Jade McGrath

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The Week Junior Sufiya Ahmed Competition Terms and Conditions

THE WEEK JUNIOR SUFIYA AHMED EVENT COMPETITION TERMS AND CONDITIONS 

These terms and conditions together with any specific rules set out in a competition apply to competitions run by the Little Tiger Press Limited (including The Week Junior Competition in Issue 460), unless otherwise expressly stated. By entering a competition, entrants agree to be bound by these rules. 

Rules specific to each competition will be displayed. In the event of discrepancy between the main terms and individual competition conditions, the individual competition conditions will prevail. 

  • Only one entry per school. 
  • We require the entrant’s name, email address, and full school postal address. 
  • Applicants must be resident in the UK or Eire (competitions are not open to anyone outside the UK and Eire). 
  • Every entry will be considered fairly. 
  • By entering the competition, you hereby warrant that all information submitted by you is true, current and complete. 
  • Unless otherwise specified in the competition rules, prize winners will be chosen at random from all qualifying entries within 30 days of the closing date specified in the Competition Notice.
  • Prize winners will be notified in the manner and within the time frame specified in the Competition Notice. Return of any prize notification as undeliverable or failure to reply as specified in the notification within the time stated therein may result in disqualification and selection of an alternative winner. If more than one prize is awarded only one prize per entrant will be awarded. 
  • The decision on winners by the Little Tiger Press Limited is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 
  • Prizes are non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. Little Tiger Press Limited reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value at any time. 
  • All taxes, insurances, transfers, spending money and other expenses (including meals or personal expenses, upgrades, etc.) as the case may be, unless specifically stated, are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. 
  • Competitions are not open to employees of Little Tiger Press Limited and their immediate family or any company involved in the competition. 
  • Proof of posting cannot be accepted as proof of delivery. Little Tiger Press Limited cannot accept responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft, destruction, alteration of, or unauthorised access to entries, or entries lost or delayed whether or not arising during operation or transmission as a result of server functions, virus, bugs or other causes outside its control. 
  • Little Tiger Press Limited reserves the right to disqualify any entrant if it has reasonable ground to believe the entrant has breached any of these terms and conditions. 
  • In the event that any entrant is disqualified from the competition, Little Tiger Press Limited in its sole discretion may decide whether a replacement contestant should be selected. In this event, any further entrant will be selected on the same criteria as the original entrant and will be subject to these rules. 
  • By entering the competition entrants agree to receive messages by email, SMS or post from the Little Tiger Press Limited. Entrants may unsubscribe from these messages at any time. 
  • Little Tiger Press Limited reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition, the competition rules and competition period at any time without prior notice. 
  • In the event of any dispute regarding the competition rules, conduct, results and all other matters relating to a competition, the decision of Little Tiger Press Limited shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into. 
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Unlocking the World of Stories by Barry Timms

My new picture book Griselda Snook’s Spectacular Books is all about possibilities. It’s about the magical worlds that open wide when we reach for a book or enter a bookshop.

This was exciting to me as a child, and remains so deep into my adulthood. It motivates me as an author – the opportunity both to open up new worlds for young readers and to entertain myself by exploring worlds of my own making.

Of course, when I’m writing, the idea has to be ‘right’. It needs to speak to me in some way, chipping away at an unanswered question or filling me with an infectious sense of What if…? Without this, either writer’s block or boredom will hit. My mind goes into a knot or floats off elsewhere. It’s much the same for children, I think, when they haven’t found the book that’s right for them.

Picture books are primarily stories to be shared. Parents and carers round off a youngster’s day by performing a little theatre show, weaving story-time magic from funny voices, join-in moments and goodnight cuddles. But what about when the child is older and must create this booky magic for themselves?

What if the child doesn’t feel sufficient passion for the story in front of them? What if facts about the Ancient Egyptians just aren’t their thing and they’d rather geek out over monster trucks? Perhaps they need someone to direct them towards a more appropriate book. Or to put their passion into words and say that yes, of course, there’s a book about that too!

