BOLOGNA BOOK FAIR 2017 ENGLISH LANGUAGE RIGHTS GUIDE

Gabrielle Williams

1,400,172 My life as a hashtag A movement. A phenomenon. A complete and utter disaster.

View at www.allenandunwin.com/rights

For further information please contact Angela Namoi at [email protected] CONTENTS

PICTURE BOOKS 1 MOO AND MOO AND THE LITTLE CALF TOO / Jane Millton and Deborah Hinde 2 STORM WHALE / Sarah Brennan, illustrated by Jane Tanner 3 THE SLOTH WHO CAME TO STAY / Margaret Wild, illustrated by Vivienne To 4 SWAN LAKE / Anne Spudvilas 5 WHY CAN'T I BE A DINOSAUR? / Kylie Westaway, illustrated by Tom Jellett 6 PEA POD LULLABY / Glenda Millard and Stephen Michael King 7 MEERKAT CHOIR / Nicki Greenberg 8 THE MEDITERRANEAN / Armin Greder

PICTURE BOOK NON-FICTION 9 DO NOT LICK THIS BOOK / Idan Ben-Barak, illustrated by Julian Frost

ILLUSTRATED JUNIOR FICTION 10 INTRODUCING ZELDA STITCH / Nicki Greenberg 11 D-BOT SQUAD 1: DINO HUNTER / Mac Park, illustrated by James Hart 12 D-BOT SQUAD 2: SKY HIGH / Mac Park, illustrated by James Hart 12 D-BOT SQUAD 3: DOUBLE TROUBLE / Mac Park, illustrated by James Hart 12 D-BOT SQUAD 4: BIG STINK / Mac Park, illustrated by James Hart

GRAPHIC NOVEL 13 HAMLET / Nicki Greenberg 15 SMALL THINGS / Mel Tregonning 16 GIANTS, TROLLS, WITCHES, BEASTS / Craig Phillips CONTENTS

MIDDLE GRADE FICTION 17 QUEST OF THE SUNFISH SERIES / Mardi McConnochie 19 HOW TO BEE / Bren MacDibble 20 A DIFFERENT DOG / Paul Jennings 21 THE BLUE CAT / Ursula Dubosarsky

YOUNG ADULT FICTION 22 LISETTE'S PARIS NOTEBOOK / Catherine Bateson 23 THINGS WE PROMISE / J C Burke 24 MY LIFE AS A HASHTAG / Gabrielle Williams 25 LIVING ON HOPE STREET / Demet Divaroren 26 FALLING 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION / Anne Provoost 27 MY LOVELY FRANKIE / Judith Clarke 28 GAP YEAR IN GHOST TOWN / Michael Pryor

AUSTRALIAN 2016–2017 'S LAUREATE 29 Leigh Hobbs

ENQUIRIES TO Angela Namoi, Rights & International Sales Director Books for Children and Young Adults Email: [email protected] Phone: +61 2 8425 0108 Allen & Unwin 83 Alexander St Crows Nest NSW 2065 AUSTRALIA www.allenandunwin.com PICTURE BOOKS AGES 3–6

MOO AND MOO AND THE LITTLE CALF TOO Jane Millton and Deborah Hinde

Be udderly moooved by this true story of New o and Mo Zealand’s amazing earthquake survivor cows! o e Little Ca o During the massive earthquake that hit New Mnd th lf too a Zealand in November 2016, two cows and a little calf were stranded on a two-metre-high 'island' when their paddock slid and buckled 80 metres from its original position. Sensibly they stayed put and were rescued by farmers a day or so later.

story by Jane Millton It's an iconic story of bravery in the face of great illustrated by Deborah Hinde adversity, and of helping others and protecting those around us when faced with chaos and crisis.

Jane Millton farms at Clarence River near Kaikoura (the epicentre of the earthquake) and this drama unfolded on her farm. Deborah Hinde is the illustrator of A Kiwi Night before Christmas as well as many other wonderful picture books for children. www.debhindeillustrationanddesign.co.nz

With a bump and a shudder and a wobble of the udder, With a rocking and a rolling and a slip and a slide, Moo and Moo and the little calf too Began . . . their . . . ride.

Moo&Moo_TXT_KB1.indd 6-7 10/01/17 12:41 PM

April 2017 • 250x240mm • PB • Full Colour Throughout • 32pp World Rights

1 PICTURE BOOKS AGES 4–8

STORM WHALE Sarah Brennan, illustrated by Jane Tanner

A captivating and beautifully illustrated story about who find a whale stranded Storm Whale on a windswept beach and try to save it. Sarah Brennan illustrated by Jane Tanner Bleak was the day and the wind whipped down When I and my sisters walked to town ... Full of light and movement, the evocative text and emotionally charged illustrations celebrate the magnificence and vulnerability of nature, as the girls struggle to save the whale. They wake the day after the storm to discover that something miraculous has happened.

Sarah Brennan is Hong Kong-based Tasmanian-born author and publisher. Her books have regularly appeared on bestseller lists in Hong Kong and she is a very active self-promoter with a busy schedule of talks and appearances both internationally and in Australia. www.sarah-brennan.com. Jane Tanner is one of Australia’s most loved illustrators with a long and illustrious career including award- winning books There’s a Sea in my Bedroom, Drac and the Gremlin, The Wolf, and Isabella’s Secret. She has won or been shortlisted for many prestigious awards, including the CBCA Book of the Year Awards in the categories of Picture Book of the Year, Younger Readers and Early Childhood. www.janetanner.com.au

Long cold hours did we spend that day, down on the beach where the great beast lay, bending, bucketing pail on pail, lugging in vain at its listless tail,

June 2017 • 240x270mm • HB • Full Colour Throughout • 32pp World Rights • RIGHTS SOLD: UK English (Old Barn)

2 PICTURE BOOKS AGES 4–6

THE SLOTH WHO CAME TO STAY Margaret Wild, illustrated by Vivienne To

The fastest family in the world only learns to stop and smell the roses when a very slow- moving but completely adorable sloth comes to stay. Amy's family is speedy! They are always in such a rush that there is no time to talk or play – until the afternoon Amy brings a sloth. Then things start changing very, very slowly... The charm of this wryly amusing story will capture the imagination of children with its loveable and cuddly sloth character, as well as tickle parents with its gentle reminder about Margaret Wild is an Australian national treasure finding time to enjoy the little things in life. who writes perfectly pitched picture books that balance lightness, humour, meaning AND tell a story! Having written more than 70 picture books, Margaret displays a range of styles – from the very serious and thought-provoking such as Fox and The Dream of the Thylacine, to light-hearted, joyful works such as This Little Piggy Goes Dancing. Margaret’s books find audiences and win awards right around the world. Vivienne To is an amazing young illustrator and visual development artist working in animated film/television and publishing. Vivienne has designed for several animated feature films and recently art directed The Lego Batman Movie. Vivienne lives in Sydney and this is her first picture book. www.vivienneto.com Draft

July 2017 • 228x286mm • HB • Full Colour Throughout • 32pp World Rights

3 PICTURE BOOKS AGES 10–14 AND ADULTS

SWAN LAKE Anne Spudvilas

A magnificent visual re-telling of the classic ballet story from a much-loved, award-winning illustrator. Swan Lake, the tragic love story about a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer, is one of the most loved ballets of all time. In this powerful and atmospheric adaptation, Anne Spudvilas brings to life a classic tale of beauty and betrayal, loss and love.

