Kate McKinnon, "Barbie" actress, comedian, and Saturday Night Live alum, is set to launch her first book, "The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science." This debut novel, designed for readers aged 8 to 12, will deliver an entertaining and adventurous tale.
Set to be published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (LBYR), an imprint of Hachette Book Group, the book not only features McKinnon's comedic style but also assures young readers an engaging narrative filled with delightful oddities and an empowering message.
The story unfolds in Antiquarium, where etiquette school is a must for girls, and all dogs must be bichon frisés. The book introduces Gertrude, Eugenia, and Dee-Dee Porch, outcasts living with their strict aunt Desdemona, materialistic uncle Ansel, and seven snide cousins, all named Lavinia. Expelled from etiquette school, the sisters find themselves under the eccentric tutelage of Millicent Quibb, a mad scientist with a flair for the peculiar.
The quirky setting at 231 Mysterium Way includes fatal pizza, a gerbil-powered bus, and a dean of students who is a hermit crab. As the sisters navigate their peculiar world, they must save their town from an evil cabal of nefarious mad scientists, learning to embrace their uniqueness.
Illustrated by Alfredo Cáceres, the book features character drawings, inventions, and diagrams, offering readers a visual treat in Cáceres's signature gothic style. The book also includes illustrations that McKinnon made herself.
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McKinnon expressed her desire to create a book that resonates with the joy she experienced during her childhood. She aimed to encapsulate the spirit of those youthful times spent outdoors, engaging in pursuits such as tasting honeysuckles, gathering insects, and cultivating a profound love for the environment. She aspired that the escapades of the Porch Sisters would motivate young readers to embark on their explorations.
LBYR President and Publisher Megan Tingley praised McKinnon's hilarious creativity, saying, 'Her essential message is that being weird is exactly what makes you wonderful, and it will inspire and empower young readers everywhere.'
This book is the pinnacle of McKinnon's 10-year creative journey. She revealed that she started working on the story's setting and characters over 10 years ago and is thrilled to share them with everyone finally.
McKinnon has been in children's shows before, doing the voice for Ms. Fiona Frizzle in Netflix's "The Magic School Bus Rides Again" and playing Lulu the Guinea Pig in "DC League of Super-Pets."
McKinnon is under the representation of Artists First and CAA, with her literary affairs managed by Upstart Crow Literary and legal representation provided by Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox, L.L.P.
Erika Turner, Executive Editor at LBYR, acquired the North American rights from Ted Malawer at Upstart Crow Literary. Turner will oversee the editing of the project. The book is set to be released on October 1. A preview of the book can be exclusively found on the official website of People Magazine.
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