Eileen Rothschild at Wednesday Books has acquired Roshani Chokshi's next YA novel, The Swan's Daughter: A Possibly Doomed Love Story, a lush and nostalgic fairy tale, where to rule the kingdom, one only needs to possess the prince's heart—literally. In hopes of finding a non-murderous bride, Prince Arris agrees to a royal tournament of bachelorettes, and strikes a deal with a veritas swan maiden who can separate truth from lie. Publication is planned for winter 2026; Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency sold world English rights; the author is now represented by Jordan Hill at New Leaf Literary and Media.
Krista Marino at Delacorte Press has bought, in a six-figure, four-house auction, Natural Selection by Clare Edge (Accidental Demons). Pitched as Jennifer's Body meets "I choose the bear," this horror-tinged YA speculative thriller tells the story of three girls who share a name (and a secret), whose lives go up in flames when a grizzly starts picking off known abusers in their secluded mountain town. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.
Mary Kate Castellani at Bloomsbury has acquired The Summoning of Tess Pham by Trang Thanh Tran (She Is a Haunting), pitched as Hereditary meets You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight. A depressed teen returns to her grandmother's remote village in Vietnam to bury her half-brother, accompanied by her two best friends and half-sister, only to discover something demonic in the woods that has consumed her family for decades is now hunting them down, and they only have until dawn to break the ritual—or to decide who among them should be sacrificed. Publication is set for winter 2027; Katelyn Detweiler at Jill Grinberg Literary Management sold North American rights.
Shana Corey at Random House Graphic has bought Self Espresso, a sapphic YA romance by debut author Rachel Suhs (l.) and Gabi Mendez (Speak Up, Santiago), to be edited by Shana Corey and Tia Resham Cheema. The graphic novel follows 16-year-old Izzy Campos after she moves from California to Chicago, gets her first afterschool job as a barista, and navigates her crush on her new classmate, Thea—learning to communicate her feelings and stay true to who she is in the process. Publication is scheduled for summer 2027; Jessica Mileo at Inkwell Management sold world rights.
Stephanie Lim at Third State Books has acquired, in an exclusive submission, The Vale by Abigail Hing Wen (l.) (Loveboat, Taipei), illustrated by Yuna Cheong, about a lonely young programmer who builds an AI-generated virtual fantasy world that saves his struggling inventor family. Publication is planned for September 2025; Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media sold world English rights.
Kelsey Murphy at Viking has bought, at auction, When You're Brave Enough by debut author Rebecca Bendheim, a contemporary middle grade novel in which landing the lead in the school musical and preparing for her bat mitzvah push a queer eighth grader to ask big questions about who she wants to be in the world; plus How to Take a Risk, in which a 12-year-old tomboy spends the summer completing a list of epic challenges with her best friend, but with her first crush on a girl, she learns that facing her emotions head-on can be the biggest risk of all. Publication is slated for spring 2026 and spring 2027; Patricia Nelson at Looking Glass Literary & Media negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights while at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
Elise McMullen-Ciotti at Lee & Low Books has acquired world rights to Don't Feed the Hungry Ghosts by New Visions Award winners Connie Chang (l.) and J.M. Blakemore, a humorous middle grade horror novel drawing on Asian ghost folklore, in which a death-obsessed girl is visited by her deceased best friend during the Hungry Ghost Festival, and must feed his ravenous ghost enough that he can remember why he's returned, before they're both consumed by a malevolent, poop-eating spirit. Publication is set for May 2027; Jenna Satterthwaite at Storm Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Sara Miller at DC Comics has commissioned Superman's Good Guy Gang and an untitled sequel by Rob Justus. The early reader graphic novels feature a young Clark Kent as he befriends fellow super-powered kids, Hawkgirl and Guy Gardner, for a super team-up. Publication is scheduled for 2025; Molly O'Neill at Root Literary did the deal, and DC holds world rights.
Anna Bloom at Scholastic has bought the first two books in Bad Dog, Benny, a debut illustrated chapter book series by Maggie P. Chang (author-illustrator of the Geraldine Pu series), about a well-intentioned but misunderstood mini Bernedoodle. In the first book, Benny tries to protect his human family from a mysterious unicorn, but his failed attempts to catch it only bring him closer to doggy obedience school. Publication will start in summer 2026; Wendi Gu at HG Literary did the deal for world rights.
