Simon & Schuster to Publish Eloise Sequel

Posted on February 15, 2002

Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing announced that they have negotiated an agreement with the estate of the late Kay Thompson and with illustrator Hilary Knight to publish Eloise Takes a Bawth. In this never-released Eloise story, Eloise's overflowing bathtub floods The Plaza Hotel-ultimately turning The Plaza on its elegant ear. Eloise Takes a Bawth is scheduled for publication in October 2002. The deal, which includes world rights, was negotiated by Kristina Peterson, president of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; Michael I. Rudell, on behalf of the estate of Kay Thompson; and Alice Martell, agent for Hilary Knight.

"We are delighted to be publishing Eloise Takes a Bawth at Simon & Schuster, the original home of Eloise," said Kristina Peterson. "Forty years is a long wait -- but not too long for a new Eloise book."

Following the publication of the bestselling Eloise in 1955, author Kay Thompson and illustrator Hilary Knight collaborated on three Eloise sequels: Eloise in Paris (1957), Eloise at Christmastime (1958), and Eloise in Moscow (1959). Next, Thompson and Knight worked together for four years on another sequel, Eloise Takes a Bawth, with children's book editor Ursula Nordstrom. The book was announced in the Harper Books for Boys and Girls fall 1964 catalog, but as Eloise fans around the world are aware, in the mid-60s, Thompson removed the extant three Eloise sequels from print and would not allow Eloise Takes a Bawth to be published.

Much of Thompson's original text for Eloise Takes a Bawth remains and Knight saved hundreds of original illustrations from various working drafts. Mr. Knight will draw all new pictures for the forthcoming book, based on his early sketches. Meanwhile, playwright Mart Crowley, a friend to both Thompson and Knight who was in contact with the author-illustrator team during the time Eloise Takes a Bawth was being created, has been contracted to complete Thompson's text. Crowley is best-known for his play The Boys in the Band and for the television series Hart to Hart, for which he was writer-producer.

"I am pleased that 'Bawth,' the long-awaited Kay Thompson/Hilary Knight collaboration, will finally be made available to Eloise fans everywhere," said John Hurd, Kay Thompson's nephew and representative for her estate, "It is time to see it published at last." Hilary Knight added, "I'm thrilled that Eloise Takes a Bawth is finally coming out; now I'd better get back to my drawing board."

First published by Simon & Schuster in 1955, Eloise was an instant bestseller. Originally marketed for "precocious grown-ups," Eloise is the story of an adorably spoiled child living at the Plaza Hotel. Thousands of visitors to The Plaza Hotel annually seek out her portrait, which still hangs in the lobby of the landmark hotel. In 1999-2000, Simon & Schuster re-issued the three initial Eloise sequels. There are currently more than 3.5 million Eloise books in print in the United States alone.