Andersen banks on Luna eclipse

Andersen Press has signed performance poet Joseph Coelho [pictured] and illustrator newcomer Fiona Lumbers’ “love letter to libraries”, Luna Loves Library Day, in which the titular character explores the “magic, mystery and history” of books.

Libby Hamilton, Andersen Press’ picture books editorial director, bought world rights from Felicity Trew at Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency, with United Agents’ Jodie Hodges acting on behalf of Lumbers.

Coelho, who has toured with performance poetry troupe Apples and Snakes and has been the guest poet on CBeebies’ “Rhyme Rocket”, won the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education Poetry Award with his 2014 poetry collection Werewolf Club Rules (Frances Lincoln).

Lumbers, a graduate of the Royal College of Art, has also illustrated I Like Bees, I Don’t Like Honey, which Faber will issue in July. Luna... will be issued in October.

Hamilton said: “When I heard [Coelho] perform, he made me think of the poets who lit a fire in me as a kid... I just knew he had the heart of a picture book author. [The duo] make for a rare, pitch- perfect collaboration.”