Hannah Pierdolla at Wednesday Books has acquired Not Your Typical Love Story by Caitlyn Averett writing as C.R. Averett, a debut YA romance pitched as You've Got Mail meets Loveless, about a pair of aroace-spec (asexual and aromantic) academic rivals whose future dreams—due to a meddling older sister—become contingent on the two of them fake dating, all while dealing with grief, the weight of family expectations, and a secret online identity that could ruin everything. Publication is tentatively set for fall 2026; Amy Bishop-Wycisk at Trellis Literary Management did the two-book deal for North American rights.
Ainslie Campbell-Schwartz at Candlewick Press has bought North American rights to The House of Shadows, a fantasy duology inspired by ancient Greek myth, from sisters and coauthors Katharine Corr (l.) and Elizabeth Corr. The first of the two books, Daughter of the Underworld, in which Soul Severer Deina becomes entangled in the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, is scheduled for fall 2025. Claire Wilson at RCW represented the authors, and Holly Potter at Bonnier Books UK sold North American rights.
Andrew Karre at Dutton has acquired, at auction, Susie Nadler's debut Lies We Tell About the Stars, in which 17-year-old Celeste searches for her best friend in the aftermath of a catastrophic San Francisco earthquake and becomes increasingly convinced that he's still alive, but has chosen to disappear. Meanwhile, the rest of the nation distracts itself from the disaster by obsessing over the first human mission to Mars. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights.
Liz Pelletier at Mayhem Books, a new YA imprint at Entangled Publishing, has bought, in a preempt, A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J. Spann, a debut romantasy in which cursed 18-year-old Riven Hesper infiltrates a deadly, magical theater run by godlike beings, where mortals compete for immortality in a lethal competition and Riven is forced to confront the possibility that she may not be the hero of her story—she may be the villain. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Ellen Goff at HG Literary brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Anna Roberto at Feiwel and Friends has acquired Goodbye and Everything After by Mae Coyiuto (Chloe and the Kaishao Boys), a magical contemporary YA about a 17-year-old Chinese Filipino girl who breaks the Filipino funeral superstition of pagpag, resulting in resurrecting the spirit of her dead father, and in doing so mourns him all over again as she spends time with his ghost, all the while trying to navigate her mother's impending new marriage. Publication is set for winter 2026; Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency sold North American rights.
Lydia Gregovic at Delacorte Press has won, at auction, Mischief Girls by Aashna Avachat (Love Craves Cardamom). Truly Devious meets Holly Jackson in the author's mystery debut, which follows a freshman who must delve into her college's dark history after a classmate she was responsible for goes missing. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Laurel Symonds at KT Literary handled the deal for world English rights.
Polo Orozco at Putnam has bought debut author Brittany Johnson's Deadly Ever After, a romantic YA fantasy about two princesses who die and wake up in an enchanted garden, where the gods offer them a second chance at life if they can survive the garden's dangers and find true love's kiss. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Jamie Vankirk at Rainbow Nerds Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Erica Finkel at Abrams has acquired, in a six-figure preempt, the first three books in the middle grade fantasy series Dragon House by Lambda Literary Fellow Liv Mae Morris. In the books, a boy gets a job taking care of a charming array of dragons and makes the unlikeliest of friends. Publication will begin in spring 2026: Sarah Fisk at Tobias Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Donna Bray at Macmillan/Balzer + Bray has bought The Lion's Run, a middle grade novel by Sara Pennypacker (Pax). The author's first historical novel follows a 13-year-old orphan in Nazi-occupied France who discovers unexpected courage within himself when he becomes entangled with the Resistance while helping protect both a prized filly and a litter of kittens alongside an unlikely ally, the daughter of a wealthy horse trainer. Publication is slated for winter 2026; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Sarah Alpert while at Algonquin Young Readers acquired The Rift by Meredith McClaren (Crumble), a middle grade graphic novel about a headstrong human girl and her part-seafolk sister who must grapple with the growing distance between them as a dangerous sea beast threatens their town. Jessica Levine at Little, Brown Ink will edit; publication is scheduled for winter 2029. Jessica Mileo at InkWell Management did the deal for world English rights.