With sophisticated illustrations that possess a darkly gothic twist, Anne has created a beautiful gift for all ages – and especially for ballet fans. Anne Spudvilas is a highly acclaimed fine artist, established portrait painter and children’s book illustrator. She has illustrated many ground-breaking and award- winning picture books during her long career, including the bestselling picture book The Peasant Prince, Jenny Angel and Woolvs in the Sitee by Margaret Wild. As an artist Anne exhibits regularly and her work is held in collections both in Australia and internationally. www.annespudvilas.com

November 2017 • 300x235mm • HB • Full Colour Throughout • 48pp World Rights

4 PICTURE BOOKS AGES 3–6

WHY CAN'T I BE A DINOSAUR? Kylie Westaway, illustrated by Tom Jellett

TODAY is Aunt Daisy’s wedding, and Nellie is meant to be her flower girl. But today, Nellie wants to be a dinosaur… Perfect for pre- schoolers, and for anyone who has ever had to argue with a four-year-old. 'Today. Is. Dinosaur. Day!' I roared. 'Today is Aunt Daisy's wedding,' said Mum. 'After breakfast, we all have to get dressed in special clothes. Nellie, you're a flower girl, remember?'

Draft Cover Draft 'I can't wear a dress today,' I said. 'I'm a dinosaur.' A light-hearted book that celebrates individuality, set against the backdrop of a family wedding. The early morning chaos will be familiar to anyone who has tried to get their children out of the house in a hurry, and Nellie's ingenious solution will amuse all.

Praise for A Whale in the Bath (Nth Am rights to Clarion; German to Thienemann) ‘This wonderfully imaginative story is a real celebration of the power of a child's imagination… Superb storytelling and lively illustrations combine perfectly to make a great read that children will love.’ www.parentsintouch.co.uk ‘With a great read-aloud text, gloriously retro illustrations rendered in suitably muted shades, a terrific finale and a chucklesome take on children’s imaginations this one has much to offer teachers in the classroom as well as readers .’ www.jillrbennett.wordpress.com

Kylie Westaway has spent most of her life travelling and living in different countries. Her background is in theatre and she also spent a year teaching 2-6 year olds in South Korea. Kylie joined the publishing industry when she returned to Australia. Her first picture book, Whale in the Bath, has been published in North America and Germany, and was a 2015 CBCA Notable Book. www.kyliewestaway.com.au Tom Jelletthas illustrated a number of bestselling books for children, including Whale in the Bath, and has also been an editorial illustrator for News Limited. His work has been included in a number of exhibitions, both locally and internationally, including: the Editorial and Book category for Illustrators exhibition in New York in 2011 and 2013; Communication Arts Illustration Annual 2012; 3×3 Children’s Show No. 9, and was Highly Commended in the 2013 Illustrators Australia Awards. www.tomjellett.com

September 2017 • 228x286mm • HB • Full Colour Throughout • 32pp World Rights

5 PICTURE BOOKS AGES 4–8 AND ADULTS

PEA POD LULLABY Glenda Millard and Stephen Michael King

We are all in this world together – I, you, we. A glorious, heartfelt picture book about being there for one another from award- winning creators Glenda Millard and Stephen Michael King. I am the small green pea, you are the tender pod, hold me A mother and baby, a boy and a dog run for their lives. A polar bear, too, has come adrift. When will they find land? Who will welcome Draft Cover Draft them in? In all the wide world we each need Glenda Millard is the author of many highly a safe place to call home. acclaimed novels and picture books. Most recently her young adult novel, The Stars at Oktober Bend, Words sing over the pictures in this evocative (Old Barn Books in the UK, Candlewick Press in story: a beautiful lullaby about what we can North America), is (at time of writing) on the shortlist for the prestigious CILIP Carnegie Award, be for each other. longlist for the 2017 UKLA Book Awards and listed as a 2017 CBCA Notable book (all Awards winners TBA). www.glendamillard.com Stephen Michael King has illustrated, written and designed many wonderful books for children. Their most recent picture book collaboration, The Duck and the Darklings, was the Winner of the 2016 WA Premier’s Book Awards in the Children’s Book Category; shortlisted for the 2015 CBCA Picture Book of the Year Awards, the 2015 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and the Wilderness Society’s Environmental Award for Children’s Literature; and was selected by the International Youth Library as a White Raven 2015 book. www.stephenmichaelking.com Draft

September 2017 • 230x280mm • HB • Full Colour Throughout • 32pp World Rights

6 PICTURE BOOKS AGES 4–8

MEERKAT CHOIR Nicki Greenberg

The meerkat choirmaster will only allow MEERKATCHOIR meerkats in his choir. But singing is fun and all the other animals want to join in too. A laugh-out-loud picture book that celebrates the joy of joining in … and the folly of

NICKI GREENBERG NICKI excluding others. 251

‘And a ONE – and a TWO – and a THREE—’ ‘Excuse me. Can I join your choir?’ ‘No. You cannot join our choir. This is a MEERKAT choir.’ The meerkats are excited. They’re ready for

Draft Cover Draft their very first rehearsal with their meerkat choirmaster. But just as they’re about to sing Nicki Greenberg is a writer and illustrator based in their very first note, they’re interrupted by a Melbourne, Australia. Formerly a lawyer, Nicki is steady stream of other animals who want to the creator of the award-winning 'staged-on-the- page' adaptation of Shakespeare'sHamlet , and of join in. the graphic adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The The meerkat choirmaster insists his choir is Great Gatsby. Inspired by her own children, Nicki has written and illustrated a range of delightful only for meerkats. And he gets grumpier and picture books for younger readers. grumpier with each interruption… www.nickigreenberg.com Draft

October 2017 • 245x285mm • HB • Full Colour Throughout • 32pp World Rights

7 PICTURE BOOKS AGES 7–ADULTS

THE MEDITERRANEAN Armin Greder

A devastatingly brilliant and timely indictment of society's treatment of refugees by the creator of The Island. armin greder mediterraneo A lifeless body. One of many. armin greder Overcrowded boats precariously navigate the waters of mediterraneo the Mediterranean, heading north. Tragically, it is not always just hope that drowns. With its themes of refugees, prejudice, life and death, war and injustice,The Mediterranean provides an excellent prompt for classroom discussion. And like The Island it will have broad appeal to upper primary and secondary students, teachers, librarians, parents and art lovers.

