Claire Stetzer at Amulet has acquired This Dream Will Devour Us by Emma Clancey, a YA contemporary fantasy pitched as The Inheritance Games meets Caraval, about a girl thrust into the intoxicating world of magical high society when she wins a coveted ticket to the billionaire Lamour brothers' Dream Gala, and uncovers a sinister conspiracy that could get her killed. Publication is set for spring 2026; Penelope Burns at Gelfman Schneider brokered the deal for North American rights; the author is now represented by Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.
Feather Flores at Atheneum has bought, in an exclusive submission, Flipturns, a YA graphic novel by Andi Porretta (Ready or Not). Pitched for fans of the Tamakis and set in the suburbs of Philadelphia, this queer love story follows two girls who strike a deal to swap tutoring for swim coaching, only to fall hard into a first love neither of them saw coming. Publication is scheduled for summer 2028; Natascha Morris at Tobias Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Caitlyn Dlouhy at Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books has acquired, in a six-figure preempt, Watermelon Tears (working title), co-written by debut author Jack Azar (l.) and NAACP Image Awards nominee author Mary Rand Hess. Inspired by true events, this coming-of-age immigration story spans Jack's humble beginnings at a Christian orphanage in a 1970s occupied Ramallah, Palestine, to the landscape of a Led Zeppelin, cheeseburger and milkshake, fast-car-loving 1970s America, where expectations don't always match realities. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Sera Rivers at Speilburg Literary Agency did the two-book deal for world rights.
Tyiana Combs at Penguin Workshop has bought Lessons in Letting Go, a YA novel from Allison L. Davis. One summer in New York City changes two lives forever when a stoic city boy trapped in his shell and a sunny, southern girl stranded in the Big Apple while running from her problems meet and embark on a journey of friendship, finding themselves, and unwavering support. Publication is slated for spring 2027; Gabriella Melendez at Great Dog Literary sold world rights.
Sarah Alpert at Algonquin Young Readers has acquired Jade Zhang's The Last Giant, an epic high-fantasy middle grade graphic novel about a girl who embarks on a quest to save her village from monsters, and discovers the magic and secrets of the lost giants. Lauren Kisare at Little, Brown Ink will edit; publication is scheduled for winter 2030. Erin Casey Westin at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Laura Helweg at Tommy Nelson has bought Florence Wallace's Year at the Colored Orphan Asylum by Kirstie Myvett, first in a new middle grade historical series called American Stories for Gutsy Girls, which features diverse female characters. Florence spends an eventful year at the asylum, but when the NYC orphanage is destroyed during the Civil War–era draft riots, she wonders if a colored girl's dreams are even worth pursuing. Publication is set for June 2026; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency sold world rights.
Meriam Metoui at Viking has acquired Flowers for Mama by Deborah Freedman (Carl and the Meaning of Life), a picture book about a litter of kittens brainstorming a present for their mother, while one kitten wonders if their mom can wait for a pile of dirt with a seed in it to turn into a flower. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Stephen Barr at Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights.
Clarissa Wong while at Scholastic bought Bandage Buddies, a picture book written and illustrated by Kathryn Rammell; Laura Demoreuille will edit. The story follows a group of emotional-support bandages who are forced to navigate their most challenging child injury yet. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Christie Megill at the CAT Agency handled the deal for world rights.
Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook Press has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to And They Walk On, a picture book by Sibert Award winner Kevin Maillard (l.) (Fry Bread), illustrated by three-time Pura Belpré winner Rafael López (The Year We Learned to Fly). A boy says farewell to a loved one in this hopeful and healing story as he imagines her walking on into her next journey, knowing she will live in his heart until the day he walks on with her. Publication is set for fall 2025; Gillian MacKenzie at Gillian MacKenzie Agency represented the author, and Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought world rights to Raja's Journey by Varsha Bajaj (l.), illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat. This picture book tells the story of a girl's beloved handcarved elephant, which is stolen from her by a British officer and eventually ends up in a museum. Publication is scheduled for spring 2028; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Anna Sargeant at Sourcebooks Jabberwocky has acquired world rights to Party Pony, a picture book by Claire Wrenn Bobrow (l.), illustrated by Ross Burach, in which a pony finds himself at many parties that are not his own, wondering when his time will come. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the author, and Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Michael Green at Marble Press has bought B and the Spoon, a picture book fable by Mk Smith Despres (l.), illustrated by Raluca Burca. B, the youngest of many siblings, is used to making due with bits and scraps of leftover pieces; when a giant wave levels her family's home by the sea, it is young B who shows everyone how to build anew when starting with nothing but bits and scraps of leftover pieces. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Amy Thrall Flynn at Aevitas Creative represented the author, who is now represented by Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and the illustrator represented herself.
