Hachette Children's acquires four from Carmelite Picture Book Prize-winner

Hachette Children’s Group has acquired two non-fiction picture books and two picture books by debut author and illustrator Ellan Rankin, winner of the 2020 Carmelite Picture Book Prize. 

Phoebe Jascourt, editor at HCG imprint Wren & Rook, acquired world rights from Jodie Hodges of United Agents. Rankin will be making her home exclusively at HCG across both the picture book and Wren & Rook lists. 

The first title will be a non-fiction picture book based on the true story of Denise Weston Austin, who rescued a baby elephant during the Second World War by keeping it in her house at night. The book will be published in hardback in October 2022. 

Jascourt said: "When I first saw Ellan’s work at the Cambridge MA show, I was instantly struck by her artwork. Ellan has an extraordinary ability to tell stories with warmth, sensitivity, heart and character, and we are so delighted to be welcoming her to the Hachette Children’s Group with an ambitious and exciting publishing plan."

Rankin commented: "I'm so excited to be working with Hachette, which has made me feel so welcome and special. It was important to me that my debut was in good hands, and with Hachette, I have definitely found that. I've grown up loving picture books and it's so crazy to me, to think that my work will be out there on the shelves too!"