Dr Alex George’s début for children scooped by Hachette

Hachette Children’s Group has secured A Better Day, a mental wellness handbook designed to help children aged 10 and over with their mental health, from Dr Alex George. 

Editorial director of Wren & Rook Laura Horsley acquired world rights from Carly Cook and Harry Grenville at The Found. It will be published in paperback on 15th September 2022 with illustrations by The Boy Fitz Hammond from NB Illustration. Publication will supported by school events and festival appearances.  

George is an A&E doctor and youth mental health ambassador. He has become known for his honesty and insight around mental and sexual health, using his platforms to make health and medicine accessible to everyone.  

This will be his début book for children, having previously published Live Well Every Day (Octopus). A Better Day is filled with honest advice and real stories, along with practical techniques to help children deal with everything from peer pressure, online behaviour, exam stress and anxiety.  

“We are delighted to be working with Dr Alex on his début children’s book. A Better Day takes a refreshingly positive, optimistic, accessible and practical approach to mental health – and is sure to make a difference to the lives of readers across the UK and beyond,” Horsley commented. “Alex has been a tireless mental health campaigner and in his role as youth mental health ambassador has made it his mission to make mental health education compulsory in schools. This book is a natural and fantastic next step in the incredible work he is doing.”  

George said: “We all have mental health to take care of. I believe the key to long-lasting change is children talking openly about their emotions and feelings before they reach any kind of crisis point. My mission as youth mental health ambassador is to help young people manage their own wellbeing and I am delighted to be publishing A Better Day, a book I hope will be a go-to for any child struggling to understand why they feel the way they do. 

“Growing up is hard: exam stress, relationships, bullying, the world of social media – there’s a lot to deal with. Concentrating on the positive things kids can do for themselves, I hope A Better Day will help every child build a mental resilience and unique toolkit for life so that they always feel hopeful.”