McLaughlin joins Collins for secret agent picture book

Hachette Children’s Group imprint Orchard Books will next year publish a picture book about a secret agent elephant by author Eoin McLaughlin and illustrator Ross Collins.

Secret Agent Elephant is a clumsy super-spy who has to find to find evil mastermind Vincent le Morte and stop him from destroying the world. Will Elephant be successful in his task – or will he get distracted by mini pizzas along the way?

Senior commissioning editor Emily Lamm signed world rights from James Catchpole of The Catchpole Agency (acting on behalf of the author) and Eunice McMullen of Eunice McMullen Limited (acting for the illustrator).

Lamm said: “This book really has it all: humour, fast-paced action, mini pizzas ... No reader will be able to forget Eoin McLaughlin’s gloriously useless Elephant, brought to life with such flair by the inimitable Ross Collins.”

Publication is set for July next year.