Tiffany Liao at Random House has acquired, in a six-bidder auction, Our Wicked Gifts by Kathryn Foxfield, a YA crossover fantasy pitched as Succession meets House of Hollow in which Cicely, the black sheep daughter of a family who sold their souls to the devil for magic, must track down the masked man killing off her loathsome kin, even as she starts falling for him. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Chloe Seager at Madeleine Milburn did the two-book deal for North American rights.
Stacey Barney at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, Gods & Comics by Kat Cho (Wicked Fox; Once Upon a K-Prom). The YA fantasy romance follows a teen girl whose viral web comic accidentally brings back ancient Korean gods—including the charming Haemosu. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Beth Phelan at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Char Dreyer at Wednesday Books has acquired We Were Supposed to Find This by Emily Snyder, a sapphic YA time travel romance and murder mystery as a girl stumbles back in time, meets her teenage mother, and falls in love with the girl next door—in the vein of Casey McQuiston's One Last Stop and Back to the Future. Publication is planned for winter 2027; Naomi Davis at BookEnds Literary Agency sold world English rights.
Annie Berger at Sourcebooks Fire has bought Flickerstate by F.A. Davidson, a debut contemporary YA fantasy that follows 17-year-old Norah as she develops the ability to manipulate probability, enters a prestigious academy to hone her power, and competes in a grueling competition in hopes of saving herself from a certain death. Publication is set for summer 2026; Lily Dolin at Sterling Lord Literistic sold world English rights in the two-book deal.
Nicolas Magliato at Penguin Workshop has acquired, in an exclusive submission, in a two-book deal, The Survival Code by James Preller, a middle grade survival and adventure series about a group of young explorers who are dropped into the wilderness to put their bushcraft skills to the test—navigating the challenges of nature, group dynamics, and unexpected danger—while learning outdoor survival skills. The first two books will be published in summer 2027; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency sold world rights.
Mary Cash and Margaret Ferguson at Holiday House have bought world rights to The Passage of Jamie Quill by Kate Albus (A Place to Hang the Moon). In this middle grade historical novel, a 12-year-old orphan makes a transatlantic voyage on the Titanic's sister ship, hoping to find a better life on the other side. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Kathryn Green at Kathryn Green Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Emily Daluga at Chronicle has acquired, at auction, Manhattan Visions by Eoin Machlan, a debut middle-grade graphic novel that follows a middle school student training to become a powerful spectra user while navigating a hyper-competitive New York City magnet school—until the spectra begin to conjure uncontrollable powers, and he and his friends must unite to save themselves and the city. Publication is slated for spring 2029; Monica Rodriguez at Context Literary did the two-book deal for world English rights.
Camille Kellogg while at Bloomsbury bought The Hungry Forest by Kaela Rivera (the Cece Rios series), a middle grade horror novel about a boy who must confront his grief over his father's death and save his younger brother from a haunted forest before sunrise. Meghan McCullough will edit; publication is set for summer 2026. Serene Hakim at Ayesha Pande Literary brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Krista Vitola at Simon and Schuster has acquired The Endless Game by J.D. Amato (l.) and Sophie Morse, a debut middle grade graphic novel about a middle schooler who gets drawn into his new town's intense summer game of capture the flag, pitched as The Cardboard Kingdom meets Craig of the Creek. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Charlie Olsen at InkWell Management sold world English rights.
Rotem Moscovich at Knopf has bought, at auction, world rights to What a Strange Creature! by Evan Griffith (l.), illustrated by Jason Cockcroft, a nonfiction picture book about a curious young diver who happens across an octopus—and realizes that they may be more alike than originally thought. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author, and Claire Cartey at Holroyde Cartey represented the illustrator.
Alisha Niehaus Berger at NorthSouth has acquired world rights (excluding Farsi) to Welcome, Uncle Nowruz! by author-illustrator Rashin Kheiriyeh (Rumi—Poet of Joy and Love), a re-imagining of the Persian New Year folktale about winter (embodied by Nane Sarma) missing the arrival of her dear friend Uncle Nowruz (messenger of spring). Publication is slated for spring 2026; the author represented herself.
Nick Magliato at Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to Love Is, a paper-over-board picture book by Michelle Medlock Adams (l.), illustrated by Sue Teodoro. Inspired by the "Love is patient, love is kind" Bible verse, it shows kids all the different forms that love can take. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Sydney Delahoussaye at Dupree/Miller & Associates represented the author, and Mela Bolinao at MB Artists represented the illustrator.
Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press has acquired world rights to Lily's Surprise Pumpkins by Beth Charles (l.), illustrated by Anna Aronson. In this picture book, Lily worries about animals eating her "volunteer" pumpkins growing in the compost but with each new worry, Lilly finds creative ways to protect her garden until harvest. Publication is set for fall 2026; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Susan Penny at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Stephanie Mulligan at McSea Books has bought North American English rights to Bold Joan: How Joan Benoit Samuelson Ran Boldly to the Gold and Beyond by Suzanne Buzby Hersey (l.) (Find a Moose with Me), illustrated by marathoner Lori Richmond (Bunny's Staycation), a picture book biography about long-distance runner Samuelson's career and her triumphant 1984 win in the first women's Olympic marathon. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Jennifer Newens at Martin Literary Management represented the author, and Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Michele McAvoy at The Little Press, in collaboration with Debra Goldstein from the environmental nonprofit One Little Earth, has acquired world rights to Scrapper by Kelly Clasen (l.), illustrated by Briony Dixon. Isabelle fails to fit in with the upcyclers in her family, but with the help of a local trash problem and a plastic scrap mosaic, she realizes she's more like Gran, Dad, and Mom than she thought. Publication is slated for fall 2027; the author and illustrator represented themselves.
