Kitty Is Not a Cat Gets Book Deal

BES Animation has inked a series book deal with Hachette Australia for the animated kids’ show Kitty Is Not a Cat.

Hachette Australia has acquired the global rights to a four-book deal based on the series, which will be published under its junior fiction category. The first two books will be published in September 2020, and the second two will follow in November 2020 using artwork and storylines from the animated show.

The books will initially launch in Australia and New Zealand, and Hachette’s rights team will promote the series at the Frankfurt Book Fair next month.

First broadcast in 2018, Kitty Is Not a Cat is aimed at 6- to 10-year-olds and follows the story of a group of stray cats living in an old dilapidated mansion who find themselves looking after a little girl named Kitty, who proves you can be anything you want—even a cat. A second season of the show is currently in production and set for broadcast in early 2020.

Bruce Kane, founder and director of BES Animation Studio, said, “Hachette Australia has a deep understanding and expertise of the kids’ market and a desire to deliver quality stories to children throughout the world. We are delighted to be working with Hachette Australia and the team, transforming Kitty Is Not a Cat from the screen into the magical world of books and look forward to giving fans a new way to interact with the show and its characters.”

Kate Stevens, commissioning editor for Hachette Australia, commented, “We are thrilled to be working with the talented team at BES Animation. Kitty Is Not a Cat is a warm and funny series, featuring a fierce and curious protagonist who is learning what it means to be human from a group of kind-hearted and musically inclined cats. With clever, heartwarming storylines and gorgeous artwork, the Kitty Is Not a Cat chapter books will be enjoyed by children and parents alike for years to come.”