New Unpublished Title: ROBIN AND THE SNACK HEIST by Matthew Graeme
Synopsis
Maggie May, an imaginative five-year-old girl, counts down the days until her big brother, Ben, comes home to visit. Maggie makes a card for him and plans to gift it to him as part of an elaborate, imaginative game as her persona Sir Lady, the princess knight of their shared, imaginary kingdom. A card she believes will undoubtedly persuade him to move home again.
A series of events prevents Maggie from convincing Ben to move home. Firstly, Ben brings a girlfriend to dinner causing Maggie to feel immediate jealousy and suspicion. This initial hurdle ensures Maggie loses the card she prepared for him in an attempt to sequester Ben away so they can play her game. To top it off, mum expects Maggie to continue through the planned dinner and bedtime routines. As she takes each step through her routine, she knows that Ben is one step closer to leaving. Maggie lashes out in anger and fear at her family upon each request to eat dinner and prepare for bed. Unwittingly, Maggie ruins the evening for everyone, including herself. In a twist of events, Ben’s girlfriend finds the gift before leaving and tries to give it to Maggie who is too upset to listen. She gives it to Ben instead. Ben leaves without a goodbye from Maggie.
Guilt ridden, Maggie calms down enough to apologise to her mum about what happened and calls Ben to say sorry to him too. They share a conversation over the phone, relieving Maggie of her fears.
Market Position Statement
Maggie May is a 750-word, contemporary fiction story aimed at early primary school aged children (4-7yrs). The story follows Maggie May; a adopted girl who escapes reality through imaginative play. This story showcases emotional distress akin to Too Much: An Overwhelming Day (Jolene Gutiérrez) as well as ideas of loss, jealousy and regret as shown in Nova’s Missing Masterpiece (Brooke Graham).
Unlike many titles within this genre, Maggie May strips away the explicit teaching and focuses on a rich, character-driven narrative. Young readers follow Maggie through a realistic cycle of crisis, resolution and reparations. Children see for themselves that it is okay to feel uncontrollable emotions, that they will continue to be loved despite them and that reparations with loved ones is an integral part of any emotional journey.
This story showcases imaginative play and how children process their world through it, a dying art in the digital age. Maggie May has series potential showcasing emotional intelligence and relationship building through this imaginative play.
Page 9
‘Our mother, the queen, sent word that you have an important quest for me to complete? By the way, this is Stella.’
‘For us to complete,’ she corrected, ‘and it is of the upmost importance.’ Maggie said whilst peeking past Ben.
Page 10
Their quest had barely begun when they encrounter- encountra... when they come across their first challenge. For Bendar was not alone. A most beautiful sorceress arrived with him. Her golden hair mixed with blue a clear sign of her magical power. Perhaps even stronger than the queen herself.
Illustrator Notes:
Page 9
Maggie is picked up by her brother. She holds the gem drawing in her hand which is behind Ben so he cannot see that it has writing on it. She gets the word “utmost" wrong, showing her young age.
Page 10
Sir Lady looks past Bendar, staring down the sorceress. She hides the gem, out of sight from the sorceress. She puts it in her back pocket but it slips out and glides under some furniture, barely visible.
This is the first indication that Maggie is the one saying the prose text out loud.
Created by Matthew Graeme, 2026