Hachette Children’s scoops toolkit for young people by ‘powerhouse’ Syed 

Hachette Children’s Group (HCG) has signed a new children’s non-fiction title from Matthew Syed, author of You Are Awesome (Wren & Rook), called What Do You Think?

Ruth Alltimes, senior group publisher, acquired world rights from Jonny Geller and Viola Hayden at Curtis Brown, for publication on 27th October 2022. What Do You Think? was written with Kathy Weeks, author of the Harper Drew series (Hodder Children’s).

The publisher says the new title aims to give readers the tools they need to form their own opinions, communicate with confidence and kindness, and seeks to teach them how to agree to disagree while still being friends.

It is the third children’s non-fiction book from the Times journalist, two-time Olympian and author Syed. According to HCG, his 2018 first book for children, You Are Awesome, has to date sold 800,000 copies globally across 25 languages.

He said: “I wanted to write a positive and empowering toolkit to help young people find their voice and speak up with confidence and kindness in an era of increasingly outspoken opinions.

“In What Do You Think?, I want readers to understand what is influencing their ideas, from peer pressure to Fake News, and how to form and change opinions, including their own. I also want to equip them with essential skills, such as how to debate with those they disagree with, and how to communicate well. We need the next generation to grow into critically thinking, intelligent adults."

Alltimes said: “We are so delighted to have a new book coming from the non-fiction author powerhouse that is Matthew Syed. Just as You Are Awesome was a book of its time in 2019, What Do You Think? is the book every carer, child and schoolteacher is crying out for in a shouty world, encouraging readers to find their voice—and use it constructively, kindly and powerfully. We couldn’t be prouder to have this book coming on our list this autumn.”