Kate Fletcher at Candlewick has acquired world rights to Spookiez by Bernard Mensah (l.), illustrated by Alea Marley, an early chapter book series of spine-tingling stories for beginning readers in the vein of Mister Shivers and Goosebumps. Publication will start in fall 2025; Natalie Lakosil at Looking Glass Literary & Media represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator in the two-book deal.
Taylor Norman at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has bought Bored! by Society of Illustrators Gold Medal Award winner Felicita Sala, a picture book about Rita, a girl who is so very bored that her imagination runs wild, picturing the ultimate fate of an entire society of other very bored people, until she's far too busy imagining to be anything like bored. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions sold world rights.
Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to All That Glimmers, a picture book celebration of the micro-moments in daily life that inspire peace, joy, and awe, by Laura Baker (l.) (Monsters in Trucks), illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki (Sisters First; The Christmas Owl). Publication is slated for winter 2026; Jodie Hodges and Emily Talbot at United Agents represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Caitlin Tutterow at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought world rights to I Wonder Why by Diane Terrana (l.), illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee, a picture book about a curious child discovering wonder in the world through the magic of the word why. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Sam Hiyate at the Rights Factory represented the author, and Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Luana Kay Horry at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to Down at Bruce's Beach by Dominique Furukawa (l.) (Black Girls), illustrated by Alexis Franklin (City Summer, Country Summer), a picture book that tells the true story of Charles and Willa Bruce's Black-owned seaside resort that was wrongfully seized by the Los Angeles government, and reclaimed 100 years later by the people. Publication is set for summer 2027; Seth Fishman at the Gernert Company represented the author, and Jeff Church at ATRBUTE represented the illustrator.
Sara Sproull at Abrams has bought world rights to Sawsan Sees by debut author Razan Abdin (l.), illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani. This picture book follows Sawsan, a neurodivergent girl who finds ways to cope with her big and bursty feelings. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Eileen Robinson at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights to I Love You More Than Lobsters by Catherine Bailey (l.), illustrated by Bhagya Madanasinghe, a reminder of the endless love a parent has for their child interwoven with ocean animal facts. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Elizabeth Schleisman at Beaming Books has bought world rights to Felix Finds His Polish by Stonewall Honor winner Eric Rosswood (l.), illustrated by Nathalia Takeyama, a picture book about a boy who paints right off the paper—and onto himself—in a joyous act of creation, then incorporates his own decorated, fluttering fingers into his school art project, inspiring his classmates to become their own canvases of self-expression. Publication is set for fall 2026; Jennifer Mattson at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Tina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Carol Hinz at Lerner/Millbrook has acquired world rights to Go Climb a Tree by Heather Alexander (The Good Luck Book). This nonfiction picture book, illustrated with photographs, introduces young readers to all sorts of animals that live in trees. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency brokered the deal.
Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press has bought world rights to The Cabbage Seed's Colossal Secret by Karen M. Greenwald (l.) (A Vote for Susanna), illustrated by Alejandra Ruiz. It's based on the true story of Katie's Krops, about a girl who grows a 40-pound cabbage and dreams that it feeds a soup kitchen full of neighbors, inspiring her to grow more veggies to share, inspiring more and more kids to grow veggies to share with their own communities. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Associates represented the author, and Tina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Tamar Brazis at Viking has acquired world English rights to G Is for Gratitude, written and illustrated by sister duo Rina Horiuchi (l.) and Risa Horiuchi (coauthors of K Is for Kindness). In this alphabet board book, animals demonstrate various ways to show gratitude to one another. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Bookmark Literary represented the co-creators.
Alexandra McKenzie at Charlesbridge has bought world rights to the board book Where Does Dinosaur Go? by Songju Ma Daemicke (l.), and Kristen Nobles has bought world rights for illustration by Sian James. Anton and his sister help their auntie at the laundromat by sorting the laundry in different ways—by color and by person. Publication is slated for fall 2026 as part of Steamworks; the author represented herself, and Vickie Savanella at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Deeba Zargarpur at Simon & Schuster has acquired, at auction, YA graphic novel I Got You, Allen Liu by Derrick Chow (Ravenous Things), a, heartfelt and humorous coming-of-age story that follows 16-year-old Lukas and the challenges he faces as he tries to support his brother through his mental health struggles while navigating his own anxieties and the burgeoning romance with his first boyfriend, inspired by the author's own experiences. Publication is set for fall 2026; Thao Le at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency sold world rights.
