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Magic Cat to publish illustrated children's book from Benjamin Zephaniah
Magic Cat, an independent children’s book publisher, has acquired the rights to Benjamin Zephaniah’s children’s picture book, Leave the Trees, Please, which will publish on his birthday in April 2025. The book will be illustrated by Melissa Castrillón. Katie Cotton, picture book publisher of Magic Cat, acquired world rights to the text from Jodie Hodges at United Agents and the illustrations from Helen Boyle at Pickled Ink.
Publishing posthumously, Leave the Trees, Please is Zephaniah’s legacy which reflects "his love of nature and his belief that all living things on Earth deserve equal protection and should live in harmony". Zephaniah died in December 2023.
His wife Qian Zephaniah said: "‘Forward ever, backward never’—this was what Benjamin would always say. Even though he is no longer with us, life moves forward and carries on through his new books being published, like this one."
Jenny Broom, co-founder of Magic Cat, said: "Benjamin described himself as a ‘poet first and an activist second’. It’s our great privilege to publish this book, which so perfectly encapsulates the inspiring legacy he leaves."