¤ 16,00 Praise for The Island; 'With spare, poetic text and menacing illustrations executed in a limited range of sombre colours, this picture book for older children by Armin Armin Greder was born in Greder conveys a strong sense of drama and obliges readers to think about Switzerland. In 1971 he migrated xenophobia and the consequences of an instinctive act of compassion. to Australia where he worked Eloquent and passionate, The Island is a picture book that poses questions as a graphic designer and later rather than supplying answers.' Time Out taught design and illustration at a tertiary art institution. Books he has illustrated include 2016 CBCA Picture Book of the Year, Flight, with Nadia Wheatley, and The Great Bear, An Ordinary Day and I Am Thomas, all by Libby Gleeson. Books he has authored and illustrated include The Island, The City and Australia to Z. His work, in which charcoal is prominent, reflects his European background. He is the recipient of a number of international recognitions such as the Bologna Ragazzi Award and has been nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Prize. He now lives in Lima, Peru.

February 2018 • 315x220mm • HB • Full Colour Throughout • 32pp World English Language Rights

8 PICTURE BOOKS NON-NON FICTION AGES 4–8

DO NOT LICK THIS BOOK Idan Ben-Barak, illustrated by Julian Frost

Do notDo lick book this A brilliantly simple, funny, interactive picture book that introduces children to the unseen world of microbes.

Do not lick Min is a germ. She lives in a book. In fact, this book! * Min wants to go on an adventure – but she needs IT’S FULL * OF GERMS this book your help. Created by the highly respected scientist, Idan Ben- *IT’S FULL OF GERMS Barak, and Julian Frost, the illustrator of the insanely successful video ‘Dumb Ways to Die’, Do Not Lick This IDAN BEN-BARAK and JULIAN FROST Book uses a combination of simple text, comic digital illustrations, microscope photography and reader interaction to teach children about germs, where they Idan Ben-Barak’s first book, Small live, how easily they’re transferred and the concept of Wonders: How Microbes Rule Our scale. It’s cute, humorous and educational. World, published internationally, won the 2010 American Association for the Advancement of Science Prize for Excellence in Science Books, YA category. www.idanbb.wordpress.com. Julian Frost is an illustrator, designer and animator. He received worldwide acclaim for his animation ‘Dumb Ways to Die’ which has had close to 150 million views on YouTube since 2012. www.julianfrost.co.nz

This is a photo of fabric, really really close up. I’M MIN AND THIS IS RAE. WE’RE ON AN ADVENTURE.

ADVENTURE! CAN YOU GIVE ME A HAND SPREADING THIS DIRT AROUND?

NICE TO MEET YOU. WHAT’S A HAND? MY NAME’S DENNIS. I HOPE WE DON’T GET PUT IN THE WASH FOR A FEW MORE DAYS.

WE’RE MAKING THIS SHIRT SMELL.

What a strange place shirts are when you look really really closely. GROSS. I FOUND No wonder they need washing. A CLEAN PATCH. Now it’s time for Min and Rae’s next adventure. Touch your shirt to pick them up.

DENNIS, THERE’S SOME LOVELY FILTH DOWN HERE! 350x magnification

May 2017 • 210x210mm • HB • Full Colour Throughout • 32pp World Rights

9 ILLUSTRATED JUNIOR FICTION AGES 7–11

THE CURSED FIRST TERM OF ZELDA STITCH. BAD TEACHER. WORSE WITCH. Nicki Greenberg

‘Zelda rides a broomstick!’ ‘Zelda’s got a bat-friend!’ ‘Zelda smells like toadstools!’ ‘Witch! Witch! Witch!’ It was bad enough when I was eleven years old. But if they sniff me out now, it’ll be a disaster. Zelda Stitch isn’t much of a witch – she’s hoping she’ll make a better primary school teacher. But if the vice principal finds out about her, her dream will go up in a puff of smoke. Keeping her magic secret isn’t the only trouble bubbling in Zelda’s classroom: there’s wild-child Zinnia, lonely Eleanor, secretive Phoebe (who MUST be a spy for her aunt, the vice principal!) and a hairy, eight-legged visitor

Draft Cover Draft called Jeremy. Not to mention the nits… With NO HELP AT ALL from her disagreeable cat Barnaby, Zelda must learn to be a better teacher, a better friend and a better witch – even if that means taking broomstick lessons. From a house bursting with enchanted cinnamon doughnuts to a crazy collision with a giant inflatable slide, Zelda’s diary of her first term is a cauldron full of laughs.

Nicki Greenberg is an Australian writer and illustrator. She is the creator of the award-winning ‘staged-on-the- page’ adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and of the graphic adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Inspired by her own young children, Nicki has also written and illustrated several picture books for younger readers including Monkey Red Monkey Blue, BOM! went , The Naughtiest Reindeerseries, Teddy Took the Train and My Dog Dash. www.nickigreenberg.com; nickigreenberg.blogspot.com

September 2017 • 198x128mm • PB • B/W Illustrations Throughout • 192pp World Rights

10 ILLUSTRATED JUNIOR FICTION AGES 5–7

D-BOT SQUAD (8 BOOK) SERIES Mac Park, illustrated by James Hart

Dinosaurs are back, and on the loose! It’s up to D-Bot Squad to catch them. A super-exciting, fuel-injected first reader series that is easy and fun to read. D-Bot Squad is a high-concept action-adventure series Dino Hunter for ages 5 to 7 to get kids reading, and keep them reading. First readers often disappoint as either too complex or too boring, but these are perfectly pitched with simple words, short chapters, a low word count, and interconnected stories, each ending on a cliffhanger to draw the readers through the series. Ideally designed to give newly independent readers a sense of achievement.

