HCG snaps up nature poetry anthology

Hachette Children's Group will publish Poems from a Green and Blue Planet, a uniquely inclusive anthology of poetry from around the world, on National Poetry Day 2019.

The deal, for world English language, was negotiated by Lily Morgan, commissioning editor at HCG, with Becky Thomas at Johnson and Alcock. 

The collection, edited by Sabrina Mahfouz (pictured), will publish on 3rd October 2019, which is National Poetry Day in the UK. It will publish in hardback and priced at £14.99, with cover artwork and black and white illustrations by Aaron Cushley.

Poems from a Green and Blue Planet "aims to celebrate its rich diversity – both human and cultural diversity, as well as the diversity of the natural world" said HCG. "Championing the voices of poets from less represented cultures alongside well-loved classics, and arranged around themes inspired by the eight elements of nature, the collection offers a gentle plea for us to protect our planet. With new poems by Raymond Antrobus, Kate Tempest, Mona Arshi, Dean Atta and Hollie McNish, as well as from Sabrina Mahfouz herself, this promises to be a key gift poetry title for Christmas 2019."

Morgan, commissioning editor at HGC said: “We’re honoured to be working with the hugely talented poet, playwright and all-round creative powerhouse Sabrina Mahfouz and to support her in her quest to roam every inch of our green and blue (and sand-yellow, and snow-white, and mud-red) planet in search of poets, past and present, well-known and never before heard, to bring to life their world and celebrate our planet’s beauty and diversity. This substantial hardback anthology will be a treasure for all the family to enjoy, and an exciting addition to Hachette Children’s expanding poetry list.”

Mahfouz added: “I am so thrilled to be working with Hachette Children's on this planet-hopping poetry book of epic proportions! This anthology will encourage children (and adults) to see the poetry in everything around us - human- made or a force of nature. Coming from a very mixed heritage, much of my life has been spent travelling place to place, relatives to relatives - finding joy in so many different cultures and landscapes. To be able to do this in the name of poetry and hopefully pass some of that joy on to young readers feels like a dream come true.”