DK acquire rights to Alligators Mouth Anthology

It was announced that the Alligator’s Mouth Award, in partnership with the Bright Agency, will be working with publisher DK to produce a collection of stories by award-winning writers and illustrator that will captivate children for years to come. Global rights for the Anthology were acquired by DK’s Children’s Publisher Francesca Young, in a deal negotiated by Arabella Stein of the Bright Agency.

Tony West, Francesca Young, Margaret Wallace-Jones, Arabella Stein

DK Children’s Publisher Francesca Young commented: ‘DK are honoured to be publishing this magical title which will be filled to the brim with tremendous stories, just like The Alligator’s Mouth Bookshop. We want this book to be like walking into an Emporium of wonders and I cannot wait for readers, young and old, to open the pages of this special anthology and begin their reading journey. It’s a pinch me moment to be publishing this and we are all excited for what the collaboration with Bright, Alligator’s Mouth and DK will bring.’

Arabella Stein, Head of Children’s Publishing at Bright stated: ‘We are so thrilled to have helped create this incredible creative partnership between the Alligator’s Mouth and DK, which will result in a prized anthology that champions the spirit of the Award. To be able to announce the Anthology in the fifth year of the Award is such a fantastic moment, and we are excited to bring the Award’s work to an even wider readership with the help of DK.’

Margaret Wallace-Jones and Tony West, co-owners of the Alligator’s Mouth Bookshop and editors on the upcoming Anthology, commented: ‘We’re also so delighted to announce our collaboration with DK to publish an anthology of illustrated stories. We’re incredibly lucky to be partnering with a publisher with such enthusiasm for bringing original, inventive, funny and exciting stories to children at this stage of their reading adventure. We started The Alligator’s Mouth Award to celebrate fantastic illustrated fiction, so this is an amazing moment for us. We’re hugely grateful to Bright and DK for making this dream happen.’

Elys Dolan and Pippa Curnick

The anthology announcement was made as part of the fifth year anniversary celebration of the award, where Elys Dolan was crowned winner of the 2023 entries with her book Rex: Dinosaur in Disguise, published by Walker Books.

On her win, Elys Dolan said: ‘I never thought my mad book about a lost dinosaur would do anything other than give people a laugh. I’m absolutely delighted. Thank you to my fabulous team at Walker books. Thank you very much to Alligators Mouth, thank you Bright Agency, I’m just so happy.’

The award was founded in 2018 by The Alligator’s Mouth in partnership with the Bright Agency with the aim of championing and celebrating highly illustrated fiction for children aged 6-8-years-old.

Books wholesaler Gardners returned this year as an official partner of the award and are offering up to 50% discount on both longlisted and shortlisted titles until the end of July.

To keep up to date with the awards, click here.