Orion Children's Books gets Keith Richards story

Rolling Stone Keith Richards is to publish a picture book with illustrations by his daughter.

Gus & Me: The Story of My Granddad and My First Guitar will be published in September, simultaneously in the UK by Orion Children’s Books and in the US by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

The hardback edition of the book will also include an audio CD featuring bonus book content, plus selected photographs from the Richards family collection.

Theodora Richards will do pen and ink collages to illustrate the book, which has been written with Barnaby Harris and Bill Shapiro, and was inspired by a childhood experience recounted in Richards’ memoir Life (Phoenix).

Gus & Me is a “unique autobiographical picture book honors the special bond between a grandfather and grandson and celebrates the artistic talents of the Richards family through the generations”. Richards said: “I have just become a grandfather for the fifth time, so I know what I’m talking about. The bond, the special bond, between kids and grandparents is unique and should be treasured. This is a story of one of those magical moments. May I be as great a grandfather as Gus was to me.”

Richards’ grandfather, Theodore Augustus Dupree, affectionately known as “Gus,” was in a jazz big band and is the namesake of Richards’ daughter, Theodora Dupree Richards.

She said: “When I found out they wanted me to be a part of this project, my immediate instinct was to say yes, and I am so happy I did.

“To be able to explore my father’s relationship with his grandfather was a gift in itself. The things that I’ve learnt during this whole process have just been life affirming.”

Fiona Kennedy, m.d. and publisher, Orion Children’s Books, said: “I can only…say how much we are looking forward to publishing Gus & Me, an amazing father-daughter collaboration that has produced an utterly charming and beguiling book, which will become a family favourite.”

Megan Tingley, executive vice president and publisher at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in the US, said: “Gus & Me invites readers to be in the room at the electrifying moment that Keith holds a guitar in his hands for the first time. We are excited to be bringing this vivid and moving story to children and families and proud to be publishing the debut of talented artist Theodora Richards.”

Richards and his daughter were represented by Richard’s manager Jane Rose and Ed Victor Ltd.

Gus & Me: The Story of My Granddad and My First Guitar will be published on September 9th, at £14.99 in hardback and £7.99 in e-book.