HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY @emilybobdraws 🤩
Before Charlie, before the Chocolate Factory, comes a story of invention and imagination . . .
Ever since he was a child, Willy Wonka had dreamed of making chocolate and sharing it with the world.
As a young man, he arrives at the world-famous Galeries Gourmet, determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time.
But hounded by a trio of jealous chocolatiers, and tricked into a lifetime of washhouse drudgery, Wonka will need a little luck and a whole lot of magic – along with some help from a few friends – to fulfil his destiny.
Because if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible.
Congratulations to @natelessore and LIKE A BROTHER for being shortlisted in the @booksaremybag #indiebookawards 2026 children’s fiction category. These are the only awards curated exclusively by independent bookshops. So a huge thank you to all the independent booksellers who are championing this brilliant author and book!
‘Like A Brother’ PUBLICATION DAY!!!
And today did 2x School visits to celebrate (went to a place called redding where they live reading 🤔)
It takes 20+ people to write and edit and publish a book, and they’re all in the acknowledgments.
But I’m also grateful to the librarians and booksellers who continue to be the wing beneath my wins. Authors owe our careers to anyone who gets our books into readers’ hands.
Now, can’t wait to grab a tasty kebab with @litagentclare to celebrate more!
@hotkeybooks@da_childrens@editor__ella@pippapoole@artbytosin
Happy publication day to THE DANGEROUS PET LOVER’S GUIDE TO SEA MONSTERS, written by @lindsay_dangerous_pets_hirst and illustrated by Alice McKinley
Sea monsters are well known for being moody and menacing. However, by following these simple but important rules, you might just be able to create a loveable and (almost) friendly pet.
This is the essential monster-care manual you didn’t know you needed. Full of useful tips, tricks and advice on everything from feeding and naming your sea monster to playing fun games (top tip: ALWAYS LET THEM WIN), this handy guidebook will equip you with everything you need to bond with your new pet!
This hilarious picture book is ideal for anyone who has ever wondered what it would be like to own a sea monster, providing essential insights into an often-misunderstood species.
#publicationday
Happy paperback publication day to GREAT AUNT MARGOT AND ME by @bryherandherbooks 💃✨
A riotous celebration of family that gently deals with the forgetfulness many children will experience in their loved ones, and the power that music and objects from their past can have.
On Mondays after school, Great-Aunt Margot always has a good story to tell her great-niece... or a dance to dance, or a game to enjoy together. But lately she’s been forgetting things, and she doesn’t always feel quite the way she used to. Her great-niece sees rich and vibrant memories all around Margot’s apartment, and comes up with a plan to help bring back the twinkle in her eye...
#publicationday
Happy UK publication day to THE MISSING MAGIC OF SPARROW XIA by @leiaham ✨
A brand new, highly-illustrated magic school series to obsess over!
Welcome to a world that depends on magic - but where each person’s magic fades away before they reach adulthood.
The pressure is on for Sparrow Xia to develop her pitifully limited fire mage abilities at Zenith Academy. It doesn’t help that expectations are extra high for her because her older brother Ainsley’s magic is exceptionally powerful – the burn scar on Sparrow’s cheek is proof of that. Sparrow can only hope that her studies will help her discover her fire and finally make her family proud.
At Zenith, Sparrow does indeed gain magical strength – and new friends – but her life at school raises more questions than answers. Should she risk her own future in order to help others? And is Sparrow’s magic the most important thing about her?
Then a mysterious illness breaks out at school, draining students of their powers. Sparrow and her friends are drawn into the search for the cause, but they need to be careful: in a world where magic means everything, some people will go to terrible lengths to try to keep it…
#publicationday
Happy publication day to Our Islands by the wonderful @phoeberoze !
A tender story where friendship blossoms, warming the heart of a lonely bear who finds himself adrift beyond his island home.
When Bear’s cosy island life is interrupted by a wild storm, he finds himself adrift and alone. Washed ashore on a new island, fear turns to wonder as he encounters an unlikely friend, Isla. Together, they join forces to help Bear find his way home. As they set off, they begin to explore the vibrant surrounding islands, discovering all kinds of different homes. But after all the amazing sights they see, Bear still longs for the comfort of his island home. Can Isla help Bear navigate the sparkling islands, or will he forever be adrift?