Angelica Busanet at Abrams/Fanfare has acquired world rights to Pok-ta-Pok by Printz Award-winning author of Brownstone Samuel Teer (l.), illustrated by Devaun Dowdy. Haikyuu!! meets Blue Lock in this YA sports manga trilogy following the Green Shoots, a ragtag team of Mesoamerican ballgame players who must come together to make a name for themselves as they try to break into the pok-ta-pok major leagues. Publication is slated for spring 2029; Jas Perry at Looking Glass Literary & Media brokered the six-figure, three-book deal.
Sally Hosokawa at Little Simon has bought, in a four-book deal, a chapter book series called Fairy Scouts by Hannah Fay, illustrated by Mag Takac, in which a group of misfit fairies must work together to earn their magic, learning fairy-sized lessons about life along the way. The first title, No Rain, No Rainbow, will publish in spring 2026 and the second, The Flutterfly Effect, will publish in summer 2026. Susan Hawk at Upstart Crow Literary represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Frances Gilbert at Doubleday has acquired Two Artists, Grandad and Me, written and illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow. Based on her memories of time with her grandfather—Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney—this intergenerational story follows a girl spending a magical, creative day in her grandad's painting studio. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Shadra Strickland and Lori Nowicki at Painted Words sold world rights.
Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has bought world rights to Bears by Sibert Honor author-illustrator Katherine Roy (Neighborhood Sharks). The book, based on research conducted at the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary in Alaska, follows a brown bear and her cubs, exploring how their survival—and the health of the broader ecosystem—depends on the bears' unique behavior and biology, as well as their essential relationship with salmon. Publication is set for spring 2027; Stephen Barr at Writers House negotiated the deal.
Tara Walker at Tundra Books has acquired, at auction, Now I See Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter by Mac Barnett (l.), National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, and Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen. This quartet of board books playfully shows the changing seasons through a child's eyes. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Steven Malk at Writers House represented the author and illustrator for world rights.
Erin Clarke, in her first acquisition at Clarion, has bought, at auction, world rights to Old Friends at auction, a picture book debut by Lindsay Eland (l.), illustrated by Neesha Hudson (Turtle in a Tree), about an old dog up for adoption, afraid he'll be left behind, and an old veterinarian who is afraid to fall for another dog after his beloved canine died. Publication is slated for 2027; Rebecca Sherman at Writers House did the two-book deal for world rights.
Justin Krasner at Sourcebooks eXplore has acquired world rights to How to Train Your Evil Robot by Joy McCullough (l.), illustrated by Eduardo Medeiros. When a child's starter robot is bent on world domination, the child introduces it to the world, explaining what AI can be useful for, and what is best left to human creativity. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author, and Ethan and Heather Long at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Mekisha Telfer and Eleonore Fisher at Roaring Brook Press have bought world rights to The Boy Who Saved Lives with a Pen by Deborah Blumenthal (l.), illustrated by Matt Schu, a nonfiction picture book about Adolfo Kaminsky, a young master forger whose skill with a pen and fascination with chemistry helped tens of thousands of Jewish people—mostly children—survive Nazi-occupied France. Publication is set for fall 2026; the author represented herself, and Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Jonah Heller at Peachtree has acquired world rights to Yuki's Special Delivery by Chloe Ito Ward (l.), illustrated by debut illustrator Jiangshan Lyu. In this picture book set on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, a delivery girl receives her first bicycle through upcycling while helping her neighbors at her grandfather's service station. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Heather Cashman at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Jenne Abramowitz at Sourcebooks has bought world rights to My One Wish Was You: A Christmas Miracle at the Animal Shelter, a picture book by Mary Wagley Copp (l.), illustrated by Jaimie MacGibbon. In this read-aloud reminiscent of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Santa Paws, a former shelter dog, along with a diverse array of "elves," returns to his previous home on Christmas Eve where he delivers a holiday miracle to each animal. Publication is slated for fall 2027; Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency represented the author, and Molly O'Neill at Root Literary represented the illustrator.
Stacey Barney at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Flash! by Heidi Tyline King (l.) (Saving American Beach), illustrated by Laura Ramos, a picture book that chronicles the firefly research of John Bonner Buck and his groundbreaking discoveries in bioluminescence. Publication is scheduled for summer 2027; Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author, and Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Rebecca Davis while at Astra Young Readers bought world rights to Meet the Mighty Helpers by Laura Purdie Salas (l.), illustrated by Julia Patton. This collection of poems is written from the point of view of tools that help people—from eyeglasses, braces, and fidget toys to walkers, Smartpens, and cochlear implants—who are auditioning to be superheroes. Publication is planned for fall 2026. the author represented herself, and Claire Morance at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Alisha Niehaus Berger at NorthSouth Books/Ediciones NorteSur has acquired world rights to The Passover Pet Surprise by Ana María Shua (l.), illustrated by Ángeles Ruiz, a picture book about a girl named Jordanita, who, when celebrating Passover with her family in Argentina, decides that animals deserve to celebrate freedom just as much as humans do. A Spanish edition, La gran sorpresa de Pésaj, will be published simultaneously, edited by Alex Robertson. Publication is set for spring 2026; Nicole Witt at Literarische Agentur MertinWitt represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
