Eileen Rothschild at Wednesday Books has bought, in an exclusive three-book deal, A Court of Dark Water, a YA romantasy series based on Scottish legends featuring fae, witches, and kelpies, by P.C. Cast, author of the bestselling House of Night series. Publication of the first book is tentatively scheduled for late summer 2026; Rebecca Scherer and Jessica Errera at Jane Rotrosen Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.


Zoie Konneker at Peachtree Teen has acquired Though This Be Madness by Cass Biehn (Vesuvius), a queer, Hamlet-inspired YA historical romance set in Regency-era Edinburgh featuring a protagonist with borderline personality disorder. Biehn's sophomore YA novel follows two boys who must work together to stop a scheming botanist from cultivating the perfect poison—before he can use it to induce madness in them both. Publication is set for summer 2027; Annalise Errico at Ladderbird Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.


Alyssa Miele at HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, Birdie Marigold and the Mini-Golf Mystery by Kathleen Gros (Carousel Summer), a middle grade graphic novel about a girl who moves into her late great-aunt's mansion and uncovers a mystery decades in the making. Publication is slated for summer 2027; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency sold world English rights.


Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has acquired world rights to Is It Art?: The Story of Bird in Space by author-illustrator Ioana Hobai, a nonfiction picture book about Constantin Brâncuși's famous avant-garde sculpture Bird in Space, and how it helped change our definition of what makes something art. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Jessica Saint Jean at Root Literary did the deal while at Jill Grinberg Literary Management.


Emma Ledbetter at Abrams has bought world rights, in a preempt, to author of the Caldecott winner We Are Water Protectors Carole Lindstrom's (l.) (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe) next picture book, Grandfather Stone, illustrated by Newbery Honoree Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson (tribally enrolled Inupiaq), as well as a companion book. This contemplative story is about the wisdom of the ancestors who walked before us: stones, like a grandfather, have a lot to say, if we listen. Publication is set for fall 2026 and fall 2027 respectively; Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Faye Bender at the Book Group represented the illustrator.


Gianna Lakenauth at Knopf has acquired, in a preempt, world rights to Something's Up with Cheryl by Jen MacGregor (l.), illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler, a picture book about a bloodthirsty houseplant that threatens to upend an unsuspecting kid's utterly pedestrian family life. Publication is scheduled for summer 2027; Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch Literary Services represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.


Nick Magliato at Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to Eco: The Little Electric Taxi by Deb Adamson (l.), illustrated by Patrick Corrigan. In this picture book, an electric taxi helps lead ducks that are stranded in the middle of the road to safety. Publication is planned for spring 2026; the author represented herself, and Jodie Hodges at United Agents Ltd. represented the illustrator.


Genie MacLeod at Kids Can Press has acquired Bison Belong: How Bison Engineered the Great Plains by Deidre Havrelock (l.), illustrated by Kim Smith. Told from an Indigenous perspective, this nonfiction picture book pairs Western science with Traditional Ecological Knowledge to explore how bison restoration can revitalize the Great Plains ecosystems and help the planet thrive. Publication is slated for spring 2027; Amy Tompkins at Transatlantic Agency represented the author, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the artist.


Hilary Van Dusen at Candlewick/MIT Kids Press has bought So You Want to Be a Fossil? by MIT alumna Anna Monders (l.), in her debut picture book. The humorous nonfiction title includes a cast of prehistoric animals on audition day as they react to the chaotic process of becoming cool, famous fossils. Ryan Middaugh will illustrate; publication is scheduled for summer 2027. Miranda Paul at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Christie Megill at the CAT Agency represented the artist.


Lisa Rosinsky at Barefoot Books has acquired world rights to Home Away from Home by debut author Nazneen Akbari (l.), illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh (The Book Tree). When Nuha visits relatives in Oman and accidentally leaves her beloved doll behind, her grandmother helps her find a sense of belonging in unexpected ways. Publication is set for spring 2026; Stephen Fraser at Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.


Saanya Kanwar at Paw Prints has bought world rights, in an exclusive submission, to Cuddlefish by Jesse Byrd (l.), illustrated by debut illustrator Michael Bensur. A cuttlefish who loves to hug finds that not everyone in his neck of the ocean is as keen on physical affection, but soon learns that—more than anyone else—the creature that deserves his love is actually himself. Publication is slated for May 2026; Byrd, an agent with Moonbeam Literary & Media, represented himself; the illustrator was unagented.