Join Bear on this heart-warming adventure to discover if the path back home might bring the greatest of adventures and the truest of friendships.
Congratulations Phoebe!
#publicationday
Happy publication day to @astronomy_matt for the third book in his SUPERVILLAIN ACADEMY series - MASTERING THE MULTIVERSE 🚀☄️🤯
Book 3 in the Supervillain Academy series takes us into the multiverse, with fun and factual lessons on topics like black holes and time travel. There’s no other space book for kids like this!
“Is time travel possible?”
“Can black holes collide?”
“What is dark matter?”
Discover the answers to these questions and many more at the Supervillain Academy – the magnificently morbid school for young bad folks-in-training. Discover how time can speed up or slow down depending on where you are, what happens when black holes collide, and whether wormholes could be the key to instant travel across vast distances.
A factual and fun astrophysics book for young big thinkers and budding scientists:
An accessible and enjoyable introduction to astrophysics, explaining big topics in a simple way
Packed with facts about black holes, galaxies, the Universe and, most importantly, the answer to the question: “Do we live in a multiverse?”
Each chapter is linked to science topics that children study at school
Scientific concepts are brought to life with humorous illustrations
Perfect for fans of Kay’s Marvellous Medicine and the Horrible Histories series, Mastering the Multiverse (and Other Secrets of Space and Time) is the third book in the Supervillain Academy series, which will have curious kids eager to arrive at school on time!
#publicationday
Happy publication day to LIKE A BROTHER by @natelessore ! ✨
From the multi-award-winning and Sunday Times bestselling author of Steady For This, King of Nothing, What Happens Online and Against All Odds comes a laugh-out-loud new teen comedy about a summer turned upside down!
THEY’RE TOTALLY DIFFERENT. EXCEPT IN ALL THE WAYS THAT MATTER.
Owais lives a chill life. He’s well-liked, funny and everything’s a breeze - until his estranged cousin shows up.
Loud, unpredictable and one bad decision away from serious trouble, Abass crashes into Owais’ laidback world like a hurricane: picking fights, ruining parties, disappearing without explanation and clogging toilets in places he absolutely shouldn’t.
But as the boys get to know each other and their bond deepens, Owais starts to see there’s more to Abass than the chaos - and more to himself than just being the popular guy who coasts through life. Because sometimes, the person who turns your world upside down is also the person who helps you figure out where you’re really meant to be . . .
#publicationday
Happy US Publication Day to THE MISSING MAGIC OF SPARROW XIA by @leiaham ✨🎉
Welcome to a world that depends on magic – but where each person’s magic fades away before they reach adulthood.
The pressure is on for Sparrow Xia to develop her pitifully limited fire mage abilities at Zenith Academy. It doesn’t help that expectations are extra high for her because her older brother Ainsley’s magic is exceptionally powerful – the burn scar on Sparrow’s cheek is proof of that. Sparrow can only hope that her studies will help her discover her fire and finally make her family proud.
At Zenith, Sparrow does indeed gain magical strength – and new friends – but her life at school raises more questions than answers. Should she risk her own future in order to help others? And is Sparrow’s magic the most important thing about her?
Then a mysterious illness breaks out at school, draining students of their powers. Sparrow and her friends are drawn into the search for the cause, but they need to be careful: in a world where magic means everything, some people will go to terrible lengths to try to keep it…
#uspublicationday
We are heartbroken. And my words are inadequate for news like this. In Olivia’s words, from Silver, and as shared by Hot Key at the request of Olivia’s family, ‘I am only dazzle. I dance, silver notes dispersing over the hills, whirling about the leaves, the underbellies of birds. I am light as larksong, free as trees.’
How fantastic it was speaking at the Writer's children's literature day in Ipswich with my incredible agent Clare Wallace, managing director and literary agent of the Darley Anderson Children’s agency, along with the uber talented illustrator, Claire Powell. Both Clare and Claire gave such inspirational talks and I know the audience went away uplifted and motivated.
There was added joy that, Harriet Howe, who is also an author with the DA Agency came along. It was all in partnership with the English department at the University of Suffolk, so huge thanks to them and Dr. Lindsey Scott for inviting us. It was not only joyous spending the day with these incredible folk, but also fabulous speaking to all the people who came along. ❤️
