Bloomsbury Children’s acquires illustrated series by Beccy Blake, Catherine Doyle and Tom Percival

Bloomsbury Children’s has acquired three new illustrated funny fiction series, including a "hilarious, highly commercial" graphic-novel debut from UK author and illustrator Beccy Blake, as well as new directions for Bloomsbury authors Catherine Doyle and Tom Percival.

According to the publisher, the new acquisitions reflect its strategy to "put accessibility at the heart of Bloomsbury’s publishing for children as a response to emerging data about falling rates of reading for pleasure and literacy". This issue was discussed by publishing director and editor-in-chief Rebecca McNally in her keynote speech at The Bookseller Children’s Conference, which saw the launch of an open letter calling on the Prime Minister to address the falling rates of reading for pleasure among children.

A superlead acquisition for Bloomsbury Children’s heading into Frankfurt Book Fair, publishing in February 2026, is Chicken Hill: Attack of the Zombie Cactus, a full-colour, middle-grade graphic novel from UK debut author and illustrator Blake. World rights in three adventure books were acquired in a pre-empt by commissioning editor Eleanor Willis from Gill McLay at the Bath Literary Agency. "When I saw early material for Chicken Hill, I knew this was something very, very special," the commissioning editor said. "Working with Beccy to develop the series into hilarious, accessible and brilliantly madcap adventure stories has been a dream commission."

Meanwhile, publishing in February 2025, Squirrel and Duck: Mission Improbable is the first book in a black-and-white illustrated fiction series by Tom Percival. Editorial director Alex Antscherl bought world rights to the three-book series from Mandy Suhr at StoryWise, with Invasion of the Doggy-Snatchers and Quack to the Future publishing in August 2025 and March 2026 respectively.

Antscherl said: "Squirrel and Duck are two of the most hilariously incompatible yet devoted best friends I’ve ever read. Their hugely entertaining adventures and Tom’s fantastically expressive artwork are a joy."

Percival added: "Squirrel and Duck didn’t really develop as characters, or grow slowly from an initial idea—they just started knocking on a door in my subconscious one day, fully formed and DEMANDING to be let in. I’m incredibly happy that it’s Bloomsbury who has chosen to help these two scruffy, mismatched friends find their place in the world."

Meanwhile, publisher Ellen Holgate acquired world rights to the text in a highly illustrated series by Catherine Doyle from Claire Wilson at RCW, and illustrations by James Rey Sanchez from Alex Gehringer at The Bright Agency. "Publishing in July 2025, Scare B’n’B is a step change from Doyle’s previous lush, middle-grade fantasy, but with all the hallmarks of her trademark humour and heart," the synopsis reads.

Holgate added: "Writing funny series fiction is the perfect way to introduce Catherine Doyle’s brilliant writing to a younger audience. Her stories are full of snort-out-loud, joyful havoc, and this is the series every nine-year-old will be asking for and passing on to their friends."

Doyle added: "I can’t wait to welcome readers to the grand opening of the Tartarus Hotel, and introduce the very dead, very dramatic duke and his not-so-merry band of disgruntled ghosts."

Children’s rights director Barney Duly commented: "Any new project from Tom Percival is hotly anticipated, but Squirrel and Duck gives us entirely new ways to appreciate his humour and unmistakeable illustration style. Catherine Doyle has fans across the globe, and her hilarious foray into the spooky world of ghosts will showcase her versatility and talent to a new generation of fun-loving readers. And what a treat to take the gang from Chicken Hill global! Beccy Blake is a thrilling new talent to bolster Bloomsbury’s burgeoning graphic novel list."