The internet helps, of course, but it wasn’t there when I was growing up. I’m so grateful to the patient teachers, librarians and booksellers of my childhood who empowered me to seek out the books I wanted and needed. These opened up not just whole new worlds, but new chapters in my life.

There’s a feeling I still get today when holding a book that feels full of promise. Here we go . . . Buckle up for a whole new chapter! Learning to read is the key that unlocks it all. The key to the world, perhaps. Each and every child has a right to it.

It’s no accident, perhaps, that Griselda Snook’s Spectacular Books begins with our young hero Henry finding a key in the street. And — oh — what a journey he’s in for!

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The inspiration behind Knowing the Score by Ros Roberts

When I was 4 years old, my Aunty Jen, who I adored, asked me to be her bridesmaid. I said no, emphatically no. No-one knew why. No-one could convince me to change my mind. It made no sense to my family. I loved to dress up, loved my aunty.

On the wedding day, my sister wore a beautiful, pink gown, carried a posy of flowers and everyone complimented her. I wasn’t jealous. I knew my decision was right. We got in the car to go home and I was mystified when my sister climbed in. You see, I truly believed at the age of four that if you were someone’s bridesmaid, you then had to go and live with them. I liked my parents and my bedroom, thank you very much.

The memories of that decision, that one moment when my sister got into the car are SO clear; the realization that I could, after all have worn that dress and walked down the aisle following my aunty. I had got it so wrong, but no one had ever thought of course, that I had that thought in my mind!

Ros and her family aged four

Readers of Knowing the Score will see moments of this bridesmaid story in the book. I am fascinated by memories; how we grasp at them, struggle to make the pieces fit. It’s like the feeling when you wake from a dream, madly scrabbling to remember what happened. Gemma has so much of this in her mind – fragments of memories of when she was a five-year-old bridesmaid at her uncle’s wedding, of things that have happened over the years with her mum and the family fall out. She can never quite make those memories fit together but she is determined to find out the truth and try to heal the rift.

Knowing the Score is about healing and forgiveness. It is about courage and determination. In her quest to reunite Gran, Uncle Joe and her Mum, Gemma has to dig deep, ask difficult questions and push to get answers. It is a story driven by this incredible 11-year-old, determined to bring her family back together.

About the time I sadly refused to be a bridesmaid, I also picked up a tennis racket. Tennis was played by all my family. Trips to Wimbledon, summers playing tournaments, winters driving miles to an indoor court – the best of memories.  I’ve played all my life and always wanted to set a book with a tennis background. I won’t ever be a Noel Streatfield but reading Tennis shoes when I was a teenage made me so unbelievably happy. Tennis is for everyone. If one child reads Gemma’s story and gives it a go, picks up a racket, then I will be truly thrilled. If not, maybe someone will rescue a cat and call him something crazy like Carrot Cake – either of those two things would make me a very happy writer indeed.

 

 

 

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Acquisition Announcement: Wintour’s Game, an action-packed new teen series from Brían Dungan.

Little Tiger has acquired Wintour’s Game, the first in an action-packed new teen series from Brían Dungan.

Karelle Tobias, Junior Editor at Little Tiger, acquired world all language rights from Helen Boyle at Pickled Ink in a three-book deal. Wintour’s Game will be published in August 2024, with book two and three to follow in Summer 2025 and Summer 2026 respectively.

Alex Wintour has only got this far in life by living off her wits. Well, that and an ability to see glimpses of the future. Then a robbery goes wrong, and her path is set on a collision course with the enigmatic teen millionaire Colman Reece, who needs her help for the heist of a lifetime.

But with high-speed car chases, a sinister sect on her tail and the hunt for a mysterious weapon underway, Alex soon learns that even being able to see the future doesn’t always give you the winning hand…

Perfect for fans of Artemis Fowl, Alex Rider and Lockwood & Co.

Karelle Tobias, Junior Editor said:

Brían’s writing hooked me from the very first chapter. Wintour’s Game is a pacy, cinematic thrill from start to finish, with compelling world building and a cast of dynamic characters that leap off the page. It’s been such a joy working with Brían to develop this incredible series, and I cannot wait for readers to meet Alex Wintour and explore the time bending society she’s drawn into.

