Quvenzhané Wallis gets four-book deal with Simon & Schuster
Quvenzhané Wallis, the 12-year-old Oscar nominee, is turning her talents to writing: Simon & Schuster announced Wednesday it has signed a four-book deal with her and will publish starting in 2017.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of the publishing house's children's division, said in a press release it will publish an as-yet-untitled series of three chapter books, and a picture book loosely based on Wallis' experiences.
Wallis' experiences are unique. A previously unknown child from Houma, La., she shot to fame playing resilient little Hushpuppy in 2012's fantasy-drama Beasts of the Southern Wild.
Her performance was widely acclaimed and earned her an Oscar nomination — the youngest-ever actress to be nominated. And a year later, she earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the title role in the holiday blockbuster Annie.
But Wallis likes to read as well as act.
“Reading is very important,” she said in a statement. “It allows people to form a visual experience in their minds of what is going on in the story. I hope all readers enjoy using their imaginations along with me and take a journey into my books."
S&S did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
The as-yet-untitled picture book will follow a "spunky young heroine who is very much looking forward to a night out with her mom at an awards show," the publisher's press release says. They get dressed up, ride in a limo and walk the red carpet — just as Wallis did during awards season, toting her series of cute "puppy purses."
Winning Oscar accessory? A puppy purse
The chapter books will focus on a third-grader named Shai Williams, who has a flair for the dramatic. S&S described the three books — which will come out in January 2017, then in the fall of 2017 and finally in the summer of 2018 — as "perfect" for readers ages 6 and up and for fans of the Clementine books and Judy Moody's books.
"I'm thrilled that Quvenzhané is turning her estimable abilities to books," said Christian Trimmer, executive editor of S&S Books for Young Readers, in a statement. "Her dedication to great storytelling is readily apparent. Readers of all ages are in for a real treat."
Wallis tweeted about the book deal later Wednesday (her parents manage her account), writing: "Looking forward to spending time on our magical reading journeys Quvenzhané+Wallis+Lands+4-Book+Deal+|+GalleyCat"
But her second-to-last tweet suggests another one of her interests: her pets.