BOOK 1: DINO HUNTER Hunter Marks is sure he’s seen a pterodactyl outside his classroom window, but no-one believes him. Hunter has an encyclopaedic knowledge of dinosaurs and superior model- building skills, so when he is sent to the library to calm down and walks into a Book Week display he finds himself falling back, Narnia-like, into a simulated dinosaur world. Hunter’s job is to capture the dinosaurs and he is quickly able to build a virtual dinosaur-robot that he knows can outsmart the real thing… His initiation into the D-Bot Squad – the real dino hunters! – is complete. Writing under the pseudonym Mac Park, Stories Inc is an innovative partnership between Louise Park and Susannah McFarlane, who between them have sold more than 10 million books. They have over 50 years of combined experience in publishing, writing and editing books for children that adults trust, parents buy, and kids love to read. They have published, edited or written numerous bestselling children’s series, including Go Girl!, Zac Power, EJ12 Girl Hero, Star Girl, Harriet Clare and Boy vs Beast. www.storiesinc.org; www.susannahmcfarlane.com; www.louisepark.com.au James Hart was raised in the UK on English comics and classic cartoons before moving to Australia and studying illustration, electronic design and multimedia. James has designed toys, animated programs such as The Day My Butt Went Psycho, and illustrated books for series including You Choose, Boy vs Beast, Glen Maxwell, Ball Stars and Accidentally Awesome. www.jameshart.com.au

July 2017 (Books 1-4), October 2017 (Books 5 & 6), February 2018 (Books 7 & 8)

11 ILLUSTRATED JUNIOR FICTION AGES 5–7

BOOK 2: SKY HIGH Hunter is in pursuit of a pterodactyl, hanging on for dear life high up in the sky on his d-bot, which he is still learning to control. Building it is one thing, flying it is quite another! He Sky High finally gets it under control before the pterodactyl becomes aggressive and chases after Hunter. He manages to round up the pterodactyl but then a huge quetzalcoatlus appears from nowhere and grabs Hunter and his d-bot out of the sky.

From the creators of Zac Power and Boy vs Beast!!

BOOK 3: DOUBLE TROUBLE Hunter has to ask D-Bot Squad base for help with a huge Double Trouble quetzalcoatlus (the Q) that he can’t seem to get away from. Another D-Bot Squad member, Charlie, arrives on her d-bot and manages to free Hunter. Then they manage to restrain the Q. Hunter teleports it back to base, but only seconds later Hunter and Charlie are briefed on another mission – yet another dinosaur is on the loose! This time it’s an escaped stegosaurus, and Hunter is the first to track it down…only to be overwhelmed by its near- toxic dino-flatulence! Big Stink BOOK 4: BIG STINK Hunter is reeling from the effects of the dino-fart, but just before he collapses he manages to call for help. Meanwhile, the stegosaurus crushes part of his d-bot and looks set to crush the rest. Charlie arrives just in time and rescues him by luring the steg away with its favourite plant. While Hunter repairs his d-bot, Charlie distracts the steg, until Hunter joins her to battle it. They teleport the steg back to base, only to find an argentinosaurus approaching…with a third D-Bot Squad member in its clutches!

198x128mm • PB • Full Colour Throughout • 80pp • World Rights

12 GRAPHIC NOVELS AGES 14+

HAMLET Nicki Greenberg

Richly imagined, this is an audaciously brilliant tour de force from Nicki Greenberg, creator of the graphic novel adaptation of The Great Gatsby – the Baz Luhrmann of the Australian graphic novel world. In this sumptuous staging of Shakespeare's enigmatic play on the page, Nicki Greenberg has created an extraordinary visual feast that sweeps up all in its path as the drama intensifies both on stage and off. A bold, inventive and innovative work featuring Shakespeare’s famous characters as inkblots in 440 pages of vibrant colour. Unique, gripping and, as ever, tragic.

Nicki Greenberg is a writer and illustrator with a special passion for sequential art. Her first picture books, The Digits series, were published when she was fifteen years old. Since then she has dedicated most of her ink to comics, but has also written and illustrated fiction and non-fiction books for children. Before tackling Hamlet, Nicki spent six years adapting F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby in graphic form.

October 2010 • 295x210mm • HB • Full Colour Throughout • 440pp World English Rights

13 GRAPHIC NOVELS AGES 14+

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S HAMLET, STAGED ON THE PAGE

Praise for Hamlet: ‘Nicki Greenberg loves Shakespeare, she "gets" Shakespeare, and she has done something wondrous with him, a thing I have never seen done before. In essence, and this resonant phrase is her own, she stages the play on the page. It's a treasure…’ New Zealand Herald ‘Greenberg's Hamlet is unique, a densely imagined pictorial engagement with Shakespeare's text that unlocks fresh secrets… an intriguing jewel, refracting light into some obscure corners of Shakespeare's immortal classic.’ The Age ‘The finest thing about Shakespearean drama is that the work can be restaged for every generation and everywhere and in so many different ways… In Nicki Greenberg's version Hamlet is played by an inkblot with a crowquill in his scabbard. The settings sparkle; the interior of the castle has a decor of suspended clock parts, curious only until we realise that 'time is out of joint'… it's exciting this time around to see her unpack a palette of riotous colour.’ Eddie Campbell, highly acclaimed Australian comics artist best known for his collaboration with Alan Moore on the epic graphic novel From Hell – translated into 15 languages and a New York Times bestseller.

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October 2010 • 295x210mm • HB • Full Colour Throughout • 440pp World English Rights

14 GRAPHIC NOVELS AGES 10–ADULTS

SMALL THINGS Mel Tregonning

‘The best art gives a voice to the voiceless parts of our lives, and Small Things does so with heartfelt precision.’ Shaun Tan An ordinary boy in an ordinary world. Upon him the weight of ordinary expectations. And under their pressure, he begins to quietly fall apart. He shuts out his family. He shuts out his friends. The darkness descends. Will he find a way out? Who can he turn to? Will anyone understand? A universal story, told simply and with breathtaking beauty. ‘… A most remarkable and life-changing book. We need to nurture those who will sit with the lonely kid in the cafeteria but we must also know who the lonely kids are. Perhaps its most critical role is that it becomes the conversation starter – more than that, it generates a loud call to action.…’ Barbara Braxton, Teacher Librarian

Mel Tregonning was a published cartoonist at primary school, and at age 16 she began a long-running comic strip in a national magazine. Over the decades, Mel's illustration style grew to encompass surrealism, cyberpunk, Art Nouveau, manga, commercial art and photorealism. She won the international Illustrators of the Future competition in 2006. Sadly, Mel passed away in 2014. She is survived by her sister, brother, mother and father – and an incredible body of work. www. meltregonning.com. au

September 2016 • 305x230mm • HB • B/W Illustrations Throughout • 40pp World Rights • RIGHTS SOLD: Chinese (United Sky); Spanish (PRH); Turkish (Tudem)

15 GRAPHIC NOVELS AGES 8–12

GIANTS, TROLLS, WITCHES, BEASTS Ten Tales from the Deep, Dark Woods Craig Phillips

