Eileen Rothschild at Wednesday Books has acquired, in a preempt, Fallen Beauty by Astrid Scholte (Four Dead Queens), a YA crossover dark fantasy pitched as The Picture of Dorian Gray meets "Rapunzel," where an 18-year-old girl has spent her life locked in a tower honing a dangerous gift, then is suddenly thrust into a corrupt court where the rulers have ruled for centuries in a kingdom plagued by death, and she can trust no one, not even the rebellious prince who has caught her eye. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic sold world English rights.
Melanie Nolan at Knopf has bought three YA novels by Amie Kaufman. Red Star Rebels is a high-stakes, high-chemistry sci-fi romp—The Martian meets Home Alone—about a stowaway girl and the richest boy in the galaxy, racing to outwit a gang of mercenaries on Mars. They have eight hours, and the clock is ticking. It will publish in February 2026 and the other two will follow annually. Tracey Adams at Adams Literary negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Mallory Kass at Scholastic has acquired The Names We Buried by Mia Siegert (Jerkbait; Somebody Told Me). This YA thriller is a modern-day twist on The Face on the Milk Carton where a 17-year-old trans boy takes a DNA test and discovers he's a perfect match for a family searching for their kidnapped daughter. Mallory Kass and Maya Marlette will edit; publication is scheduled for summer 2026. Sera Rivers at Speilburg Literary brokered the deal for North American rights.
David Linker at Harper has bought world rights, in a two-book deal, to the illustrated middle grade novel The Pig 3 by Jason Carter Eaton (l.) (How to Train a Train), illustrated by Ethan Long (the Emmy-nominated Scribbles and Ink series). The three little pigs gain superpowers and protect the city of Grimm from villains, only to discover that one supervillain is bigger, badder (and wolfier) than the rest. To make matters worse, to save the city, they have to team up with him. Publication is set for winter 2027 and fall 2027; Ian Lendler at McKinnon Literary represented the author, and Tim Travaglini at Transatlantic Agency represented the illustrator.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Paulsen has acquired world rights to Veronica's Summer of Silk by Virginia Postrel (l.), illustrated by Cynthia Cliff, about a girl who learns the art of textile making at a silk mill in pre-Industrial Revolution Italy, inspired by the author's on-site research of historical mills. Publication is slated for fall 2027; Jackie Ko at the Wylie Agency represented the author, and Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the artist.
Carter Hasegawa while at Candlewick bought world English rights to More Than Enough by Tameka Fryer Brown (l.) (That Flag; All the Greatness in You), illustrated by Jenin Mohammed (They Built Me for Freedom; The Band in Our Basement), a picture book celebration of all the people, places, and experiences that shape us, a reminder that we are worthy of the respect, honor, and dignity afforded to everyone else in the room—no matter who we are or where we come from. Ainslie Campbell-Schwartz will edit; publication is planned for fall 2027. Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Emma Hintzen at Sourcebooks eXplore has acquired world rights to The Day After the Storm by Nicole Magistro (l.), illustrated by Alice Feagan. The picture book follows a boy who grapples with eco-grief after a severe storm damages his neighborhood, and who finds hope in his community and the promise of renewal. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Heather and Ethan Long at Tugeau 2 Art & Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has bought world rights to Clement the Two-Leaf Clover by Clelia Castro-Malaspina (l.) (Girls with Goals: How Women's Soccer Took Over the World), illustrated by Steph Lau (The Abominable Snow Dancer), a picture book about a clover who is labeled unlucky by a group of smug four-leafers, but with the help of a new friend comes to realize that luck is in the eye of the beholder. Publication is set for winter 2028; Lilly Ghahremani at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and Alexandra Levick at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Emma Sakamoto and Karen Li at Groundwood Books have acquired world rights to the picture book One Goal: How Soccer Can Help Save the Planet by Heather Camlot (l.), illustrated by Drew Shannon, a timely look at how soccer players, organizations, clubs, and fans are taking action to do better for the planet. Publication is slated for spring 2026; the author represented herself, and Maria Vicente at P.S. Literary represented the illustrator.
Kristin Zelazko at Magination Press has bought world rights to Love Lives On by Dorena Williamson (l.), illustrated by Ana Latese, a picture book that aims to help children deal with the reality of death and grief by remembering that even though a loved one is no longer here with them, love never dies. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Jevon Bolden at Embolden Media Group represented the author, and Robbin Brosterman at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Naomi Shulman at PJ Publishing has acquired world rights to Bless the World by National Jewish Book Award winner Lesléa Newman (l.), illustrated by Noa Mishkin, a board book that celebrates small, everyday moments as a family moves through their day from morning to night, appreciating each other and the world around them. Publication is scheduled for fall/winter 2026; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Nicolás Ore-Giron at Roaring Brook Press has acquired Out of the Woods, a graphic novel by Sydney Chavan. In this ghostly queer romance, a grieving girl visits a haunted forest in an attempt to speak with her dead father, but instead finds a cute girl with secrets. Publication is planned for fall 2028; Kate Rogers at KO Media Management sold world English rights.
Kristin Allard at Norton Young Readers has bought Exploding Whales Is Not Recommended by Skylaar Amann, an irreverent picture book based on the real-life 1970 event in Oregon, in which a town facing the distressing problem of a dead whale on the beach decides the only way to properly handle it is by blowing it up—with woefully unforeseen consequences. Publication is slated for winter 2027; Lauren Scovel at Laura Gross Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Kristin Zelazko at Magination Press has acquired author-illustrator Lindsay Ward's One Red Thread, a picture book about the connections that tie all of us together, illustrated in a cut-paper style. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary Agency sold world rights.
Dainese Santos and Celina Lee at Simon & Schuster have bought Don't Wake Up, the next middle grade horror novel by Cassandra Ramos-Gomez. When the school bully starts missing school, Diego and his friends finally feel like they can relax—until more kids fall into the same deep sleep and rumors of El Cucuy spread around the school. Now, they all must be on their best behavior until Diego and his friends can figure out how to stop El Cucuy before he takes them next. Publication is set for fall 2026; Sandra Proudman at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Kate Harrison at Dial Books has acquired, in a two-book preempt, Serafina Makes Waves by Matthew Burgess (l.), illustrated by Robin Rosenthal. The eponymous feline heroine hates, loathes, despises water, so when her parents declare swimming lessons mandatory, she must find a way out—or in! Publication is planned for spring 2026; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio sold world rights for both author and illustrator.
Krestyna Lypen while at Algonquin Young Readers bought world rights to Lavender and Leo by April Genevieve Tucholke and illustrated by Khoa Le (co-creators of Beatrice Likes the Dark), about two lonely children, one with synesthesia, who discover friendship in a shared love of unique colors and odd smells. Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown will edit; publication is slated for winter 2028. Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Alice Jin Zhang at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Emma Hintzen at Sourcebooks eXplore has acquired world rights to Top Secret Animals by Christine Evans (l.), illustrated by Blythe Russo. The humorous middle grade book explores strange-but-true stories of animal spies throughout history, including birds, bugs, dogs, dolphins, and more. Publication is set for summer 2027; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency represented the author, and Molly O'Neill at Root Literary represented the illustrator.
Sunita Apte at Reycraft Books has bought world English and Spanish rights to Reborn by Neesa Bally (l.), illustrated by Danijel ZeZelj, about the transformation of an oil drum into a steel pan, Trinidad and Tobago's national instrument. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Lynnette Novak at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Maria Cardelli at Illustration Zone represented the illustrator.