Sarah Barley at S&S/Sarah Barley Books has acquired North American rights to Beth Is Dead and a second untitled book by Katie Bernet, in a six-house auction. The book is a contemporary reimagining of Little Women in which Beth dies in the first chapter, and her sisters will stop at nothing to track down her killer—until they begin to suspect each other. The novel is told in four perspectives, including Beth's in flashback. Publication is planned for the Sarah Barley Books launch list in spring 2026; Sara Crowe at Sara Crowe Literary negotiated the deal.
Hannah Hill at Delacorte Romance has bought We're a Bad Idea, Right? and two additional books by K.L. Walther (The Summer of Broken Rules; While We're Young), in which a young woman rents out her home for a weekend party in order to fund her gap year, while also helping her best friend woo his ex by agreeing to fake date, inspired by the cult classic Risky Business. The first book is scheduled for spring 2026; Eva Scalzo at Speilburg Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.
Gretchen Durning at Putnam has acquired A Practical Guide to Dating a Demon by Hannah Reynolds (Summer Nights and Meteorites). In this cozy YA romantasy, a magic academy student deters unwanted suitors by telling them she's betrothed to a demon—only to return home and find a demon waiting for her, insisting she honor the engagement, but the city's increasingly unpredictable magic means she might have bigger problems. Publication is set for spring 2026; Tamar Rydzinski at Context Literary handled the deal.
Nicole Ellul at Simon & Schuster has bought, in an exclusive submission, Prince of Mourning by Jenn Bennett, a YA dark Gilded Age romantasy. Nursing student Molly has been summoned to an upstate New York mansion to care for a dying millionaire—but there she discovers an immortal boy being held prisoner. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency brokered the deal for North American rights.
Alyson Day at HarperCollins has acquired The House Next Door, a middle grade novel by Ellen Oh (Spirit Hunters). Rory has lived next door to a haunted house all of his life and has seen how the ghosts chase out all the families that have tried to live there. But when Rory's new friends Jack and Mira move into the house, Rory joins forces with the ghosts to help save his friends from the monsters in the basement. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.
Simone Roberts-Payne at Putnam has bought world rights to All That Chandni Knows, a middle-grade novel-in-verse by Khushboo Patel. Set in India in the 1990s, it tells the story of a girl navigating complicated familial relationships and friendships, while trying to pursue her own dreams. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Joyce Sweeney at the Seymour Agency represented the author.
Calista Brill at First Second has acquired Ghost School, Lisa Brown's middle grade graphic novel about a school and the children's ghosts who still inhabit it; Shawna Gore will also edit. Publication is slated for 2026; Charlotte Sheedy at Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Grace Scheipeter at Oni Press has bought author-illustrator Deandra "Nika" Tan's Robot Ramen Cafe, a middle-grade graphic novel in which 11-year-old June teams up with a mysterious robot to help save her family's struggling ramen shop. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Jennifer Chen Tran at Glass Literary Management brokered the deal for world rights.
Nick Magliato at Penguin Workshop has acquired world English rights to the middle-grade graphic novel Ollie Island, co-created by Dave Scheidt (the Mayor Good Boy series) and Scoot McMahon (co-creator with Scheidt of Agents of S.L.A.M.), written by Scheidt and illustrated by McMahon, in a two-book, six-figure deal. Pitched as Tony Hawk's Pro-Skater meets Willy Wonka, the graphic novel is about what happens when the greatest skateboarder of all time handpicks a group of promising kids to compete on his billion-dollar tropical skate park for a chance of a lifetime, but the skaters discover Ollie Island is not what it seems. Publication is set for spring 2027 and spring 2028; Charlie Olsen at InkWell Management represented Scheidt, and Marie Lamba at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency represented McMahon.
