2016: the books to watch!
Roald Dahl celebrations, Harry Potter on stage, a Winnie the Pooh sequel, Goosebumps on stage, Beatrix Potter at 150: 2016 promises all sorts of opportunities to revisit old favourites and indulge in literary nostalgia. But what are the hot new books of the year? We asked leading children’s books editors to tell us about the books that are making them excited.
Susan Van Metre, Publisher, at Abrams says: ‘The team of Andrea Beaty and David Roberts have produced some of the most popular and encouraging picture books for small kids with big dreams. Their latest is Ada Twist, Scientist, a companion to the bestsellers Iggy Peck, Architect and Rosie Revere, Engineer. Our big fall memoir for teens is Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee, the absolutely gripping true story of a boy’s harrowing escape from North Korea with the help of his long- lost grandfather. And on a much lighter and wholly delightful note, our big fall YA novel is The Romantics by Leah Rowan, which follows the travails of a lovelorn teenage boy and is narrated from the perspective of Love herself, who might be just a bit too invested in the tale.
Alanna Books is celebrating in 2016. Publisher Anna McQuinn: ‘On the 10th anniversary of the publication of the first Lulu title, Lulu Loves the Library, Alanna Books is excited to publish Lulu Loves Flowers in paperback for the first time. When Lulu reads a book of garden poems, she is inspired to grow some flowers of her own. Books for Keeps gave the hardcover five stars. Shortlisted for the 2015 Green Earth Book Award, it will inspire little gardeners everywhere. Also in 2016, Lulu’s baby brother Zeki meets up with his friends from Zeki Loves Baby Club and goes to swimming class. First, they learn about water safely, then off they go Kick! Kick! Kick!
Alessandro Gallenzi of Alma Books says: ‘One of the main themes of our 2016 schedule is children’s fiction in translation, and in the first half of the year we are publishing three children’s classics for English readers. The first is Dino Buzzati’s The Bears’ Famous Invasion of Sicily, translated by Frances Lobb – a much-loved Italian classic which Lemony Snicket called his “favourite book”. Luis Sepúlveda’s The Story of a Seagull and The Cat Who Taught Her to Fly, has already sold over five million copies in Europe, where Sepúlveda is a household name. The Adventures of Pipì, the Pink Monkey by Pinocchio creator Carlo Collodi, is a rediscovered gem of Italian literature featuring new illustrations by Axel Scheffler.
At Andersen Press Libby Hamilton (Editorial Director, Picture Books) is looking forward to Odd Socks, an epic love story that starts in a sock drawer, from award-winning author Michelle Robinson and up-and-coming illustrator Rebecca Ashdown. There’s an unforgettable twist on the adoption/ sibling theme, captured in vibrant and stylish illustrations, in Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dykeman and Zachariah OHora, and she’s excited too about ‘a (literally) magical debut from author-illustrator Meg McLaren: Houdini the bunny is the over-enthusiastic magician’s assistant in Life is Magic.’ Charlie Sheppard (Editorial Director, Fiction) says: ‘If I’m forced to choose between my children again then I’d best start with Orbiting Jupiter by Gary Schmidt. If you want to make grown men weep then give them this book. It’s the story of a 14-year-old boy from the wrong side of the tracks who falls in love and becomes a father. But when he is forced to sign the baby over for adoption, his world falls apart and he will do anything to find his lost daughter. It’s a book of loss and hope and my thirteen-year-old son said it was the best book he’d ever read. We cried together over it. Also coming up: Julian Clary’s second novel about the extraordinary Bold family – The Bolds to the Rescue. I’m proud to be able to say that by the end of 2016 we will have 3 Susin Nielsen paperbacks on the list: We are All Made of Molecules, The Reluctant Journal of Henry K Larsen and Word Nerd. Trust me if you read one you’ll devour them all – the Pringles of teen books but not as fattening.’
