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Puffin to publish second picture book from Zadie Smith, Nick Laird and Magenta Fox
Puffin has bought Weirdo Goes Wild, the second picture book from Zadie Smith, Nick Laird and Magenta Fox.
Andrea MacDonald, publisher at Puffin Picture Books, bought world rights from Natasha Fairweather, Georgia Garrett and Claire Wilson at RCW Literary Agency. Weirdo Goes Wild will be published in hardback on 5th September 2024.
This acquisition follows the publication of Weirdo (2021) in which Smith and Laird both wrote for children for the first time, and which was the first book illustrated by Fox, selected as Indies Book of the Month for March 2021.
Puffin said: “Zadie Smith and Nick Laird first discovered Fox’s work online. Upon seeing her illustration of a guinea pig wearing a judo suit, they were inspired to write Weirdo. Now Maud the guinea pig — still wearing her judo suit — is off into the wild, as is Kit, her owner. Encountering new friends and dangerous foes, she must use her pluck, spirit and signature moves to get safely home again."
Penguin added: “Magenta’s charming illustrations, evocative of Raymond Briggs and Janet Ahlberg, perfectly offset Zadie and Nick’s warm, wry prose to create a story which will be treasured by both adults and children alike.”
Storm-Cat, published by Puffin in 2024, marked Fox’s picture-book author-illustrator debut.
Smith and Laird said: “We’re so delighted to be embarking on the second chapter of the Weirdo story with Puffin. It’s a privilege to get to write for children and we have both loved every minute of it so far.”
Fox said: “It’s been such a joy to be back with Maud and the gang. Zadie and Nick have written a really lovely sequel all about finding our feet (and paws) in the big outdoors and learning just how to enjoy it. Getting to work with Zadie and Nick along with Andrea and Lucy at Puffin has been, as ever, so much fun and I can’t wait to share more of Maud’s perfect weirdness with the world.”
MacDonald said: “Maud, our lovable guinea pig weirdo, charmed everyone when she hit bookshops in 2021 — I am absolutely delighted that we get to have more adventures from this warm and witty world.”
