Puffin seizes 'heart-warming' picture book by Butterfield and Giang

Puffin has seized Flower Block, a "classic and heart-warming" debut picture book by writer Lanisha Butterfield and illustrator Hoang Giang.

Publisher Ygraine Cadlock and editor Georgiana Deutsch bought world rights in the text from Lydia Silver at Darley Anderson Children’s Book Agency and, with art director Keren Greenfeld, acquired world rights in the illustrations from Amy Milligan at Illo Agency Ltd.

The book, which will publish in June 2024, is described as a "glorious celebration of the power of nature to bring communities together". The synopsis says: "When Jeremiah plants a packet of sunflower seeds, the very last thing he expects is for the vines and leaves to grow overnight and burst through the ceiling of his apartment!

"As Jeremiah and his brother chase the magical plant up through the floors of their tower block home, they discover an array of curious neighbours who join in the adventure. But what could be waiting for them at the top of the building? And will Jeremiah find his voice to help the neighbours discover the true magic hidden within these sunflower seeds?"

Butterfield said: “As a lifelong bookworm, born and raised on a council estate, I could never understand why I never saw my world in stories – and if anything was ever written about it, it was negative. So, I decided to write one of my own – never for a second imagining that anyone would ever read it."

Deutsch added: “We are delighted to launch Lanisha Butterfield into the picture book world with this vibrant, joyful and hugely important story about communities being united by nature. It has been wonderful to see Lanisha’s relatable and loveable characters and their bustling world brought to life by the hugely talented Hoang Giang."

Giang said: “Flower Block reminds me of how imaginative I was in my childhood days. Living in a block in the busiest city myself, I totally relate to the longing to bond with neighbourhood and mother nature.”