Quercus dares with two more books from Brooks

Quercus has bought two more books from Boys Who Dare To Be Different author Ben Brooks.

Quercus has acquired world rights in two titles by Brooks from Matthew Hamilton from Aitken Alexander Associates: Stories for Kids Who Dare To Be Different, slated for November publication, and Stories for Boys Who Dare To Be Different II, to be released in March, both to be illustrated by British artist Quinton Winter who also worked on the original.

Quercus bought the first highly successful book, Stories for Boys Who Dare to Be Different, late last year with rights sales to Hachette Book Group in the US, Loewe Verlag in Germany, Salani in Italy, Znanje in Croatia, Media Litera in Romania and K E Liber in Poland with several more deals under negotiation. The title sold 7,583 copies in its first week, hitting the Children’s number one and seventh overall, shifting a total of 8,336 copies, all figures according to Nielsen BookScan.

The second title in the series Stories for Kids Who Dare To Be Different will feature “50 inspirational women and 50 inspirational men who have gone against the grain to achieve something remarkable”, according to a Quercus spokesperson. The idea apparently emerged from parents asking for a celebration of role models of both genders for boys and girls within the same book. Stories for Boys Who Dare To Be Different II will be the follow-up to the original publication and will once again focus on 100 international and diverse male role models who “have in their own way challenged male stereotypes and society’s perception of ‘masculinity’”.

“The response to Stories for Boys Who Dare to Be Different... has been phenomenal,” Quercus’ non-fiction publisher Katy Follain said. “There are so many more daring boys to write about that we felt compelled to commission a follow-up book, which will be published next spring.”

“In the meantime, I hope that Stories for Kids Who Dare to Be Different will go some way towards filling the vacuum thousands of parents clearly feel so keenly, judging from their comments and conversations. Thanks to their sensitivity and talent, Ben and Quinton are making a difference to children’s and parents’ lives, in the only way we know how in publishing: by telling great stories.”

Brooks, who is based in Berlin, said he was “looking forward to more long nights spent learning about the amazing people, past and present, who will fill the pages of the next two books”.

“Responses to the first book have been overwhelming and I'm excited for the chance to tell even more inspirational stories,” he added.

Winter said: "I am delighted with the success of Boys Who Dare to be Different, it was a privilege and joy to illustrate these inspiring and unforgettable humans. I will now get the chance to bring to life the next collection of people, I love illustrating these portraits and discovering their incredible tales of resilience, brilliance and compassion, cannot wait."