Puffin hosts first-ever non-fiction showcase

Puffin hosted its first ever non-fiction showcase on Wednesday 28th February at Victoria Warehouse in Manchester, showcasing its 2024 authors, illustrators and titles across its primary list including neuroscientist Dean Burnett, founder of The Body Happy Organisation Molly Forbes and TikTok superstar Big Manny.

The event was held to celebrate Puffin’s growth in non-fiction in recent years and was attended by just under 70 guests including media, librarians, event organisers and retailers as well as a cohort of Puffin’s 2024 non-fiction authors and illustrators and the publishing team.

Attendees listened to a short presentation including live science experiments by planetary physicist and 2024 World Book Day author Dr Sheila Kanani and Big Manny, followed by a panel on taking big topics to young readers, hosted by senior commissioning editor Tom Rawlinson, featuring Burnett, Forbes and Emmanuel Asuquo.

Guests also viewed video messages from non-fiction duo Adam Kay and Henry Paker, Stella and Dane Luca Mulandiee and Taskmaster’s Alex Horne and the Horne Section.

Welcoming guests to the event, publishing director Ruth Knowles said: “Our mission at Puffin is to publish a book for every child everywhere. From experiments you can do at home to family outdoors time and understanding your body, I hope that all the middle grade books you’ll hear about tonight reflect this and show our big ambitions to be the go-to home for best-in-class author and illustrator-led non-fiction books.

"We want our books to show that reading about the real-life magic of our world, and the people in it, is as fun as being transported to fictional magical worlds. Our guiding principles are to provide the perfect blend of education and entertainment, to bring experts in their field to young readers, and to help young readers have interesting conversations about big ideas.” 

Penguin Random House Children’s managing director Francesca Dow was also in attendance and added: “Puffin Books was launched over 80 years ago to help children make sense of the big things happening in the world around them. Our first books were non-fiction picture book titles published to help children in the UK understand the country and the world at war. At Puffin, we’re proud to continue to invest strongly and passionately in our growing non-fiction list for our young readers. Books, and the ideas they hold, spark curiosity, help us change and explore, and carry us forward to a better future. What could be more important than inspiring the next generation? We are privileged and excited to publish such talented, expert authors and illustrators to excite children and do this with us.”