Chronicle buys picture book in six-figure deal

Chronicle Books has paid a six-figure advance for a picture book by debut author and illustrator Brendan Wenzel, following an eight-publisher auction.

They All Saw A Cat gives an animal-eyed perspective of an approaching cat – who can appear friendly, fierce, fuzzy - depending on the perspective of viewer.

“As soon as I saw the proposal, I felt I was looking at an instant classic,” said children’s publishing director Ginee Seo, “It’s the kind of book that elicits an immediate response: ‘F*cking brilliant.’ And I knew that we had to be the ones to publish this.”

The publisher has acquired world rights to They All Saw a Cat, which will hit bookshelves in august this year, including one other book, which is as yet untitled. Wenzel’s agent is Steven Malk of Writers House.