Firefly signs moving middle grade on selective mutism

Firefly signs moving middle grade on selective mutism

Penny Thomas, Publisher at children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in Call Me Lion by Camilla Chester from Veronique Baxter at David Higham Associates.

‘I’m not stupid. I’m not weird. I’m not ill. I’m Leo. I’m Leo and I’ve just turned ten. I’m Leo, I’ve just turned ten and I still can’t talk. There are lots of things I can do. I can dance, I can understand complicated words like humiliation and catatonic and I can bounce freestyle on my trampoline. But none of this matters when you can’t talk.’

Leo loves to dance. But he thinks it’s impossible to have friends when he can’t talk. So why is Richa, the girl who has just moved in next door still trying? There’s a heatwave in Luton and it’s too hot for him to think about all of this complicated stuff. But Leo’s life is about to change…

Call Me Lion is a testament to the power of friendship, understanding, communication and expression in all its forms.

‘This is such a wonderful, bittersweet but happy book,’ said Thomas. ‘The characters bubble with life and energy, and we are delighted to be publishing their story.’

Camilla Chester said: ‘Firefly is exactly the right publisher for both myself and Call Me Lion. I feel in very safe hands and excited about the next part of our journey.’

The novel is slated for publication in summer 2022.

Firefly signs ‘funny and feisty’ middle grade about hidden homelessness

Firefly signs ‘funny and feisty’ middle grade about hidden homelessness

Penny Thomas, Publisher at award-winning children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press, has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in moving MG novel Has Anyone Seen Archie Ebbs? by Simon Packham from Anne Clark at the Anne Clark Literary Agency (ACLA).

Archie Ebbs has the perfect life. Good friends, a nice home and classmates who laugh at (nearly) all his jokes. But all that is about to change. As his family lose their home and move into temporary housing, Archie has his own worries … is he really starting to become invisible?

While his older sister is determined to hide their situation from her friends, Archie finds himself disappearing. But being invisible isn’t half as much fun as it ought to be. Only with the help of his new (and also invisible) neighbour, Zofia, can he get back his beloved cat, Dinger, and start to make himself visible again.

‘More and more children in the UK live in precarious home circumstances but treating a serious subject with sometimes laugh-out-loud humour is a rare skill,’ said editor Rebecca Lloyd. ‘Archie is a brilliant, relatable and heart-warming character who carries his story with a lightness of touch that had me rooting for him from the off.’

Simon Packham said: ‘I felt that the story of hidden homelessness needed to be told and I hope that through Archie’s voice, I’ve found a way to tell it that will strike a chord with younger readers.’

The novel is slated for publication in spring 2022 with a cover design by Becka Moor.

Cover design: Becka Moor
author Simon Packham headshot
Simon Packham

Draw A Monster Competition – with Matt Cherry

Draw A Monster Competition – with Matt Cherry

Follow our courageous hero monster spotter Edwin Spook as he travels across the globe to save his monster friends from certain doom, stop the dastardly Monster Catcher and discover the secret recipe of Monster Soup.

To celebrate the release of Monster Spotter’s Handbook we are launching a fantastic drawing competition. Draw and colour in one of these fun monster characters for the chance to win a fabulous prize!

  • The slimy bogsplotter
  • The sparkling star statue
  • The frost-bitten frozen yomp
  • The giant oober beast

The prize

A signed and dedicated copy of The Monster Spotter’s Handbook and a limited edition badge.

The winners

Four winners will be drawn after entries close at 17:00 on July 31st 2021.

Terms & Conditions

  1. The competition is organised and run by Matt Cherry and Firefly Press Ltd (the Organisers).
  2. The competition is open to residents of the United Kingdom aged 12 or under, except employees of the Organisers and their close relatives and anyone otherwise connected with the organisation of the competition or winner selection.
  3. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
  4. By entering this competition, you agree to these Terms & Conditions.
  5. Entries must be sent via the submissions forms found on the Competition Details page of this website. Submissions via Twitter or any other avenue will not be considered.
  6. Only one entry will be accepted per person. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. 
  7. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
  8. The prize draws will be held as follows:
  9. All correct entries received between 09:00 on June 24th 2021 and 17:00 on July 31st 2021 will be entered into a prize draw on August 2nd. After 17:00 on July 31st 2021, no further entries will be permitted.
  10. If any winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 14 days of notification, the Organisers reserve the right to withdraw the prize and pick a replacement winner.
  11. The Organisers will arrange the prize delivery date and location with the winner/s. 
  12. The Organisers reserve the right to take photographs at the prize-giving. By entering this competition you agree to grant the Organisers royalty free and perpetual rights to display the prize-winning drawings online and on social media. 
  13. By participating in the promotion, you grant the organisers the right to announce your name publicly on the website and other media channels. 
  14. Prizes are detailed on this website. The organisers reserve the right to replace the prizes with alternatives if circumstances beyond their control make it necessary. 
  15. Competition deadlines may be changed by the Organisers at their discretion and will be communicated on this website.
  16. The competition and these terms and conditions will be governed by English and Welsh law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith – Resources

The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith – Resources

About The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith

Welcome to the dazzling new world of Quicksmiths, where you will encounter Strange Energy, the Mowl, Wormholes, Dark Forces and the tantalising riddle of the Ark of Ideas. When Kip Bramley receives a cryptic invitation, delivered by a beetle shaped drone which appears to be breathing, his world will change forever. Soon he finds himself chasing riddles and solving puzzles on a crazy treasure hunt set 400 years earlier by a mysterious genius. As things get dangerous, it seems much more is at stake for Kip and his family than winning top marks at his strange new school…

Let your adventure begin: https://quicksmiths.com/


Click on the image to access the resource pack.



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GROW Resources

GROW Resources

About GROW

A white supremacist group and its violent leader target fifteen- year-old Josh, who is struggling to cope with his father’s recent death at the hands of terrorists. Will he find the strength to resist, and will unlikely accomplice Dana help him plant something good in the space grief has left inside him?

Grow is a tense and compelling novel of our current social landscape woven through with redemptive strands of friendship, love and nature.


Click on the images to access the resources.



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