Knights Of expands illustrated early reader list with new acquisition from Chawdhary

British Book Award-winning Children’s Publisher of the Year Knights Of is expanding its illustrated early reader list with a new acquisition from author-illustrator Sunita Chawdhary. 

Eishar Brar, editorial director, secured world rights to Mind and Me via Lucy Irvine at Peters Fraser + Dunlop. The illustrated early reader will be published in B-format paperback in March 2023. 

Mind and Me follows Maya, a young British-Indian girl, as she tries to solve the mystery of her missing rabbit with the help (and hindrance) of her active and noisy Mind. The publisher said: “Mind is depicted as a separate entity and character to Maya, with the dynamic between the two offering a unique and engaging exploration of mindfulness perfectly pitched for children aged five to seven. Funny, and with heaps of heart, this is a delightful story for younger readers accompanied by beautiful and dynamic illustrations.” 

Knights Of published their first early reader in spring 2022; The Boy Who Grew a Tree written by Waterstones and Blue Peter Book Awards-shortlisted author, Polly Ho-Yen, and illustrated by Sojung Kim-McCarthy, was recently shortlisted for the Teach Primary Awards. This new acquisition marks a commitment from the publisher to expand its young fiction list, with further titles planned for 2023 and beyond. 

Brar said: “We are overjoyed to be expanding our publishing for younger readers, and to welcome Sunita to the KO list. She is an extraordinarily talented author and illustrator, and I know her huge imagination will inspire equal amounts of creativity in children as they laugh, play, and feel with Maya and her Mind. 

Chawdhary added: “Mind and Me celebrates the mind in all its magnificence (and its mischiefs)! Knights Of is the perfect home for this story and I feel incredibly lucky to work with such a stellar team. I hope that this book will inspire young readers to explore their minds and discover the power and magic of their own imaginations. I’ve loved getting to know Maya and Mind, and can’t wait for everyone else to meet them too!”