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Little Island scores picture books from rugby 'legend' Gordon D'Arcy and Paul Howard
Little Island has scored Let’s Play Rugby!, a picture book by Irish rugby "legend" Gordon D’Arcy and author Paul Howard with illustrations by Ashwin Chacko.
Publisher Matthew Parkinson-Bennett acquired world rights in all languages directly from the authors for publication in February 2025, to coincide with the Six Nations Championship.
"When Gordon and Paul came to us with this concept we immediately saw the brilliance of it," said Parkinson-Bennett. "It uses the form of the picture book so creatively to engage the young reader while getting them moving and active as well. Ashwin’s bright and kinetic illustration style is the perfect fit."
Let’s Play Rugby! "puts the reader in the boots of a young player navigating a rugby match, inviting them to throw the book over their head for a line-out, push against the opposition pack in the scrum, and weave their finger through players to score a try".
D’Arcy said: "With three young kids I’ve covered the whole spectrum of children’s books, and I love sitting down to read with them whenever I can. I felt there was an opportunity to mix the energy of sport with the incredible imagination of younger children in a really fun way. A quick chat with Paul and I knew we were off again. Let’s Play Rugby! will create plenty of fun moments for families all around the world. Ashwin has been amazing in bringing my vision to life."
Howard added: "I’m delighted that Gordon asked me to be involved in this project, especially after working with him on the Gordon’s Game series. I really loved his idea for a book aimed at a younger audience that would teach them the basics of rugby while also keeping the reader active—running, jumping and kicking. It’s the kind of book that I would have loved to have had as a sports-mad child. I’m a huge fan of Ashwin’s work, too, so I’m thrilled to get to work with him."
D’Arcy is a retired Irish rugby player who won two Six Nations medals with Ireland, three Heineken Cups with Leinster and toured with the British and Irish Lions. D’Arcy and Howard have also collaborated on the Gordon’s Game trilogy, published by Penguin.
