Messy Press 2027 by Abrams&ChronicleBooks

CATALOGUE 2027

BOARD BOOKS + PICTURE BOOKS + ACTIVITY BOOKS + NON-FICTION

Hello, We’re an award-winning, international children's publishing studio based in New Zealand. We create vibrant illustrated non-fiction, gift, and activity books designed to inspire and entertain young creative minds around the world. In our fun and informative books, we turn simple learning into enjoyable experiences for children and their adults, making sure books are an exciting source of information and inspiration. Recent titles include The Boring Drawing Book, Where Do They Sleep?, The First Works of Shakespeare, and The Pizza Shape Book. Without further ado, here is our latest collection… Where Do They Poo? is a colourful nature book that introduces young children to some wild toilet habits – helping them get to grips with their own toilet routine. The 123 Tree is a soothing bedtime book that helps children practice their counting before lights out. The Tiny Tours Travel Guides are the ultimate travel companion, designed specifically for young explorers to experience the magic of ancient Egypt and the thrills of modern day London. 123 Let’s Go Around the World is a first language book that gets children counting to ten in ten different languages. And finally, Mix Match Menu puts little foodies in charge of dinner – creating different meal combos from around the world. Thanks for taking the time. We hope you enjoy the list! Best wishes, Messy Press

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BOARD BOOKS ISBN: 9781067098599 Publishing February 2027 RRP: £9.99 1-5 yrs • Cased board book 18pp • 205mm x 205mm

THE

The FIRST WORKS of

FIRST WORKS

Austen

SERIES

Written by Adam Thompson • Illustrated by Erica Harrison

A very first introduction to the enthralling stories of Jane Austen, one of the greatest storytellers of all time. The First Works of Austen is part of the delightful bio series for babies and young readers. This stylish cased board book provides a playful introduction to the great works of Jane Austen. Meet the well-known novelist and discover six of her much-loved stories, from Sense and Sensibility to Pride and Prejudice, brought to life in their simplest form. With short, child-friendly story descriptions, eye-catching illustrations, and some first words from the enchanting world of Jane Austen, to inspire and entertain young wordsmiths and little storytellers.

a classic beginning Jane Austen was an English writer who wrote entertaining stories around 250 years ago. She loved writing about the everyday lives of ladies and gentlemen in England. Her witty novels and charming characters have made Austen one of the world’s greatest storytellers.

quill ink

teacup

novel

table

chair

Sense and sensibility Many of Austen’s stories are about finding love. In her first novel, Sense and Sensibility, the Dashwood family is forced to leave their country home. After they move to a small cottage, the two older sisters, Elinor and Marianne, must both find suitably wealthy gentlemen to marry.

hill

coach

love cottage

sisters

dog

THE

FIRST WORKS

The FIRST WORKS of

Shakespeare

SERIES

Written by Adam Thompson • Illustrated by Erica Harrison

BOARD BOOKS A very first introduction to the great works of William Shakespeare – one of the greatest storytellers of all time. The first in this playful First Works bio series for babies and young readers – this stylish cased board book provides a fun introduction to the timeless stories of Shakespeare.

ISBN: 9781067098506 RRP: £9.99 1-5 yrs • Cased board book 18pp • 205mm x 205mm

Meet the Bard at work and discover six of his most well-known plays, from Romeo and Juliet to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, brought to life in their simplest form. Short child-friendly story descriptions, eye-catching illustrations of scenes and characters, and first words from the world of Shakespeare, will inspire young wordsmiths and little storytellers.

THE

FIRST WORKS SERIES

The FIRST WORKS of

Dickens

SERIES

Written by Adam Thompson • Illustrated by Erica Harrison

A very first introduction to the captivating stories of Charles Dickens – one of the greatest storytellers of all time. Number two in this charming First Works bio series – this stylish cased board book provides a fun introduction to the classic stories of Charles Dickens. Meet the novelist at work and discover six of his famous stories, from Great Expectations to A Christmas Carol, brought to life in their simplest form. Short, child-friendly story descriptions, eye-catching illustrations of scenes and characters, and first words from the world of Dickens, will inspire and entertain young wordsmiths and little storytellers.