Brían Dungan said:

Telling stories has always been something I’ve loved to do. But from the day I met Alex Wintour, it’s something I’ve had to do. Her vitality, vulnerability, audacity and rebellious teen spirit simply refused to be kept off the page. I couldn’t be happier to have found a home for her at Little Tiger and that we finally get to share the voice that’s been ringing so loudly in my head! Wintour. Is. Coming.

Little Tiger will publish Wintour’s Game in August 2024.

Born in Dublin, Brían splits his time between his family, his day job in film and television and his passion for writing. As a camera assistant, Brían has worked on projects as varied as Game of Thrones, The Last Duel, Derry Girls and Black Mirror. Now turning to novel-writing, Brían aims to be the latest in a long and distinguished line of published authors from his hometown of Skerries, where he lives with his long-suffering wife and three daughters.

Author social media handles:

Instagram: @briandungan1

 

 

 

 

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Acquisition Announcement: I’m Going to Make a Friend, the first ever picture book from Darren Chetty.

Little Tiger has acquired I’m Going to Make a Friend, the first ever picture book from Darren Chetty.

Maudie Powell Tuck, Senior Commissioning Editor at Little Tiger, acquired world rights from Rachel Mann at JULA (now at CAA) in a three-book deal. I’m Going to Make a Friend will publish in hardback in May 2025 and is illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat.

Sometimes it feels impossible to make a new friend. There are so many questions! Will they play how I want to play? Will they have other friends, or like me most of all? Will they hug me when I’m sad, or give me space? In the end, the only thing you can do is to dive in and give it a go.

Stephanie Stansbie, Editorial Director said:

We’re thrilled to be embarking on a relationship with philosopher and author Darren Chetty, who will offer young readers bold and refreshing new perspectives. In his first picture book, Darren cuts straight to the heart of the myriad of emotions – the vulnerability and courage – that it takes to form meaningful relationships. While Sandhya Prabhat’s bright, funny characters and magical illustrations illuminate this heart-warming, original take on the pursuit of friendship.

Darren Chetty said:

Friendships matter when we’re young – and they never stop mattering. I really wanted to write a story about moving house and making friends while also celebrating the power of the imagination. I hope that readers will find the space to enter into the world of the book.  I’m absolutely delighted to be working with Little Tiger on my first picture book!

Little Tiger will publish I’m Going to Make a Friend in May 2025.

Darren Chetty is a Welsh Indian South African Dutch Londoner. He teaches in primary schools and at university and writes for people of all ages. He loves football and music and collects children’s books, snow globes and toy robots.

Author social media handles: Instagram: @rapclassroom | Twitter/X: @rapclassroom

Sandhya Prabhat is an independent animator and illustrator based in the Bay Area, California, and is from Chennai, India. She holds an MFA Degree in Animation and Digital Arts from NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia and a Bachelor’s Degree in Literature from Stella Maris College.

Illustrator social media handles: Instagram and Twitter/X: @sandhyaprabhat 

 

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Acquisition Announcement: Eric Huang’s East Asian mythology-inspired series

Little Tiger has acquired Guardians of the New Moon – an adventurous young fiction series inspired by East Asian mythology from Eric Huang, illustrated by Quang and Liên.

Senior Commissioning Editor Mattie Whitehead acquired world rights for four books directly from the author. Whitehead will be working editorially with Charlotte Leung, Editorial Assistant. Kimberley Chen, Designer, acquired illustration rights from Doreen Thorogood at Good Illustration Agency.

Little Tiger will publish books one and two in January 2025, books three and four will follow.

The Jade Emperor is bored. Having just created the world, he wants something to pass the eternity of time! So, he comes up with a brilliant idea – a Great Race! All creatures on Earth will be invited to compete, from the tiny Rat to the great Water Dragon. And the first twelve to complete the race will have a year in the zodiac cycle named after them forevermore.

