Samantha Smith, Publisher Fiction and Picture Books, Scholastic: We are thrilled to be publishing The Smeds and the Smoos, the next future classic from the incomparable duo of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.


Miriam Rosenbloom, Publisher, Scribble: The book I am most excited to be publishing in 2019 is All The Ways To Be Smart, a celebration of all the different talents and attributes that children have, beyond straightforward academic ability. The book has just come out in Australia where it has been a big success, selling out its first and second editions instantly. We’ve been overwhelmed by the response to the book from kids, teachers, librarians and parents – the book’s affirmatory message is more important than ever today as so many children are entering into an education environment where they are being over-tested.


John Stachiewicz, Publishing Director, Tate: We are delighted and most excited to be publishing in time for International Women’s Day in March, an important and beautifully put together title, The Bigger Picture: Women Who Changed the Art World written by Sophia Bennett and illustrated by Manjit Thapp. As well as biographies of over 30 women artists, we have conducted original interviews with 16 of the featured living artists – Rachel Whiteread, Lubaina Himid and Yayoi Kusama amongst others. This book offers a glimpse into the struggles and successes of these artists whilst helping to demystify the art world, build confidence and inspire a new generation. We really hope that younger readers will be motivated to pursue their creativity with this book!


Lisa Edwards Executive Publisher Templar Publishing: Paper World: Planet Earth is perhaps the most ‘Templar’ book we’ve created in recent times. We pride ourselves on being innovative and with surprising die-cuts, cut-throughs and flaps, but the artwork itself is made from cut paper by the artists at Bomboland. This book has been three years in the making and it is worth the wait. We publish Planet Earth in February 2019 and Space will follow in 2020.


Anna Ridley, Commissioning & Managing Editor, Children’s Publishing Thames & Hudson: We have so many books to be excited about in 2019, it’s impossible to choose, but the one I’m giving a special shout-out to is Tony T-Rex’s Family Album by Mike Benton, illustrated by Rob Hodgson. It brings the latest scholarship from Professor Mike Benton to life through a series of quirky tales and chewable facts told from the perspective of Tony T-Rex. Casting his memory back to the beginning of the Jurassic, Tony gives readers the inside scoop on what his dinosaur relatives were really like – from their proudest moments to previously unpublished family secrets. Rob Hodgson’s illustrations are so contemporary in style and full of personality, it seems like only yesterday Tony and his crew were dominating the earth.


Delaram Ghanimifard, Co-Founder and Publisher Tiny Owl: We have eight exciting new titles coming out in 2019, from which we think The Phoenix of Persia is our biggest project of the year. This 1000 year old story from Shahnameh is retold by Sally Pomme Clayton, and illustrated by Amin Hassanzadeh Sharif. The Phoenix of Persia is part of our One Story, Many Voices series, and has echoes of Snow White and firebird folklore.


Rebecca Hill, Usborne Fiction Director: Usborne Fiction’s 2019 titles showcases contemporary YA to get readers talking, epic and immersive fantasies, enchanting, spine-tingling adventures and a lot of laughter. However, I am thrilled to be introducing a very special


new character and series for 7+ children. Anisha Mistry leaps off the page - a bright, quirky, vivacious narrator, whose lovable, laugh-out- loud British Indian family will leave readers longing to join the fun. Debut author, Serena Patel’s writing bursts with sparky playfulness and warmth in this laugh-out-loud series with family and friendship at its heart.


Jane Winterbotham, Publishing Director, Walker Books: I’ve chosen Malamander by Thomas Taylor. The Malamander is lurking beneath the waves, waiting to emerge, and for Herbie Lemon, the Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel, life is about to get complicated. Set in the deliciously quirky town of Eerie- on-Sea, Thomas Taylor’s middle-grade adventure oozes mystery and suspense. Rattling along at high speed like a seaside fair ride, and with an eccentric cast of characters including headstrong Violet Parma, reclusive Lady Kraken, slippery Sebastian Eels, and the Malamander himself, this is classic storytelling at its best, full of surprises and half-hidden magic.


Christopher Lloyd, What on Earth Books: The book I am most excited to be publishing in 2019 is Humanimal, illustrated by Mark Ruffle. So often, people have assumed that humans are exceptional in every way to other animals. After all, what creatures other than humans can build skyscrapers or put a person on the Moon? But now scientists are discovering that many things we think exceptional to our species are alive and kicking in the animal world. Many were often pioneered millions of years before the first humans could be heard calling across the African plains. Humanimal explores these shared patterns of behaviour in a lively, fun and accessible way for children and animal lovers aged 7 upwards.


Rachel Williams, Group Publisher, Wide Eyed Editions and Lincoln Children’s Books: Last year, we were lucky enough to win an 8-way auction to a bundle of sketchbooks believed to have been written by an ‘unknown’ adventurer. After a year of painstakingly transcribing the content with author Teddy Keen, we have a very special book coming out in April. The Lost Book of Adventure from the notebooks of the Unknown Adventurer is full of extraordinary tales of adventure, expedition advice and survival tips, and will inspire any child to get out and explore.


Katie Cotton, Publisher for Picture Books – Wide Eyed Editions and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books: Once Upon a Unicorn Horn is the first title in a new picture-book series from debut author-illustrator Bea Blue about magical creatures. Explaining the mystery of how unicorns got their horns, this is a big-hearted story about unicorns, magic and friendship and (if that’s not enough) even has a tiny taste of ice-cream! Watch out for Once Upon a Dragon’s Fire in 2020 too.


Debbie Foy, Publishing Director at Wren & Rook: A Mad Girl’s Guide to Being You by Bryony Gordon: I’m buzzing with excitement that Wren & Rook is the home for Bryony Gordon’s first book for teens. Honest, hilarious and beautifully written, Bryony shares 10 essential life lessons with her readers that she wishes someone had told her while growing up – from self-respect and social media to exercise and exam stress. Told with her trademark warmth and compassion, this is the book is for every teenage girl you know and for the teenage girl in all of us – the one who was never told that the most powerful thing she could be when she grew up was herself.


6 Books for Keeps No.234 January 2019


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