Hannah Hill at Delacorte Press has acquired, at auction, The Gods Will Sing Our Song by Autumn Krause (Before the Devil Knows You're Here), a YA historical fantasy pitched as Divine Rivals meets Lovely War. Set in a WWII incarceration camp and inspired by the author's grandparents, this romantic novel follows two first-generation Japanese American teenagers drawn together by fate who collide with ancient magic and confront heart-wrenching injustices as their world crumbles around them. Publication is set for fall 2026; Susan Hawk at Upstart Crow Literary handled the six-figure, two-book deal for North American rights.
Jessica Smith at Simon Pulse has bought Myah Ariel's You Jump First, a YA rom-com in which Andie and Tommy's summer hopes are crushed when their sun-kissed romances come to an end before they even begin, and when it seems like everyone else at Big Bear Lake is coupled up, they make a pact to help each other through their heartbreak. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Kim Lionetti at BookEnds Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Joanna Wattenberg at Bloomsbury Academic has acquired A Dozen Dystopias and How to Dodge Them by Alexandra Vivelo, which looks at 12 of the dystopian fiction scenarios that have gripped our collective interest, dives into the real science of how those not-so-desirable futures could come about, and explores what we might need to do to keep them from becoming a reality. Publication is planned for winter 2027; Lauren Bieker at FinePrint Literary Management sold world English rights.
Carolyn Yoder at Astra/Calkins Creek has bought world rights to Sibert Medalist Cynthia Levinson's March 1965: The Month That Lyndon Baines Johnson Did Practically Everything, an upper middle grade look at one month in the consequential presidency that dealt with civil rights, the Great Society, Vietnam, and more. Publication is scheduled for fall 2028; Erin Murphy at Aevitas Creative Management brokered the deal.
Caitlin Tutterow at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has acquired Livia Blackburne's middle grade fiction debut, Echoes Across the Water, set in the aftermath of the Chinese Civil War, in which two girls, one in Mao's China and one in Kuomintang-ruled Taiwan, find their lives intertwined through dreams as they navigate a secret that may heal their families or tear them apart. Publication is set for spring 2027; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret did the deal for world rights.
Anna Luketic at Sourcebooks eXplore has bought world rights to the illustrated middle grade book American History Stinks by Linda Skeers (l.), illustrated by Scott Soeder, in which kids discover gross, silly, and hard-to-believe facts about the people, places, and plots in U.S. history. Publication is slated for fall 2027; Lisa Amstutz at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio represented the illustrator.
Taylor Norman at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has acquired world rights to Lulee Lullaby by Olga Pastuchiv, a rhyming picture book rooted in Ukrainian folk tradition in which Slumber, Dream-da, and other whimsical guests visit a baby at bedtime. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; the author was unagented.
Caitlyn Dlouhy at Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books has bought world English rights to Chip's Long Shot by Sujean Rim, a picture book about Chip, a golf-loving gopher and his trusty caddy Arnie, who tee off on an adventure after Chip's shot goes way long. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties negotiated the deal.
Ann Kelley at Random House Studio has acquired Ezra Jack Keats Honoree Kenesha Sneed's Blooming, a picture book about two friends who plant strawberry seeds in their neighborhood garden and nurture them through the seasons, learning that growth takes time but the sweet rewards are worth it. Publication is set for spring 2028; Kate Woodrow at Present Perfect Literary sold world rights.
Aneeka Kalia at Viking has bought Late Bloomer by Frenci Sanna, a picture book about new beginnings no matter your age, which follows caterpillar Pepe and human Enzo as they form an unlikely friendship that inspires each of them to be the truest versions of themselves. Publication is scheduled for summer 2027; Andrea Morrison at Writers House brokered the deal for world rights.
Shulokhana Khan at Scholastic has acquired Dickory Dock Shop, Patrick Hulse's author-illustrator debut, about a curious store where nursery rhyme characters can trade rhymes for goods and what happens when someone brings an item that doesn't rhyme with anything. Publication is slated for spring 2028; Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Janine O'Malley at FSG has bought world rights to This Is Not a Christmas Book and two companion titles by Jory John (l.), illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby. The picture book follows a rock-loving lizard with zero interest in celebrating Christmas until some festive friends show up. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary represented the illustrator.