Wesley Adams at FSG has bought at auction Sole Survivor by Norman Ollestad (l.) and Brendan Kiely. A real-life survival adventure reminiscent of Hatchet, the book chronicles how 11-year-old Ollestad survived a mountainside plane crash during a blizzard that resulted in the deaths of his beloved father and the other passengers. Publication is set for fall 2025; Rob Weisbach at Rob Weisbach Creative Management represented the authors in the deal for world rights.
Kaylan Adair at Candlewick has acquired at auction, Diane Debrovner (l.) and Stacy Cervenka's debut Roxie in Color, about an artistic seventh-grader starting at a new school and hoping to make real friends for the first time, who must navigate society's misperceptions of her family because her parents are blind, all with the love and steady presence of her mother's aging guide dog. Publication is planned for summer 2026; Kristin van Ogtrop at InkWell Management sold U.S./Canadian rights.
Marissa Moss at Creston Books has bought world rights to Trial and Error by Robin Newman (l.), illustrated by Deborah Zemke, previously partnered in the Wilcox & Griswold mystery series and Who's Writing This Story?!, the first early graphic chapter book in the Sawyer the Critter Lawyer series, about an ant seeking justice in the animal world. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Associates represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Susan Rich at Little, Brown has acquired Moon Song, a companion to the Caldecott Honor picture book Berry Song by Michaela Goade (Tlingit), in which a girl spins a comforting story for her worried cousin, celebrating the luminous wonder of a winter's night. Publication is set for fall 2025; Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions negotiated the deal for world rights.
Nancy Inteli and Luana Kay Horry at HarperCollins have bought, in a five-house auction, world rights to The Skeleton and the Cat by Brandon James Scott, stories about Skeleton and Cat forming a sweet, strange and often hilarious friendship. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management handled the five-book deal.
Paula Wiseman while at Paula Wiseman Books acquired world rights to Abner & Lucy by Amy June Bates (The Big Umbrella; The Welcome Home); Catherine Laudone will edit for Beach Lane Books. This picture book follows a lighthouse and his lighthouse keeper as they work together to make sure all the ships at sea come safely home. Publication is set for summer 2026; Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt Agency brokered the deal.
Martha Mihalick at Greenwillow has bought Mary E. and the Apple Tree by Cynthia Cliff, a picture book about one girl's experiences on her family's orchards, and about how our traditions involving food can travel through generations, connecting people to a place, as well as to each other. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency sold world rights.
Julia Sooy while at Holt acquired world rights to One Small Moment by Rebecca Donnelly (l.), illustrated by Amélie Videlo, a picture book in which encouraging notes from his mothers give a child the confidence to put his own ideas on paper. Valery Badio will edit; publication is planned for fall 2026. Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency represented the author, and Alice Jin Zhang at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Emily Settle at Feiwel and Friends has bought world rights to Panda-monium by Annie Bailey (l.), illustrated by Bonnie Wong. In this rhyming picture book, a large panda family attempts to take the perfect family picture. After a series of attempts go pantastically wrong, the pandas find that success might be as simple as changing their view of perfect. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Karen Chan at Gloo Books has acquired world English rights to The Fib by horror and science fiction writer Pedro Iniguez (l.), illustrated by Nathan Kwan, in which Pepe, struggling to find something exciting for show and tell, spins a little lie about a magical creature with horns like a ram, claws like a bear, wings like a bat, eyes like an owl, and a tail like a lion. But Pepe and his class soon discover that this harmless fib takes on a life of its own—literally. Publication is set for fall 2025; the author was unagented, and Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Claire Tattersfield at Flamingo Books has bought world rights to Trucks All Year by Mary Vander Plas (l.), illustrated by Angela Li, a lift-the-flap board book that takes readers through the trucks they might see on the street each month of the year. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Jackie Kruzie at Focused Artists represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Frances Gilbert at Doubleday has acquired world rights to a new board book series, Baby Botanicals, beginning with Good Morning, Garden! and Peekaboo, Flowers! by Jillian Miao (l.), illustrated by Riley Samels. The books share the joy of gardening with the littlest readers. Publication is planned for spring 2026, and two books will follow in summer 2026. The author was unagented, and Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Holly West at Feiwel and Friends has acquired, in a preempt for six figures, Romancing the Throne by Caitlin Cooper, a tongue-in-cheek YA meta-fantasy a la The Princess Bride or This Is Spinal Tap!, in which a teen mega-fan of romantasy fiction is pulled into the world of her favorite unfinished series, and uses her knowledge of the books and the genre tropes to help bring the story to a satisfying conclusion and to find herself true love. Publication is planned for late 2026; Michael Stearns and Ted Malawer at the Inkhouse sold North American rights.
