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Andersen Press swoops for Wilson and Woodgate’s ‘exquisite’ picture book
Andersen Press has swooped for Shine Like the Stars, a “beautiful and poetic” picture book from Anna Wilson and illustrator Harry Woodgate.
Editorial director Sue Buswell acquired world rights from Hilary Delamere at The Agency. The book will be published in January 2023.
Told from the perspective of the natural world, Shine Like the Stars is an “exquisite and thought-provoking” story that invites readers to connect with the world and achieve their potential. An excerpt reads: “You are part of this earth. You grow like the seed. You shine like the stars. We are all connected to the natural world, and it is connected to us. And just as the stars shine brightly in the night sky, so can you.”
Wilson commented: “A few winters ago I was struggling with grief. I went down to the sea every day and found I was drawing comfort from the rhythm of the tides. It got me thinking about the reassuring patterns we can find in nature – and how our human lives fit into these patterns, and this is how Shine Like the Stars was conceived. I believe that now more than ever we need to show our children the healing power of nature. I hope that everyone, big or small, might feel soothed and reassured when they read Shine Like the Stars.”
Buswell said: “We are delighted to welcome Anna Wilson to the Andersen picture book list. As a writer for children for more than 20 years, Anna has always been interested in the connection between engaging with the natural world and the benefits that has on general health and well-being, particularly for children. Shine Like the Stars shows the child being taken out of the moment, out of their own worries and moods and realising that there is a whole, awe-inspiring universe out there that is bigger and more wonderful than our small existence.”
“It was an easy and immediate choice to pair Anna with Harry Woodgate, whose sensitive, evocative landscapes and their own deep bond with nature produced the perfect partnership where beautiful, atmospheric works of art so perfectly enhance the rich, poetic language.”
Woodgate added: “When I first read the text I was so drawn to Anna’s beautiful, lyrical writing style. There’s such a sense of calmness, as well as a sense of wonder. It’s so clear it comes from a place of deep care and knowledge. It presented a really exciting opportunity for me as an illustrator to get stuck into creating some really beautiful, expansive illustrations; looking at all these different environments, from seaside scenes, to cityscapes, forests, rainforests and everything in between.”
