Via PW’s Rights Report this week, comes the news that Andy Runton’s Owly books are coming back from Scholastic with new material!
David Saylor at Scholastic/Graphix has acquired world rights to a new as-yet-untitled book in Eisner and Harvey Award winner Andy Runton’s Owly series, as well as rights to reissue the first five books, originally published in black-and-white and now out of print, in new full-color editions. The graphic novel series features Owly, a kind-hearted owl who makes friends and finds adventure wherever he goes. The five Owly books will be republished twice yearly in full color, with additional text, beginning in 2020, with the new sixth Owly book to follow; Barry Goldblatt at Barry Goldblatt Literary handled the deal.
Runton actually tipped me off that an announcement was coming when we chatted at the ALA last week, and he’s excited to be creating new material.
Owly first made his debut at Top Shelf back in 2004, and then Runton took over the publishing, but then took some time off from creating. These sweet stories about friendship were a hit when they first came out, but with the increased audience for kids comics – and Scholastic’s marketing clout in that space – Owly should be ready to take on a whole new generation.
If you want to get a head start, check out Runton’s website – there are several free comics to download that the younger comics readers in your household (and maybe you) should enjoy!
