Latest acquisitions: Children’s and YA

See what Australian publishers have been signing recently in children’s and YA.

Picture books: First Nations storytelling, a sausage dog, cooking and phonics 

University of Western Australia Publishing (UWA Publishing) has acquired world rights to Stories About Fire, Wind, the Moon and Other Dreamings – Warinypa wariny Mangunyjaja muwarr wirlarrapa wangalpa wika by Solomon Cocky, edited by Barbara Hale and Inge Kral. Publisher Kate Pickard said, ‘The stories were originally created and published by Solomon Cocky in the 1970s to 1990s through his work with the Literature Production Centre based at the Strelley School in the Pilbara. Barbara Hale and Inge Kral have collected and translated the works from Nyangumarta into English. The work of translation has revealed how fragile this Indigenous Australian language is and how important it is to keep language alive.’ UWA Publishing plans to release Stories About Fire, Wind, the Moon and Other Dreamings – Warinypa wariny Mangunyjaja muwarr wirlarrapa wangalpa wika on 1 November.

Fremantle Press has acquired world rights to Ningaloo: Australia’s Wild Wonder by Tim Winton, with illustrations by Cindy Lane, in a deal brokered by Jenny Darling of Jenny Darling & Associates. Ningaloo: Australia’s Wild Wonder is an illustrated hardback picture book focused on Western Australia’s Ningaloo region, with watercolour images. Fremantle Press CEO Alex Allan, who commissioned the title, described it as ‘a nonfiction children’s book celebrating the beauty, diversity and interconnectedness of the area’s ecosystem, and all that dwell within it’. Winton said, ‘Ningaloo has been a big part of my life. I’ve spent over 30 years learning about this remarkable and unrepeatable place, and I’m so pleased to be able to share it in this way with young people all over the world.’ Ningaloo is scheduled for publication in October.

Albert Street Books, an imprint of Allen & Unwin (A&U), has acquired world rights to picture book Valerie: Australia’s Bravest Sausage Dog by Lucinda Gifford, via Pippa Masson at Curtis Brown Australia. ‘Inspired by the remarkable true story, Valerie follows the adventures of the plucky sausage dog who survived alone on Kangaroo Island for more than 500 days before being captured and joyfully reunited with her family,’ said the publisher. Albert Street Books plans to release Valerie: Australia’s Bravest Sausage Dog in late 2025.

Larrikin House has acquired world rights to What Can I Get for Mother’s Day?, a picture book written by Renae Hayward and illustrated by Susan Joy Lu. According to the publisher, the book responds to difficulties in choosing a Mother’s Day gift: ‘Will it be hot air ballooning or a close encounter with a moose? No boring gifts allowed – Mum deserves an awesome day.’ Larrikin House plans to release What Can I Get for Mother’s Day? in March 2026.

Scribble has acquired world rights to Sundays Under the Lemon Tree, written by Julia Busuttil Nishimura and illustrated by Myo Yim, via Busuttil Nishimura’s agent Alexandra Neville. Scribble has also sold rights to Korea. The book ‘follows a young child’s journey from being told they’re “too small” to help with the family’s food preparations, to becoming an essential part of their Sunday cooking ritual,’ said the publisher. ‘The book celebrates intergenerational cooking traditions and the special bonds formed in family kitchens and includes a delicious recipe for the featured apple, lemon and ricotta cake for families to make at home.’ Scribble plans to release Sundays Under the Lemon Tree on 4 November.

Affirm Press has acquired world rights to the picture book Make Them Say Poo by Steve MinOn under the pen name Stephen, via literary agent Martin Shaw of Shaw Literary. ‘Designed as a read aloud, Make Them Say Poo uses phonics and sounding words as the basis of the concept,’ said the publisher, adding that the book will encourage young readers to ‘break words into syllables and to anticipate rhymes’. Affirm Press plans to release Make Them Say Poo in April 2026.

Middle-grade titles: novels, series and debuts

University of Queensland Press (UQP) has acquired world rights to debut middle-grade novel Joey and the Junjardy written by Allison Rocca, illustrated by Brenton E McKenna, in a deal brokered by Danielle Binks of Jacinta di Mase Management. Joey and the Junjardy follows 11-year-old Joey ‘who starts at a new school on Country and gains the attention of a Junjardy – a small hairy mischief-maker’, said the publisher. ‘When the practical jokes spiral out of control, Joey must figure out what the Junjardy is trying to tell him about being a strong Wakka Wakka boy.’ Based in Yuggera/Turrbal Country in Brisbane, Rocca is a descendant of Wakka Wakka and Kaanju peoples. She works as a primary school teacher and ‘likes to draw on the stories passed down by her highly respected Elder grandparents to write fiction for children and young adults’, said the publisher. UQP plans to publish Joey and the Junjardy in July 2026.

Christmas Press imprint Eagle Books has acquired world rights to Only the Wild, an upper middle-grade/YA novel by Victor Kelleher, via Margaret Connolly of Margaret Connolly and Associates. Christmas Press publishing director Sophie Masson described the title as set in ‘a reimagined future Antarctica, or “Great Southland”, where a vicious war is raging between fiercely determined clans of small farmers and a ferocious band of eco-warriors called the Wilders, whose aim is to eradicate all human presence in the Great Southland and return it to wilderness’. Christmas Press plans to publish Only the Wild in September 2026.

