Alison Romig at Delacorte Romance has acquired Buried Feelings, a YA novel by Kit Rosewater. Ex-best friends Ivy and Cam should be queer royalty at their high school—instead they can't stand each other. But when a San Francisco treasure hunt ropes them back together, they'll end up digging into their own complicated, buried history. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Lauren Spieller at Folio Literary Management sold world rights.
Krista Marino at Delacorte Press has bought, in an exclusive submission, in a two-book deal, Trans Panic by Logan-Ashley Kisner, a YA slasher horror novel in which a young trans teen finds herself stuck in a summer camp for queer youth that has been infiltrated by a serial killer; and Docile Creatures, a YA murder mystery thriller set in 1950s America, featuring two trans teens who get caught up in a deadly mystery after swapping identities. Publication is slated for fall 2026 and fall 2027; Chloe Seager at Madeline Milburn Ltd. did the deal for North American rights.
Regan Winter at Disney-Hyperion has acquired Ava's Bodega, a picture book series by author-illustrator Zara González Hoang. The contemporary neighborhood and plucky heroine of Alma's Way meets the magical possibilities of imagination from Bluey in this series starring optimistic, creative five-year-old Ava, who builds a magic bodega (in the back of her abuelo's real one) that has the answer to any kid's problem. Publication of the first book is set for spring 2027; Andrea Morrison negotiated the three-book deal for world rights.
Megan Abbate at Bloomsbury has bought, in an exclusive submission, Benny's Bright Qing Ming, a picture book by Michelle Jing Chan, which follows a boy as he prepares a surprise gift for his beloved uncle he's been waiting all year to see at the Tomb Sweeping Festival and holiday. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Michelle Frey at Knopf has acquired world rights to Answered Prayers by Autumn Allen (l.), illustrated by Charly Palmer, an ode to Black Muslim children that conveys their history and shines a light on their future. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Tina DuBois represented the author while at ICM Partners (the author is now represented by Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency), and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Michael Green at Marble Press has bought world rights to The Legend of Leo by Monica Acker (l.), illustrated by Mikel Valverde. If Frasier Crane was a dandelion, he would be Leo—imperious and vain, admonishing other weeds and any four-legged creature that dares come sniffing around his perfect petals. But Leo may not be as singular, or as golden, as he likes to believe. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency represented the author, and Paula Esparraguera at Art&Kö represented the illustrator.
Meredith Mundy at Abrams Appleseed has acquired, in a preempt, world rights to Just a Shell... Or Is It? and Just a Puddle... Or Is It? by Becca McMurdie (l.) (Building a Beak), illustrated by Paola Escobar (A Plate of Hope). These nonfiction picture books show how the same natural objects can be viewed by different people, animals and even trees, in completely different ways. Publication is set for spring 2026 and spring 2027; Joyce Sweeney at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Amy Kitcherside at Pickled Ink represented the illustrator.
Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow Books has bought world rights to The Escape Artist by biologist Thor Hanson (l.), illustrated by Galia Bernstein, the science-based story of one of the most renowned and popular escape artists of all time—an octopus named Inky. Publication is planned for July 2025; Laura Blake at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong represented the illustrator.
Marilyn Brigham at Amazon/Skyscape has acquired Dead Girls Don't Talk, a Belgian TikTok sensation and paranormal thriller by Sandra J. Paul. The novel follows two former best friends—one who is dead from a car crash and one who is on the run and might be responsible; readers decide whose side of the story to read first—and who to believe. Publication is scheduled for summer 2025; Melissa Vandeputte represented Hamley Books in the deal for world rights, excluding Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.
Rotem Moscovich at Knopf has bought world rights to Haunted House Wants to Scare (Beware!), a picture book by Christine Virnig (l.), illustrated by Carrie Shryock. A haunted house is ready to become its scariest self when a new family of humans moves in, but things don't quite go as expected when they accept the house's spooky quirks with open arms. Publication is slated for summer 2027; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Luana Kay Horry at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to When I Was a Little Girl by Pura Belpré Award-winning author Ari Tison (l.), illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats Award-winning artist Sarah Gonzales. In her picture book debut, Tison spins memories of rainy days with her father into an ode to intergenerational love. Publication is planned for summer 2026; Sara Crowe at Sara Crowe Literary represented the author, and Alexandra Levick at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Rotem Moscovich at Knopf has bought world rights to A Gift of Dust by Martha Brockenbrough (l.), illustrated by Caldecott Honoree and Sibert Medalist Juana Martinez-Neal. This nonfiction picture book illustrates how Saharan Dust transforms our planet, from slowing hurricanes to nourishing our forests. Publication is set for 2025; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator in the two-book deal.
Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books has acquired world rights to My Hair Bounces Back by Shelia Burlock (l.), illustrated by Patricia Grannum, a picture book about a boy with thick, coily, gravity-defying hair; Alyssa Miller will edit. From the park with his big sister to their home, he observes different ways hair can move and be, and is filled with gratitude to God on wash day for making his natural Afro-textured hair. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Mary Cummings at Great River Literary represented the author, and Amy Milligan at the Illo Agency represented the illustrator.
Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press has bought world rights to Melodies of the Sitar by Shachi Kaushik (l.), illustrated by Geeta Ladi, about a girl who feels alone after the loss of her grandmother and needs to find a way to reconnect with the memories and music that Nani left behind. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Lynnette Novak at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Tina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Erin Clarke, while at Knopf, acquired at auction world rights to Born to Dance: Mary Verdi-Fletcher and Her Dancing Wheels, a picture book biography by Mary Verdi-Fletcher (l.) and Kathryn Hagen (c.), illustrated by Nabi H. Ali (r.), about a remarkable dancer with a disability who invented a new way to dance, and who is paving the way for others to see their possibilities and reach their dreams. Marisa DiNovis will edit; publication is planned for spring 2027. Eve Adler at Red Fox Literary represented the authors, and James Burns at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Michele McAvoy at The Little Press, in partnership with Debra Goldstein from the environmental nonprofit One Little Earth, has bought world rights to Pioneer Tree by Robin Currie (l.), illustrated by Merry Miller-Gass. In this first-person telling, a Quaking Aspen describes a forest fire's damage and the tree's unique role as the first to regrow. Publication is set for fall 2026; Cyle Young at Cyle Young Literary Elite represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented.
Nick Magliato at Penguin Workshop has acquired eighth-generation Texan artist-author C.S. Jennings's picture book tentatively titled The Big Book of Texas, containing basic simple concepts as well as filled with all things Texas. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Timothy Travaglini at Transatlantic Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
