Annette Pollert-Morgan at Sourcebooks Fire has acquired world English rights to After We Burned by Marieke Nijkamp (This Is Where it Ends), about a fire that consumed the local high school, the student who died that night, and the five teens who each hold a piece of the truth—and their own secrets—that could destroy everything as they know it, as well as a second untitled work. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Suzie Townsend and Sophia M. Ramos at New Leaf Literary & Media handled the deal.
Lynne Polvino at Clarion has bought, in an exclusive submission, an untitled fantasy novel by two-time Newbery Honoree Gary D. Schmidt (l.) and two-time PEN Award winner Ron Koertge, pitched as Percy Jackson meets The Labors of Hercules Beal. After an orphan escapes from Hades in ancient Greece, he's shocked to discover himself in a middle-school bathroom, in present-day Minneapolis. Publication is set for winter 2026; Rick Margolis at Rising Bear Literary sold world rights.
Dainese Santos and Celia Lee at Simon and Schuster have acquired the middle grade horror novel Lost on Doll Island by debut author Cassandra Ramos-Gomez, about 11-year-old Diego who is sent to live with his tíos in Mexico City and will do anything to get his old life back—even search for a wish-granting doll hidden on the notoriously haunted Isla de las Muñecas. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Sandra Proudman at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency sold world rights.
Sarah Rockett at Tilbury House has bought Wild Medicine by Nora Nickum, a nonfiction middle grade book about the technology, ingenuity, and innovation required to treat endangered animals in the wild. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Lynnette Novak at the Seymour Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Janine O'Malley at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has acquired world rights to Everyone Loves Mac and Cheese by Kelly DiPucchio (l.), illustrated by Luke Flowers, a humorous story about friendship, forgiveness, and mac and cheese. Publication is slated for winter 2027; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press has bought world rights to Sloth & Moth, a picture book by Helen Taylor (l.), illustrated by Gavin Scott, a friendship story with a science twist, in which Sloth lives in a tree and Moth lives on Sloth's back. They take naps, eat mangos, play games, and even travel down the tree together when Sloth descends to poop once a week. They are happy for a long time, until Sloth gets older, and prefers a more solitary existence—or does he? Publication is set for spring 2026; Amy Tompkins at Transatlantic Agency represented the author, and Amy Fitzgerald at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has acquired Napesni/Renegade by Marcie Rendon (l.) (Stitches of Tradition), illustrated by Sam Zimmerman, chronicling the journey of a young bison who is separated from his mother when the herd is moved to a new ranch run by the Red Lake Ojibwe in Minnesota as part of their food sovereignty initiative. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Jacqui Lipton at the Tobias Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Jonah Heller at Peachtree has bought world rights to The Shortest Tuskegee Airman by Donna L. Washington (l.), illustrated by DeAnn Wiley. This picture book follows Captain Claude Platte Jr. as he pursues his childhood dreams of flying planes, despite segregation, and as he goes on to train hundreds of pilots for the U.S. military. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Mary C. Moore at Aevitas Creative Management represented the author, and James McGowan at BookEnds Literary represented the illustrator.
Winsome Bingham at Reycraft Books has acquired world rights to the nonfiction picture book Monster Maker: The Strange Creatures of Mark Nagata by Debbi Michiko Florence (l.), illustrated by Inko Ai Takita. This biography follows Mark's journey from his childhood love of drawing Japanese Kaiju characters to becoming a world-renowned artist creating his own monsters, loved by collectors. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Amy Milligan at illo agency represented the illustrator.
Dena Neusner at Apples & Honey Press has bought world rights to The Henna Helper by Tami Legman-Wilzig (l.) (On the Wings of Eagles; Boston Chocolate Party), illustrated by Yinon Ptahia, a picture book about a girl's introduction to her family's Yemenite wedding customs, including the tradition of Henna. Publication is slated for fall 2025; the author and illustrator represented themselves.
Sandra Sutter at Gnome Road has acquired world rights to A Knot of Frogs, a Passel of Hogs: Recess with Collective Nouns by Claire Annette Noland (l.), illustrated by Susie Oh, a picture book that uses action words to encourage children to move their bodies like a wide range of unique animals while also learning fun collective nouns. Publication is set for fall 2026; the author represented herself, and Alice Jin Zhang at Astound US represented the illustrator.
