Scholastic snaps up Aoife Dooley's 'zany' graphic novel series

Scholastic has snapped up The Squid Squad, a "hilarious, zany [and] action-packed" graphic novel series from author-illustrator and comedian Aoife Dooley. 

Fiction commissioning editor Julia Sanderson acquired world rights in a two-book deal from Faith O’Grady at The Lisa Richards Agency. The first book in the series, The Squid Squad, is slated for publication for May 2025 with the second to follow in January 2026. 

The Squid Squad is "perfect for reluctant readers" and follows naughty best friends Ollie, the vampire squid, and Zing, the sea bunny.

The publisher continued: "Ollie and Zing live in a town called Nowhere, a place that’s home to the wackiest and weirdest creatures of the ocean, like the stinky Blob, crafty Hypno-snail, and the mysterious Snakey Unicorn Thing… Ollie and Zing’s antics with their colourful neighbours always keep things lively – especially when they get the better of dastardly old Thornelius, the thorn-shooting sea snail."

Dooley said: “I’m excited to be working with Julia and the Scholastic team on this new graphic novel series which at the core is a celebration of what makes us unique. I had so much fun creating the wacky cast of characters and I cannot wait for readers to see what they get up to on their madcap adventures."

Sanderson added: “Aoife is an incredible talent and a joy to work with. I am so excited for young readers to discover her hilarious new cast of characters and join their zippy, zany adventures. These bite-sized stories are perfect to appeal to fans of Jamie Smart or InvestiGators.”