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Hachette Children’s Group has acquired a new series by the multi-million-selling author and illustrator of How to Train Your Dragon (Hodder Children’s), Waterstones Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell.
Ruth Alltimes, senior trade publisher at Hachette Children’s Group, acquired world rights (excluding North America) in two books from Caroline Walsh of David Higham Associates, with the first book, Which Way to Anywhere, scheduled to publish on 15th September 2022.
HCG describes Which Way to Anywhere as an out-of-this-world new adventure series about thoroughly modern magic, unlikely heroes, the meaning of family and how those who seem like they’re worlds apart might just be more similar than they think.
Alltimes said: “Cressida is a worldwide publishing phenomenon, and we are incredibly excited to introduce her new series.
“Which Way to Anywhere is a masterclass in writing for children: a superb piece of immersive storytelling, an out-of-this-world escapade, and a whole family of characters that readers will love to adventure alongside.
“Cressida’s work always combines compulsively readable stories and her gorgeous artwork, with clever exploration of meaningful themes – and Which Way to Anywhere may be her best book yet! It’s a heartfelt, funny, action-packed story that I know will resonate with children globally.’
Cowell has sold more than 11 million books worldwide in 42 languages, with her phenomenon How to Train Your Dragon also an Academy Award-nominated billion-dollar DreamWorks film series, and a TV series available on Netflix and CBBC. The Wizards of Once (Hodder Children’s) has also been optioned for film by DreamWorks.
Cowell said she wrote the first lines of Which Way to Anywhere “a long, long time ago”, before starting How to Train Your Dragon.
“It’s been living and growing with me all that time, for this is a big story, set in not just one world but many, about not just one person, but an entire family, and it needed time to develop,” she said.
“Twenty-five years that story lay quiet in my shed, waiting for the right time. This is a story written with love, and heart, most of all, hope. I hope it’s out of this world and I hope it asks some questions, and I hope it answers some questions, and I hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I did writing it. I’m delighted to work with HCG again and to introduce it to readers this autumn.”