The Swedish picture book that advertised it could lull children to sleep is getting a sequel. The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep, which Penguin Random House acquired in a seven-figure deal last summer after the book became an international self-published bestseller, has paved the way for The Little Elephant Who Wants to Fall Asleep. The follow-up will be released by PRH in the U.S. on October 4, and by PRH U.K. on October 6.
PRH said that The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep, which has sold in 44 territories and published in 43 languages, has, to date, sold more than 1.6 million copies globally. According to Nielsen BookScan, which tracks roughly 80% of print sales, the book has sold more than 92,000 copies in the U.S.
The Little Elephant Who Wants to Fall Asleep, written again by Swedish author Carl-Johan Forssén Ehrlin, is getting a announced first printing in the States of 150,000 copies. World English rights to the title were was acquired, jointly, by Random House Children's Books president Barbara Marcus in the U.S., and Francesca Dow at Random House Children's U.K. Julia Angelin at the Sweden-based Salomonsson Agency brokered the deal.
PRH said that Little Elephant, like Rabbit, was written with "the same objective of helping children fall asleep and improving families’ bedtime routines." This book, however, features new methods for sending toddlers off to dreamland. The publisher explained that it uses "all-new child-tested, parent-approved techniques." Unlike Rabbit, though, which was illustrated by Ehrlin, Little Elephant features art by established children's illustrator Sydney Hanson (Next to You: A Book of Adorableness).
Marcus, speaking about Little Elephant, said the book will not only offer new methods for getting kids to fall asleep, but also "another set of endearing characters with whom to end the day.”
In the U.S., the Crown Books for Young Readers imprint will release Little Elephant; Ladybird will release the title in the U.K.