Martha Mihalick at Greenwillow has bought world rights to Alex London's (l.) YA graphic memoir, Pull, illustrated by L. Fury. It tells the story of a boy, his dad, and a gun, and their complicated relationship to each other, exploring the author's time as a competitive skeet shooter while navigating mental health struggles, living in the closet at a brutal Baltimore prep school, and his father's faltering attempts to reach him. Publication is set for winter 2026; Robert Guinsler at Sterling Lord Literistic represented the author, and Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Emily Daluga at Chronicle has acquired world rights to Madeline Morales's debut YA fantasy graphic novel series The Sawgrass Witches. Fledgling witch Inés is reeling from the death of her grandmother when she stumbles upon a magical wand and a talking goose who's been guarding it. She must join a coven and learn to harness her own power quickly, because a malevolent witch has been hunting that wand for hundreds of years—and now has her sights set on Inés and her new friends. The first book is slated for spring 2028; Shannon Gallagher at Wernick & Pratt Agency negotiated the two-book deal.
Bria Ragin at Delacorte Press has bought Erica Ridley's Insatiable, a gothic twist on Jennifer's Body steeped in Scottish lore. In a world where wishes come true in the worst possible way, a 17-year-old girl joins the first class of female coeds at an isolated boarding school only to fight against boys who are monsters—as well as the nascent monster within her. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Lauren Abramo at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret sold world rights.
Alexandra Aceves at Holiday House has acquired Straight to the Source, the debut YA novel by NBA 5 Under 35 Honoree K-Ming Chang (Bestiary), a queer love story following ambitious teen journalist Wendy Lin, who teams up with the rival school paper's star editor Helen—Wendy's ex-best-friend and old crush—to uncover a story that forces them to face what happens when your biggest rival is your biggest story and maybe your biggest love. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Julia Kardon and Ellen Goff at HG Literary sold North American rights.
Trisha de Guzman at FSG has bought, at auction, Tashie Bhuiyan's Right as Rain, a speculative contemporary novel about a girl living with depression who, after being struck by lightning, must find a way to get rid of the storm cloud attuned to her emotions that's begun to follow her around. Publication is slated for winter 2026; Stuti Telidevara and Peter Knapp at Park, Fine & Brower Literary Management brokered the two-book deal for North American rights.
Tamar Brazis at Viking has acquired world rights to an original graphic novel starring Madeline, the iconic character created by Ludwig Bemelmans. Set during World War II, Madeline finds refuge in the Paris underground with a gang of child thieves-turned-Resistance fighters. The graphic novel will be written by Bemelmans's grandson John Bemelmans Marciano (l.) (Madeline at the White House) and illustrated by Eisner Award nominees LeUyen Pham (r.) and Alex Puvilland (c.). Publication is set for 2027; Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management represented the author and the Ludwig Bemelmans estate, Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties represented Pham, and Judy Hansen at Hansen Literary represented Puvilland.
Alvina Ling at Little, Brown has bought world English rights to The Planet, the Portal, and a Pizza, a speculative middle grade novel co-authored by Wendy Mass (l.) and Nora Raleigh Baskin, about a girl and her robot dog who discover a mysterious book, and two friends lost in the multiverse who need to find their lost book in order to find their way back home. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented Mass, and Katelyn Detweiler at Jill Grinberg Literary Management represented Baskin.
Jenne Abramowitz at Sourcebooks Young Readers has acquired, in an exclusive submission, to middle grade graphic novel War by Eoin Colfer (l.) and Andrew Donkin (c.), illustrated by Giovanni Rigano (r.). In this story, an escalating conflict rips apart the lives of two kids—one whose family is divided when her father is taken captive, the other forcibly conscripted into the invading army. Publication is set for April 2026; Valentina Fazio at Hachette UK sold U.S. and Canadian rights.
Emily Daluga at Chronicle has bought The Astronautics by Eric Smith, pitched as a middle grade space opera in which 12-year-old Sabreen wakes up a year too early en route to a new planet. Faced with a crumbling spaceship and dwindling supplies, she must work alongside three other kids to save a vessel full of people who might have left her behind on the dying Earth if the roles were reversed. Publication is planned for fall 2027; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency sold world English rights.
