Welcome to our 2025 catalogue. This April, Rocket Bird Books turns two years old! Our 2024 was packed with prestigious prize nominations, press coverage and a CBeebies Bedtime Story at Glastonbury. But don’t worry, 2025 will be just as exciting.
We have put-upon puss Brenda, from comedy genius Sarah Tagholm, Lo Cole’s fantastically fast Scooter Dog, a library where you DON’T borrow books and a spooky case of mistaken identity. Plus Rhian Stone’s Carnegie-longlisted debut and much more.
Happy reading!
Libby Hamilton, Publisher
Brenda’s Revenge
by Sarah Tagholm and Laurie Stansfield
Out in paperback 13th Mar 2025
978-1-915395-19-1 • 32pp
275 x 235mm • 2+ years • £7.99
This might just be the world’s most put-upon puss!
Brenda is just a cat, so she doesn’t have clothes or nice table manners, and her handwriting is awful! Luckily, her loving owner’s here to, erm, help? A tour-de-force of kitty comedy.
Sarah lives by the sea with her family, two cats and an albino toad called Cuckoo. Location: Cornwall, UK. Laurie’s family is utterly bookish: her partner is a bookbinder and their little one devours books (sometimes literally). Location: Bristol, UK.
Llama Library
by Holly Ryan and Ella Bailey
Visit the library where you CAN’T borrow a book!
Holly grew up in a Cornish fishing village and, after a career in tech, moved back to live by the sea. Location: Plymouth, UK.
Ella graduated with a first from Falmouth University and made her debut on the prestigious Flying Eye list. Location: Plymouth, UK.
Take home a llama today. There’s one for any subject: cookery, history, art, music, even rocket science! All you need is your library card. But be warned: at home, llamas can get a little… messy!
Out in hardback 5th June 2025
978-1-915395-29-0 • 32pp
280 x 240mm • 2+ years • £12.99
MISUNDERSTOOD MINIBEASTS SERIES
Ant Life
by Moesha Kellaway
Have you met the world’s laziest worker-ant?
Anita is the only ant in her colony who isn’t working. Is she lazy, or has she just not found the right job? At the anthill job fair, Anita starts to discover all the amazing jobs ants do, in the nest and far beyond.
Slug Life
by Moesha Kellaway
• Selected for CLPE’s Power of Reading
• Longlisted UKLA Book Award 2025
Why is Stevie the world’s grumpiest slug?
Meet Stevie the grumpy slug. Sent by his mum to slug self-esteem class, Stevie’s about to discover why he and his slimy kin are kind of awesome. (Here’s one reason: their slime is liquid crystal!)
Out in paperback 30th Jan 2025 978-1-915395-28-3 • 32pp 280 x 240mm • 2+ years • £7.99
Moesha’s work is the perfect mix of detail and humour. She is inspired by her country childhood and her love of exploring and people-watching. Slug Life was her debut. Location: London, UK.
Scooter Dog
by Lo Cole
Out in hardback 14th Aug 2025
978-1-915395-33-7 • 32pp
250 x 250mm • 2+ years • £12.99
What do you miss when you always go super-fast?
Eddie’s a scooter dog and they always go SUPER-FAST! So, he’s shocked when a crash means he has to... gulp... WALK. Will Eddie finally notice all the things he missed as he rushed along? Will you?
Lo, brought up by his writer dad and illustrator mum, was destined to make great picture books. Doris, his first book for us, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Location: Gloucestershire, UK.
Lionel by Lo Cole
D oris
by Lo Cole
250 x 250mm • 32pp • 2+ years
PB £7.99 • 978-1-915395-08-5
HB £12.99 • 978-1-915395-05-4
What is BIGGER than Lionel? His enthusiasm!
Lionel loves joining in. But his HUGE enthusiasm leads to disaster (including punching a REAL hole in his own book!). Can Lionel find his calm space?
Out in paperback 3rd July 2025 978-1-915395-26-9 • 2+ years 32pp • 250 x 250mm • £7.99
What if you longed to blend in but were born to stand out?
Being a bright red elephant, Doris is VERY easy to spot. Can you see her? Exactly. But Doris doesn’t like being the centre of attention. Can she learn to love being herself?
Willa’s Monster Muddle
by Fabi Santiago
Out in hardback 11th Sep 2025
ISBN 978-1-915395-18-4 • 32pp
280 x 220mm • 2+ years • £12.99
A monstrously funny, spookily super comedy of errors
When Willa follows the wrong witch into the wrong (haunted) house party, things don’t look good. But our little girl’s friendly (and oblivious) nature will be a match for any monster!
On the third floor there was party food.
were making a delicious soup. They all had but none of them were Willa’s mum.
Willa was very at cooking! Maybe could help?
Grandad’s Star
by Frances Tosdevin and Rhian Stone
Out in paperback 8th May 2025 978-1-915395-27-6 • 32pp 275 x 235mm • 2+ years • £7.99
What if your guide to the cosmos forgets his way?