Erica Sussman at HarperCollins has bought Elizabeth Hart's Red as Royal Blood, a YA royal thriller that combines courtly intrigue, succession drama, and romance. Ruby is a castle maid who's never found a puzzle she couldn't solve—until the king names Ruby heir to the throne upon his death, throwing the entire kingdom into chaos. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; Viana Siniscalchi and Lanie Davis at Alloy Entertainment negotiated the deal for North American rights; Pam Gruber at High Line Literary Collective represented the author.
Ben Rosenthal at Stonefruit Studio has acquired world rights to The League of Dangerous Young Ladies by debut author J.A. Morgenstein. Enola Holmes meets Buffy, the Vampire Slayer in this series that follows the adventures of Rose Moriarty, the infamous villain's daughter, and her friends as they battle vampires and demons in a race to save the world. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Gemma Cooper at Gemma Cooper Literary did the two-book deal while at the Bent Agency.
Lauren Knowles at Page Street has bought The Redwood Bargain by Markelle Grabo (Call Forth a Fox), a sapphic fairy tale inspired by the Brothers Grimm and Downton Abbey. To help her cousin out of trouble, Katrien agrees to pose as the lord's stepdaughter and spend seven years with the deadly forest creature she has been promised to. But Katrien's transformation from kitchen maid to proper lady is rife with obstacles, including blackmail, murder, and falling for the very lady she's meant to impersonate. Publication is planned for winter 2026; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Ben Rosenthal at Stonefruit Studio has acquired, at auction, Fatal Glitch by award-winning authors Erin Entrada Kelly (l.) and Eliot Schrefer. Pitched as Black Mirror meets Goosebumps, each standalone story in this middle-grade horror series features kids in frightening circumstances, facing off against some form of twisted modern technology. The first two books will be published in summer and fall 2026; Sara Crowe at Sara Crowe Literary and Richard Pine at Inkwell Management negotiated the four-book deal for North American rights.
Emily Daluga while at Abrams bought world English rights to Jackson Bright in the Spotlight by Eureka O'Hara, star of RuPaul's Drag Race and We're Here, and Dan Poblocki. Pitched as Dumplin' meets RuPaul's Drag Race, the middle grade story follows a fierce and fabulous boy who decides to enter his narrow-minded town's beloved "Little Miss" pageant in drag in response to the backlash he receives for wearing a dress to school. Book one will publish in fall 2025. David Purse at Inked Entertainment did the six-figure, two-book deal; Drew Binette at Tuck Entertainment represented O'Hara, and Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented Poblocki.
Tiffany Colón at Scholastic has acquired world rights to Marissa Macy's debut upper middle grade novel, Spells to Mend Broken Hearts. When new girl Alex meets tarot-loving Tess, a fast friendship forms around spells, manifestation, and all things witchy to try and solve their high school dramas. But when Tess wants to use magic to get back with her ex, messy feelings stir up even bigger issues magic alone can't solve. Publication is set for fall 2026; Alexandra Weiss at Azantian Literary represented the author.
Trisha de Guzman at FSG has bought world rights to Pura Belpré Honoree and Edgar Award winner Adrianna Cuevas's next middle grade novel, tentatively titled Cryptid Keepers, first in a two-book deal about a Cuban American boy who learns that his mother's boring job as a wildlife biologist is actually a cover for protecting creatures of legend like Hogzilla, and must work with her to uncover a new threat who arrives in their Texan town. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary brokered the deal.
Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has acquired Space Race by Jamie Sumner (the Roll with It series), a middle grade novel-in-verse about a family road trip in the summer of 1991, centered on an 11-year-old girl who has three days to travel cross-country to compete in a contest for young rocketeers that she's spent months preparing for. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Keely Boeving at WordServe Literary sold world rights.
Mike Yuen-Killick at Red Comet Press has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to The Lost Sea Garden, a middle-grade novel debut by Alison Goldberg (l.) (Eighteen Flowers for Grandma). The story tells of Cockleshell, a young humpback whale, and her search for a mythical sea garden, where long-lost creatures and clearer waters could be the key to survival for her family, friends, and the Ocean; Julie Romeis Sanders will edit, and the book will feature illustrations and cover by Vanessa Gillings in her children's book debut. Publication is planned for fall 2026; the author and illustrator represented themselves.