ISBN: 9781067098513 RRP: £9.99 1-5 yrs • Cased board book 18pp • 205mm x 205mm

The 1 2 3 Tree Written by Adam Thompson • Illustrated by Erica Harrison

BOARD BOOKS Count all the sleepy residents of the 1 2 3 Tree before bedtime. The sun is setting over the forest and the moon is starting to shine on The 1 2 3 Tree. It’s time to meet the residents as they go about their different bedtime routines. The mice are brushing their teeth, the bears are having a bath, and the squirrels are reading a bedtime story. Discover and count all the cute creatures living in The 1 2 3 Tree, as the painterly skies turn from day to night. Reading aloud the fun rhyming words will lull your little ones to sleep as part of their own relaxing bedtime routine.

ISBN: 9781067098544 RRP: £8.99 0-4 yrs • Cased board book 16pp • 230mm x 170mm

Where Do They Sleep? Written by Adam Thompson • Illustrated by Erica Harrison

BOARD BOOKS

Mice snuggle in nests.

Lizards doze in disguise.

And you drift off in your cozy bed.

When it’s time to snuggle into our beds, we may sometimes wonder, where does everyone else go to sleep? Did you know that flamingos sleep on one leg in lakes? Or mice huddle in nests like birds? Or cats nap in lots of different places?

ISBN: 9781067098537 RRP: £7.99 0-3 yrs • Board book 24pp • 170mm x 170mm

As the clock strikes bedtime around the world, we meet lots of cute creatures and discover where they like to go to sleep. With bright colours and sleepy illustrations this fun book of nature facts is designed to read with babies and toddlers as part of their own bedtime routine.

Where Do They? series

Where Do They Poo? Written by Adam Thompson • Illustrated by Erica Harrison

Cats poo in flowerbeds.

Rhinos make piles on plains.

And you do poos on your potty.

When nature calls, we may politely wonder, where does everyone else do their poos? Did you know that monkeys like pooping out of trees? Or rhinos like to make giant piles in the open? And dogs are just happy to poo in parks. When it’s time for your little visit to the bathroom, you might think about where everyone else likes to do their daily business too. With bright colours and charming illustrations, this fun book of nature facts is designed to read with babies and toddlers to help them with their own potty routine.

ISBN: 9781067289706 Publishing February 2027 RRP: £7.99 0-3 yrs • Board book 24pp • 170mm x 170mm

Coming soon

Series titles to follow: Where Do They Play? Where Do They Eat? Cover not final

The Boring Drawing Book By Erica Harrison

ACTIVITY BOOKS

This meal really needs spicing up. Fill the bowls with rice grains and tasty pickles.

Refill the soya sauce to here.

Add more chilli flakes for extra spice.

The sushi chef has gone home early. Finish these fillings and toppings.

This caterpillar needs help tying the laces on his new shoes. Add bows to keep them on his feet.

Add some funky decorations.

Welcome to the revolutionary book designed to make boredom fun. This boredom-busting book is a unique drawing, doodling, and colouring book filled with engaging activities that will keep even the most fidgety minds focused. Each page tackles boredom head on with humorously mundane tasks, like adding grains of rice to a rice bowl, tying a caterpillar’s shoelaces, or loading a cargo ship. Each activity is designed to turn boredom into hours of creative joy. Perfect for children or anyone that doesn’t like being bored.

Coming July 2027

ISBN: 9781067098582 RRP: £9.99 6-12 yrs • Paperback 96pp • 285mm x 226mm

The Pizza Shape Book Written by Adam Thompson • Illustrated by Erica Harrison 2

This fruit bowl is a circle.

Rectangles have four sides. 1

Circles are round.

MOG & MORRIS

Two are long. Two are short.

This table is a rectangle.

Like my book!

Like a pizza.

Our house is made of shapes.

Bricks are rectangles. Windows are squares. A roof is a triangle.

Shapes are all around us.

So many shapes. They’re everywhere.

Mog! It’s a square!

Piza It has four equal sides...

...with a circle inside.

The world is full of shapes. Big ones. Small ones. And pizza ones. In this playful, comic-style series about friendship and discovery, we meet Mog and Morris, two furry friends who love to ponder about the big questions. In The Pizza Shape Book, Mog and Morris are thinking all about shapes; like, what is a shape? How many shapes are there? Is ham a shape? They discover that everything has a shape, including pizza.

ISBN: 9781067098520 RRP: £11.99 3-5 yrs • Hardback 32pp • 240mm x 200mm

Tiny Tours Travel Guides

TIME TRAVEL EDITION

Ancient Egypt Written by Adam Thompson • with Dr Jennifer Hellum • Illustrated by Erica Harrison

TRAVEL GUIDES Discover the magic of ancient Egypt by actually going there. In this fun and informative, illustrated travel guide for young explorers, travel back to ancient Egypt with intrepid tour guide, Tiny. Experience the everyday magic of Kemet (as it was known locally) at the time of Pharaoh Ramesses II and discover all the exciting things to see and do whilst you’re there.