• Selected, Read for Empathy 2025
• Longlisted, UKLA Book Award 2025
AWARDS BUZZ
• Longlisted, Carnegie Medal for Illustration 2025
Grandad is a famous astronomer and one little girl’s guide to the stars. But then he starts to forget. With Mum’s help, the girl uses their star stories to reach her Grandad again. After all, he taught her that love can reach across galaxies.
Frances is a picture book author with the heart of a poet. Her first two books have already been shortlisted for five UK prizes. Location: Bedfordshire, UK. Rhian grew up on a diet of magic, folklore and myth. This is her debut book. Location: Kent, UK.
Invisible Dogs
by Ruby Wright
NEONWITHPINK PANTONE INK
Out in paperback 30th Jan 2025 978-1-915395-15-3 • 2+ years 32pp • 280 x 240mm • £7.99
Start school with invisible pet power!
Ida feels alone at her new school, but Grandpa knows how to help – she needs invisible dogs! But can Ida share her game and make new friends?
Animal Crackers
by Ruby Wright
280 x 240mm • 32pp • 2+ years
PB £7.99 • 978-1-915395-12-2
HB £12.99 • 978-1-915395-01-6
One girl’s wish comes true in the funniest, stinkiest way.
Maisie dreams of pets, but Mum says their flat is too small. So when the animal crackers monkey comes to life, things are about to get interesting! An amazing debut.
Ruby studied sculpture, which influences her illustrations but does not explain why she plays the musical saw. Her debut picture book was Animal Crackers Location: London, UK.
PANDORA AND THE STORY FORGE
by Gaynor Andrews and Marie-Alice Harel
Out in paperck 9th October 2025
978-1-915395-22-1 • 2+ years
32pp • 210 x 260mm • £7.99
Discover the magic of finding words and forging stories.
Pandora is an explorer, a collector of words (even ones that misbehave), a forger of stories and weaver of tales. Come with her and you will never see words in quite the same way again.
Gaynor has taught around the world and this is her stunning debut. Location: Buckie, UK. Marie-Alice trained as a scientist before becoming an award-winning illustrator. Location: Edinburgh, UK.
Gaynor Andrews Marie-Alice Harel
Can I Come Too?
by Owen Davey
250 x 260mm • 32pp • 2+ years
PB £7.99 • 978-1-915395-11-5
HB £12.99 • 978-1-915395-00-9
If you’re older, it doesn’t mean you know better. Teddy’s off fishing and Cub wants to come too. Cubs get in the way, but they can also surprise you. Sibling slapstick comedy.
Owen’s a celebrated non-fiction creator and also dad to three girls who inspired this story. Location: Worthing, UK.
Sam Francisco, King of the Disco
by Sarah Tagholm & Binny Talib
240 x 280mm • 32pp • 2+ years
PB £7.99 • 978-1-915395-13-9
HB £12.99 • 978-1-915395-03-0
Discover the top-secret world of musical cats.
DJ Sam Francisco’s party is the event of the year, but Buzzkill Bill wants to shut it down. Can Sam use music to win over his enemies?
Sarah‘s cat, Envelope, inspired this story. Location: Cornwall, UK. Binny illustrates books and wallpaper. Location: Sydney, Australia.
Baboo the Unusual Bee
by Lliana Bird & Aysha Tengiz
275 x 235mm • 32pp • 2+ years
PB £7.99 • 978-1-915395-12-2
HB £12.99 • 978-1-915395-14-6
Ever heard of a hip-hop loving, bright pink bee?
The only pink bee in his hive, Baboo dances alone until he meets Lee, the green ladybird. Celebrate all of our differences with this vibrant debut.
Lliana is a writer, director, DJ and actress. Aysha is an awardwinning illustrator and animator. Location: both London, UK.
Professor Goose Debunks: Goldilocks
by Paulette Borgeouis & Alex G. Griffiths
280 x 203mm • 40pp • 4+ years
PB £7.99 • 978-1-915395-02-3
Fact-check a fairytale in this STEM-filled story
Do bears live in houses? Will the large porridge cool the slowest? From hibernation to thermodynamics we look at the science behind the story.
Paulette is an award-winning author whose books have sold over 60 million copies. Alex’s from London. Location: both Canada.
My Self, Your Self by
Esmé Shapiro
What is a self? Is it inside or outside?
Whimsical forest creatures bake, sing silly songs and explore what makes them themselves. Celebrating knowing, loving and caring for your self.
267 x 210mm • 48pp • 3+ years
PB £7.99 • 978-1-915395-16-0
HB £12.99 • 978-1-915395-07-8
For our latest news, free activities, interviews and lots more, visit:
Esmé grew up in Laurel Canyon, USA and Ontario, Canada. Location: Brooklyn, USA. .co.uk
Get in touch!
General enquiries: rocketbirdbooks@harpercollins.co.uk
PR enquiries: Emma O’Donovan emma.odonovan@harpercollins.co.uk
uk.orders@harpercollins.co.uk quotes@harpercollins.co.uk (new accounts)
Rights enquiries: Libby Hamilton libby.hamilton@harpercollins.co.uk
International sales enquiries: www.collins.co.uk/pages/find-a-rep collins.international@ harpercollins.co.uk Rob Thompson, Sales Director rob.thompson@ harpercollins.co.uk (new accounts)
