Bloomsbury buys Christmas stories by Katherine Rundell

Bloomsbury Children’s Books has acquired two Christmas stories for younger readers by Katherine Rundell.

The first book, as yet untitled, is about a child called Theo who, when left at home with a babysitter on Christmas Eve, wishes he could have some friends to keep him company. Moments later the Christmas decorations disentangle themselves from the tree, ready to wreak a little havoc. The title will be illustrated by Emily Sutton and published in gift format in October 2017.

The second book will also be published in gift format in October 2017.

Editorial director Ellen Holgate acquired world rights in all languages, excluding North America, from Claire Wilson at RCW Literary Agency.

“New stories from Katherine Rundell are always special occasions and it’s wonderful to think that a younger audience will be able to enjoy them too,” said Holgate. “Katherine’s Christmas story is bursting with love and spirit and fun, and alongside Emily’s gorgeous illustrations this will be a book to bring out and savour year upon year.”

Rundell is also the author of The Wolf Wilder (Bloomsbury Children’s), The Girl Savage (Faber Children’s), and Rooftoppers (Faber Children’s), which won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Blue Peter Children’s Book Award in 2014.

Rundell is writing two more middle-grade novels for Bloomsbury and The Wolf Wilder will be released in paperback on 8th September.