Child brings back Clarice Bean for 'Christmas classic' with HCCB

Lauren Child is bringing back Clarice Bean in a “spectacularly cinematic Christmas classic” for HarperCollins Children's Books.

Clarice Bean: Think Like an Elf is “a breath of fresh air filled with classic Clarice-isms that keep her as relevant as ever and as adored the world over as when we first met the Tuesday family more than 20 years ago”.

World rights including digital and audio were acquired by Ann-Janine Murtagh, executive publisher, and Kate Burns, colour publisher, from Philippa Milnes-Smith at the Soho Agency. It will publish as a full-colour gift hardback edition on 28th October 2021.

The publisher explained: “The Christmas spirit is alive and well in the Tuesday household thanks to the one and only Clarice Bean. And the only way to keep it that way is to do as Clarice does and ‘Think Like Elves’. This 12-part Christmas chronicle takes us all the way from the first day of Christmas through to the heartfelt moment of warmth and wonder that is a Clarice Bean Christmas. Packed with Lauren’s distinctively witty prose, exquisitely crafted illustrations and signature filmic style, this special story is sure to warm the hearts of children and families everywhere and bring a touch of festive magic to all ‘peoplekind’.”

The Clarice Bean books debuted in 1999, selling over six million copies worldwide, according to the publisher. Through Nielsen BookScan's UK TCM, Child has sold 3.02 million books in total for £16.5m, with the Clarice Bean series on 745,883 sales.

Alongside Think Like an Elf, the next Clarice Bean novel is also scheduled with HarperCollins for the summer of 2022.

Murtagh said: “Lauren is one of the most creative and inspirational people I have had the pleasure of publishing and it’s been an absolute joy to work with her once again on a new Clarice Bean book. Clarice Bean is one of my most cherished children’s book characters of all time. I’m delighted that Lauren has brought her back to the stage in this deliciously witty and heartwarming Christmas tale. Lauren is a genius with words and pictures and her unique ability to create iconic characters and stories that appeal to both children and adults is unparalleled. Clarice Bean has been loved by generations the world over and I cannot wait to introduce her to a whole new legion of fans.”

Child added: “This year seemed the right year to return to Clarice Bean, a child who always talks honestly about life’s ups and downs, meets fear and joy with the same optimistic resolve and ultimately sees hope in everything. Ann-Janine has always felt to me to be an intrinsic part of creating the Clarice stories, so I’m glad we’re bringing her back together.”