Crystal Castro at Little, Brown has acquired May the Dead Keep You by Jill Baguchinsky (So Witches We Became), a dark YA horror novel loosely inspired by Wuthering Heights, in which a teen girl must confront the dreadful history of her unusual home and the redwood forest that surrounds it, or risk losing everyone she loves to its traumatic power. Publication is scheduled for winter 2026; Eric Smith at P.S. Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.


Kara Sargent at S&S/Aladdin has bought Dirty Windows Don't Open by R.L. Toalson (The First Magnificent Summer), a contemporary YA novel about Harper, who works nights at Subway to help support her family. Harper sees no opportunity for college until she starts to work on a project about coyotes with her brother's best friend, who helps her see that she might be able to get out of her small Texas town for good. Publication is set for fall 2026; Rena Rossner at the Deborah Harris Agency sold world English rights.


Joy Peskin at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has acquired, in an exclusive submission, J.S. Lemon's next middle-grade novel, Pretty Monsters. Twelve-year-old Ruby Driscoll's mother has entered her in beauty pageants since she was a toddler, but when Ruby finds her body becoming less real, the two reach a critical point of self-discovery. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio negotiated the deal for North American rights.


Candice Keimig at ABDO/Calico Kid has bought world rights to Dogs Save the Day, a series of six chapter books for early readers by Emma Bland Smith (l.), illustrated by Monika Kucharska; Bridget O'Brien will edit. In each book, a child will help a different working dog face challenges and succeed in their heroic career. Publication is slated for September 2026; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Jessie Fitzgerald at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.


Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has acquired world rights to One Grumpy Baby by Lin Oliver (l.), illustrated by Jade Orlando, a picture book about a baby who just won't nap until older siblings intervene. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Ellen Goldsmith-Vein at the Gotham Group represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.


Alvina Ling at Little, Brown has bought, in an exclusive submission, A Book for Everyone by married creators Hayley Rocco (r.) and Caldecott Honoree John Rocco. The picture book follows book-obsessed chipmunk Piper Waterstone, who tries to convince her reluctant raccoon friend Gregory to join her as she competes in her library's yearly reading challenge. Publication is set for fall 2026; Rob Weisbach at Rob Weisbach Creative Management negotiated the deal for world rights.


Kait Feldmann while at HarperCollins acquired world rights to Don't Drop the Mic by playwright, poet, and educator Idris Goodwin (l.), illustrated by Coretta Scott King Honor artist Kaylani Juanita, a musical picture book centering a quiet child who yearns to make noise, exploring the power of finding your voice and honoring those who amplify it. Luana Kay Horry will edit; publication is slated for fall 2026. Brandi Bowles at UTA represented the author, and Charlotte Sheedy at Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency represented the illustrator.


Tyiana Combs at Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to A Black Girl and Her Braids, a picture book by Jaylene Clark Owens (l.), illustrated by Brittney Bond. Based on her viral poem, this debut book from Owens is a celebration of braids of all shapes, sizes, and styles, encouraging Black girls to embrace and enjoy their hair. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Jenniea Carter at New Leaf Literary & Media represented the author, and Adriel Salinas at Astound US represented the illustrator.


Carol Hinz at Lerner/Carolrhoda has acquired world rights to Patchwork Memories by Monica Rojas (l.), illustrated by Luisa Uribe. As a child navigates their abuela's memory loss, an old quilt helps their family find memories to share that have never been spoken between them. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.


Emma Hintzen at Sourcebooks eXplore has bought world rights to The Girl Who Dreamed of Space by Melissa Trempe (l.), illustrated by Daniel Egneus, a picture book biography of astronaut Eileen Collins, NASA's first female pilot and Space Shuttle mission commander. Publication is set for spring 2027; Amy Nielsen at the Purcell Agency represented the author, and Doreen Thorogood at Good Illustration Agency represented the illustrator.


Nadine Robert at Milky Way Picture Books has acquired world rights to Things I Learned from My Dog by Victor D. Santos (l.), illustrated by Dena Seiferling, which follows a boy's journey of growth and self-discovery, guided by the unconditional love and life lessons imparted by his scruffy and loyal dog, Luna. Publication is planned for June 2026; the author was unagented, and Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists represented the artist.