Scallywag Press launches poetry list with collection by Lamb

Scallywag Press has launched a new poetry list, Scallywag Poetry, with its first collection publishing in February 2023. 

Like the press itself, Scallywag Poetry specialises in publishing for children and young people. It will publish two books a year, all illustrated in black and white, starting with A Passing on of Shells by Simon Lamb, illustrated by former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell. Sarah Pakenham acquired world rights direct from Lamb, while rights to the imagery were acquired via Soho Agency.

It will publish in hardback on 23rd February as 50 poems, each 50 words in length and with subjects ranging from family, identity and growing up to the wonder of nature and the very concept of poetry itself.  

A Zoo by Christopher Reid, illustrated by Elliot Elam, will follow in October 2023. World rights for the collection were acquired by Pakenham via Rogers Coleridge and White, while rights for the illustrations were acquired direct from Elam. 

Work from Brian Moses, illustrated by Mark Elvins, will publish in 2024.