Jacqueline Wilson's sequel to her classic novel Sleepovers announced by Puffin

Puffin are set to publish Jacqueline Wilson’s sequel to her novel Sleepovers, which was published 22 years ago. 

The Best Sleepover in the World will be aimed at readers aged seven and up and illustrated in black-and-white throughout by Rachael Dean. Kelly Hurst, editorial director at Puffin, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights for the title from Caroline Walsh at David Higham. It will be published on 17th August 2023.

Sleepovers was first published in 2001, with illustrations by Nick Sharratt, and featured Daisy, the new girl at school who was desperate to fit in with her new friends in the Alphabet Club.

According to the publisher, for the last five years Sleepovers has been a bestselling Jacqueline Wilson title and has since publication sold almost half a million copies. The continued interest in the novel “prompted Wilson to revisit the story and write this brand-new sequel about Daisy and her sister, Lily.”

Wilson said: “I’ve always been touched that so many young women have told me that Sleepovers was their favourite out of all my stories, and that it was their comfort book as they got older. I’ve often wondered what happened to Daisy and her non-verbal sister, Lily. At long last I’ve written a sequel, The Best Sleepover in The World, so we can all find out – and see how Lily comes into her own.”

Hurst commented: “I always recommend Sleepovers as the ideal ‘first’ Jacqueline Wilson book, and it’s wonderful to see how Jacqueline captures perfectly the real-life joys and woes of friends and sisters in this sequel. We are pleased to have worked with Jacqueline and with Disability Rights UK on this story to ensure that Lily’s story is told with positive and joyful representation at its heart.”