Capitalizing on the picture book turned viral video sensation The Wonky Donkey, Scholastic has announced the global release of a sequel, The Dinky Donkey. The book, which once again pairs New Zealand author Craig Smith and illustrator Katz Cowley, will be published worldwide on November 1.
Scholastic New Zealand acquired world rights to The Dinky Donkey from author Smith, and Felicity Trew at the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency represented Cowley.
Originally released by Scholastic in 2009, The Wonky Donkey became an international #1 bestseller last summer after a YouTube video of Janice Clark (aka “The Scottish Granny”) laughing uncontrollably while reading the book to her grandson went viral. The video has since hit more than 150 million views globally, and Scholastic has reprinted two million copies to meet demand.
Author and musician Smith said in a statement, “You can’t ask for a better endorsement of your creation than when the person reading your book is having a better time than the child being read to. Janice’s infectious laughter was an absolute delight! We’re so proud of Wonky making people laugh and encouraging reading all over the world!”
Like its predecessor, the new book features cumulative rhyming text, this time starring the three-legged Wonky Donkey’s daughter, Dinky. Illustrator Cowley stated, “Dinky is uniquely herself, as is her Daddy, Wonky... with her pinky nose and her pinky toes, her punky hair and one wonky ear, she reminds us that it is okay to be not in perfect order, it’s being comfortably yourself that matters most!”