Introduction by Carole Wilkinson, Ten diverse myths and legends from around the world, bestselling author of the Dragonkeeper series retold in glorious full-colour comic book form by a stunning artist with an international reputation. With a wonderful introduction from Carole Wilkinson, A cobbler girl tricks the Wawel Dragon, Craig Phillips after all the king’s knights fail ... bestselling author of The Dragonkeeper series, this easy- The Polar Bear King loses his skin ... Momotaro, born from a peach, defies the ogres to-read comic book collection showcases the timeless everyone else is too scared to face ... Snow White and Rose Red make friends with a bear ... appeal of mythological creatures like dragons, battles From Poland to Iceland, Japan to Germany, these ten fairytales from across the globe re-told as comics will have you enthralled. Giants! Trolls! Witches! Beasts! You will encounter them all in this visual feast of a book. where wit is pitched against brawn, and other legendary ‘Magnificent storytelling …I can’t remember when I have read classic fairytales that have been presented with more life, charm, and heart.’ characters such as talking animals, walking houses and Ted Naifeh, Eisner Award nominee

Craig Phillips Craig vexatious trolls. Vasilisa the Brave (Russia); Thor and the Frost Giants (Scandinavia); The Nixie in the Well (Germany); Snow White and Rose Red (Germany); Momotaro (Japan); The King of ISBN: 978-1-76011-326-1 the Polar Bears (America); The Boy who was Never Afraid 9 781760 113261 (Sweden); The Devil Bridegroom (Estonia); Finn McCool (Northern Ireland) and The Wawel Dragon (Poland)... ‘Magnificent storytelling…I can’t remember when I Giants! Trolls! Witches! Beasts! You will encounter them have read classic fairytales all in this visual feast of a book. that have been presented with more life, charm, and

heart than in this wonderful Ha! Take that, Yaah! you brute. It’s General book.’ Ted Naifeh, Eisner- Momotaro – and I’ve come to take back all the Award-nominated creator treasure you stole! of the Courtney Crumrin series

Craig Phillips is a freelance Argh, my lovely illustrator. His first picture horn! book was Megumi and the Bear (written by Irma Gold), inspired by travels to Japan. Craig has always had a great love for mythology and magic, and Giants, Trolls, Witches, Beasts is the book he has always wanted to make. 102 103 www.craigphillips.com.au

May 2017 • 274x210mm • PB • Full Colour Throughout • 192pp World Rights

16 MIDDLE GRADE FICTION AGES 9–12

QUEST OF THE SUNFISH SERIES Mardi McConnochie

The Quest for the Sunfish is classic nautical adventure with a speculative fiction twist, written by an author who has already created a swag of highly-acclaimed novels, including work for younger readers. Ranging across three nail-biting volumes, this is an adventure story about 12-year old twins, Annalie and Will, who are sailing halfway across the world to find their missing father, Spinner. Trying to evade the all-powerful Admiralty which rules their world, and which has a nefarious interest in finding their father, the twins take to the sea in their boat, the Sunfish, with their friends Essie and Pod, plus Graham, an opinionated talking parrot. Their only clue is a coded list Spinner left behind. It names four scientists who were once his colleagues on a top-secret Admiralty project. The children hope that by finding the scientists, they’ll also find Spinner. But the task is not going to be easy. The scientists have all gone into hiding, and they couldn’t live further apart from each other if they tried. Like the protagonists in Swallows and Amazons, Annalie and Will are wonderfully resourceful, Mardi McConnochie is the author of four driving the action in this story as they sail the previous adult novels, including Coldwater, which was shortlisted for the Commonwealth dangerous waters of the Moon Archipelago Writer's Prize First Novel Award (Pacific region). looking for their father. But while the trilogy has She has also written two novels for younger a fabulous ‘classic’ feel, the futuristic setting readers, Melissa: Queen of Evil, winner of an adds a very interesting edge. The series is set Aurealis Award, and Dangerous Games. Her TV in a future world similar to ours, but which was scriptwriting credits include Home and Away, McLeod's Daughters, Always Greener and ravaged by man-made floods forty years before Pacific Drive. the story begins. The twins’ father, Spinner, was

September 2016 (Book 1), April 2017 (Book 2), September 2017 (Book 3)

17 MIDDLE GRADE FICTION AGES 9–12

BOOK 1: ESCAPE TO THE MOON ISLANDS BOOK 2: CASTLE IN THE SEA BOOK 3: THE SKELETON COAST

part the team that worked on the device which caused the flood, but then he and his colleagues stole their own research to keep it safe and went into hiding. And now the Admiralty have tracked him down and want it back. Each book is wonderfully set up with lots of action adventure in which the kids resourcefully escape danger using a combination of technology and old-fashioned know-how. Each book takes us to another location, providing great scope for new adventures and challenges.

Endorsements ‘A lost father, a dangerous world, and treachery in unexpected places. I was biting my nails with excitement!’ Lian Tanner, author of the Keepers series ‘An exciting, charming and action-packed adventure I couldn’t put down!’ Garth Nix, author of the Keys to the Kingdom series

Shortlisted for the 2017 Readings Children’s Book Prize (winner TBA April 2017). This Prize recognises and celebrates Australian books that children love to read!

Praise for Book 1: Escape to the Moon Islands ‘Anyone who loved Enid Blyton’s, or Arthur Ransome’s adventures, as I did, is going to feel right at home with Escape to the Moon Islands. The language has the charm of those classic stories, but the nostalgia is cut with a grittier, tougher, and more contemporary sensibility. ...What really gives [this book] its edge though, is the background to the adventures. In an attempt to solve a global drought and famine crisis scientists unleashed a solution that got out of hand and drowned the world. Sea levels rose dramatically, millions of people died, and coastlines and land changed permanently. Thousands of people are still living in huge refugee camps several generations later and the Admiralty, now governing everything, are either the brave, selfless heroes who stepped in to save everyone in the wake of the disaster, or the sinister, controlling villains with a suspect agenda…’ Reading Time ‘a brisk, easy-to-read adventure full of puzzles and perils’ Sydney Morning Herald

198x128mm • PB • 368pp • World English Language Rights

18 MIDDLE GRADE FICTION AGES 8–12

HOW TO BEE Bren MacDibble

How To Bee is a beautiful and fierce novel for middle grade readers. Set against an all-too- possible future where real bees are extinct and the quickest, bravest kids climb the fruit trees to pollinate the flowers by hand,How To Bee explores the subsequent social landscape with an intensely compelling and original voice. Peony lives with her sister and grandfather on a fruit farm outside the city. All Peony really wants is to be a Bee – to use her strength and agility to pollinate the flowers and ensure a bumper fruit crop – because in Peony’s world, real bees are extinct. Life on the farm is a scrabble, but there is enough to eat and a place to sleep, and there is love. Then Peony’s mother arrives to take her away from everything she has ever known, and all Peony’s grit and quick thinking might not be enough to keep her safe. Encompassing themes of equality, diversity, loyalty, love, kindness and value, How to Bee is raw, interesting and page-turning. The protagonist, Peony, is courageous and intelligent. Her voice will stay with you long after you read the last page.

