New Mr Poirot and Little Miss Marple books to be published

The latest adaptation of Agatha Christie’s works features an unlikely new suspect: Mr Tickle, of Mr Men and Little Miss fame. Joining the likes of Mr Nosey and Little Miss Chatterbox are Mr Poirot and Little Miss Marple, who star in new retellings of some of Christie’s most famous stories. Little Miss Marple: Muddle at the Vicarage and Mr Poirot: Mischief on the Nile are published today, marking the first time the queen of crime’s works have been reimagined for preschool and primary school-aged children in illustrated book format. Two further titles will follow in February. Christie’s great-grandson, James Prichard, who is CEO of Agatha Christie Ltd, said that as a lifelong fan of the Mr Men and Little Miss books, it has “always” been his wish to put Poirot and Miss Marple into that universe, describing the project as a “dream collaboration”. In Muddle at the Vicarage, Little Miss Marple lives in St Mary Mead, the fictional village created by Christie, and is friends with Mr Nosey and Little Miss Chatterbox. When Reverend Muddle suspects there’s been a theft at the vicarage, and there are further mysteries “of the rather muddled kind”, Little Miss Marple is “sure she can help Inspector Nonsense and Constable Silly uncover the truth”, according to publisher HarperCollins. Meanwhile, in Mischief on the Nile, Mr Poirot escapes winter with a cruise on the Nile when he meets his friend Colonel Rush, who travels the world tracking down criminals. Poirot’s holiday “soon includes much mischief and a mystery to solve,” with many Mr Men and Little Miss suspects, including Mr Tickle, said the publisher. “For many of us, reading is a habit that begins in childhood, often nurtured by the books shared with us by parents and grandparents,” said Silvia Figini, COO of Sanrio, the company behind the Mr Men and Little Miss brand. “That’s why it’s so rewarding to see our Mr Men and Little Miss characters play a part in introducing Agatha Christie’s iconic mysteries to a new generation. This collaboration brings together two beloved storytelling worlds in a playful and engaging way, and we’re thrilled for fans to discover these fresh takes on her classic tales.”