Puffin to publish animal detective series for younger readers by Megan Rix

Puffin will publish a new animal detective series from Megan Rix for readers aged six plus, starting with Lizzie & Lucky: The Mystery of the Missing Puppies in February 2021 and Lizzie & Lucky: The Mystery of the Stolen Treasure, in August 2021.

Editor Emma Jones acquired world rights for both books from Clare Pearson at Eddison Pearson. Both titles will be illustrated by Tim Budgen.

The series will follow Lizzie, a young deaf girl, inspired by Rix's personal experience of living with partial deafness.

In the first title, Lizzie is desperate for a dog and in order to convince her parents to get one, she has to come up with 101 reasons why she needs one. But as Lizzie begins compiling her list, she witnesses a puppy being snatched away and put into a van by a mysterious looking man. Lizzie sets out to solve the case and get herself a puppy at the same time. 

Jones said: "I am absolutely delighted that Megan has turned her pen to younger readers in this exciting new series. Lizzie and Lucky are a resourceful and adorable detective duo, and the books are full of Megan’s trademark charm. Tim's wonderful illustrations completely embody the spark of Megan’s writing and I am so excited to launch Lizzie & Lucky to the world."

Rix commented: "I’m delighted to be writing stories about characters I would have loved to have read more about myself. As a child I longed for stories with deaf characters that used sign language in them. I’ve had deaf heroes in some of my other books, namely Echo Come Home and The Lost War Dog, but I am over the moon to introduce Lizzie and Lucky, who will star in a whole series of stories."

Puffin previously published Rix's Echo Come Home (Puffin, 2016) and The Lost War Dog (2020).