Bunmi Ishola at WaterBrook has acquired, at auction, George Grant Dragon Slayer by Candace Lee (l.) and Eric Newman, launching the Order of the Dragon Slayer trilogy, a middle grade adventure that reimagines the legend of Saint George in a fading West Virginia coal town, where a young Scout and his friends are forced to put their survival skills and courage to the ultimate test. Publication is set for spring 2026; Shannon Marven and Sydney Delahoussaye at Dupree Miller & Associates did the three-book deal for world rights.
Jennifer Ung at Quill Tree has bought, at auction, A Party for Bear by debut author-illustrator Alice Wang, which follows a lonely bear who learns important lessons about friendship and self-esteem when his attempt at throwing the most perfect party ever goes awry. Publication is scheduled for winter 2027 with a second book to follow; Wendi Gu at HG Literary negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Danielle Collins and Allyn Johnston at S&S/Beach Lane Books have acquired, in an exclusive submission, Hairy and Scary by Jan Thomas. Can Bob, the non-rhyming dust bunny, warn his friends in time to save them from the web of a very hairy and scary spider? Publication is slated for summer 2026; Marcia Wernick at Wernick & Pratt Agency sold world rights.
Sonali Fry at Crown has bought world rights to Haircut Day with Dad by Monica Mikai, about a Black boy and his dad as they spend the day at the barbershop, immersed in culture and community. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency handled the deal.
Aneeka Kalia at Viking has acquired world rights to The Lost Board by Alice Feagan, a picture book about a girl who loses her family's surfboard but learns to let go and allow the object to make memories with new riders. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Heather and Ethan Long at Tugeau 2 brokered the deal for world rights.
Emily Feinberg at Roaring Brook Press has bought world rights to The Dinosaur and the Bird: A Tale of Prehistoric Friendship, a picture book about the unlikely friendship and mutual care between a solitary Triceratops and an orphaned Ichthyornis at the end of the Cretaceous period, written by Sydney Taylor Award-winner Richard Ho (l.) (Two New Years; The Lost Package) and illustrated by Jamie Green (Mushroom Rain; A Line Can Go Anywhere). Publication is set for spring 2026; Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt Agency represented the author, and Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Carolyn Yoder at Astra/Calkins Creek has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Marie's Magic Eggs by Orbis Pictus winner Sandra Neil Wallace (l.) and Sibert-winning illustrator Evan Turk. The picture book biography reveals how Ukrainian immigrant Marie Procai and her family kept the art of pysanky (Ukrainian Easter eggs) alive, thwarting its extinction during decades of Soviet rule to Russia's war on Ukraine. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Liza Voges at Eden Street represented the author, and Brenda Bowen at the Book Group represented the illustrator.
Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has bought world rights to The World Is Full of Beautiful Quiet Things, a pensive celebration of quiet moments and spaces, as well as the love of a parent for a child, by poet, performer, and critic Joshua Bennett (l.) (Spoken Word: A Cultural History), illustrated by Minako Tomigahara (Tokyo Night Parade) Publication is planned for summer 2026; David Kuhn and Nate Muscato at Aevitas Creative Management represented the author, and Kathleen Ortiz at KO Media Management represented the illustrator.
Weslie Turner at Versify has acquired world rights to two picture books by NoNieqa Ramos (l.). 24 Karat Dad, illustrated by Hatem Aly (c.), celebrates fathers in a companion to Your Mama. Cinder Elle, illustrated by Vanessa Flores (r.), uses the framework of the Cinderella fairy tale with a beat inspired by the jump rope rhyme "Cinderella Dressed in Yella" to show how a family and community come together to help a nonbinary child attend the birthday party of the year. Publication is set for 2026 and 2027; Karly Dizon at Fuse Literary represented Ramos, James Burns at the Bright Agency represented Aly, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented Flores.
Natalia Vázquez Torres at Charlesbridge has bought world rights at auction to Papalotes: Flying on Paper Wings by Francisca Staines (l.), and Ellie Erhart has acquired world rights for illustration by Marina Oliveira Rocca. The picture book follows Lupita and Papá while they work together to fix his childhood papalote in the hopes that it will fly again. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Michelle Hauck at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
