Macmillan lands new children’s series from Smith

Macmillan Children’s Books has acquired the rights to Astrid and the Space Cadets, a new young middle grade series from Alex T Smith, the illustrator-author of How Winston Delivered Christmas, The Grumpus and the Claude books. The publisher also bought Smith’s retelling of The Nutcracker for publication this year.  

World rights in all languages for both projects were acquired by Gaby Morgan, associate publisher, and Cate Augustin, senior commissioning editor, Macmillan Children’s Books, from Tamlyn Francis at Arena Illustration. 

Astrid and the Space Cadets will be highly illustrated chapter books with black and white illustrations. Published in paperback, aimed at Smith’s core audience of children aged six plus, each story follows the adventures of Astrid Atomic and her three alien friends. 

The synopsis reads: “Star of the Space Cadets is Astrid Atomic, a six-year-old human who goes to bed every night like every other six-year-old human. But unlike many other six-year-olds she doesn’t stay there. The minute the lights are off and the coast is clear the Space Cadet siren goes off, her uniform goes on, and whoosh! – she blasts off on board the spaceship ’Stardust’. Once there, she and her three unlikely alien pals are given a mission to complete by The Chief. They travel across far flung galaxies, the Milky Way, through black holes, visit planets known and unknown, on their adventures.” 

The first title in the series will publish in spring 2024, with the next books following at six month intervals.  

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King’s Shenanigans will be illustrated throughout in full colour, with drawings inspired by the early 20th illustrated covers for Harper’s Bazaar and the film "Meet Me In St Louis". Publication in October 2023 will be backed by a wide-reaching marketing and PR campaign, following on from the success of The Grumpus, How Winston Delivered Christmas, How Winston Came Home for Christmas and The Twelve Days of Christmas. 

Augustin said: “It’s inspirational having creative genius Alex T Smith on our list, and we are truly thrilled to have a new Christmas story from Alex for this year, as well as a major new young middle-grade series. We couldn’t be more excited for everyone to enjoy his unique take on The Nutcracker and meet smart go-getter Astrid and her brilliant intergalactic gang.” 

Smith added: “It’s been an absolute joy to work with the fantastic team at Macmillan Children’s Books these past few years on my Christmas titles. Their expertise and enthusiasm has been a huge part of the success of the festive books, so I’m thrilled to continue working with them on year-round publishing, and to have a new Christmas story to launch this year. Astrid’s stories have been living in my head for a long time and I’m very excited for everyone to finally meet her and the bonkers Space Cadets gang, and join them on their intergalactic adventures. I’m counting down to the series blasting off in 2024.”