Sarah Barley at S&S/Sarah Barley Books has acquired, at auction, two books by four-time Carnegie Medal-nominated author Melinda Salisbury (Her Dark Wings). The first, Local Gods, follows a girl hated by her small town for her father's crimes who must decide whether to save her former friends and neighbors or burn it all down when a dying god hidden in the woods warns her of an impending catastrophe. Publication is set for summer 2026; Pete Knapp and Stuti Telidevara at Park, Fine & Brower negotiated the six-figure deal for North American rights on behalf of Claire Wilson at Rogers, Coleridge & White.
Kristie Choi at Atheneum has bought Black Point, a YA horror mystery by Minnesota Book Award winner Jacqueline West, following a high school senior who discovers that her small town steeped in Norse traditions is hiding a haunted past when outsiders purchase an abandoned hotel and the rising river drags years of sinister secrets to the surface. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Danielle Chiotti at Upstart Crow Literary did the deal for North American rights.
Carolina Mancheno Ortiz at HarperCollins/Avon A has acquired world rights to The Boyfriend Distribution System by Nina Moreno. The YA novel follows a hopeless romantic, who always finds herself inexplicably and spontaneously falling into a new relationship after the last one ends, and is determined to prove she knows what true love is to her long-time best friend, who may just be "the one." Publication is planned for winter 2027; Laura Crockett at Triada US brokered the deal.
Joy Peskin at FSG has bought world rights to the YA graphic novel adaptation of Love Letters to the Dead, which was published in 25 foreign territories, written by Ava Dellaira (l.), to be illustrated by Talia Dutton. This story about 15-year-old Laurel begins with an assignment for English class—write a letter to a dead person—and turns into an epistolary exploration of grief, family, friendship, and first love, told in a series of missives to icons like Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, and River Phoenix. Publication is slated for fall 2028; Richard Florest at Rob Weisbach Creative Management represented the author, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Kiara Valdez, while at First Second, acquired The Transformation of Noah Mendez, a YA graphic novel by Kevin Casas (l.) and Ria Martinez, about a guy who is struggling with high school, liking his best friend, and being a newly turned werewolf. Ivan Taurisano will edit; publication is scheduled for 2027. Jessica Mileo at InkWell Management handled the deal for world rights.
Sarah Alpert at Norton Young Readers has acquired world rights to James Kennedy's debut middle-grade, Behold! The Legend of Frogboy, pitched as James and the Giant Peach by way of SpongeBob SquarePants, in which Hank Hollering, the eponymous Frogboy, must traverse his magical swamp with the help of a ragtag band of marine creatures to rescue a baby kraken from a hungry judge. Publication is planned for spring 2027; John Cusick at Folio Jr. brokered the two-book deal.
Janine O'Malley at FSG has bought The Frozen King by Pari Thomson, a middle grade novel about a girl who takes an epic journey to the icy and treacherous Utter North to save the king and the magical realm, set in the world of the Greenwild Trilogy. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Pete Knapp at Park, Fine & Brower sold North American rights.
Julia McCarthy at Atheneum has acquired, in a two-book deal, Broomsticklers, a middle grade novel series by Stephanie Campisi. Two young broomsmith apprentices who couldn't be more different team up to solve a series of oddball mysteries in the magical realm of the Otherworld—where witches, wizards, and various cloaked creatures go about their everyday whimsical business. Publication will start in spring 2027; Joanna Rasheed at Ultra Literary sold North American rights.
Eileen Robinson while at Charlesbridge bought Hotdog's Last Hurrah, a middle-grade debut by Dale M. Bryan, about a boy who takes a road trip across Kansas with his grandfather, found family, and Hotdog the elderly dachshund, all while learning to face his biggest fear along the way. Karen Boss will edit; publication is set for fall 2027. Lisa Gouldy and Marisa Corvisiero at Corvisiero Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Kate Farrell at Henry Holt has acquired Bear Hair by Jeff Mack, a picture book filled with word play and humor about the push-and-pull friendship between a bear and a hare. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Rubin Pfeffer at Aevitas Creative Management did the deal for world rights.
