We're thrilled to finally let the cat out of the bag: We've officially acquired world rights to Pip Bartlett’s Guide to Magical Creatures, plus two other books in a new series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater and acclaimed author Jackson Pearce. The series, which we'll publish in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand, will feature illustrations by Stiefvater and mark her debut as a published illustrator. You can read the entire announcement here.
The new series centers on a girl named Pip, who has the power to talk to magical creatures. Her aunt is a vet for magical creatures. And her new friend Tomas is allergic to most magical creatures. When things go amok—and they often go amok—Pip consults Jeffrey Higgleston’s Guide to Magical Creatures, a reference work that Pip finds herself constantly amending. But, as Pip learns, dealing with magical creatures like unicorns, griffins, and fuzzles doesn’t just require book knowledge—it requires hands-on experience and thinking on your feet.
“The best part about this is creating new creatures,” Stiefvater said of the announcement. “Basically, my work day begins with opening a photo of a baby seal and saying to myself: let's draw something cuter than that.”
Pearce added, “To create new creatures, I typically think, ‘What do I want as a pet? Now, what if it had wings? And a horn? And magical powers?’ I know we’ve done well if I go to bed dreaming of where I’d find enough honeysuckles to feed a full-grown Jillymander.”
We can't wait for the release in spring of 2015!
Photo credit: Maggie Stiefvater (Left): Robert Severi; Jackson Pearce (Right)
