Macmillan Children’s Books snaps up Esiri’s new poetry anthology for young readers 

Macmillan Children’s Books has signed a new poetry anthology from Allie Esiri, A Nursery Rhyme for Every Night of the Year.

Gaby Morgan, associate publisher, acquired world English Language rights, excluding US and Canada, from Clare Conville at Conville & Walsh.

The title will be supported by major marketing and publicity campaigns across consumer and trade channels and publish in March 2023 in jacketed hardback, audio and e-book formats.

The publisher says that with “enchanting black and white line illustration” and “a stunning foiled cover” by artist and map-maker Emily Faccini, the “definitive” collection of 366 nursery rhymes will make a “beautiful gift book, perfect as a new baby, christening or birthday present for pre-schoolers".

It continues that in the collection, traditional classics sit alongside contemporary rhymes by the likes of Giles Andreae, Floella Benjamin, Rod Campbell, Julia Donaldson and Brian Bilston.

Each month includes rhymes on different themes, providing talking points for older children too. For example, January will cover winter themes; February is love, pancake day and leap year; March will be spring and International Women’s Day; July will herald summer; September will mean ABCs and starting school; and December will be a "wonderful collection of festive rhymes".

The synopsis continues: “Allie Esiri’s daily introductions teach families the significance of the nursery rhyme and offer historical facts, answers to riddles, helpful instructions for the action rhymes, football fans’ playful variants and much more. The day-to-day format of the anthology invites families to dip in daily and share a nursery rhyme every day – or night – of the year.”

Esiri’s previous books, also published by Macmillan, include A Poem for Every Night of the Year, A Poem for Every Day of the Year, Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year, and A Poet for Every Day of the Year.

Morgan said: “I am absolutely delighted to be working with Allie on this unique book for families. Allie is a respected and trusted name in poetry, her sales figures are testament to how many people she has reached, and I am truly thrilled that she is introducing poetry for the very youngest readers. Nursery rhymes are such an important part of literature and we rely on families knowing them and passing them on down the ages. This book is also a Proustian madeleine and will take grown-ups back in time with rhymes they haven’t heard since they were small children.”

Esiri added: “Nursery rhymes are a thing of wonder—and our love of sharing stories starts here. Part of the oral tradition of poetry, they have travelled across time, traditionally sung within a family or in a market square by a balladeer to a population that would have been largely illiterate, just as we are when first hearing them, at the age before we can read, write, or even talk.

“When my children were little, I’d often reach in my head for a rhyme, desperate to entertain or soothe and found there were so many whose words I had forgotten. I hope readers who want to perpetuate the tradition of passing on nursery rhymes, or are just looking for something diverting to share, find this a useful and fun book.”

Belinda Ioni Rasmussen, m.d. at Macmillan Children’s Books, also commented: “Our award-winning children’s poetry list celebrates 30 fantastic years next year. We are proud to have published hundreds of engaging poetry books and have reached millions of children in that time. We are particularly delighted to be publishing Allie’s brilliant new book in our anniversary year.

“Allie makes poetry accessible to everyone in a way that no one else can and we are thrilled that the youngest children will now be able to enjoy her anthologies. Her nursery rhymes collection is a book to treasure and will embed a love of literature and verse from the youngest age.”