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Andersen Press has acquired two graphic-novel projects ahead of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair: Fred Fordham’s adaptation of Phil Earle’s bestselling, award-winning middle-grade When the Sky Falls, and a series for younger readers from debut author and illustrator Charley Rabbit.
Fiction editor Eloise Wilson orchestrated both deals. She secured world rights for Fordham’s art from Jenny Savill at Andrew Nurnberg Associates. Earle’s text was previously bought from Jodie Hodges at United Agents and subsequently sold into nine territories, plus audio. Meanwhile, world rights for Rabbit’s Monsieur Mustard: The Disappearance of Fabio Fangtooth, and another book, were snapped up from Lorna Hemingway at Bell Lomax Moreton. Rights have already been sold in France, Germany, Italy, Poland and for audio.
[...]Rabbit’s title is the first in a “charming” series focusing on “the number one (and smallest) detective in the world”. The first book, due in March 2026, sees Monsieur Mustard arriving in Bath, but just as he starts to sniff out his first mystery, “everything goes wrong: his detective bag is stolen, he is knocked off his feet and his monocle shatters. It appears not everyone is happy to have the world-famous detective in their city”.
Bath-based Rabbit’s previous illustration work includes a greetings-cards range, now stocked in more than 400 retailers across the UK. She said: “Monsieur Mustard and his mysteries have been scuttling around in my imagination for quite some time now, so to see him come to life is a dream come true. ”
Wilson added: "From the first moment I set eyes on an illustration of Monsieur Mustard I knew I had something very special in my hands. Charley Rabbit’s illustrations and graphic novel pages are fresh, funny and oozing with flair. Her ability to weave a mystery with real twists and turns for young readers is second to none.”