‘A highly original novel in a unique and authentic voice. Peony is fierce, flawed and absolutely endearing – a girl power model in the best, most subtle way. She and my Nim would be kindred spirits – I wish they could meet!’ Wendy Orr

Bren MacDibble was raised on farms all over New Zealand, so is an expert about being a kid on the land. She now lives in Melbourne with her family and a cheeky dog, works with gifted children, and teaches writing at TAFE. This is her first novel with Allen & Unwin. www.macdibble.com

May 2017 • 198x128mm • PB • 200pp • World Rights

19 MIDDLE GRADE FICTION AGES 10–14

A DIFFERENT DOG Paul Jennings

A highly original, gripping and surprising story of a boy who can’t speak, a dog, and a daring rescue. Since the mid-1980s Paul Jennings has been writing stories that children adore. Now in his mid-70s, Paul has returned to the heartland where he began – quirky, unexpected stories, sometimes dark, but always totally original and thoroughly engaging. In A Different Dog the child narrator can’t speak – we assume it is from a disability or a reaction to a trauma in his past. He is teased by the other kids and is a loner. On a cold winter’s day, when everyone is participating in a fun run on the mountain, our narrator finds himself alone at the scene of a car accident where the driver has died. But there is a little dog in the car … What follows is a moving story of survival and redemption (and somehow humour in the midst of all that), all told in a 96-page novella.

Paul Jennings is one of Australia’s most loved and best-selling authors, with over 100 books to his credit. He is perhaps best known for his wonderfully humorous stories, but children often highlight a particular story – Busker – from his ‘Unbelievable’ collection, as one that resonates most highly, even though it makes them cry. Paul is also well known for catering to the slower readers out there – by writing more sophisticated subject matter in short, clear sentences that add up to beautiful short reads for reluctant readers. www.pauljennings.com.au

May 2017 • 198x128mm • PB • Full page b/w illustrations at chapter openings 96pp • World Rights

20 MIDDLE GRADE FICTION AGES 10–14

THE BLUE CAT Ursula Dubosarsky

From the multi-award-winning author of The Red Shoe comes a haunting story about

Th ‘Bright and strange, full of dread and mystery and beauty.’ a boy who can’t – or won’t – speak about his A boy stood in the playground under the big fi g tree. 

SONYA HARTNETT ‘He can’t speak English,’ the children whispered. B past in war-torn Europe, and his friendship

SYDNEY, 1942. The war is coming to Australia – not only lue with a young Australian girl. with the threat of bombardment, but also with the arrival of refugees from Europe. Dreamy Columba’s world is shaken when Ellery, the little boy from far away, arrives at her school, C A boy stood in the playground under the big and a mysterious stray cat appears in the neighbourhood. a

Both the boy and the cat have secrets. Can they help Columba t fig tree. ‘He can’t speak English,’ the children make sense of the changes that are happening around her? whispered. Or are there some things she may never understand? t ‘If that cat could speak,’ Miss Hazel said, Sydney, 1942. The war is coming to Australia – ‘imagine the secrets he could tell.’ not only with the threat of bombardment, but also with the arrival of refugees from Europe. Dreamy Columba’s world is growing larger. She is drawn to Ellery, the little boy from far away, ‘The Blue Cat imagines war and its legacies with singular daring, sensitivity and emotional insight, stalking the line between and, together with her highly practical best questions and fears in a time of deep uncertainty. Ursula Dubosarsky is Australia’s fi nest writer for friend Hilda, the three children embark on an young people and here she is at her enchanting best.’ MIKE SHUTTLEWORTH adventure through the harbourside streets – a journey of discovery and terror, in pursuit of

ISBN: 978-1-76029-229-4 the mysterious blue cat…

Cover design: Debra Billson Cover images: Getty Images, Canstock and 123RF 9 7 8 1 7 6 0 2 9 2 2 9 4 FICTION

TheBlueCat_COVER.indd 1 13mm 18/01/17 11:20 AM

Praise from Sonya Hartnett: ‘Bright and strange, full of dread and mystery and beauty, The Blue Cat is a gorgeous fairytale set in a very real world. Ursula Dubosarsky is the writer I wanted to be when I grew up.’ Praise from Robyn Sheahan-Bright: ‘Dubosarsky occupies a unique place in Australian literature. Her works cannot be “classified” – but neither could Jane Gardam’sA Long Way from Verona, EB White’s Charlotte’s Web, Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince ... Their appeal is universal; they are timeless and ageless. All great children’s classics have these qualities. And her books, let’s make no mistake about this, are classics.’ Ursula Dubosarsky was born and grew up in Sydney in a family of writers, and wanted to be a writer from the age of six. She is now the author of over 50 books for children and young adults and her work is published all over the world. She has won and been shortlisted for many national literary awards, and has won the NSW Premier’s Literary Award a record five times, more than any other writer in the history of the awards. Internationally she has been nominated for both the Hans Christian Andersen award and the Astrid Lindgren prize. She has a PhD in English literature and lives in Sydney. www.ursuladubosarsky.squarespace.com

April 2017 • 208x138mm • PB • 176pp • World Rights

21 YOUNG ADULT FICTION AGES 13–17

LISETTE'S PARIS NOTEBOOK Catherine Bateson

A warm, chuckle-inducing tale of romance and mishaps as Lisette finds her feet in Paris, the city of love. Eighteen-year-old Lisette has always lived by the rules her precise, seamstress mother has created. They prevent life from chipping and cracking. But perhaps they also keep you forever in the same place… In her Gap year, Lisette fulfils her Francophile mother’s dream and goes to Paris (France!) – the city of haute couture and all things stylish – to practise her French and see great works of art. But Lisette’s Paris threatens to not be the big, risky adventure she needs until her concierge, Madame Christophe the clairvoyant, insists she take French lessons with a bunch of international art students. Soon Lise discovers she’s more interested in studying than art or verbs… When the undeniably hot Anders jogs into her life it feels too good to be true. Things get even more complicated when she is pursued by Hugo, a charming English antiques dealer.

