I’m thrilled to welcome author Anthony Burt to the Guppy shoal with THE ANIMAL LIGHTHOUSE, a middle-grade adventure telling the story of a young boy brought up in a lighthouse run by a group of animals who treat him as their own. When a ship approaches and the rumour of pirates becomes imminent, Jim can’t understand why the animals are so determined to hide him. And will he ever discover where he comes from? This is an adventure that will warm the cockles of any reader’s heart, with humour, warmth and family drama packed into its pages.

Anthony is well-known in the children’s book world as a reviewer and events coordinator, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be publishing his debut novel in 2021. As Anthony himself says: “If I was a cow, I’d be jumping over the moon with excitement right now. I’m very pleased to be working with the brilliant Bella Pearson on my new pirate-y, animal-y, comedy-y children’s book series and am looking forward to joining the ‘B for Burt’ section on all good bookshelves – as well as some rickety, dusty ones – in all equally good bookshops!”