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Oxford University Press alongside the LGBTQ+ charity Just Like Us will publish “heart-warming” and “magical” picture book The Marvellous Doctors for Magical Creatures by author Jodie Lancet-Grant and illustrator Lydia Corry.
Oxford University Press acquired world rights to The Pirate Mums and The Marvellous Doctors for Magical Creatures by Lancet-Grant in a two-book deal, at auction, from Anwen Hooson at The Bird Literary Agency. Rights to Corry’s illustrations were negotiated with Claire Cartey at Holroyde Cartey Ltd.
The picture book follows a little girl called Ava and her two dads, who are the first port of call for dragons with sore throats, sneezy centaurs and fairies with injured wings. The blurb explains: "Ava’s not a doctor quite yet, but she loves helping out. When her dads can’t work out what’s behind Glitterbug the unicorn’s tummy aches, Ava decides to investigate – and makes a new friend in the process."
The book will be published in collaboration with Just Like Us, including classroom packs to equip primary schools and teachers with resources and activities to promote LGBTQ+ representation. Alongside this, a nationwide competition will be held giving schools the opportunity to win an event with Lancet-Grant during School Diversity Week, which runs from 20th to 24th June 2022.
Commissioning editor Katie Haworth commented: “Not only does Jodie include incidental representation of same-sex families in a meaningful way, but she also looks at the theme of anxiety, and how worry might manifest itself without us necessarily being aware. Central to the book is the importance of friendship and being yourself, an incredibly important and valuable message for all children.”
Dominic Arnall, chief executive of Just Like Us, said: "Growing up, it’s vital that books you read represent the diversity of the world around you. With many children growing up with same-sex parents or LGBT+ people in their families generally, it’s fantastic that books like Jodie’s are helping to bring much-needed representation and we can’t wait to celebrate this School Diversity Week with primary schools across the UK who can sign up to take part for free.”
Lancet-Grant added: “Last year was a stellar year for books with LGBTQ+ content aimed at younger children, and I’m committed to keeping that momentum going with The Marvellous Doctors for Magical Creatures. Even more than in my debut, The Pirate Mums, the fact that Ava has same-sex parents is completely incidental to the story – and that’s what I think we need in mainstream, frontlist books that sit proudly on bookshelves in stores, in schools and in bedrooms.”