Joy Peskin at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has acquired world rights, in a preempt, to Force of Nature by Melissa Clark. This funny and timely YA novel about teen angst and the environment asks the question: what if Mother Nature was really a 16-year-old girl? Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Jane Hamilton at Jane Hamilton Literary brokered the deal.
Katherine Harrison at Knopf has bought Lucky's Home for Lost and Starving Dogs and a second untitled middle grade novel by Deborah Hopkinson (The Great Trouble; A Letter to My Teacher). In this middle grade adventure inspired by the true story of England's first animal shelter, a brave pup navigates the streets of Victorian London in search of a loving home, making new friends, both human and canine alike. Publication is set for spring 2027; Elizabeth Rudnick at Gillian MacKenzie Agency did the deal for world rights.
Tracy Mack at Scholastic Graphix has acquired world rights to Signposts, a graphic novel by Ann Clare LeZotte (l.) (Show Me a Sign; Deer Run Home), illustrated by Claudia Dávila (Thunderboom), about a deaf girl discovering and embracing her Deaf and queer identities amid a growing civil rights movement for the Deaf. Publication is planned for 2027; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency represented the illustrator.
Robyn Chapman at First Second has bought Journey to Tomioka from French publisher Éditions Jungle. This middle grade graphic novel by Laurent Galandon (l.), illustrated by Michaël Crouzat, tells the story of two siblings who venture into the Fukushima nuclear exclusion zone to return their grandmother's ashes and encounter spirits known as yōkai along the way; Anne and Owen Smith will translate. Publication is slated for 2026; Arthur Derrouaz at Éditions Jungle sold world English rights.
Erika Turner at Little, Brown has acquired Confessions of a Mango by Kate Lumsden (l.) and Nate Pieplow, a middle grade novel about a neurodivergent girl that examines the consequences of labels and challenges us to re-examine what makes someone "gifted." Publication is scheduled for winter 2026; Sarah Fisk at Tobias Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Elizabeth Barton at Simon Spotlight has bought world rights to Squirrel and Turtle: This Book Has Big Words by Andrew Hacket (l.) illustrated by Kaz Windness, creators of Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea. In this early reader, book-loving Squirrel works to convince reluctant reader Turtle to come out of his shell and overcome his fear of big words to share in her love of literacy. Publication is set for fall 2027; Dan Cramer at Page Turner Literary Agency represented the author, and Timothy Travaglini at Transatlantic Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Lauri Hornik at Penguin/Rocky Pond Books has acquired George & Lenny Are Always Together by Jon Agee, a picture book about a pair of best friends, two peas in a pod, who do everything together—but what happens when one of them wonders what it's like to be alone? Publication is slated for May 2025, with a sequel tentatively scheduled for summer 2026. Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties brokered the deal for world English rights.
Celia Lee at Simon & Schuster has bought, in an exclusive submission, Emmy Kastner's All the Ice Cream in the Land, a picture book about a medieval princess who is accommodated a bit too quickly and enthusiastically by her doting staff and subjects, resulting in a misunderstanding of (literally) gargantuan proportions. Publication is planned for summer 2026; Hannah Mann at Writers House did the two-book deal for world rights.
Maria Correa at Random House has acquired Iranian-born author-illustrator Sahar Shams's debut picture book, What Santa Wants for Christmas, the story about the one child who finally thinks about giving Santa a gift, instead of the other way around, plus an untitled second picture book. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Timothy Travaglini at Transatlantic Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Kaylan Adair at Candlewick has bought, in a two-book deal, world English rights to Yellow Is a Mango by Jyoti Rajan Gopal (l.), illustrated by Sarthak Sinha, a picture book about the sensory experience of colors from a South Asian lens, following one family through the seasons of life and the different colors that bless their days with beauty, celebration, and fun. Publication is set for spring 2027; Wendi Gu at HG Literary represented the author, and Aliza R. Hoover at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has acquired world rights in a two-book deal to One Hundred Questions by Lee & Low New Voices Honoree Belen Medina (l.), illustrated by Heidi Moreno. Based on the author's abuelita, it shares the story of granddaughter Anita helping Abuela study for the U.S. citizenship exam in order to reach her lifelong dream of becoming a citizen. Publication is slated for spring 2026; the second book, The Seesaws, will follow. Deborah Warren at East West Literary represented the author, and Adriana Dominguez at Aevitas Creative Management represented the illustrator.
Mabel Hsu at Sourcebooks/Stonefruit Studio has bought, in a preempt, world rights to Princess Pony Says Nay by Jordan Morris (l.) illustrated by Charlie Mylie, a picture book that follows Princess Pony and her father, King High Horse, as he plans elaborate festivities for her coronation day, only to discover that making his grumpy daughter happy is simpler than he anticipated. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the author and illustrator.
Nick Thomas at Levine Querido has acquired the picture book Shibu's Tail by Tess Thomas (l.), illustrated by Kamwei Fong, both debuts. Shibu is a cat who uses his very demonstrative tail to express his feelings, but when he starts to feel a little judged by the other (not-quite-so-expressive) cats, he must decide for himself whether those big feelings are OK. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; the author and illustrator represented themselves.
Luana Kay Horry at HarperCollins has bought world rights to Pick It Up and Take a Spin by Andrea J. Loney (l.), illustrated by Patricia Pessoa, a picture book about a persistent child who discovers their own unexpected confidence, bliss, and community while learning how to hula hoop. Publication is set for winter 2027; Andrea Cascardi at Transatlantic Agency represented the author, and Lillian Mazeika at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Nicole Ellul and Krista Vitola at Simon & Schuster have acquired The Unluckiest Leprechaun by Alastair Heim (l.), illustrated by Pablo Pino. The picture book follows Clover, an unlucky leprechaun who's feeling particularly disappointed about being unlucky on St. Patrick's Day of all days. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Atlanta Japp at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