For Atom Sarah Castleton says: ‘We’re starting our year with a makeover. We are currently backstage in hair and make-up, but will be emerging from the wings very soon with a snazzy new colophon and website to set the stage for a year of ravishing books. I’d love to shine the spotlight on two debuts for the first half of 2016. First up on Valentine’s Day is Raziel
Reid’s debut When Everything Feels Like The Movies. It tells the story of gay cross-dresser Jude – flamboyant, funny, filthy, beautiful and broken, Jude goes down in a blaze of glory. His story will break your heart. And then in June comes My Favourite Manson Girl by Alison Umminger. This begins as a story about a girl who runs away from home to stay with her sister in Hollywood, but it becomes a book about the ways that teenage girls become dangerously lost. It’s a strikingly contemporary coming-of-age novel. Alison and Raziel have written two very truthful teenage voices. They are more than ready for their close up.’
Boxer Books is thrilled to be publishing the following titles in 2016, says David Bennett: ‘How Much Does a Ladybird Weigh? (March) is an extraordinary and stylish debut picture book by Alison Limentani. It’s a fascinating exploration of numbers, weight and wildlife for young children. In Grumpy Feet, Lisa Stubbs explores the feeling we all get when nothing goes right for us – another adventure for the critically acclaimed Lily and Bear. Simply fabulous. In September, we have an exciting new picture book from Jane Ray, The Elephant’s Garden. This is a new style for Jane – vibrant, fresh, bold and colourful – like nothing you’ve seen before! And finally, A Home for Hare and Mouse by Rosalinda Kightly (October), with its own die-cut hole as Hare (and Mouse) search for somewhere to live. Clever peek-a-boo book for the very young.’
‘Two of Chicken House’s new books stand out for me this year’, says Barry Cunningham, ‘The “I-know-its-a-classic” moment when I first read M.G. Leonard’s Beetle Boy has grown – with each edit it has become funnier, more exciting and more charming, making our editorial job inspiring and important. The darker side of life is movingly brought to life in Rose Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall. A book drawn deeply from the author’s own personal experience, it imagines a growing romance despite issues of agoraphobia and OCD – a brilliant and brave first novel.’
Ginee Seo, Children’s Publishing Director, Chronicle Books says: ‘It’s always a thrill to have a new book from Hervé Tullet on our list. Let’s Play is a companion to the ground-breaking bestseller Press Here that will take readers on an unforgettable emotional journey as they follow the yellow dot through Tullet’s fantastical terrain. With Flora and the Peacocks, Molly Idle tackles another tricky problem in friendship—the dynamics of a trio. The exuberant colours and surprising narrative twists make this title her best Flora book yet. The Sandwich Thief is a deliciously funny chapter book that won Canada’s Governor General’s Award for Illustrated Fiction. Marin must solve the mystery of his disappearing school lunches, lovingly prepared by his foodie parents and stolen by a gourmet thief!’
There’s an abundance of riches at David Fickling Books says Bella Pearson: ‘Among the many gems is The Nest, a hugely original novel from Kenneth Oppel illustrated by Kate Greenaway winner Jon Klassen. A haunting coming of age story that will hold you captive, The Nest is lyrical, surreal and one of the most moving stories you’ll read this year. The Call by Irish author Peadar O’Guilin is likely to be the most talked-about novel of the year, a hard-hitting book with the ability to change the landscape of UKYA, and Liz Flanagan writes of friends, love and survival in her debut YA novel, Eden Summer. Not least of all, the paperback editions of The Art Of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson and Jon Walter’s My
Name’s Not Friday will also be hitting the shelves.’
‘It’s thrilling when a bold new talent explodes on to the scene as Katherine Woodfine did with The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow in 2015’ says Sarah Hughes, Publishing Director, Fiction at Egmont Publishing. ‘Katherine’s second novel, The Mystery Of The Jewelled Moth (March 16) is even better and just as beautiful. She’s a new star who is here to stay. Kevin Brooks’s Elliot (September 16) will be one of the most talked about YA titles of 2016. This Carnegie winner is writing at his absolute best. Thought-provoking, pacey, intelligent and shot through with a delicious black humour that will surprise some, it’s a treat not to be missed.’ Her colleague Stella Paskins is excited to be publishing the legendary Robin Jarvis: ‘I cannot wait to unleash The Power of Dark, which is deliciously spooky and magically inventive. Moving on to YA,
Books for Keeps No.216 January 2016 3
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