Moon + Bird to publish 13-year-old debut author Marco Anderson’s picture book

Moon + Bird, an imprint of Watkins Media Ltd, has picked up a picture book from 13-year-old debut author Marco Anderson, for the company’s new children’s book imprint, with Erica Salcedo providing illustrations.

Etan Ilfeld, managing director of Watkins Media brokered world all-language rights with the author directly and via Will Drayson at Advocate Art on behalf of Salcedo.

Anderson wrote the book at age 12 as a way to process the isolation he and his peers experienced during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when their social and educational lives were reduced to their singular households.

The publisher described it as a “hilarious picture book about a young boy who wants his book to be about nothing, only to discover that ’nothing’ isn’t quite what he expects”.

According to Moon + Bird, “the book contains an important message of the struggle many children faced to make friends following the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown”.

Moon + Bird will release the book in the UK; Moon + Bird distributes their books in the US, Canada and outside the UK worldwide through Penguin Random House Publisher Services.

Ilfeld said: “I was instantly captivated by Marco’s imaginative concept when he first pitched this wonderful book. I shared the first draft with my daughter, who was five at the time, and she loved it too. With its playful exploration of ’nothing’, this story inspires young readers to think outside the box, sparking their imaginations and revealing endless possibilities.

“Moon + Bird is committed to publishing empowering books that open children’s eyes to the wonder around them, and it’s been an absolute joy to help Marco bring his vision to life.”

Laura Whitaker-Jones, head of Moon + Bird, said: “Given that The Children’s Society recently shared that one in six children aged 2 to 6 suffer from a mental, behavioural or developmental disorder, we felt this book was an imperative addition to the children’s publishing market. It is also our hope that This Book is About Nothing will spark conversations between young people and their peers, as well as between caregivers and children, around the importance of making friends and setting proper mental health boundaries early in life.”

This Book is About Nothing will be published globally on 25th November.