Temple cat Miaow finds himself (reluctantly) joining the race, where he meets Ming, a spirited and fiery nine-tailed fox determined to become his best friend. The reserved Miaow gradually warms to Ming but when Miaow begins to make other friends, Ming’s bubbling insecurity and impulsivity spill over, causing a series of accidents that disrupts the race and endangers the racers. Will the pair (and their friendship) make it to the finish line?

The first book tells the story of the Great Race – the twelve winners of which make up the Chinese zodiac – and introduces readers to the characters. The first two books will publish to coincide with Lunar New Year, and the series will see Ming and Miaow taking on their new roles as Guardians of the New Moon. Their job: to visit the titular animal at the start of each lunar new year and help ensure the success of that year. And so, the adventure continues…

Mattie Whitehead and Charlotte Leung said:

Packed with humour, magic and fun-filled adventure, we are so excited to be publishing the Guardians of the New Moon series. With Eric’s gorgeous writing and characters that bounce off the page, and beautifully illustrated by Quang and Liên, the series is a perfect celebration of East Asian mythology for younger readers. We can’t wait to join Ming and Miaow and see how the winners of the race cope with their newfound fame!

Eric Huang said:

When my sister and I were growing up in California, our dad told us bedtime stories based on East Asian legends his mother told him when he was a boy in China. He often made us the protagonists of these magical sagas, the ones saving the day after inadvertently wreaking havoc that shook heaven and earth. The Guardians of the New Moon series is inspired by these stories. They’re original adventures that mix the twelve animals of the Lunar Zodiac with magical creatures and unpredictable gods amidst the accidental chaos created by a young cat and nine-tailed fox.”

Quang and Liên said:

The story of the Great Race of Zodiac animals is popular in Asian culture – we grew up with it. It’s interesting to redraw them in a fun way. All of them – Miaow, Ming, Su, Tu Di Gong and the Jade Emperor – come alive in Eric Huang’s writing, we love reading their story. Their actions and expressions appear immediately to us when we read so we just move them onto the paper. And finally, through their story we learn that trying to achieve a goal is important, but the most important thing is finding true friends on the way.    

Eric Huang has always been fascinated by legends and lore. As a boy, he was determined to find real-life dragons, so he studied palaeontology at university. Reality didn’t live up to his Jurassic Park dreams, though, and he found himself working as secretary at Disney Publishing, launching a career in children’s books. Since then, Eric has held editor and publisher positions on three continents, including at Penguin Australia and Penguin UK. Eric lives in London with his boyfriend Brian and cat McNulty. He’s a podcaster, writer, and lecturer at City University of London’s Masters in Publishing programme.

Author social media handles: Twitter/X: @dinoboy89 | Instagram: @EricHuangBooks

 

From their Saigon studio, Quang and Liên work seamlessly as a duo, creating their stunning artwork using a mix of watercolour, acrylic and digital. Inspired by the folk culture of Vietnam and Asia, this incredibly talented award-winning Vietnamese author-illustrator partnership produce the most beautifully vibrant and poignant stories. Select clients include: Google, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Scholastic, Macmillan, Lerner, Workman, Little Tiger Press, Templar/Bonnier, Charlesbridge, What on Earth Books.

Illustrator social media handles: Instagram: @kaaillustration | Website: https://www.kaaillustration.com/

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Acquisition Announcement: Desert Echoes, a propulsive YA novel from Stonewall Honor-winning author Abdi Nazemian.

Little Tiger has acquired Desert Echoes, a propulsive YA novel from Stonewall Honor-winning author Abdi Nazemian.

Mattie Whitehead, Senior Commissioning Editor at Little Tiger, acquired UK & Commonwealth rights from Charlotte Bodman at Rights People, on behalf of John Cusick and Chiara Panzeri at Folio Literary Management, for publication on 29th September 2024

Fifteen-year-old Kam is head over heels for Ash, the boy who swept him off his feet. But his family and best friend, Bodie, are worried. They struggle to understand Ash. He also has a habit of disappearing, at times for days. When Ash asks Kam to join him on a trip to Joshua Tree, the two of them walk off into the sunset … but only Kam returns.

