Alison Romig at Delacorte Romance has acquired As Long as You Loathe Me by Swati Hegde (Match Me if You Can), a sapphic rivals-to-lovers romance pitched as Never Have I Ever meets Mean Girls, in which a girl tries to get back at her ex-best friend for stealing her crush, but ends up rekindling their complicated friendship and discovering that it's not just her pride on the line, it's her heart too. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Rachel Beck at Liza Dawson Associates did the two-book deal for world and audio rights.
Annette Pollert-Morgan at Sourcebooks Fire has bought, in a preempt, Veronica by Dana Mele (People Like Us), about a shy teen whose popular twin may be possessed by a dead girl with a vendetta and a hit list that includes the one she loves in a fast-paced horror novel pitched as Jennifer's Body meets Talk to Me. Publication is set for spring 2026; Ginger Clark at Ginger Clark Literary brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Kade Dishmon at Holiday House has acquired world English and Chinese rights to E.G. Young's A (Dead) Thing Like Me, a paranormal YA debut following a teenage ghost in love with life who becomes bound to the house of the grieving artist who accidentally summoned her via Ouija board. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Linda Camacho at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Kate Prosswimmer at McElderry Books has bought North American rights to The House at the Edge of Magic by Amy Sparkes, first in a middle grade series about an orphan who helps the inhabitants of a cursed, sentient house break the spell trapping them there. Publication is planned for spring 2025; Karen Coeman at Walker UK handled the four-book deal.
Allyn Johnston at Simon & Schuster/Beach Lane Books has acquired world rights to A Scrub in the Tub by Jan Thomas (Rhyming Dust Bunnies), a picture book about earnest but smelly Pig who does not want to take a bath, despite the kind but ever louder pleas of his concerned friends. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Marcia Wernick at Wernick & Pratt Agency negotiated the deal.
Meriam Metoui at Viking has bought Turtle Slept In by author-illustrator Jacob Grant, winner of the 2024 Bologna Book Fair Illustration Exhibition for Umami. A sea turtle hatches to discover her siblings have already left the nest; with the help of a friendly bird, Turtle will cross a perilous beach to reunite with her family in the big blue sea. Publication is set for spring 2026; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency sold world English rights.
Nancy Mercado at Dial has acquired, in a six-house auction and in a two-book deal, world rights to The Vastness of Us by Terisa Siagatonu (l.), illustrated by Lucyola Langi, a picture book about a Samoan girl who, at school, is presented a world map that is at odds with her own understanding of her ancestral homeland—one where the Pacific Islands are barely perceptible and the Pacific Ocean is sliced in half. But with the help of her grandpa, she's reminded that there is nothing small about the islands of Oceania. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Wendi Gu represented the author and Alex Slater represented the illustrator, both at GreenburgerKids.
Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook Press has bought world rights to The Ones Who Came Before by Kevin Noble Maillard (l.), illustrated by Sibu T.P., a picture book in which a Native American "city kid" explores the idea of belonging and "who came first" after a surprising encounter with a country bear. Publication is scheduled for winter 2026; Gillian MacKenzie at Gillian MacKenzie Agency represented the author, and James Burns at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Mary-Kate Gaudet at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to Love, Grumble, a picture book by debut author Katrina Swenson (l.), illustrated by Charles Santoso, about a grumpy troll who discovers that love can be shown in many ways. Publication is set for fall 2026; Jessica Kasmer-Jacobs at the Deborah Harris Agency represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the artist.
Kathy Landwehr at Peachtree has bought world rights to Allie the Alpaca and the 100% Perfect, Frustration-Free Day by Megan Wagner Lloyd (l.), illustrated by Ellie Snowdon, about a little alpaca with big dreams: to make each day absolutely perfect in every way. That doesn't seem too much to ask, does it? Publication is slated for spring 2026; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Maddy Jeffery at the Plum Agency represented the illustrator.
