Selling points
• GOLDEN EGG: Simpson is the 2021 UK winner of the international picture book illustration competition Picture This!, and is a rising star in picture books.
• FREE AS A BIRD: The protagonist, Clara, acts as representation for kids who consider themselves introverted and inspiration to fit in with the world on their own terms.
• UNDER ONE’S WING: Parents and educators can use this story to demonstrate the power of solitude
blanc and following one’s own path to all kids, not just those who are shy.
• EAGLE EYE: In addition to the gentle brilliance of her words, Simpson’s unique illustration style of black-andwhite with minimal color for added visual significance are sure to catch the reader’s eye.
Clara and the birds
Text and illustrations: Emma Simpson
Hardcover
52 pages
Width: 9,25”
Height: 10,25”
Ages: 4 to 8 Grade: P-3
Publication date: June 4, 2024
Full-color illustrations throughout
ISBN: 9781990252341
Price: US$20.99 CAN$24.99
Fiction
Distributed in the US by Abrams and in Canada by Manda Group
A shy young girl who usually strays from the flock discovers her own inner strength.
Rights sold
French (North America)
— Comme des géants
For as long as she can remember, Clara has always been fascinated with birds — where they go, how they take flight, and the way they immediately fly away from her when she comes into contact with them. Like the birds she so admires, Clara is considered shy by those around her. She, too, feels the urge to flee the company of others, preferring the comforting bubble of solitude instead. Convinced that her desire to be alone is a weakness, she struggles to find her voice or recognize her own inner strength. That is, until she has a chance encounter with a bird who doesn’t fly away… Emma Christina Simpson is a British author and illustrator.
Considered a talented up-andcomer in the world of picture books, Simpson was named the 2021 UK winner of the international picture book illustration competition
Picture This!. She presently lives and basks in the splendor of Munich and the Bavarian Alps, drawing inspiration from the animals, nature, and people that surround her in this gorgeous setting.
