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.
Asia Harden at FSG has acquired, in a six-figure preempt, Don't Kiss the Prince by debut author Andy C. Naranjo, a YA fantasy pitched as Little Thieves meets a Latinx The Princess Bride, about a girl cursed to be bad luck who gets roped into escorting an arrogant prince to his wedding, evading myriad dangers and her own growing feelings along the way. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Chelsea Hensley at Mad Woman Literary Agency negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Lydia Gregovic at Delacorte Romance has bought Love on Ice by Sara Ney, a rivals-to-lovers romance in which a girl, desperate for a date to prom after blowing her budget on a perfect dress, strikes an unlikely bargain with her school's star hockey player when a prank gone wrong lands him in her backyard: she'll cover up the evidence of his crimes if he agrees to take her to the dance. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Michelle Wolfson at Wolfson Literary sold North American, open market + audio rights.
Kate Harrison at Dial has acquired Brian Devine (l.) and Dave Devine's debut YA graphic novel, From Both Sides, a coming-of-age YA romance reminiscent of Eleanor & Park, set in 1980s Philadelphia, in which freshman Martha Dunn assumes a more confident alter ego, Josie Bloom, to start up a letter and mixtape exchange with her former best friend, Simon Skylark, and the two reunite in real life to compete in a Battle of the Bands to win tickets to the Live Aid concert. Publication is set for fall 2027; Kristin Ostby at Greenhouse Literary did the deal for North American rights.
Alison Romig at Delacorte Romance has bought Matthew Hubbard's Drop Dead Handsome, about an outspoken senior who enters his high school's "Miss Spirit" pageant for his college essay, only to face sabotage. With the help of the nerdy but adorable student government president, he sets out to find the culprit while receiving a crash course in the pageantry of first love. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Katie Shea Boutillier at Donald Maas Literary Agency sold world English and audio rights.
Andrea Colvin at Little, Brown Ink has acquired, at auction, in a four-book deal, The Bizarre Bazaar, a middle grade graphic novel series in the vein of Goosebumps and The Twilight Zone by (clockwise from top l.) Daniel Nayeri, illustrated by Liz Enright (book one), Lesley Vamos (book two), and Emanuel Wiemans (book three). Publication of the first book is scheduled for summer 2025; Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media represented Nayeri, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Lit represented Vamos and Wiemans, and Enright represented herself in the deal for world rights.
Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has bought early middle grade novel Nadia Islam, On the Record by Adiba Jaigirdar (l.), illustrated by Avani Dwivedi, in which budding reporter Nadia travels to visit her family in Bangladesh to celebrate Ramadan, and learns about the country's climate crisis—and the true meaning of her favorite holiday. Courtney Stevenson will edit; publication is set for winter 2026. Uwe Stender at Triada US represented the author, and Shandra Strickland at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Stephanie Pitts at Putnam has acquired Sherri L. Smith's Candace, the Universe, and Everything, a speculative middle grade novel about three generations of Black girls connected across time and space through a wormhole in their school locker. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Kirby Kim at Janklow & Nesbit brokered the deal for world English rights.
Susan Rich at Little, Brown has bought, in an exclusive submission, The Trickster Shadow, a picture book by author-illustrator Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley (Ojibwe) about a child who draws on ancestral wisdom to master the dark side of his emotions. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists negotiated the deal for world rights.
Joanna Cárdenas at Kokila has acquired world rights to Jia Has a Dog Problem by Stephanie Ellen Sy (l.), illustrated by Isabella Kung, a picture book about a girl who's afraid of dogs and a small dog who's terrified of children until they learn they have more in common than they think. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Stefanie Molina at Ladderbird Literary Agency represented the author, and Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Samantha Dewaele at Groundwood Books has bought world rights to Marian's Marvelous Excavation by Laura Bontje (l.), illustrated by Scot Ritchie. This picture book follows the imaginative Marian, who creates a dinosaur skeleton out of found items that she's certain must be fossils. Publication is slated for fall 2026; James McGowan at BookEnds represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented.
Lauri Hornik at Penguin/Rocky Pond has acquired world rights to Not a Walk by Charlotte Offsay (l.) (Challah Day!), illustrated by Rotem Teplow (And a Cat from Carmel Market). This picture book, inspired by a Yiddish saying, features a feisty granddaughter and a clever grandpa who support one another during an outing, reminding readers that sometimes life is more manageable in bite-sized pieces. Publication is set for spring 2027; Nicole Geiger at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Atlanta Japp at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Miriam Moore-Keish and Elizabeth Dingmann Schneider at Capstone have bought world rights to Good by Alexs Pate (l.) (Being You), illustrated by Tequitia Andrews, a picture book that explores the inner Good present within each of us. Publication is planned for fall 2025; the author represented himself, and Kim Fleming at Lilla Rogers Studio represented the illustrator.
Dena Neusner at Apples & Honey Press has acquired world rights to My Body Can by Laura Gehl (l.), illustrated by Alexandra Colombo, a picture book celebration of the varieties of activities that bodies of all shapes, sizes, and abilities can do. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary represented the author, and Sarah Thomas at Bright Group US represented the illustrator.