Tracy Gates while at Viking acquired world rights to My Love for You Is Everywhere by Rebecca Colby (l.), illustrated by Genevieve Godbout, a picture book about the expression of parental love in every treasured moment; Margaret Anastas will edit. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Emily van Beek at Folio Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Claire Tattersfield at Flamingo Books has bought world rights to Sparkles for Sunny: A Lunar New Year Story by Sylvia Chen (l.), illustrated by Thai My Phuong, a picture book about a girl who is tired of wearing a hand-me-down qípáo to the Lunar New Year parade, and takes matters into her own hands to make hers and her sisters' qípáos their own. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Alyssa Henkin at Birch Path Literary represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books has acquired world rights to a picture book by Nazanin Ford (l.), illustrated by Fateme Mokhles with the working title My America, the story of a girl whose family is uprooted from their home in Iran, and who must find a way to transplant herself and her beloved flower garden in the new soil of America. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Christie Megill represented the author and Christy Ewers represented the illustrator, both at the CAT Agency.
Brett Duquette at Little Bee Books has bought world rights to I Am Not a Vampire, a debut picture book by Miles McKenna (l.), illustrated by Riley Samels, to be published in partnership with GLAAD. Arlo will do anything to prove he belongs with his vampiric family, but things don't go as planned, in this celebration of identity and becoming your authentic self. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Gwen Beal and Brandi Bowles at United Talent Agency represented the author, and Emily Fernandez at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Sarah Rockett at Tilbury House has acquired world rights to Salamander Song by Ginny Neil (l.) (The Glorious Forest That Fire Built), illustrated by Charli Vince, a parallel story that follows the rhythms of the seasons until children and migrating salamanders meet on a night of salamander rain. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Lisa Amstutz at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Tracy Marchini at Bookends Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Autumn Allen at Barefoot Books has acquired world rights to Ramadan on Rahma Road: Celebrating Food, Family, and Friendship by Razeena Omar Gutta (l.) (Hana's Hundreds of Hijabs) and food blogger Faaiza Osman (c.), illustrated by Atieh Sohrabi (r.) (Soraya and the Yeti). In this narrative cookbook, the diverse families of Rahma Road prepare dishes for their annual potluck iftar; 24 global recipes are included. Publication is set for spring 2025; Shari Maurer at Stringer Literary Agency represented Gutta, Lindsey Smith at Spielburg Literary represented Osman, and Marlena Torzecka at Marlena Agency represented Sohrabi.
Dena Neusner at Apples & Honey Press has acquired world rights to Rembrandt Chooses a Queen by Deborah Bodin Cohen (l.) (Lilith's Ark) and Kerry Olitzky (c.), illustrated by Cinzia Battistel (r.), a picture book about a Jewish apprentice working in Rembrandt's studio in 17th-century Amsterdam, inspired by Rembrandt's painting of Esther confronting Haman, told with parallels to the Purim story. Publication is planned for January 2025; the authors represented themselves, and Astound US represented the artist.
Julie Bliven at Charlesbridge has acquired Everything Needs to Change, a YA climate fiction anthology aimed to ignite hope and activism in teens, edited by 2024 Green Earth Book Award-winning author Nora Shalaway Carpenter (Fault Lines; Rural Voices). Contributors include Erin Entrada Kelly, Jeff Zentner, Kim Johnson, Padma Venkatraman, and Xelena Gonzalez. Publication is scheduled for Earth Day 2026; Victoria Wells Arms at HG Literary sold world rights.
Kelsey Sullivan at Disney has bought Mary E. Roach's (Better Left Buried)'s next YA novel, Seven for a Secret, for fans of Sadie, in which Nev returns to her isolated, insular hometown to investigate the long-ago disappearance of her group home sisters, and must unravel the mysteries locked in her own mind as she hunts down a killer who is willing to do anything to make sure the past stays buried. Publication is set for fall 2025; Claire Friedman at InkWell Management sold world English rights.
