Lucy Strong at Bloomsbury Academic has bought Beyond Terabithia: Katherine Paterson on a Lifetime of Reading and Writing for Children by Newbery Medalist Katherine Paterson (Jacob Have I Loved; Bridge to Terabithia), a collection of essays reflecting on a lifetime of experience reading and writing literature for children. Publication is planned for October 2027; Susan Cohen at PearlCo Literary Agency sold world rights.
Wendy Loggia at Delacorte Press has bought, in an exclusive submission, Our Strange Duet by Erin A. Craig (House of Salt and Sorrows), a Christine-forward retelling of Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical The Phantom of the Opera that gives new insight to Christine's experience navigating the Opéra House, developed in collaboration with Andrew Lloyd Webber's LW Entertainment. Publication is set for fall 2026; Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic did the deal for world rights.
Stephanie Pitts at Putnam, in an exclusive submission, has acquired world rights to Bite Me by Jennifer Dugan (l.) (Coven; Full Shift), illustrated by Kit Seaton, a sapphic supernatural YA graphic novel about a newly turned teen vampire whose longtime crush turns out to be a slayer. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Sara Crowe at Sara Crowe Literary represented the author, and Ben Grange at L. Perkins Agency represented the illustrator.
Daniela Villegas Valle at S&S has acquired world rights to Zoe Hana Mikuta's A Totally Fake Love Story. While trying to win a K-drama writing competition, Korean American teen Anna Nari accidentally brings her love interest to life, and the only way to send him back seems to be to open her heart to the one person who broke it. Publication is scheduled for April 2027; Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Jess Harold at Henry Holt has bought, in an exclusive submission, Our Fair Share by Latinx in Publishing's 2022 Work-in-Progress Fellow Sarah Marie Jette, a multi-POV middle grade novel in which a group of friends always look forward to their summers living at the state fair, where their parents do seasonal work—but when a new manager threatens to take away what makes their fair special, the friends must find their way back to each other if they want to keep their beloved traditions alive. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Larissa Melo Pienkowski sold world rights while at Jill Grinberg Literary Management.
Anna Parsons at Aladdin has acquired Lydia Cooper Is a Lie by Meaghan McIsaac. In this middle grade thriller, a young teen discovers she has grown up in witness protection when she breaks the rules and reveals her identity on social media. Now on the run, she has to figure out how to reunite with her dad without knowing who she really is or why she's hiding. Publication is slated for summer 2027; Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Andrew Arnold at HarperAlley has bought The Fidget Booth by Abigail Hing Wen (l.), illustrated by Maple Lam, about sixth-grader Lucas Wu who learns to embrace his ADHD to overcome various obstacles preventing him from finally adopting a puppy. Publication is scheduled for winter 2027; Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media sold world English rights.
Catherine Laudone at S&S/Beach Lane Books has acquired world rights to Better Together: How Working Together Changed America by Brittany Richman, a nonfiction middle grade book looking at how politicians from opposing parties worked together to change America throughout history. Publication is set for fall 2027; Alexander Slater at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates negotiated the deal.
Lee Wade at Random House Studio has bought Kate Gardiner's debut picture book as author and illustrator, You Are Not Alone, about a lonely tree longing for company and the loving earth that answers its wish, in an original folk tale that depicts nature's regeneration. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Steven Malk at Writers House sold world rights.
Mary-Kate Gaudet at Little, Brown has acquired You Should Be Seeing Bugs by author-illustrator Bob Holt, a humorous nonfiction picture book about creepy, crawly critters and the crucial roles they play in ecosystems. Publication is slated for winter 2028; Shena Wolf at KO Media Management sold world rights.
Nicole Fox at RISE x Penguin Workshop has bought My Someone: A Pet Adoption Story, the debut picture book by author-illustrator Yuko Torii, which follows a stray dog's journey to find his forever home—gently reminding young readers that everyone deserves love, safety, and a place to belong. Publication is set for summer 2026; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Nathalie LeDu at Macmillan/Odd Dot has acquired Gobble's Great Escape, written and illustrated by Rob McClurkan, in which one very grateful turkey turns Thanksgiving on its tail feathers. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 did the deal for world rights.
Ann Kelley at Random House Studio has bought world rights to the next book by Kyo Maclear and Gracey Zhang (the team behind The Big Bath House and Caldecott Honor-winning Noodles on a Bicycle). Little Fireworks is a picture book about cousins sharing one last summer night together in Japan by lighting senko hanabi and reflecting on the bittersweet nature of saying goodbye. Publication is planned for summer 2027; Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Courtney Code at Abrams has acquired, at auction, world rights to Five Letters by Newbery Honoree Kyle Lukoff (l.), illustrated by Kah Yangni, a picture book about the prefix "trans" and the many ways it intersects with our experience of the world. Publication is slated for 2027; Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch Literary Services represented the author, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Kandace Coston at Lee & Low Books has bought world rights to Ours: A Story of Loss and Healing, a debut picture book by Mandy Settembre (l.), illustrated by Fran Matsumoto. The story traces a family's emotional journey from their excitement about expecting a baby through a heartbreaking pregnancy loss to the enduring love that helps them heal their heartache together. Publication is set for spring 2026; the author represented herself, and Debbie Bibo at Debbie Bibo Agency represented the illustrator.
Jenne Abramowitz at Sourcebooks Jabberwocky has acquired world rights to Happy Noon Year, a picture book by Julia Pierre Hammond (l.), illustrated by Olivia Duchess. The story follows a girl whose parents have decided she's too young to stay up for the New Year's festivities, so she comes up with a plan to put a kid-friendly twist on the holiday's tradition. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Christie Megill at the CAT Agency represented the author, and Claire Morance at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Nan Froman at Groundwood Books has bought world rights to The Best by Ellen Michelson (l.), illustrated by Irene Luxbacher, a picture book told from the point of view of a child with autism who sets out to say a "new big word," but other excitements intervene until the very end of the day. Publication is planned for winter 2028; the author represented herself, and Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the illustrator.
Carolyn Yoder at Astra/Calkins Creek has acquired world rights to Fashioning Fame: John Singer Sargent and His Portrait of Madame X by Sarah Albee (l.), illustrated by Stacy Innerst, a nonfiction picture book about the sensational relationship between the painter John Singer Sargent and Madame Gautreau, the subject of his most famous portrait, as well as the controversial public reception to the painting. Publication is slated for spring 2028; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Joni Sussman while at Kar-Ben bought world rights to Stella's Special Recipe by Melissa Stoller (l.), illustrated by Valerya Milovanova; Leila Sales will edit. Following a family tradition, Stella adds her own twist to this year's Rosh Hashanah feast. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; the author represented herself, and Jessie Fitzgerald at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Margot Blankier at Tundra Books has acquired world rights to A Year in Clown Town by Suzy Levinson (l.), illustrated by Hsinping Pan, a poetry picture book about clowns who celebrate each month with humor and heart. Publication is set for 2027; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press has bought world rights to The Sunset Catcher's Daughter by Laura Gehl (l.) (Orson), illustrated by Erin Brown, a fairy tale about how pleasures are greater when shared that reminds us that "the way it has always been" is not the way it always needs to be. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary represented the author, and Jessie Fitzgerald at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Karen Chan at Gloo Books has acquired world rights to Chocolate Unwrapped by Alexandria Scott-Christensen (l.), illustrated by Yoko Baum. This picture book peels back the wrapper on one of the world's most beloved foods, tracing cacao from its Mesoamerican origins to its global presence today. Publication is slated for spring/summer 2026; the author and illustrator represented themselves.
