Syrian refugee inspired tale sells to HCG

Hachette Children’s Group has acquired a picture book inspired by the refugee crisis in Syria by Rachel Ip and Anneli Bray.

The Last Garden is about a little girl who tends the last garden in a war-torn city. When everyone is forced to leave, including the little girl, the garden seeds start to scatter throughout the city and roots begin to take hold. Some time later the people return and the city starts to bloom again.

Group picture book publisher Emma Layfield acquired world rights from Clare Wallace at Darley Anderson Chidren’s Book Agency and will publish on the Hodder Children’s Book imprint in 2020.

Layfield said: “It’s so exciting to see two new talents come together to create something so special. Movingly illustrated, this thoughtful and tender story of hope touches on timely issues of conflict and migration.”