Michelle Lee at Dial has bought world rights to Tangled Tales of an Underground Market by Laura K. Zimmermann (l.), illustrated by Priscilla Tey. This nonfiction STEAM picture book explores the bustling market below the forest floor where plants, animals, and other creatures barter, lurk, protect, help, and more. Publication is planned for fall 2027; Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator.

Emily Gray‘s CROWNED BY THE STARS, about a dutiful princess who journeys across her galaxy—aided by a handsome rogue space pilot—in order to secure a marriage alliance, but along the way learns that not everything she’s been told is true, forcing her to choose between what’s best for her people and best for her, to Sareer Khader at Ace, in a two-book deal, for publication in summer 2026, by Rebecca Matte at Bradford Literary Agency (world).

Author of the forthcoming SUCH A CLEVER GIRL Darby Kane‘s BLAME THE WIFE, set at a wealthy family’s gathering on the 10th anniversary of the father’s murder, where the mother issues a challenge that could lead to more killing—or so she hopes, to May Chen at William Morrow, in a good deal, in a two-book deal, for publication in winter 2027, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency (world). Film/TV: Katrina Escudero at Sugar23

Sandra Sutter at Gnome Road has acquired world rights to SMALL NORMAN by Lisa Bentley (The Dreams We Made; I Am Not Your Hat), a picture book about a girl and her pet lizard, which grows so fast and so big that he’s hardly recognizable when he gets out one day, causing her to rethink the idea of responsible pet ownership. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency sold world rights.

Lili Rosenstreich at Kalaniot Books has acquired WHEN LESS IS MORE by Rebecca Gardyn Levington (Afikoman, Where’d You Go?), illustrated by Niyati Froind. Grounded in the Jewish value of tikkun olam, this rhyming picture book reminds readers that sometimes doing less—less blaming, less littering, less holding on to what we no longer need—can infuse more kindness, beauty, and empathy into our own lives and the lives of everyone around us. Publication is planned for fall 2027; Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.

Millie von Platen at Astra Books for Young Readers has bought world rights to author-illustrator DK Ryland’s SPLISH. Splish is a ready-for-whatever-the-day-brings kind of fish, but when the day brings one disaster after another, Splish shows what she’s really made of. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency negotiated the deal.

Rebecca Gardyn Levington‘s I WISH THAT YOU KNEW, about a child at their late grandmother’s unveiling ceremony, reflecting upon and celebrating the special relationship they shared, illustrated by Alyssa Russell, to Jaime Gelman at Little Bee Books, for publication in summer 2026, by Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency for the author, and by Christie Megill at The CAT Agency for the illustrator (world).

DK Ryland’s DON’T OPEN THIS BOOK! GIRAFFE AND FRIENDS ARE SLEEPING, the third book in the Giraffe series, featuring a giraffe and friends as they try to get back to sleep after the reader wakes them up by opening the book, to William Kiester at Page Street Kids, in an exclusive submission, for publication in fall 2026, by Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency (world English).

Kanya Sesser and Nisha Lamsam Ligon‘s NO LEGS, NO LIMITS, about young Kanya, who was born without legs, as she learns to stand up for herself and finds joy in skateboarding, illustrated by Lenny Wen, to Jaime Gelman at Little Bee Books, for publication in fall 2026, by Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency for the author, and by Christy Ewers at The CAT Agency for the illustrator (world).