Puffin signs bedtime picture book by new pairing, O’Hara and Stewart

Puffin has acquired a picture-book that "brings to life a rich world of adventure at home" from a new author/illustrator duo, Natalia O’Hara and Lizzy Stewart.

World rights were acquired by Puffin editorial director Andrea MacDonald from Angharad Kowal Stannus at Kowal Stannus Agency for author Natalia O’Hara, and Keren Greenfeld, art director, acquired world rights in the illustrations from Andrea Morrison at Writers House for illustrator Lizzy Stewart.

One Last Thing will be published in paperback in February 2024 and is described as “a creative and humorous story about the very familiar battleground of bedtime".

O’Hara has previously collaborated with her sister, illustrator Lauren O’Hara on picture books including Hortense and the Shadow (Puffin) and Frindleswylde (Walker Books). Stewart was awarded the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for Best Illustrated Book in 2017 for There’s a Tiger in the Garden (Lincoln Children’s Books).

MacDonald said: "Mattie [in One Last Thing] is a relatable character and I’m excited for readers to enjoy Natalia and Lizzy’s rhythmic wordplay and rich illustrative world.”