Bridgman to release debut junior fiction series with Tiny Tree

Tiny Tree has acquired a new junior fiction series from Bonnie Bridgman, featuring fun, adventure and a strong female lead.

The deal follows Bridgman's debut picture book with the press, Catch That Cough, which illustrated by Louise Forshaw published in 2019 and went on to be shortlisted for a People’s Book Prize earlier this year.

UK and Commonwealth rights for two books in the author's new Clara Claus series were acquired by managing director James Shaw from Helen Boyle at Pickled Ink. 

The first title is Clara Claus Saves Christmas, which will be published in 2021, followed by a sequel in 2022. The series is billed as "full of fun and adventure", with a strong female lead, for readers 7+.

It will be once again illustrated by Forshaw who is represented by Advocate Art.

Shaw said: “Having worked closely with Bonnie on Catch that Cough we knew the kind of fresh and exciting stories she could bring to the table. Given the chance to sign her up again, this time for a series of chapter books, was an absolute no-brainer. Clara Claus will allow Bonnie to spread her wings and show a whole new audience the kind of funny, quirky, and adventurous stories she can create.”

Bridgman also works as a learning support assistant at an infant school – the perfect age to test her stories out on. She said: "I cannot wait for readers to meet Clara Claus and to work with the team at Tiny Tree again. It’s a dream come true to celebrate Christmas everyday!"

The Clara Claus series marks Bonnie’s debut in Junior Fiction