Riveted Press has acquired world rights to The Prime Minister Problem, a debut middle-grade novel by Brenton Cullen. The Prime Minister Problem is ‘a heartfelt and timely story about an anxious boy who ignites a viral campaign to bring the Prime Minister to his rural town in a bid to reunite with his grandmother,’ said the publisher. ‘The novel explores themes of intergenerational connection and the power one quiet child can have.’ The Prime Minister Problem is scheduled for publication in May 2026.

Penguin Random House (PRH) Australia has acquired world rights to the Protector of Beyond middle-grade series by Aotearoa New Zealand author Shara Curlett in a three-book deal, via Samuel Bernard from Zeitgeist Agency. According to the publisher, the fantasy series has ‘high-stakes action, fierce magical creatures, and an academy filled with perilous trials, deep secrets, and a heroine like no other’. PRH plans to release the first book in the Protector of Beyond series in September 2026.

Riveted Press has acquired world rights to a junior fiction trilogy by debut author Anne Farrell. The as-yet-untitled speculative fiction series is suitable for readers aged 6 years and above, featuring the adventures of a timid rakali. A type of Australian rodent sometimes also known as water-rats, Rakalis take their name from the Ngarrindjeri language. The first book in the trilogy is scheduled for publication in early 2026.

Affirm Press and the creators of Your Kid’s Next Read (YKNR) have partnered to launch a new junior fiction series, titled Your Next Read, aiming to ‘encourage the joy of reading’. YKNR ‘focuses on helping young readers find the perfect next book, promoting Australian creators, supporting parents and caregivers in fostering literacy and advocating for educators and children’s literature,’ said Affirm. The Silver series, for ages 5–8, is planned for release in March and July 2026, and the Gold series, for ages 7–9, for October 2026. A further 24 titles are planned for release in 2027.

PRH Australia has acquired ANZ rights for Reece Carter’s new middle-grade series, The Nightmare League, in a six-publisher auction brokered by Gemma Cooper from Gemma Cooper Literary. The Nightmare League is ‘an adventure-driven series which follows 11-year-old Max, who discovers a covert agency of kid spies that secretly defends Melbourne (and the world) against a growing threat of monsters,’ said the publisher. The first book in the Nightmare League series is scheduled for release in 2026.

Larrikin House has acquired world rights to Grave Robbing and Other Curious Activities, a middle-grade novel by Joel McKerrow. Described by the publisher as ‘heart-racing, spine-tingling and poetic’, the story follows Alexander Steeple, who lives above his family’s mortuary and crematorium. When a body goes missing, Alexander can’t help but investigate the mystery. Larrikin plans to release Grave Robbing and Other Curious Activities in February 2026.

YA: romantasy, romance, thrills and more

PRH has announced the forthcoming publication of Shadow Reaper, a new fantasy series from YA author Lynette Noni, previously acquired in a three-book deal, via Jennifer Azantian from Azantian Literary Agency. A dark YA fantasy romance, Shadow Reaper ‘follows a young reaper hunter who must conspire with her childhood friend turned mortal enemy and his crew of illegal magic thieves to stop a deadly foe from stealing untold power – and dooming their world’, said the publisher. The first book in the Shadow Reaper series is scheduled for release in Australia in June 2026. Rights have also been sold into foreign territories including France, Germany, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Hungary, Spain, and the Netherlands.

PRH has acquired Dear Campus Cupid by Aurelne Thian, in a two-book deal brokered by Danielle Binks from Jacinta di Mase Management. According to the publisher, Dear Campus Cupid is full of ‘self-discovery and second chances’ – a romance story reminiscent of Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and ‘all the misunderstandings and miscommunications of a modern-day Pride and Prejudice’. PRH plans to release Dear Campus Cupid in 2026.

PRH has acquired ANZ rights to The Escape Game, a YA mystery thriller by US author Marissa Meyer and Perth-based author Tamara Moss, via Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management in a multi-house auction. ‘The Escape Game is a thrilling murder mystery set in an escape-room-themed game show, with a million-dollar prize, an unsolved crime from the show’s past season, and compelling contestants,’ said the publisher. PRH plans to release The Escape Game in April 2026.

Perentie Press has acquired world rights to The Curator, a YA graphic novel by author/illustrator Wendy Tyrer, the first YA graphic novel acquisition for the new press. The novel asks, ‘what would you give up to become famous?’ said the publisher. ‘Artists are disappearing in Melbourne, but struggling art student Mimi isn’t too concerned – she’s not a “real artist” yet. When a peculiar curator and an equally strange cat turn up in the gallery she works in, Mimi is pulled into a mystery that will force her to make a life-changing choice.’ The Curator is planned for release in mid-2026.

Pictured (left–right): Steve MinOn (credit: Chris Crawford) and Lynette Noni.

Category: Think Australian rights