Letter from London

Julia Eccleshare -- Publishers Weekly, 1/11/1999

A Harry Potter film deal leads the latest news from across the pond

Harry Potter, the schoolboy wizard, who has cast a spell over children and adults alike, takes off into a new medium with the sale of the film rights. In October Warner paid an undisclosed seven-figure sum for the rights to the first two titles (from which one film will be made). Unlike many recent "family films," Harry Potter will be acted rather than animated, as expressly wished by J.K. Rowling.

The Harry Potter phenomenon continues to dominate the U.K. trade market and bestseller lists. The first title, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, has now been successfully published as an adult title, while continuing to sell in both hardcover and paperback as a children's title. The sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, has already, like its predecessor, won the Smarties prize (chosen by children) and has been shortlisted for the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year. Philosopher's Stone has sold 230,000 copies to date in all editions, while Chamber of Secrets has sold 81,880 copies in hardcover and will be issued in paperback this month. The third Harry Potter title will be published in July.

Puffin Buys Ahlberg Catalog

Allan Ahlberg heads to Puffin.

Penguin Children's Books have paid an undisclosed sum for the rights to the joint Janet and Allan Ahlberg titles, previously published by Reed Children's Books. The husband and wife team worked together creating picture books, p try books and stories from 1975 until Janet's death in 1994. Titles such as Burglar Bill, Each Peach Pear Plum, The Baby's Catalogue and The Jolly Postman were published variously by Reed Children's Books (then Heinemann) and Penguin, with occasional titles as special deals for other publishers.

The recent sale of Reed Children's Books to Egmont allowed Allan Ahlberg the opportunity to renegotiate the contracts and put all the shared titles into the hands of one publisher. Philippa Milnes-Smith, managing director of Penguin Children's Books, says, "We are absolutely thrilled to have all the work that Allan and Janet did together in one house. We will reoriginate all the books with digitized artwork." The books are scheduled for release this coming fall. Penguin's sales of the Ahlbergs' titles have now topped six million.

Ladybird Moves to London

Ladybird Books, brought by Pearson in 1971 and run as a flourishing business reporting independently, is to move from Loughborough at the end of March, with the loss of 210 jobs. The new Ladybird team will relocate to the main Penguin offices in London and 40 new jobs will be created. Current publishing director Michael Herridge will become managing director of Ladybird and join the main Penguin board.

"Certainly, it's very sad for Loughborough, but Ladybird is very much a part of growing up in the U.K. and we'll go forward publishing to the strengths of the Ladybird brand," Herridge said. "Essentially, we are closing our manufacturing operation and moving distribution to Harmondsworth. Despite our move to London, Ladybird's individuality and its strengths and skills will continue as a clearly defined unit. We will maintain our editorial independence and work alongside Puffin and Warne."

The Ladybird business, with its strong home learning list and Disney tie-in titles, has been a highly profitable part of the Penguin business. Its separate location is historical rather than strategic and moving it to London brings all the Penguin companies under one roof.

Anthony Ant on TV

Anthony Art airs on the BBC this month, and in the States in February.

HIT Entertainment and the Canadian broadcaster YTV are co-producing a TV animation of Anthony Ant, based on the Amazing Anthony Ant titles, which were first published by Orion in 1993. There are currently eight Anthony Ant titles, which feature Anthony in his colony in Antville. The ant's world is a very structured one based on a mutually supportive and caring community, themes the 26-episode TV series will explore. The film has been made by the Canadian animation studio Funbag under the direction of Kate Fawkes, managing director of HIT Productions. The series will be broadcast on children's BBC this month and on the new HBO Family channel in the States in February.

The Children's Laureate

The Children's Laureate, a new honor announced in November, was the brainchild of the late p t laureate Ted Hughes and children's author Michael Morpurgo. It will be awarded biennially to an eminent living British writer or illustrator of children's books both to celebrate a lifetime's achievement and to spotlight the role of children's book creators in making the readers of the future.

A list of 20 authors and illustrators has already been drawn up from 76 nominations made by those inside and outside the children's book field. A shortlist will be announced this month and the winner will be announced in April.

Reactions to the idea of a Children's Laureate have been mixed, with some authors fearing an excessive workload if they are to speak for children's writers in general. The organizers are adamant that this will not be the case and that wh ver becomes the first Children's Laureate will adapt the job to their particular skills and interests. Raising the profile of children's writers will be the first priority of any laureate, who among other things, it is hoped, will be the subject of radio and television interviews.

Awards in the News

The prestigious Eleanor Farjeon Award, presented annually by the Children's Book Circle, has been won by Gina Pollinger. Gina has been an exceptional agent for the last 25 years, representing prize-winning authors and illustrators such as Penelope Lively, Anne Fine, Berlie Doherty and Martin Waddell. Gina made an impassioned acceptance speech, urging all her successors to pin their faith on the motto "only the best will do."

The Gold Award winner in the three categories of the 1998 Rowntree Nestle Smarties Prizes were as follows: 0-5 Cowboy Baby by Sue Heap (Walker); 6-9 The Last Golddiggers by Harry Horse (Penguin) and 9-11 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (Bloomsbury).The winner of the Kurt Maschler/ Emil Award was Anthony Browne for Voices in the Park. The runners-up were Quentin Blake for The Green Ship and Zagazoo (Cape), Helen Cooper for Pumpkin Soup (Doubleday), Adrian Mitchell and Emma Chichester Clark for The Adventures of Robin Hood and Marion (Orchard) and Brian Wildsmith for Exodus (Oxford University Press).

The shortlist for the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (Bloomsbury), Skellig by David Almond (Hodder), Sweet Clarinet by James Riordan (OUP) and Abomination by Robert Swindells (Doubleday).