Farshore reissues Julia Donaldson's Follow the Swallow

Farshore is reissuing Julia Donaldson’s classic picture book, Follow the Swallow, in June 2025, illustrated by Thomas Docherty, 25 years after it was first published

Emily Lamm, editorial director at Farshore, brokered the release with Caroline Sheldon, agent at RCW Literary Agency, and signed world rights with Millie van Grutten at RCW Literary Agency for new illustrations from Thomas Docherty. Follow the Swallow will be published in paperback on 5 June 2025, aimed at ages three and above.

The book was first published by HarperCollins in 2000.

Farshore said: "Feathered friends Chack, a young blackbird, and Apollo, a young swallow, don’t always believe each other. Chack doesn’t believe Apollo when he tells him he will be flying to Africa, and Apollo doesn’t believe Chack when he tells him about how the blossom on his favourite tree will eventually turn into berries. But with a change in season, both birds are in for a surprise.

"With themes of migration, seasonal change and friendship running alongside Julia’s trademark heart and humour, this delightful, feathery comedy of errors is the perfect book for every season. Brand-new, fun-filled illustrations by Thomas Docherty, the illustrator behind the critically acclaimed, award-winning The Hare-Shaped Hole, bring this dazzling new edition to life."

Lamm said: "Thomas has beautifully captured the fun and mischief of Julia’s characters. We can’t wait for a new generation of readers to meet Chack and Apollo, and discover the changing seasons through their eyes."

Docherty said: "It has been such a pleasure to work on this wonderful picture book by Julia Donaldson and quite literally give her beautiful story new wings."

Donaldson is the internationally renowned author of some of the best-loved picture books  with her books selling tens of millions of copies, and several of her books being adapted into treasured animated films. She was the Waterstones Children’s Laureate from 2011-2013 and was awarded a CBE for services to literature in 2019. In 2023, Julia was named the UK’s top-selling author for the fourth year running.