Emma Ledbetter while at Abrams bought, at auction, the picture book The Future People and an untitled sequel by debut author-illustrator Bridey Lee. The first title takes the reader on a hopeful journey into the future and what it would look like if we all start building it now. Sara Sproull will edit; publication is slated for fall 2027 and 2028. Véronique Kirchhoff at VeroK Agency sold world rights.
Francesco Sedita at Penguin Workshop has acquired world rights to two picture books by Broadway and Instagram's Bret Shuford (l.) of the Broadway Husbands. The first book, Good Night, Break a Leg, illustrated by Elena Hager, shows from their child's point of view how two dads who follow their dreams inspires their own child to pursue his. Publication is planned for summer 2026; Jordan Hamessley at JABberwocky Literary Agency represented the author, and Sol Salinas at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Celia Lee at Simon & Schuster has bought world rights to Mo by Beth Ferry (l.), illustrated by Charles Santoso, a picture book about a fastidious lawnmower who, after observing how the overgrown garden next door teems with life and potential friends, learns how to embrace the wilder side of her backyard. Publication is scheduled for summer 2028; Elena Giovinazzo at Heirloom Literary & Media represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Elizabeth Stranahan at Random House has acquired world rights to Dinosaur Time, a picture book by Amy Garrett (l.), the TikTok creator behind the viral #DinosaurTime trend, illustrated by Josh Lewis. In this read-aloud for picky eaters, Sam knows how to make mealtime meltdowns go extinct because when it's time to eat, she gives a roar and chomps down on her food like a dinosaur. Publication is set for summer 2027; Courtney Paganelli at Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency represented the author, and Natascha Morris at Tobias Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Rosie Ahmed while at Dial bought world rights to You Don't Have to Say by María Dolores Águila (l.), illustrated by Mirelle Ortega, a picture book that encourages a child with speech delays to understand that there are many ways that go beyond words to share who they are and what they are feeling. Michelle Lee will edit; publication is slated for fall 2027. Lindsay Auld at Writers House represented the author, and James Burns at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Danielle Collins at S&S/Beach Lane Books has acquired world rights to Our Big Indian Family Tree by mother-son duo Surishtha Sehgal (l.) and Kabir Sehgal (c.), illustrated by Ishaa Lobo (r.). In this cumulative picture book, an Indian American family comes together for a fun-filled day building a treehouse, introducing readers to the Hindi words for various family members along the way. Publication is planned for summer 2027; the authors represented themselves, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Carol Hinz at Lerner/Carolrhoda has bought world rights to Unstoppable Song by Callie Dean (l.), illustrated by Sofia Moore. The nonfiction picture book tells the story of how French musician Olivier Messiaen composed and premiered his Quartet for the End of Time while in a German POW camp during World War II. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Karly Dizon at Fuse Literary represented the author, and Emily Fernandez at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Natalia Vázquez Torres at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights to the picture book The Adventures of Coquí and Ranita: Words at Play by Delia Ruiz (l.), and Ellie Erhart has acquired world rights for illustration by Ashley Vargas. When their neighborhood hosts a Latine cultural festival, Vicente and Benito decide to pretend-play as Ranita and Coquí. As they go through the jungle, escape snakes, and find waterfalls, they learn that in Mexico and in Puerto Rico, there are different words for the same items. Publication is set for spring 2027; Sera Rivers at Speilburg Literary Agency represented the author, and Christie Megill at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Nan Froman at Groundwood Books has bought world rights for Rahki Sisters by Priti Birla Maheshwari (l.), illustrated by Kavita Ramchandran, a picture book about a girl missing her cousins in India as the festival Raksha Bandhan approaches, and finding new ways to honor old traditions. Publication is planned for summer 2027; Eve Adler at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Deidra Purvis at Free Spirit has acquired world rights to Feelings Head to Toe, a six-book board book series by Lindsay N. Giroux (l.), illustrated by Noémie Boisvert Frigon. The series helps toddlers identify and understand their emotions by showing how feelings look and feel in the body, from head to toe. Alison Behnke will edit; publication is slated for winter 2027. The author represented herself, and Robbin Brosterman at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Janet Bruins at Picnic Heist has bought world rights to Oh, Pearl!, written and illustrated by Alania Caridad Hinckson. When a shy merchild loses his beloved pearl, his search across the sea leads to unexpected friendships and a discovery about belonging and courage. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; the author was unagented.
