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Hachette Children's acquires Dr James Greenwood's debut children’s book
Hachette Children’s Group has acquired rights to vet Dr James Greenwood’s debut children’s book. The title will publish under non-fiction imprint Wren & Rook. The book will be illustrated by Jack Viant. Jonny Leighton, senior editor at Wren & Rook, acquired rights to How to Talk to Your Pet …and Other Animals from Rosemary Scoular at United Agents and with The Bright Agency for Viant. It will publish in paperback and e-book on 10th April 2025.
The synopsis reads: "For all kids who wish they could talk to the animals, what will your pet say to you? Find out how to understand the animals you see every day in this super cool, terrifically talkative—and sometimes a little bit silly—book about how to talk to the world’s best pets, from animal expert and much-loved vet James Greenwood."
Greenwood is a practising animal vet in Bristol, has appeared on BAFTA-nominated children’s show "The Pets Factor" (True North, series 1-8) on CBBC and the documentary-series "Fur Babies" on Channel 4 and is the resident vet on BBC’s "Morning Live".
Greenwood said: “I get asked a lot by my younger audience: ‘What is it like working as a vet?’ The truth is it is smelly, loud, busy, calamitous, there’s blood guts and gore as well as poo, wee, smelly bottoms, sharp claws and flapping wings. But, of course, there’s also lots of animals! Every day, I spend my life in the company of animals.
"I have learnt so much from observing, reading and interacting with my pet patients—and I suppose I have developed a kind of ‘sixth sense’ in understanding their mood, their feelings, their happiness or worries—and this is what I would love to pass on to our younger readers. I want to teach them how to talk to animals, teach them the secret language of pets, that any one of us can learn. All we have to do is spot clues, open our eyes and our ears, look for patterns in their behaviour and we can begin to tune into to our pets’ feelings.”
Leighton said: “We are thrilled to be working with James on his debut book for children. His warmth, depth of knowledge and love for animals leap off the page, and we know that younger readers will be fascinated by the prospect of understanding their pets’ behaviour and talking back to them, too.”