…Award winning author Catherine Bateson Could Lise really be falling in love – in Paris? captures the adventure and romance of the City And can she take a chance and follow her own of Love as vintage-mad Lise discovers her calling dreams? after a few bumpy starts… Lisette is a likeable protagonist with just the right mix of angst First published as a poet, Catherine Bateson grew up and sass as she struggles with unexpected and in a family of writers and spent most of her childhood potentially life-changing decisions… a fun and in her mother’s second-hand bookshop. She has twice very readable coming-of-age story for teenagers won the CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers, with an interest in fashion, travel and life after and been awarded the Queensland Premier’s Award, high school. Reading Time Younger Readers. She has written more than a dozen …fun, entertaining and atmospheric. novels for young adults and younger readers and we are Recommended for fans of Anna and the French thrilled to have a novel of hers on the A&U list. Kiss aged 13 and up. Australian Book Review www.catherine-bateson.com

January 2017 • 198x128mm • PB • 288pp • World Rights

22 YOUNG ADULT FICTION AGES 15+

THE THINGS WE PROMISE J. C. Burke

This powerful story will engage teenagers while opening their eyes to the important social history of the early 1990s, when paranoia about the HIV/AIDS epidemic was at its peak. I can sense ‘bad’ coming. Sometimes I sense it early. Sometimes it’s not till it’s almost on top of me. It’s the early 1990s and all Gemma can think about is looking perfect for her first school formal. Gemma’s older brother Billy – New York’s up and coming hair and make-up artist – has made her the ultimate promise: he’s going to come home especially to ‘create magic’ on her and two friends for their end-of- year formal. Gemma’s best friend, Andrea, is convinced it’ll be their moment to shine. But when Billy arrives, something is wrong. He’s tired and ragged and incredibly thin. Gemma’s life becomes complicated. Her family’s been keeping secrets; friendships are forged and …Diverse, rich multi-layered characters stand broken; and suddenly the length of her formal out and just keep giving until you know them dress is the least of her worries. so well you can see them and hear their voice. Not many YA novels can manage this so well… Set in a time of uncertainty and fear,The Things Burke also nails teen behaviour and dialogue We Promise is a beautifully told novel that sings (with a sprinkle of humour) and it's through great dialogue that the characters become fully with emotion, humour and heartbreak. fleshed. Gemma is a great protagonist. She's innocent, loving, fearful, brave, strong and a deep thinker… An excellent and impressive depiction of the divisive and frightening time when AIDS first appeared on the social, political and personal landscape. An outstanding portrayal of an AIDS hospital ward and the heartbreaking suffering, humiliation, loneliness, prejudice and fear experienced by AIDS patients whilst being cared for and supported by devoted staff.Kids Book Review J.C. Burke has published a number of highly acclaimed books for teenagers and young adults, including her bestselling, hard-hitting multi-award-winning novel The Story of Tom Brennan. Jane is a popular and engaging speaker at schools and festivals. www.jcburke.com.au

March 2017 • 198x128mm • PB • 352pp • World Rights

23 YOUNG ADULT FICTION AGES 13–18

MY LIFE AS A HASHTAG Gabrielle Williams

From the highly acclaimed author of The Gabrielle Williams Guy, the Girl, the Artist and His Ex comes this funny, heartfelt novel about rage, regret and the pitfalls of life in the digital age. A novel for anyone who has ever wished they hadn’t pressed SEND… I wanted to yell out my window like a shaggy- headed girl from the seventies: I’M MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE! Except it would just be me. Me yelling out the window into the storm, and no-one else caring. I wanted to vent on a grand scale, but the world wasn’t interested. 1,400,172 What happens when your parents have split My life as up; your mum’s trawling Tinder; and one of your best friends has decided not to invite a hashtag you to the biggest party of the year, which A movement. A phenomenon. A complete and utter disaster. you watch unfolding on everyone else’s social media? Review quotes for The Guy, the Girl, the Artist and his Ex: You get MAD AS HELL, that’s what you do. ‘A winning, offbeat romp for all ages.’Kirkus (USA) MC’s life is disintegrating in the most public ‘Each character is believable, and readers will find way possible, but what begins as one girl’s themselves invested in their tales. An intriguing and twisting plot keeps readers turning the pages #MadAsHell moment quickly turns into to discover how the relatable characters connect.’ something else. A movement. A phenomenon. School Library Journal (USA) A complete and utter disaster.

Gabrielle Williams has been described by The Age reviewer Cameron Woodhead as ‘one of the funniest young adult fiction authors around’. In the name of research, she has spent time underground with a clandestine group called the Cave Clan, conducted a series of in-depth interviews with a group of notorious art thieves, and spent some time animating strawberries and trawling Tinder. She is the author of the critically acclaimed YA novels Beatle Meets Destiny, The Reluctant Hallelujah and The Guy, the Girl, the Artist and His Ex, all of which have been shortlisted for a number of prestigious awards. Gab lives in Melbourne, and has also worked as an advertising copywriter and bookseller.

June 2017 • 198x128mm • PB • 288pp • World Rights

24 YOUNG ADULT FICTION AGES 14–18

LIVING ON HOPE STREET Demet Divaroren

An authentic, fierce and compassionate young adult novel that shines a light on contemporary society. With unforgettable characters, this heartfelt debut explores cross-cultural friendships, difficult family relationships, racism and redemption. We all love someone. We all fear something. Sometimes they live right next door – or even closer. Kane will do everything he can to save his mother and his little brother Sam from the violence of his father, even if it means becoming a monster himself. Mrs Aslan will protect the boys no matter what – even though her own family is in pieces. Ada wants a family she can count on, while she faces new questions about her own identity. Mr Bailey is afraid of the refugees next door, not knowing that his worst fear will strike in another form. And Gugulethu and her family are just trying to make a life away from terror. On this street, everyone comes from different places, but to find peace they will have to discover what unites them.

Praise for Coming of Age: ‘Coming of Age is the kind of book that will change how readers look at the world, at others and themselves... Together, the stories expose common threads of hope, love, belief and belonging—and the intense alienation and discrimination experienced by the authors. Their individual paths to coming of age, coloured with many shades of humour, warmth, sadness, anger, determination and honesty, will resonate with readers from all backgrounds and beliefs.’ Books & Publishing (4.5 stars)

Demet Divaroren is the co-editor of the CBCA short-listed Coming of Age: Growing up Muslim in Australia. Demet was born in Adana, Turkey, and migrated to Australia with her family when she was six months old. She teaches creative writing at TAFE and writes fiction and non-fiction exploring life, love and the complexities of human emotions. www.demetdivaroren.com

June 2017 • 198x128mm • PB • 256pp • World Rights

25 YOUNG ADULT FICTION AGES 13–18

FALLING—20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Anne Provoost, translated by John Nieuwenhuizen

A powerful, disturbing book about racial tensions, intolerance, and the seductive appeal of right-wing extremism, this story explores the difficult pathways of love, fear, anger and R V E S A I R N Y N

A forgiveness.

