Walker Books lands Ladybird publisher Stowell's Norse Gods series

Walker Books has landed a “brilliantly funny” diary-style Norse Gods series, written and illustrated by Ladybird publisher Louie Stowell.

World rights for the middle grade series were acquired in a multi-publisher auction by senior editor Non Pratt from Molly Ker Hawn at The Bent Agency. The first (currently untitled) book in the three-book series is scheduled to publish in spring 2022, with a simultaneous edition published by Walker Books US.

The synopsis explains: “Trickster God Loki has finally gone too far and Odin has condemned him to a truly terrible punishment: he’s been banished to Earth in the body of an 11-year-old boy. And he has to go to school. Forbidden from revealing his true identity, Loki has one year to convince Odin he’s shown moral improvement and earn his way back to Asgard. But as Loki records his exploits in his magical (very judgmental) diary, it becomes clear he hasn’t a clue how to tell good from evil, trust from tricks, or friends from enemies.”

Stowell is the author of The Dragon in the Library and The Monster in the Lake, both published by Nosy Crow and Walker Books US. Louie has also written and co-written a wide range of non-fiction books for Usborne, including the bestselling Write Your Own Story Book and Write and Draw Your Own Comics.

She said: “Working on this book with Non and Walker is a genuine dream come true. As anyone who has sat beside me in meetings knows, I’m a constant doodler. Defacing my own book is an incredibly exciting prospect, and I’m glad to have the Walker design team on my side. It’s going to be a wild ride.”

Pratt said: “Loki is the perfect anti-hero: droll, dismissive and entirely amoral. No one could illustrate his humour better than Louie herself, and I am beyond thrilled to bring such talent to the Walker list.”