Piccadilly Press buys alien family series by Julia Sykes with illustrations by Emily Jones

Piccadilly Press has acquired Luna Grace: Girl From Outer Space, a new chapter-book series for young readers about "finding the courage to be different" by bestselling author Julie Sykes and illustrated in full colour by Emily Jones.

Ruth Bennett, editorial director at the Bonnier Books UK imprint, acquired world all-language rights to three books from Polly Nolan at PaperCuts Literary Agency and Consultancy Limited. The books will be illustrated by Jones, through Clare Wallace and Chloe Davis at Darley Anderson Children’s Books Agency. Luna Grace: Girl From Outer Space is due in paperback in August 2025 with subsequent books to follow in 2026.

In the first book, Luna Grace and her family arrive on Earth at midnight. Luna is from Starbright, a colourful planet in another galaxy, and they have come to Earth to study its wonderful wildlife. The blurb reads: "The mission is simple—Luna and her family need to fit in with their new neighbours down on Earth.

"Luna is determined to try her best, but as she embarks on her first day at school, things get cosmically out of control.  What can Luna do to make herself like her new classmates? Or will she find the courage to be different?"

Sykes said: "I’m thrilled that Luna Grace and her moon cat Twizzle have found a home with Piccadilly Press. This is my third series with Piccadilly. They are a dream to work with and I’m excited to share our vision of Luna with you."

Jones, who lives in Cardiff, said: "Luna Grace and co are such wonderful characters. I instantly cherished and rooted for them all! It’s been a joy to bring them to life on paper and indulge in their quirky and spectacular differences."

Bennett commented: "Julie is a shining star of children’s fiction and I am delighted to be beaming her dazzling new series, Luna Grace: Girl From Outer Space down to Earth. Talented up-and-coming illustrator Emily Jones has captured Luna’s energy and charm on the page perfectly and I know that this series will be rocket-fuel for launching young readers on their stratospheric reading journeys."

Sykes is the bestselling author of more than 100 books for children of all ages and is published around the world, including the "Unicorn Academy" which is now on Netflix. She lives in Cornwall.