Usborne wins new Hannah Shaw series at auction

Usborne has acquired a new series by award-winning author and illustrator Hannah Shaw in a three-book deal at auction.

Usborne commissioning editor Becky Walker snapped up world rights, all languages from Jodie Hodges, of United Agents for the Unipiggle series for a five-figure sum. Usborne will release, Unipiggle: Unicorn Muddle, the first of the series April 2020. 

The Unipiggle series introduces Twinkleland where anything less than perfect simply won’t do. Shaw introduces adventurous characters Princess Pea and Unipiggle as she draws from her childhood memories for inspiration. The full-colour illustrated series for readers aged 6+ is described by Walker as “a giggle-a-minute, child-friendly and interactive young series which we are thrilled to add to our flourishing fiction list”.

Shaw, who won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in 2010, said: "I've eaten rainbow unicorn cake and I even have an inflatable unicorn for the swimming pool. But sometimes unicorns can be a little too cute, too sparkly, too perfect...Which is why I created Unipiggle! He’s not interested in what he looks like or being perfect; he’s a unicorn pig with attitude and he just wants to have fun!” 

The series comes complete with a map of Twinkleland and a “How to Draw Your Own Unipiggle” spread. Second and third titles Unipiggle: Dragon Trouble and Unipiggle: Mermaid Mayhem will follow at a later date.

Walker added: "Unipiggle is a big-hearted and mud-splattered story about standing out from the crowd – and this series does just that."