by Brizida Magro; Luana Kay Horry and Nadia Aniff will edit. In this picture book, Alma learns how to work hard for her dreams with the help of her Abito, some paper, pencils, and a cozy hammock. Publication is set for winter 2027; Delia Berrigan at Martin Literary Management represented the author, and Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Sylvie Frank at Disney Planet Possible has acquired Shanna Upchurch's (l.) debut, The Honeybee Highway, illustrated by Dagmar Smith, about a girl's annual cross-country trip to deliver a truckload of honeybees to their next pollination destination. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Maria Correa at Random House has bought To Knit a Ghost by Z.B. Asterplume (l.) (Sometimes, a Tiger), illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee (When You Love a Book). The picture book follows a crafty young witch as she prepares to knit a ghost—with some help from a cast of distracting (but very friendly) ghosts. Publication is planned for summer 2026; Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency sold world rights.
Karen Halpenny and Katie Campbell at Workman Kids have acquired world English rights to Lots and Lots of Ocelots by Vicky Fang (l.), illustrated by Angel Chang, a picture book that playfully uses animal facts to teach the math concept skip counting. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency represented the author, and Nicky Lander at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Karen Li and Nan Froman at Groundwood Books have bought My Creek Speaks by Karen Krossing (l.) (Monster vs. Boy), illustrated by Hawlii Pichette, a narrative nonfiction picture book examining the changing relationship between a North American creek and the various communities that have called its banks home throughout history. Publication is set for fall 2026; Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown Ltd. sold world rights.
Emma Hintzen at Sourcebooks eXplore has acquired world rights to Baby's Guide to the Night Sky by John A. Read (l.), host of the Learn to Stargaze YouTube channel, illustrated by Pumudi Gardiyawasam. This board book takes a tour of the night sky, teaching the basics of stargazing while introducing stars, constellations, planets, and more. Publication is planned for summer 2026; Eric Amling at Darhansoff & Verrill represented the author, and Tina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Kaylan Adair at Candlewick has bought author-illustrator Claudia Rueda's Smushkins concept book series, featuring a picture book and four board books starring a lovable, offbeat family of creatures. The picture book is scheduled for December 2025, the first two board books for spring 2026, and the final two board books for fall 2026 and summer 2027. Janna Morishima at Janna Co. sold world rights.
