Hachette buys two books from Agard

Hodder Children’s Books has bought two titles from poet John Agard.

The imprint of the Hachette Children’s Group will publish the first, The Rainmaker Danced, in paperback, for £6.99, on 21st September in time for National Poetry Day on 28th September.

World rights were acquired by Anne McNeil, senior publisher at Hodder Children’s Books, in a deal secured with Caroline Sheldon at the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency.

A Hodder spokesperson said: “The Rainmaker Danced is a wonderful new children’s anthology of poems by winner of the Queens Medal and the Eleanor Farjeon Award, exploring the wonders of the world –inviting children to ponder life's questions, with lots of fun along the way.”

The collection has been illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura.

McNeil said: “John Agard is one of our most cherished poets writing today. Poetry is an important part of children’s literacy and I could not be prouder to publish this wonderful collection in time for National Poetry Day 2017.

"Satoshi Kitamura’s illustrations perfectly capture the essence of John’s poems – the more you look, the more you will see.”

Sheldon says: “I have so much fun representing John and his wonderful work – the playfulness, the word play, the historical and literary allusions, the topical themes.  This collection celebrates all that is great in his poetry.”

Agard said: “It is exciting to be working on a new collection with Anne McNeill and Hodder Children’s Books again and I much look forward to the excitement of publication.”