Usborne develops three new ‘commercial, character-led’ series

Usborne has created three new "commercial, character-led" fiction series in-house, conceptualised by publisher Rebecca Hill and fiction development editor Debbie Sims – launching at this year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair – in “direct response to market needs”.

Evie Spark and Dino Boy are both pitched for younger readers aged five to eight years old, while Doodle Kid is a lower middle-grade series for ages seven to nine. All three series feature short word counts and are highly illustrated.

"Magical yet grounded," Evie Spark "offers a fresh take on the magical creature genre with a relatable, fun, risk-taking protagonist who has a magical affinity with dragons", the publisher says. The series will offer “gentle adventures with mild peril with a focus on problem-solving, friendship, and fun". The series will feature holofoil, spot UV covers and pink, purple and black full-colour illustrations, with an initial three titles of 6,000 each planned.

The launch book, Evie Spark: Starlight Sleepover, will be published in February 2027, followed by Evie Spark: Skydance Showtime and Evie Spark: The New Babies in May and September of the same year. The stories will be authored by Skye Nolan and illustrated by Kim Barnes.

Dino Boy is aimed at newly emerging readers and is described as a highly-illustrated, full-colour and easy to read. Written by Zanna Davidson with art by Steven Wood, it centres around the titular character who is "50% boy, 50% dinosaur and 100% chaos". The titles will combine "fun, anarchic humour with dinosaur facts and a bold visual approach". Each title will be fewer than 9,000 words and have neon and spot UV covers. The first outing, Dino Boy, is slated for a 2028 release.

Meanwhile, Doodle Kid is an adventure series featuring Ollie, AKA Doodle Kid. The books will have "fast-paced short chapters" with "a relatable, creative and impulsive protagonist, [combining] a real-world setting with doodle powers". Written by Artie Pickett with the illustrator to be confirmed, the first title, Doodle Kid: Zero to Hero, will be published in July 2027, followed by Doodle Kid: Game On and Doodle Kid: Bubble Gum Glitch in 2028.

Hill said that the trio of series "capture exactly the kind of energy and imagination that can set children off on a reading journey for life. From the vibrancy of the storytelling to the boldness of the design, everything about these books feels fresh and compelling".