Mark Siegel at First Second has acquired Breadcrumbs, a YA graphic memoir by Kasia Babis about growing up in Poland after it transitioned from communism to capitalism in 1989, and how she became involved in progressive politics as her country took a turn toward the hard right. Ally Shwed will also edit. Publication is planned for 2025; Farley Chase at Chase Literary Agency sold world rights excluding Polish.
Karen Li and Shelley Tanaka at Groundwood has bought Abbie Harlow's debut YA novel, Butterfly's Sting, the story of a teenage girl's efforts to save herself and her siblings from her abusive guardian, against the violent backdrop of an illegal boxing ring. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for North American English/French rights.
Debbie Foy at Holler, the new YA imprint at Quarto Kids, has acquired Girls with Goals by Clelia Castro-Malaspina (Your Freedom, Your Power: A Kid's Guide to the First Amendment), the story of how soccer became the most popular women's sport in the world, featuring players throughout history who fought hard to play the sport they loved and pave the way for women playing all sports today. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Lilly Ghahremani at Full Circle Literary sold world rights.
Amanda Manns at Creature Publishing has bought L.L. Madrid's YA debut, My Lips, Her Voice, a speculative feminist thriller with a queer love story at its desert-gothic heart, in which a teen sets out to solve a string of murders in her spooky mining town only to find herself haunted and controlled by her own cousin's vengeful ghost, pitched for fans of Sadie and Neverworld Wake. Publication is set for fall 2025; Ellen Goff at HG Literary sold North American rights.
Zöe Griffiths at Nosy Crow Ltd. has acquired Supa Nova by Chanté Timothy, in a two-book deal, to be co-published with Nosy Crow Inc., with Jennifer Greene co-editing. This debut middle grade graphic novel is the first in a series about Nova, a Black girl with a secret science lab whose attempts to solve the world's trash problems go spectacularly awry, resulting in the creation of a plastic-consuming monster that won't stop eating. Publication is planned for June 2025 in both the U.K. and U.S., with the second book to follow in spring 2026. Lydia Silver at Darly Anderson Children's Book Agency sold world rights.
Mary Cash at Holiday House has bought, in an exclusive submission, The Letter Setters, an early reader series written and illustrated by Ethan Long. These stories center around a group of dogs and their antics and emphasize phonics. A publication date has not been set; the author brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Matt Phipps at Putnam has acquired author-illustrator Marcus Cutler's Something Totally Spectacular! Big Cat is ready to draw something totally spectacular and become world-famous, but is in agony over what to draw. And now Little Cat has stolen the very last tiny bit of crayon—is this a disaster, or will it be the spark of inspiration Big Cat needs? Publication is slated for summer 2025; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency sold world English rights.
Feather Flores at Atheneum has bought world rights to We Go Slow by Ezra Jack Keats Honor author Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie (l.) (Layla's Happiness), illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Aaron Becker (Journey), a picture book that follows a Black child and her elder in an experience of everyday wonder as they enjoy a walk through their vibrant city neighborhood. Publication is set for fall 2025; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt represented the illustrator.
Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has acquired world English rights to How to Be a Proper Ogre by Kelly DiPucchio (l.), illustrated by Janie Bynum (Sloth Is Not a Baby; Chick Chat), a modern fable about an adorable heroine who longs to fit in with her scary but loveable ogre family. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Erzsi Deak at Hen&Ink represented the illustrator.
Jessica Garrison at Dial has bought world rights to Izzy's Wheels: How Two Sisters Reinvented the Wheel by Schneider Family Book Award winner Shannon Stocker (l.), illustrated by Diana Mayo, a picture book biography about Izzy and Ailbhe Keene, who realized that the fashion options available to Izzy, a wheelchair user, weren't the same as those for her sister. The two now create stylish wheel covers for 75 million wheelchair users around the world. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Karen Boss and Kristen Nobles at Charlesbridge have acquired world rights to Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault by Megan Clendenan (l.) illustrated by Brittany Cicchese (r.). This nonfiction picture book shows the construction of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and the quiet rescue of the greatest treasure on Earth and foundation of our food: seeds. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Stacey Kondla at the Rights Factory represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
