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Scholastic scoops pumpkin-themed picture book by ‘exciting new partnership’ Robinson and Byrne
Scholastic UK has acquired a picture book from “exciting new partnership” Michelle Robinson and Mike Byrne entitled The Pumpkin Who Was Afraid of the Dark.
Fiz Osborne, editorial director for illustrated books at Scholastic UK acquired world rights for Robinson’s text from James Catchpole at the Catchpole Agency and for Byrne’s illustrations from Bhavisha Patel at Advocate Art. The book will be released for Halloween in September 2022.
The publisher says: “This sweetly spooky Halloween story about a little pumpkin with big fears will encourage children to face their own. Boo the pumpkin does not like Halloween, or trick-or-treating, because she’s afraid of the dark. But when she meets a little boy who’s scared of the same things she is, Boo starts to reconsider.”
Robinson is the award-winning author of titles including The Day the Banana Went Bad (Scholastic), and Ten Fat Sausages (Anderson Press), which won the Lollies Prize. Mike Byrne is the illustrator of books such as Unicorns Don’t Love Rainbows and Who Pooed in My Loo? (Scholastic).
Robinson said: “There was absolutely nothing scary about working with Mike and the team at Scholastic, and there’s absolutely nothing scary about our little pumpkin, Boo. I hope little readers will get a sweet and not-so-spooky kick out of meeting her.”
Byrne added: "I can’t wait for boys, girls and ghouls of every age to meet Boo and to read our Spook-tacular tale.
Osborne commented: “We are hugely excited to bring together Michelle and Mike – two picture book powerhouses! – for this perfectly-pitched pumpkin book, and can’t wait to see it out in the world this September.”
