Macmillan Children's Books signs four-book deal with Ayres

Macmillan Children’s Books has signed a four-book deal with comedian and presenter Pam Ayres and illustrator Nicola O’Byrne, winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2014.

Associate publisher Penny Morris acquired world rights in all languages from Vivien Green at Sheil Land Associates. Illustration rights were acquired from Arabella Stein at The Bright Agency. I am Oliver the Otter, the first book in the deal, will be published in hardback in spring 2023. The second, I am Emily the Owl, will follow after. Books three and four are as yet untitled. Each title will be supported by a "major" PR and marketing campaign coupled with festival appearances.

"I am really thrilled to be working with Pam on these wonderful books," said Morris. "I’ve long been an admirer of Pam’s writing so it’s a great pleasure to have the chance to work with her. Pam’s love for wildlife comes through so clearly in these stories about the fascinating and beautiful creatures that share our world. Her writing is as engaging as ever and young children and families will love these new stories. Nicola’s breath-taking and natural illustrations bring the world for each animal to life perfectly.”

The four "poetic" picture books will champion themes of conservation and the importance of protecting our environment. The final spread of each book will include facts about the animals featured, helping children to learn more about them and their habitats. The publisher wrote: "Pam’s verses are perfect for reading aloud to an audience of young children (and all other ages too) and the stories are funny, warm and informative."

Managing director Stephanie Barton commented: “Pam has such a talent for storytelling and her distinctive voice runs through her picture book texts. Each of them invites her young readers to emotionally connect with an animal which a child gets to know as the story progresses. These books are a winning combination of learning about the natural world through story and tap into the ever increasing desire to care for the natural world around us. We are very proud to publish them." 

Ayres said: "Wildlife has mattered strongly to me since I was very small and I have always tried to help wild creatures although I now suspect that my early, uninformed efforts did more harm than good. I vividly remember my childhood bafflement and despair that a sick pet cat or dog could be treated by a vet, but such help was denied to injured hedgehogs, rabbits or birds just because they were wild. People are far better informed nowadays. It seems to me that all hope for the future rests in our children, in them being attracted to, and interested in, the linked chain of creatures which form our spectacular but declining wildlife. What I love about these books is that I have been asked to write about wild creatures in their natural habitat. Here are otters and owls, hares and dormice all in their special environments and going about their proper business. I hope that my words and these inspired and exquisite  illustrations will help young children to love and want to protect our intricate, interlocking and beautiful wildlife.”