ISBN: 9781067098575 RRP: £9.99 6-9 yrs • Paperback 80pp with fold-out cover map 225mm x 188mm

Coming in 2027

Visit the great cities and famous monuments, find out where to stay, what to eat, and how to barter for souvenirs. Includes fun facts, vibrant illustrations, and a handy fold-out map. This is the perfect travel companion for all young time travellers.

Tiny Tours Travel Guides

London

Written by Adam Thompson • Illustrated by Erica Harrison

This modern and informative travel guide for young explorers is filled with essential travel tips, fun descriptions, colourful illustrations, and a handy fold-out map of the big city.

ISBN: 9781067098568 Publishing April 2027 RRP: £9.99 / $13.99 6-9 yrs • Paperback 80pp with fold-out cover map 225mm x 188mm

Coming soon

Meet the ghosts at the Tower of London and the artists at the Tate Modern. Check out the parks and palaces, take a riverboat and ride the Tube. Discover all the must-sees and must-dos, find out where to stay and what to eat, and experience all the very best that this famous city has to offer young visitors. This is the perfect companion for children to help plan their trip to London.

TRAVEL GUIDES

The ultimate travel guide to London for young explorers.

1 2 3 Let's Go Around the World Written by Adam Thompson • Illustrated by Erica Harrison

LANGUAGES

Discover ten new languages by counting to ten. Get ready to count your way around the world in this vibrant, first language picture book.With bright and playful illustrations, children can learn and practice counting to ten in ten different languages. Start with English, then try French, Spanish, Italian, German, Arabic, Swahili, Hindi, Mandarin and Japanese. A unique way for young children to develop new language skills by practicing counting fun things from each country. Discover new countries and what makes them different, whilst also picking up some local words along the way. ISBN: 9781067098551 Publishing March 2027 RRP: £12.99 / $18.99 4-7 yrs • Hardback 32p self-ends 260mm x 240mm

Mix Match Menu

Written by Adam Thompson • Illustrated by Erica Harrison

This mouth-watering, interactive food board book puts young aspiring foodies in charge of the dinner menu. Introducing them to a selection of tasty starters, gourmet mains, and delicious desserts from around the world, young children can enjoy mixing and matching their own favourite three-course meal combinations. This sturdy, wipeable, menu-style flip book, filled with vibrant illustrations, will help to create a playful fine dining experience. Fun appetit! ISBN: 9781067289744 Publishing: June 2027 RRP: £8.99 / $12.99 • 3-5 yrs • Boardbook 20pp • 230mm x 140mm

FLIP FLAP BOOK

Pick and choose your perfect three course meals from around the world.

WHO WE ARE

Messy Creators Erica Harrison - Art director & Illustrator Erica began her career at Usborne Publishing in London. She has over 20 years experience working in children’s publishing – designing and illustrating over 100 titles, and creating best-selling activity books, baby books, and children’s non-fiction for some of the world’s leading children’s publishers. Her work can be found in bookshops, museums, schools, and galleries around the world.

Adam Thompson - Editorial director & Writer Adam has always had a thing for stories. Captivated by the Greek and Roman myths, he went on to study a degree in archaeology. He started his career as a creative writer and art director in advertising. As an award-winning creative director, he worked at some of the top ad agencies around the world and at the BBC in London, looking after their youth brands.

Sales + Distribution

International Rights

UK and Europe Abrams & Chronicle Books 1st Floor, 22-24 Ely Place, London, EC1N 6TE info@abramsandchronicle.co.uk abramsandchronicle.co.uk

Marco Rodino Rights Agency For all rights please contact: marco@marcorodino.com

US and Canada Publishers Group West 819 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94710 ips@ingramcontent.com pgw.com Australia and NZ Walker Books Australia 5 Wilson Street, Newtown, NSW 2042 Australia: saleswba@walkerbooks.com.au NZ: matthew.simpson@harpercollins.co.nz walkerbooks.com.au

Messy Press is owned and operated by Adam Thompson and Erica Harrison. All artwork and words in this catalogue © Messy Press 2026. Messy Press HQ is located in Auckland, New Zealand. For more information please contact: adam@messy-press.com erica@messy-press.com messy-press.com Follow us: @messy_press

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