Mark Siegel at First Second has acquired Beatrice and Mungo: An Epic Tale of Love Gone South, a middle-grade graphic novel about animal characters on an adventure in 19th-century Australia, by Ian Maxtone-Graham (l.), illustrated by Dana Kalnick. Samia Garcia-Fakih will also edit; publication is slated for 2026. Zoe Sandler sold world rights while at ICM Partners.
Ariel Richardson at Chronicle has bought a picture book spinoff of the Lowriders graphic novel series by Cathy Camper (l.) and Raúl the Third. In Lowriders Blast Off: High Flyer, Flat Tire, the Lowriders crew get ready for a parade, but an unexpected flat threatens to stall their interstellar fun. Publication is set for spring 2027; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency sold world rights.
Neal Porter at Neal Porter Books has acquired, and Taylor Norman will edit, We Are the Trees by Deborah Noyes (l.), illustrated by Sibert and Golden Kite Honor winner Jessica Lanan, an account of conservationist Suzanne Simard's groundbreaking work on the communication networks that exist between trees. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management represented the author, and Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Namrata Tripathi at Kokila has bought world rights to Mended by Elizabeth Segran (l.), illustrated by Kay Sohini, a picture book about the people who create our clothes and make the fashion industry possible and one girl's journey to repair her favorite dress. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Andrew Stuart at the Stuart Agency represented the author, and Leah Pierre at Ladderbird Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Sara Sproull at Abrams has acquired, in a six-house auction, Kind Little Bao and its sequel by Patricia Tanumihardja (l.) (Ramen for Everyone), illustrated by Camey Yeh (We’re Different and It's Totally Cool!), a picture book about a family of dumplings that lives in a steamer and a middle child, Bao, who wants to feel special just like his siblings, Crystal and Wonton. Publication is set for fall 2026 and fall 2027; Kristin Ostby at Greenhouse Literary sold North American rights.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought world rights to Where the Wind Blows, a picture book by Violet Duncan (l.), illustrated by Steph Littlebird, in which the wind tells a curious boy about all the wonders it encounters as it travels from the south to the north. Publication is slated for spring 2027; the author represented herself, and Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary represented the illustrator.
Susan Rich at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to Kindergarten Gets Ready, a picture book by Naomi Danis (l.), illustrated by Pete Oswald, in which readers are introduced to the classroom through the eyes of a kindergarten teacher preparing for the first day of school. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; the author represented herself, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Claire Tattersfield at Flamingo Books has bought world rights to The Turkey Trot Surprise by Alayne Kay Christian (l.), illustrated by Neha Rawat (Masala Chai, Fast and Slow), a humorous rhyming picture book about a turkey who goes on the run Thanksgiving morning to avoid being cooked for dinner. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Jackie Kruzie at Focused Artists represented the author, and Lori Steel at SteelWorks Literary represented the illustrator.
Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow has acquired world rights to Penguins Don't Wear Pants by Abi Cushman (Flamingos Are Pretty Funky), a humorous picture book alerting readers to the fact that something really bad happens when penguins wear pants. Publication is set for fall 2026; Kendra Marcus at BookStop Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Carol Hinz at Lerner has bought world rights to How Rude! by Jessica Fries-Gaither (Nature's Rule-Breakers). This photo picture book explores how good manners in humans don't always extend to the animal kingdom. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Nathalie Le Du at Odd Dot has acquired world rights to Hot Dog! The History of America's Favorite Sausage, a nonfiction picture book by Christine Van Zandt (l.), illustrated by Steven Salerno, narrated in the voice of Frank de Wienerdog who shares fascinating and funny facts about his all-time favorite food. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Jaime Gelman at Little Bee Books has bought world rights to No Legs, No Limits by Kanya Sesser (l.) and Nisha Lamsam Ligon (c.), illustrated by Lenny Wen, a picture book about young Kanya, who was born without legs, as she learns to stand up for herself and finds joy in skateboarding. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency represented the authors, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Ryan G. Van Cleave at Bushel & Peck has acquired world rights to One Spark by Melissa Coffey (l.), illustrated by Marie Muravski, a picture book that explores the life force that flows within each of us and connects us all. Publication is set for spring 2026; Charlotte Wenger at the Prospect Agency represented the author, and Atlanta Japp at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
