Bear necessity for Jungle celebration

Macmillan Children’s books (MCB) is marking the 150th anniversary of Rudyard Kipling’s birth with a spate of Jungle Book publishing, including a new novel by Bear Grylls: Spirit of the Jungle, a 10+ novel with “survival tips”, which was inspired by The Jungle Book, which Macmillan first published in 1894.

The deal for world English-language rights was sealed between Caroline Michel at PFD, and Venetia Gosling, over-6s publisher at MCB, which will publish in October.

Other plans to commemorate Kipling this year include new Jungle Book and Just So Stories logos, and a Jungle Book colouring title. MCB is also bringing two Kipling novels— Puck of Pook’s Hill and Rewards and Fairies—back into print, and is planning a Jungle Book partnership with the Scout Association.

Gosling said: “We are relishing exploring our archive and we felt this [milestone] was the opportunity to do something different with the Macmillan edition, bringing it to a new generation.”