E 20thN D I T I O Through a long summer of oppressive heat and suspense, Lucas becomes aware of many things he does not understand. What can his grandfather have done during the war to provoke such hostility in his own home town? Why is there growing crime and tension in the neighbourhood? What is his attitude to immigrants and refugees? How should he respond to his new friend, Benoit, whose arguments confuse and compel him, or to Caitlin, with her enigmatic ways and her beautiful, sad dancing? And how should he act when the crisis comes? A deep, disturbing book about the inexorable influence of the past on the present, the seductive power of extreme nationalism and racism, the complexities of moral and political choice, and the gulf between intentions and consequences; a haunting story of love, fear, anger and forgiveness. Falling was first published in Belgium and has won six major literary awards, topped bestseller lists and been translated into many languages. This 20th-anniversary edition shows that its themes of nationalism, neo-fascism and immigration are as relevant as ever. Belgian writer Anne Provoost is the author of a series of provocative novels that examine topics as varied as right-wing extremism, sexual abuse, and religion through the eyes of young protagonists. Falling was made into an English-language feature film. She is a member of the Royal Academy of Dutch Language and Literature and a member of PEN. Her works have been published in eighteen different languages. Falling, first published in Belgium as Vallen, has won five literary prizes in Europe. John Nieuwenhuizen is an Australian-based, award-winning translator of Dutch and Flemish literature. In 2007, John was awarded the NSW Premier’s Translation Prize and PEN Medallion. In 2015 he was recognised with an IBBY Australia Honour Book award for Translation for his translation of Nine Open Arms by Benny Lindelauf.

July 2017 (first published in English in September 1997) • 198x128mm • PB 320pp • World English Language Rights

26 YOUNG ADULT FICTION AGES 14–ADULTS

MY LOVELY FRANKIE Judith Clarke

A masterful, moving story about a teenage boy caught between faith and love, by one of MY Australia's finest YA writers. It compellingly ovely explores the Catholic Church's plagued L – relationship with homosexuality. Frankie believed in Heaven quite literally, as if it was another lovely world out past the stars. rankie And when he spoke the word love, it seemed to F spring free and fly into the air like a beautiful / balloon you wanted to run after. But I couldn’t

Frankie was tell my parents about Frankie, not properly. I told thing them I’d made friends with the boy in the room the best next to mine, and how he’d come from this little in my world town out west. I couldn’t tell them how he was becoming the best thing in my world. I couldn’t JUDITH tell anyone, I hardly admitted it to myself. In the 1950s, ‘entering’ the seminary was for CLARKE ever, and young boys were gathered into the priesthood before they were old enough to know what they would lose. Tom went to St Finbar’s because he was looking for something more than the ordinary of his home and school. Sometimes he could even sense God’s hand stretched tenderly above his head… But then he discovered that being able to love another person was the most important thing. For Tom, loving Frankie made him part of the world. Even when Frankie was gone… This new novel is classic Judith Clarke territory exploring longing, love, beauty and what it is to live a good life. As always there is a deceptive simplicity about Judith’s writing – making it easy to read but rich with meaning. It is brilliantly judged and deeply affecting.

Judith Clarke is major force in YA fiction. Her novels include the multi-award-winning Wolf on the Fold, as well as Friend of My Heart, Night Train, Starry Nights, and the very popular and funny Al Capsella series. Kalpana's Dream was named an Honor Book in the prestigious Boston Globe/Horn Book Awards and One Whole and Perfect Day was an Honor Book in the American Library Association's prestigious Michael L. Printz Awards for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. The Winds of Heaven was named an Honour Book in the 2010 CBCA Book of the Year awards and shortlisted for the inaugural Prime Minister's Literary Award.

July 2017 • 198x128mm • PB • 224pp • World Rights

27 YOUNG ADULT FICTION AGES 14–18

GAP YEAR IN GHOST TOWN Michael Pryor

Anton Marin and his father are on high alert after a spike in ghost manifestations. Anton wants to help the ghosts. Rani Cross wants to slice and dice them. And they both need to work together to keep the city safe. A smart, snappy, funny and scary ghost-hunting adventure. The Marin family are outcasts of the ghost hunting world. They run a two-man operation in inner-city Melbourne. Eighteen-year old Anton has the ghost-sight, but his father does not. Rani Cross is supremely skilled in hand-to-hand combat, with enhanced speed and strength thanks to her magical initiation into the Company of the Righteous. This initiation has come at a cost, however – Rani’s memory of her late parents was sacrificed. When it comes to ghost-hunting methodology, Anton and Rani don’t see eye to eye – Anton Draft Cover Draft likes to ‘ease their passage’ to the next world, while Rani’s all about the slashing. But the city is under threat; with a massive spike in violent ghost manifestations, Anton and Rani must find a way to work together to keep supernatural forces at bay. Anton Marin's narrative voice is a delightful mash-up of brash, insecure, confident and self- deprecating. He's a classic outsider with nerdy home-school credentials; fully aware of his place in the world, wry, cynical and funny.

Michael Pryor is one of Australia’s premier Science Fiction and Fantasy authors. He has published more than thirty-five books and over fifty short stories including his bestselling Laws of Magic series. Michael has been shortlisted seven times for the Aurealis Awards and seven of his books have been CBCA Notable Books. www.michaelpryor.com.au.

August 2017 • 208x138mm • PB • 336pp • World Rights

28 PICTUREAUSTRALIAN BOOKS CHILDREN'S LAUREATE

Allen & Unwin is proud to represent the outrageously talented Leigh Hobbs: Australian Children's Laureate for 2016 and 2017

Leigh Hobbs' subversive humour has delighted children for more than two decades. He works across a wide range of artistic mediums, but is best known for his children's books featuring Old Tom, Horrible Harriet, Fiona the Pig, the Freaks of 4F, Mr Badger and Mr Chicken, for which he has won every major Australian children's choice award. Old Tom is also a popular TV series, and Mr Chicken is a bestseller at Paris's Louvre bookshop as well as featuring alongside Horrible Harriet in a theatrical adaptation which opens at the Sydney Opera House in April 2017. Since childhood, Leigh's had a passion for art, architecture, classical music, English history, and he loves London, Paris and Rome as much as his beloved and hilarious characters.

Leigh is with us here in Bologna – HOORAY!

LEIGH HOBBS