The Booksellers Association has today announced Sell Us The Rope by Stephen May as Fiction Book of the Month for March, and It’s a Wonderful World: How to Protect the Planet and Change the Future by Jess French and illustrated by Aleesha Nandhraby as Children’s Book of the Month.  
 
Sell Us The Rope by Stephen May follows young poet, bank robber and spy Josef Stalin, who is in London for the 5^th Congress of the Russian Communist Party. As he builds his powerbase, Stalin manipulates alliances with Lenin, Trotsky and Rosa Luxemburg, but risks everything as he is drawn into a dangerous relationship with fiery Finnish activist Elli Vuokko. Sell Us The Rope is published by Sandstone Press on 1^st March 2022.
 
Stephen May said, “I love book shops - all bookshops - but I love independents the most. Good independent booksellers are so much more than retailers of quality entertainment (though they are that too).”
 
Mel Greenwood, DRAKE – The Bookshop and member of the selection panel commented: “Part gritty historical noir, part comical love story, set in London 1907, It's the 5th Congress of the Communist Party and a young Stalin is in town with comrades Lenin and Trotsky. This bold re-imagining gripped me from the first page with its lyrical scene setting and brilliantly drawn characters. "The capitalists will sell us the rope with which we hang them with" is a quote often attributed to either Stalin, Lenin or Trotsky. The doubt over the provenance of the quote sets the scene for this witty and imaginative re-telling of historical events.”
 
It’s a Wonderful World: How to Protect the Planet and Change the Future written by Jess French and illustrated by Aleesha Nandhraby provides an introduction to nature conservation and protection, teaching children about the importance of diversity of plants, animals, and environments, and how to protect these wonderful and crucial elements of our world. Vibrant illustrations bring vet, author, and TV presenter French’s facts about the natural world to life, showing kids that they can find wonder in the most unusual places. It’s a Wonderful World: How to Protect the Planet and Change the Future is published by DK on 10^th March 2022 and is available to pre-order in bookshops now.
 
Author Jess French said, “My chest swells with pride at the thought of my book being the BA book of the month. I grew up poring over the shelves of my local bookshop, dreaming about one day writing a book that would sit among the books that I so love. I was very lucky to be guided in my choices by a team of incredible booksellers, to whom I'm forever thankful. I still can't quite believe that booksellers may now be recommending my own books to children - thank you, thank you for your support!”
 
Ros Ephraim, member of the selection panel added, “Caring for the world around us It's a wonderful World encapsulates this in a perfect way, how important the smallest of creatures are to the world's survival.”
 
The titles for each month are chosen by a panel of independent booksellers from publisher submissions. The Fiction panel for March comprised of members of Max Minerva’s, DRAKE – The Bookshop, Darling Reads and Warwick Books. The Children’s panel consisted of members of Burway Books, The Book Nook, Hove and Pickled Pepper Books.
 
Independent bookshops around the UK and Ireland will be promoting Sell Us The Rope and It’s A Wonderful World: How to Protect the Planet and Change the Future throughout March on social media and instore. The Booksellers Association will be supporting the promotion of the Indie Books of the Month through social media and promotional material.
 
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