picture books

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Acquisition Announcement: Where Thunder Roars by Kati Närhi

Little Tiger has acquired Where Thunder Roars, an enchanting and stunningly illustrated picture book from Kati Närhi.

Editorial Director Stephanie Stansbie acquired world rights, all languages, for two books directly from Kati.

When Alma gets angry and yells at her mum, she marches off into a cupboard. There she is transported to an incredible otherworld, with raging storms, dark waters and a host of magical creatures.

Stephanie Stansbie said:

When our fabulous art director, Rebecca Essilifie, came across Kati’s work, we knew we had to work with her. Kati creates the kind of art that gives me the zing-zings – powerful, dramatic and atmospheric. Where Thunder Roars is an awesome allegory of anger and apology, with the hallmarks of a modern classic.

Kati Närhi said:

Sometimes it seems like strong emotions can transfer you to other places, and you need to find your way out – this is what Alma discovers in Where Thunder Roars. Stories with secret passages and portals to other worlds fascinated me as a child. Like Alma, I too was hot-tempered: in a fit of rage, I once burst my inflatable chair by biting it! This is my first picture book in English, and working with Little Tiger has been a great experience!

Little Tiger will publish Where Thunder Roars in May 2027.

 

Kati Närhi is an illustrator, writer and cartoonist from Helsinki, Finland. She lives by the seaside with her partner and a very demanding dachshund named Sylvi. Kati enjoys movies, books, walks with Sylvi and combinations of red and pink.

Instagram: @katinarhi

 

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Celebrating 10 years of POO IN THE ZOO!

Little Tiger is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the hilarious Poo in the Zoo series, written by Steve Smallman and illustrated by Ada Grey, with a brand-new sixth adventure called Poo in the Zoo: Unicorn Poo.

Commissioning Editor Perry Emerson acquired world rights, all languages, for the text from Tormenta Illustration and Literary Agency. Illustration rights were acquired from Jodie Hodges at United Agents.

Bob’s McGrew’s zoo gets a flamboyant, superstar make-over in the sixth instalment of this poop-tacular series.

Rose the unicorn is a superstar – flamboyant, fabulous and . . . a real demanding diva. The other animals try their best to make her feel welcome, but soon Rose is making everybody miserable with her never-ending list of demands. Will everything change when Rose rushes to do a poo? Could this be . . . the doo-doo of their dreams?

To further celebrate the 10th anniversary of the series, Little Tiger is also re-issuing the original books with new shiny foiled covers.

Perry Emerson said:

What a joy to be celebrating 10 years of Poo in the Zoo! Steve and Ada are a dream bookmaking duo, pairing Steve’s inexhaustible capacity for witty rhyme with Ada’s endless delight in illustrating even the silliest of poo jokes. Their innate sense of what makes children laugh creates books that readers reach for again, and again, and again. We are excited to continue to build on the success of this poop-tacular series with a fabulous new story featuring a not-so-fabulous unicorn and a bold new cover look for the brand.

Steve Smallman said:

I can’t quite believe that it’s ten years since Poo in the Zoo was first published! The lovely people at Little Tiger gave me the title and an open brief, what a gift! I had such fun writing it, trying very hard to make a story about poo sweet and funny. All the poo without the ‘Ewww!’

 Ada Grey’s charming illustrations have brought Little Bob McGrew, Hector Gloop, Arabella Slater and all their animal friends to warm and wonderful life and children across the world seem to have taken them to their hearts!

 Seeing little children dressed as Bob or Hector on World Book Day makes me so happy! Their latest adventure, (the sixth book in the series!) features Rose, a unicorn who may not be quite as fabulous as she seems! I loved writing it, I hope you love it too!

Ada Grey said:

I am so happy to be celebrating ten years of Poo in the Zoo! Steve Smallman and the fabulous team at Little Tiger are a pleasure to work with, and Unicorn Poo really is a joy. With all the usual silliness of poo, and the glamour of a Unicorn with several surprises along the way, it’s been so much fun to work on!

Little Tiger will publish Poo in the Zoo: Unicorn Poo in June 2027.

 

Steve Smallman worked as a children’s book illustrator for 20 years before he decided to ‘have a go’ at writing his own. Now, over 100 books later, he’s still at it! He visits schools, libraries and festivals, and paints murals too! When he’s not working, he enjoys holidays, watching TV, gardening and juggling grandchildren.

 Instagram: @stevesmallmanbooks

 

 

 

 

 

Ada was lucky enough to grow up in a family run bookshop, and inheriting her mum’s doodling ability, has been an illustrator for an embarrassingly long time. She lives on the south coast in the UK with a wild teenager and a tame tom cat, and is also a professional gardener.

 Instagram: @adagreyillo

 

 

 

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Acquisition Announcement: Yum Yum Dim Sum by Felicity Yeoh and Jasper Shaw

Little Tiger has acquired picture book Yum Yum Dim Sum from Felicity Yeoh, illustrated by Jasper Shaw, a magical and inspiring celebration of family, belonging and Chinese culture.

Commissioning Editor Perry Emerson acquired world rights, all languages, for the text from Hannah Sheppard at Hannah Sheppard Literary Agency. Illustration rights were acquired directly from the illustrator.

When Little Shu arrives for a dim sum lunch with all her relatives, it’s a bit overwhelming! How will she fit into her busy, bustling family? But when her aunt whisks her away on a fantastical adventure, Little Shu makes a host of new friends who help her find her place.

Perry Emerson said:

We are incredibly proud to be publishing Yum Yum Dim Sum on the Little Tiger list. This is a sumptuous book overflowing with warmth, laughter and adventure in which Felicity Yeoh weaves together themes of food, culture and family to tell the story of a little girl finding her place and celebrating her Chinese heritage. We were delighted to pair Felicity’s powerful story with illustrator Jasper Shaw, whose exquisite artwork transports readers into a magical world and captures the deliciousness of dim sum on every page. It truly is a book to touch the heart.

Felicity Yeoh said:

My family’s favourite thing is going out for dim sum with friends and visiting relatives, for special occasions or just ordinary weekends, so it’s a delight to invite readers across the world to join us. Yum Yum Dim Sum started off as a rhyme to help my children remember the names of their favourite dishes, but thanks to Perry and the brilliant team at Little Tiger, it became a magical adventure and a celebration of family and identity, brought to fantastical life by Jasper’s heartwarming and mouthwatering illustrations. Dim sum means “to touch the heart”, and working on this book has brought such joy to mine. And dim sum is for sharing – I can’t wait to share this story with everyone!

Jasper Shaw said:

Creating the world of Yum Yum Dim Sum has been a magical journey of discovery. As an illustrator, I have always been passionate about translating the rich, vibrant heritage of Chinese culture into a modern visual language. Collaborating with the Little Tiger team to bring this vision to life was an incredible experience, and I’m so proud of how this book captures that warmth and joy.

Little Tiger will publish Yum Yum Dim Sum in January 2027.

 

Felicity Yeoh loves reading out loud, singing and playing the piano. She has acted in the Cambridge Footlights, volunteered as a classroom reader and was a Foyle Young Poet of the Year. Nowadays she works in the City, teaches Sunday school, makes up stories and knits for her three small children, nephews, nieces and godchildren.

 Instagram: @lemonfizzbooks

 

 

 

 

 

Jasper Shaw is a freelance illustrator specialising in Chinese ink art and narrative-driven imagery. He has worked with major publishers and game companies for decades. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to music, cycling, tea tasting, and traveling around different places.

 Instagram: @jasper_shaw_