Little Tiger moves on Ahmed’s new middle grade series The Time Travellers

Little Tiger has acquired Sufiya Ahmed’s new series about a trio of classmates who are transported back to some of the biggest events of the past.  

Mattie Whitehead, senior editor at Little Tiger, acquired world rights in all languages for two titles in the Time Travellers series from Sophie Gorell Barnes at MBA. The first book, as yet untitled, will be published next February; the follow-up is scheduled for autumn 2024.

The first book, for readers aged eight and above, begins with Suhana, Mia and Ayaan on a school trip to the Houses of Parliament. They are meant to work together, but it is not going well; they are not friends. Suddenly, the trio find themselves in 1911 amidst women’s suffrage demonstrations. Suhana wants to learn more, but Mia and Ayaan are anxious to get back. Then they lose each other—will they be able to get back to the present, without changing the course of history forever?

Former advertising exec and House of Commons staffer Ahmed’s début was 2012’s Secrets of the Henna Girl. She has written several history-themed titles since, including Rosie Rajah: Churchill’s Spy and My Story: Noor-un-Nissa Inayat Khan. She is also in the midst of a four-book deal to write new Famous Five stories for the Enid Blyton estate and Hachette Children’s.    

Ahmed said: “The Time Travellers think they know it all when it comes to British history, but the reality they encounter in the past has them questioning everything. I feel passionately about our shared British history and Suhana, Mia and Ayaan make it their mission to bring it to light.”