Wilson and Hachette Children's Group join forces on another Blyton-inspired adventure

Hachette Children’s Group has snapped up a new festive adventure by Jacqueline Wilson, which returns to the world of Enid Blyton’s Magic Faraway Tree to mark its 80th anniversary. 

Alexandra Antscherl, editorial director of Enid Blyton entertainment and fiction brands, bought world rights from Caroline Walsh at David Higham Associates. Aliyana Hirji is now editing. The Magic Faraway Tree: A Christmas Adventure will be published on 12th October 2023 in hardback, illustrated by Mark Beech. 

It will follow the publication on 25th May 2023 of Wilson’s The Magic Faraway Tree: A New Adventure, which will be the first Magic Faraway Tree book in 75 years and the first in the series by an author other than Blyton.

The Magic Faraway Tree: A Christmas Adventure follows three children, Milo, Mia and Birdy as they explore new festive lands within Blyton’s world. 

The synopsis reads: “Milo, Mia and Birdy are excited to return to the cottage beside the Enchanted Wood for Christmas. They can’t wait to visit their magical friends Silky the fairy and Moonface again. Which amazing worlds will arrive at the top of the Faraway Tree at this time of year? The children are hoping for a trip to the Land of Presents or perhaps the Land of Snow. But before they can celebrate, there is a chilling visit to the Land of the Frozen North…”

Hilary Murray Hill, c.e.o. of Hachette Children’s Group, said: “I am thrilled that Hachette Children’s Group is publishing another of Jacqueline Wilson’s wonderful new adventures set in the world of Enid Blyton’s classic Magic Faraway Tree series. The work of Enid Blyton continues to engage, amuse, surprise and delight children all over the world, and the same is true of Jacqueline Wilson’s peerless writing. We are proud to be continuing this partnership.”

Wilson commented: “I was delighted to take another trip up the Magic Faraway Tree. It was great fun discovering how Silky and Moonface celebrate Christmas and inventing new festive-themed lands above the clouds at the top of the tree. My three fictional children enjoyed themselves enormously. I hope my readers do too.”