HCG acquires fairy tale picture book from Sardà, Dahman and Digard

Hachette Children's Group has acquired the first collaboration on a picture book between France-based author team Myriam Dahman and Nicolas Digard and Kate Greenaway Medal longlisted illustrator Júlia Sardà: The Wolf’s Secret.

About a hunter entranced by the voice of a little girl who one day falls silent, the book has been billed as a "richly atmospheric" and "contemporary" fairytale, featuring "bewitching" artwork. It also carries with it an important message about staying true to ourselves. 

Digard said the multi-layered story had been born "almost magically, as if it was waiting in the recesses of our unconscious" while Dahman enthused she had fallen in love with Sardà's illustrations she knew would make the book truly unique.

It will be the first UK picture book for Dahman and Digard, as well as their first picture book with Sardà. 

The Wolf’s Secret will publish as a hardback gift edition in September 2020. Emily Lamm, senior commissioning editor for picture books at Hachette Children’s Group, acquired world rights to the authors' and illustrator's work through Helen Boyle and Amy Kitcherside at Pickled Ink respectively. 

Lamm said: "We are thrilled to be publishing this stunning book. The Wolf’s Secret is a richly atmospheric contemporary fairy tale with a powerful message about friendship, acceptance and being true to ourselves. Myriam and Nicolas are hugely original storytellers, and the magical world they have created finds perfect expression in Júlia Sardà’s bewitching artwork. This deeply thoughtful, inventive fairy tale will linger long in the mind."