Usborne snaps up middle-grade début from Walker Books’ Jamie Hammond

Usborne has acquired Grumpfort, “a monstrously funny” young middle-grade début from author-illustrator Jamie Hammond, who is associate art director at Walker Books. 

Sarah Stewart, associate editorial director at Usborne, acquired world and audio rights from Lydia Silver at Darley Anderson Children’s Book Agency. Scheduled for publication in March 2025, it is tipped by Usborne as “the perfect book for reluctant middle-grade readers and for fans of Loki, Grimwood and How To Train Your Dragon”. 

The publisher added: “Grumfport is a charming, funny and action-packed story about hunting monsters and finding friends in unexpected places, filled with scares, laughs, fights, booby-traps and unforgettable characters with engaging illustrations on every spread.” 

The synopsis reads: “Meet Mo (full name Monday the Sixteenth) – the worst monster hunter ever. Mo never wanted to be a Warden – protecting the village of Bogfoss from the terrifying monsters in the woods is way too scary. But when he’s beaten up by a goblin on his first patrol, he knows he has to prove himself. So he sets out into the forbidden woods to catch himself a monster and make himself a hero.” 

Stewart said: “We have been blown away by Jamie’s incredible imagination, design flair and characterful illustrations, which pull readers into the weird and wonderful world of Grumpfort from the second they open the book. This brilliantly action-packed adventure is filled with suspense, slapstick and sausage rolls, plus a heart-warming message about friendship and not judging a monster by its big scary teeth, and I can’t wait for readers to befriend Mo, Bork and all their funny and fearsome buddies.”  

Hammond, associate art director at Walker Books and designer of Louie Stowell’s Loki series, commented: “It’s a dream come true to be writing and illustrating my own stories after designing books for others for so many years, and to be debuting with Usborne is a real pinch-me moment.”

He added: “I knew in an instant that Mo and my mischievous beasts were in the safest hands and I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive team to monster-hunt alongside. I can’t wait for readers to see the world I’ve created and join Mo on his unwise adventure into the monstrous fortress of Grumpfort.”  

Silver said: “Jamie is the sort of talent you dream about finding – a fantastic illustrator, an author with a sky-high imagination, an eagle-eyed designer and one of the hardest-working people in publishing. He’s beloved by everyone he’s worked with, and I’m delighted that with Grumpfort, and partnered with the brilliant team at Usborne, he’s finally able to show readers his full talents.”