Meredith Mundy at Abrams Appleseed has acquired world rights to Party Panic by Jolene Gutiérrez (l.), illustrated by Angel Chang. Birdy, a child who is easily overwhelmed, agrees to attend an event she imagines will be very stressful: a party. With new and overwhelming noises, smells, foods, and more, can Birdy brave this new world to help support a friend for their celebration? Publication is set for spring 2027; Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency represented the author, and Susan Penny at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee Books has bought world rights to Bento to Borscht: School Lunch Around the World by Alice B. McGinty (l.), illustrated by Tomoko Suzuki, a celebration of what students from 12 countries around the world eat for lunch at school. Publication is slated for summer 2027; Emelie Burl at Susan Schulman Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Autumn Allen at Barefoot Books has acquired world rights to What's for Iftar?! by Razeena Omar Gutta (l.) (Ramadan on Rahma Road), illustrated by Esraa Hedery (I Stole the Moon). On the day of his first full Ramadan fast, Humzah wants to make a dish for iftar that everyone will love—but what should he make? Publication is planned for autumn 2026; Shari Maurer at Stringer Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Lynne Missen at Tundra Books has acquired world rights, in a preempt, to two novels by Tara Dairman. We Are the Devils is a darkly humorous YA about five cheerleaders who resolve to bully an ugly, messy new teammate off the squad—until that teammate's own violent agenda starts to transform their lens on femininity, perfection, and themselves. It's All Kosher in North Dakota is a contemporary middle grade novel that follows "Jewish-ish" Danny Fishbein-O'Donnell from Brooklyn to rural North Dakota, where his family has inherited an old restaurant—complete with family history and mysteries, and tough questions about what being Jewish means to him. The first book will publish in fall 2027; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Aevitas Creative Management did the deal.
Orlando Dos Reis at Scholastic/Graphix has bought Evil Squirrel by New Yorker cartoonist Ellis Rosen, in a three-book deal. This satirical debut middle grade graphic novel series follows an evil genius squirrel and his organization of criminal critters, and Ruffles, the secret-agent dog who must thwart their nefarious attempts to interfere with the human world. Publication will begin in fall 2027; Joy Tutela at David Black Literary Agency sold world rights.
Grace Scheiepter at Oni Press has acquired two books in the Tales of Lake Eerie middle grade graphic novel series by David M. Booher (l.), illustrated by Sarah Turner. The first book follows three best friends who investigate strange happenings around their Lake Eerie small coastal town and try to unravel the mystery of a lake monster nobody in town believes exists. Publication will start in summer 2027; Eric Borja at Writ Large and Cindy Uh, Abigail Walters, and Jiah Shin at CAA represented the author, and Ethan and Heather Long at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Emily Settle at Feiwel and Friends has bought The Dark Place, a debut middle grade horror novel by Shaelyn Zeitz, in which a girl braves the darkness outside to rescue her sister from the human-eating Screechers, but discovers that the town's monster repellent is nearly gone, so she must find a new way to stay alive in a world where everyone might be dangerous. Publication is slated for 2027; Lauren Spieller at Folio Literary Management did the two-book deal for world rights.
Emily Seife at Scholastic Press has acquired North American rights to Daphne Benedis-Grab's middle grade thriller, The Team, set at a football-obsessed middle school where their winning team hides something rotten at the core. Publication is set for fall 2026; Sara Crowe at Sara Crowe Literary negotiated the deal.
Siobhan Ciminera has bought world rights to Stranded Pandas by Bill Canterbury (l.), illustrated by AJ Smith, an early reader graphic chapter book in which two panda siblings are shipwrecked on a strange island run by a Dr. Moreau-like frog. Publication is scheduled for summer 2027; James McGowan at BookEnds Literary represented the author, and Carter Hasegawa at Tugeau2 represented the illustrator.
Sylvie Frank at Penguin/Flamingo has acquired the picture book I'm Not Done! by Allysa Adams. When Sam shares her artwork with friends and family, their suggestions lead her to question who the work truly belongs to, in this funny celebration of creativity. Publication is planned for summer 2027; Heather and Ethan Long at Tugeau 2 brokered the deal for world rights.
Tamar Brazis at Viking has bought world rights to To Wander by Amy Novesky (l.), illustrated by Emma Simpson, a picture book that celebrates travel of all kinds—across one's world, imagination, and life. Publication is slated for summer 2027; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Lorna Hemingway while at Bell Lomax Moreton represented the illustrator.
Janine O'Malley at FSG has acquired world rights to Can We Go Yet? by Alliah L. Agostini (l.) (Scarecited on the First Day of School), illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice (Repeat After Me), This picture book follows three brothers who try everything to hurry their mother out of church in time for kickoff, but a snowstorm and their aunties remind them that family togetherness is the real win. Publication is set for fall 2028; Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Carri Schmidt at Cottage Door Press has bought world rights to Barn in Summer: Bright and Busy on the Farm by Chambrae Griffith (l.), illustrated by Taia Morley, a picture book celebrating summertime activities of all of Barn's family, from Hen's laying eggs by the dozens, to Pig relaxing in the cool mud, to Goat sneaking munches at the farmstand. Publication is scheduled for February 2027; Mary Cummings at Great River Literary represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Fran Greenman-Schmitz while at Kar-Ben acquired world rights to We Thank Our Trees, a rhyming story for Tu Beshvat that celebrates the diversity of trees and all they do for living things, by Nancy Churnin (l.), illustrated by Bindy James. Leila Sales will edit; publication is planned for spring 2027. Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Tina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.
Sandra Sutter at Gnome Road has bought world rights to Amber Mae and Her Strays by Candace Spizzirri (l.), illustrated by Carlos Vélez Aguilera, a picture book in which a determined girl with a soft spot for stray animals creates chaos at home, leaving her otherwise patient parents in a panic. Publication is slated for fall 2027; the author represented herself, and Alice Jin Zhang at Astound US represented the illustrator.
