Walker signs three more from LBF illustrator of the fair Flavia Z Drago

Walker Books has scooped a trio of books by Flavia Z Drago, the Illustrator of the Fair at the 2024 London Book Fair.

Maria Tunney, editorial director for picture books, acquired world all-language rights from Claire Cartey at Holroyde Cartey, for three titles by Drago, the author of Gustavo the Shy Ghost, also published by Walker, which won the 2021 Klaus Flugge Award.

Walker already has two more board books and another picture book which have been previously contracted that are set to publish in 2025 and 2026 respectively. The titles in the new deal will expand on the "world of Gustavo" and beyond.

Tunney said: “Flavia’s picture book vision is one of a kind. She takes familiar picture book themes — learning to confront your worries, finding your own place in the world, making lots of new friends — and draws them through the lens of her Mexican heritage, immersing us in incredible worlds inhabited by friendly ghosts and insecure vampires. She’s an authentic and passionate bookmaker and we truly feel that what we see from her next will be even better than what has gone before; she has so much more to say. We feel very lucky to have her on our list and to be able to run (or float!) alongside her as she blazes her own distinctive path through the picture book landscape.”

Mexico City-born and raised (and now UK-based) Drago appeared at yesterday’s fair (13th March) for a series of talks and panels. In addition to her work as an author/illustrator, she has illustrated books for authors such as Sabina Finn and Ana Maria Machado.   

Drago added: “Over the past years it’s been a pleasure and an honour to see my books come to life thanks to the people at Walker Books who believed in my work. They are an exceptional team of wonderful women, who time after time have inspired me and given me more opportunities to create and have fun! It is also a massive privilege to be published alongside many other authors and illustrators who I deeply admire. So, overall, I am really excited to see what the future holds.”