HarperCollins Children's Books unveils 'hugely ambitious' new title from Jeffers

HarperCollins Children’s Books has unveiled a "hugely ambitious" new title from Oliver Jeffers. 

Ann-Janine Murtagh, executive publisher, acquired UK and Commonwealth, Europe and translation rights in all languages to Meanwhile Back on Earth from Paul Moreton at Bell Lomax Moreton. It will publish in hardback on 4th October priced at £16.99 and will sit alongside his HarperCollins hits Here We Are and What We’ll Build. 

Meanwhile Back on Earth explores the universe by bringing us on a journey through time as a father takes his two squabbling children into space, inviting them to take a look back at Earth and the conflicts that have taken place since the beginning of time. The father hopes this will show his children that what binds us together matters more than what might set us apart. 

The book was inspired by a new art installation, "Our Place in Space", set to launch in the UK in 2022. A collaboration between Jeffers, astrophysicist Professor Stephen Smartt, the Nerve Centre and creative partners has led to the commissioning of the installation, an epic scale model of the solar system. This immense 10km sculpture trail will be installed for the public to explore in Northern Ireland and Cambridge and is part of the "Unboxed" programme funded by the UK government, which is designed to celebrate innovation and creativity across the UK. 

Jeffers said: "Anyone who has undertaken a long road trip with small children in the back seat (who don’t necessarily agree with each other), shouldn’t have difficulty making the leap to seeing how these small interactions about space and identity can easily play the analogy for how our larger society seems to have (dis)functioned for a very long time. They also, I hope, will remember that despite whatever tempers were flared, there’s nothing quite like returning to the safety of home, and how that small act in itself provides perspective." 

Murtagh added: "Oliver is a zeitgeist creative whose vision on the world inspires young and old across the globe. In his profound new picture book, Meanwhile Back on Earth, he explores the universe and brings us back to Earth with an extraordinary cosmic perspective on peace; calling out for the triumph of love over hate and with hope for the future. His words and pictures offer wisdom and love to inspire children that a tender heart and the beauty of art can make a difference. We feel enormously privileged to publish this book, and its creator, Oliver Jeffers, who brings good to the world in everything he does."

Jeffers’ work was first discovered in a pile of unsolicited manuscripts and was first published by HCCB in 2004 with How to Catch a Star. Since then, HCCB says his books have gone on to sell 12 million copies in 47 territories worldwide. Through Nielsen BookScan in the UK, books he has authored have sold 1.7 million copies for £11.34m.

His books have been number one on The New York Times bestseller list on multiple occasions and have won numerous awards, including the Nestlé Gold Medal for Lost and Found. 

Lost and Found was also animated for film by Studio AKA and won a Bafta for Best Animation. In 2020, Here We Are was also made into an animated film for Apple TV+, narrated by Meryl Streep, and won an Emmy for Outstanding Special Class Daytime Animated Programme.