Two years later, Kam is still left with a hole in his heart and too many unanswered questions. So it feels like fate when a school trip takes him back to Joshua Tree. On the trip, Kam wants to find closure about what happened to Ash, but instead finds himself in danger of facing a similar fate. In the desert, Kam must reckon with the truth of his past relationship – and the possibility of opening himself up to love once again.

Desert Echoes is a moving story about human resilience and connection from the author of Only This Beautiful Moment. Perfect for fans of Last Night at the Telegraph Club, The Great Godden and If You Still Recognise Me.

Mattie Whitehead, Senior Commissioning Editor said:

We were so proud to publish Only This Beautiful Moment in the UK last year, and with Desert Echoes I was similarly drawn into the story. Abdi writes so perfectly for YA readers – combining the everyday lives of teenagers with really important themes in such a natural and nuanced way. With thoughtful characters, intrigue and heart, readers will be gripped by Kam, Ash and Bodie’s story.

Abdi Nazemian said:

Desert Echoes is a deeply personal novel that explores the mystery and power of one of my favorite places, Joshua Tree. It’s an honor that Mattie and the Little Tiger team are bringing the book to one of my other favorite places, the UK. I hope readers in the UK and Commonwealth connect with this story about lost love, found love, and the healing that awaits us when we take the time to listen.  

Little Tiger will publish Desert Echoes in September 2024.

Abdi Nazemian is the author of Only This Beautiful Moment (a Stonewall Award Winner), Like a Love Story (a Stonewall Honor book), The Chandler Legacies and The Authentics. His novel The Walk-In Closet won the Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Debut Fiction. His screenwriting credits include the films The Artist’s Wife and The Quiet, and the television series The Village and Ordinary Joe. He has been an executive producer and associate producer on numerous films, including Call Me by Your Name, Little Woods, and The House of Tomorrow. He lives in Los Angeles with his husband, their two children, and their dog, Disco. Find him online at www.abdinazemian.com

Author social media handles: Instagram: @abdaddy and Twitter/X: @abdaddy

 

 

 

 

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Acquisition Announcement – Flash of Neon, a dazzling teen story from Carnegie shortlisted author Sophie Cameron.  

Little Tiger has acquired world rights to Flash of Neon, a dazzling teen story from Carnegie shortlisted author Sophie Cameron.

Mattie Whitehead, Senior Commissioning Editor at Little Tiger, acquired world all-language rights directly from Sophie Cameron for publication in paperback and eBook in May 2025.

Laurie loves stories. She loves reading them in her mums’ bookshop in their small Scottish town. She loves sharing them with new readers. She also loves telling stories about people she’s not yet met and places she’s not yet been. But when one of these people comes crashing into Laurie’s world, it turns her whole life upside down.

Neon is the boy Laurie’s been dreaming of for the last six months, and he’s exactly as she had created him – down to his ability to play any instrument he picks up. And when he steps off the train and into Laurie’s world, he teaches her what it means to be real.

Flash of Neon is a fantastical story about imagination and friendship from the author of Away with Words.

Mattie Whitehead, Senior Commissioning Editor said:

With each of Sophie’s books I’ve been instantly drawn in, falling in love with the characters, and Flash of Neon did just that. Sophie combines real world, fantasy and important relatable themes with beautiful writing, and the result is another super special story. We can’t wait for readers to meet Laurie, Neon and the whole creative cast of characters… 

Sophie Cameron said:

I’ve absolutely loved working with Mattie, Karelle and the rest of the Little Tiger team on my previous teen books and I feel very lucky to get to publish another story with them. Flash of Neon has been really fun to write and I can’t wait to introduce it to readers next year!

Little Tiger will publish Flash of Neon in May 2025.

Sophie Cameron is a YA and MG author from the Scottish Highlands. Her debut YA novel Out of the Blue was nominated for the Carnegie Medal 2019. Her debut MG novel Our Sister, Again won the Leeds Books Awards 2023 and her second MG novel Away with Words is on the shortlist for the Carnegie Medal 2024. She lives in Spain with her family.

Author social media handles

Instagram: @sophiecameronbooks

Twitter/X: @sophiemcameron