Michelle Frey at Knopf has acquired world English rights, at auction, to Meadow Wylde, the YA debut of A Snicker of Magic author Natalie Lloyd, a romance featuring a teenage girl who meets and begins falling for another player in an open world video game, only to realize when they're paired in their high school theater class, that he's the popular star of the football team. Publication is slated for summer 2027; Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary negotiated the deal.
Ashley Hearn at Peachtree Teen has bought Giddy Barber Explodes in 11 author Dina Havranek's next YA novel, Rank Chasers, pitched as Mean Girls but with academic sabotage, following the dark descent of Kasey Golden and the other "Top 10" students in her graduating class when their rankings get scrambled, igniting a war in the race to get ahead. Publication is set for spring 2027; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret did the deal for world rights.
Rachel Diebel at Feiwel and Friends has acquired debut author and 2025 Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award winner Hanna R. Neier's When You Write Back, a middle grade novel written in letters between 12-year-old Ellie and her school-assigned pen pal, Daniel. When Ellie realizes their letters are traveling through time, and that Daniel is a Jewish kid living in 1942 Nazi-occupied Paris, she is determined to save him before time runs out. Publication is planned for winter 2027; Laura Crockett at Triada US brokered the deal for world English rights.
Jenna Lettice at Random House Graphic has bought Squirrel Lock Holmes #1: The Pet Rock Mystery and two sequels by Ashley Belote, a full-color graphic novel chapter book series about intrepid Detective Squirrel Lock Holmes and her trusty sidekick, Mole Watson, as they solve minor local crimes in their forest using problem-solving techniques and humor. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Moe Ferrara at Triada US sold world rights while at BookEnds Literary.
Francesco Sedita at Penguin Workshop has acquired world rights to Piggy by Ann Hood (l.), illustrated by Anna Quaranta, the tale of a beloved stuffed pig named Piggy, his human companion, and their everlasting friendship. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Gail Hochman at Brandt & Hochman represented the author, and Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Erika DiPasquale at HarperCollins has bought world rights to The Kaabah Cat, a picture book by National Book Award winner Shifa Saltagi Safadi (l.), illustrated by Nabila Adani. A boy's duaa (prayer) comes true during his family's Umrah (pilgrimage) to Mecca thanks to a sweet cat and an unexpected adventure. Publication is planned for winter 2027; Janine Le at Janine Le Literary Agency represented the author, and Susan Penny at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Feather Flores at Atheneum has acquired world rights, at auction, to Swim Like Them by PB Rising Stars Mentorship Program co-founder Ebony Lynn Mudd (l.), illustrated by Matt Williams. Pitched as 1619: Born on the Water meets Jabari Jumps, this stereotype-busting picture book follows a Black child learning to swim and drawing power from the truth that Black Americans have always been deeply connected to the water. Publication is set for early summer 2027; Erin Murphy while at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Alexandra Levick at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Lauri Hornik at Penguin/Rocky Pond Books has bought world rights, in an exclusive submission, Saving the Star by two-time Sydney Taylor Honor author Elisa Boxer (l.), illustrated by National Jewish Book Award winner Selina Alko. This picture book tells the true story of a Star of David rescued from a burning synagogue during Kristallnacht. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency represented the author, and Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Anna (Sargeant) Luketic at Sourcebooks eXplore has acquired world rights to Sunday Spaghetti by Deb Adamson (l.), illustrated by Benedetta Capriotti, a picture book in which an Italian American family gathers for a traditional Sunday sauce meal—a celebration of culture, laughter, and love. Publication is slated for spring 2027; the author represented herself, and Emily Fernandez at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Margot Blankier at Tundra Books has bought world rights to Cow of the Castle by Tiffany Stone (l.) (Six Little Sticks), illustrated by Dustin Harbin, a picture book about an increasingly resourceful cow who uses six simple machines to achieve her goal of a luxurious life behind castle walls. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Mary Lee Donovan at Candlewick Press has acquired world rights to Willi Ninja: Vogue Legend by Joy Michael Ellison (l.), illustrated by Nabi H. Ali, first in a series called Rainbow History, nonfiction picture books that celebrate the people, events, and places that have shaped the history and culture of the LGBTQ+ community and the world. Publication scheduled for summer 2026; Claire Draper at Azantian Literary Agency represented the author, and James Burns at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Yasemin Uçar at Kids Can Press has bought world rights to My Thali Is a Symphony by Anita Yasuda (l.) (Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains), illustrated by Michelle Dao, a picture book inspired by the author's family migration story, which reveals how a thali is much more than a plate or a meal—it's an expression of culture and tradition, the past and the present, the child's family, and herself. Patricia Ocampo will edit; publication is set for spring 2027. Lori Steel at SteelWorks Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Elizabeth Schleisman at Beaming Books has acquired A Voice and a Say for Women: The Life of Lucy Stone, Suffragist by Lisa Gerin (l.) (Rosalind Looked Closer), illustrated by Alette Straathof, the tale of women getting the vote, which follows Lucy Stone and other suffragists, including William Lloyd Garrison, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Frederick Douglass, and Sojourner Truth, as they defy gender expectations and fight for their voices to be heard. Publication is slated for spring 2027; the author represented herself, and Sarah Brouillard at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Hannah Lambert at Little Simon has bought world rights to Night Prints, a die-cut board book about nocturnal animals' tracks by Kari Allen (l.), illustrated by Kim Smith. Publication is set for summer 2026; Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary represented the author, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Maria Correa at Random House has acquired Morph by Jennifer Black Reinhardt, a picture book about two moth caterpillar friends navigating the emotions and changes brought on by metamorphosis, who find comfort in one constant: their friendship. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Marietta B. Zacker and Sandra Proudman at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency brokered the deal for North American rights.
Nick Magliato at Penguin Workshop has bought at auction, Growing Up Wild and a second book in the series, by Rob Sayegh Jr., a novelty board book and height chart keepsake. Publication for both books is scheduled for spring 2027; Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