Jessica Smith at Aladdin has bought Future Me Saves the World (And Ruins My Life) by Leah Cypess. In this early middle grade series launch, a boy's future self keeps showing up to try to get him to change the future by changing the present (i.e. by making sure today's substitute teacher doesn't quit, or else one day she'll become an evil dictator). Publication is planned for summer 2025; Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger sold world English rights.
Emma Ledbetter at Abrams has acquired, in a four-house auction, E.B. Goodale's Robin and the Stick, Robin and the Moon, and Robin and the Flowers, the first three titles in a new picture book series, Meet Robin. Written for the youngest readers from their perspective of the world around them, the series will feature stories of everyday adventures that feel like huge milestones. The first book is slated for spring 2026; Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary Agency sold world rights.
Tara Walker at Tundra has bought three picture books in the Tiny Bean's Big Adventures series by Stephanie Graegin (Little Fox in the Forest). Each book is composed of tiny stories that tell the big adventures of a little hedgehog named Bean, her beloved grandma, and her best friend Clem (a stuffie). Publication for book one, Everyday Bean, is set for summer 2025, with books two and three slated for summer 2026 and summer 2027; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights.
Lauri Hornik at Penguin/Rocky Pond has acquired At the Bottom of Blue by Amanda Calatzis. In this picture book that's a metaphorical look at sadness and grief, Talulah wakes up underwater and tries to go about her day in the depths of blue. With time, support, and small moments of joy, she's able to make her way to the surface. Publication is tentatively scheduled for summer 2027; Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency sold world rights.
Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has bought world rights to Mariposa by Tomás Rivera Book Award-winning author Michael Genhart (l.) (Spanish Is the Language of My Family), illustrated by Pura Belpré Honor artist Carlos Aponte (Across the Bay). Mateo, a queer Latino boy, can rely on his grandmother's loving support to help him feel safe and confident as he comes into being fully himself over time. This heartfelt picture book is positioned within a culture yet also challenges that culture, reclaiming the Spanish word for butterfly which, for too long, has been used as a slur for effeminate and gay boys and men. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Nicole Geiger at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and John Rudolph at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the artist.
Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has acquired world rights to two picture books by AI and technology expert and former White House official Afua Bruce (l.), illustrated by Laura Freeman, including Bessie the Inventor: The STEMinist Who Forged Her Own Path, a biography of unsung Black inventor Bessie Blount, who improved medical care and much more. Publication is slated for winter 2027; Lilly Ghahremani represented the author, and Janet DeCarlo at Storybook Arts represented the illustrator.
Meriam Metoui at Viking has bought world rights to Breathe Bunny Breathe by Laura Lavoie (l.), illustrated by Mike Boldt. This picture book follows a cuddly and cute bunny who sometimes gets really angry and needs to find a way to keep his cool. Publication is set for summer 2026; James McGowan at BookEnds represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Marilyn Brigham at Amazon/Two Lions has acquired world rights to Stompie the Zombie by Margery Cuyler (l.), illustrated by Binny Talib. This picture book follows a zombie whose plans for his family reunion (the first in 500 years!) are derailed when he breaks a bone and must spend the night in Urgent Scare. Publication is scheduled for August 2025; Tracey Adams at Adams Literary represented the author, and Nicky Lander at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Paula Manzanero at Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to Brave New Ballet by Robyn McGrath (l.), illustrated by Alexander Mostov, a picture book about the all-male ballet troupe Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Amy Thrall Flynn at Aevitas Creative Management represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Andrea Posner-Sanchez at Golden Books has acquired world rights to Counting Creatures and Their Features by Dee Leone (l.), illustrated by Kelly Kennedy. The rhyming picture book invites readers to count beastly jaws, dragon wings, monster feet, and other surprising things. Publication is slated for summer 2026; the author was unagented, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
