Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weirdo | 2021 | Zadie Smith | Buy |
| 2 | The Surprise | 2022 | Zadie Smith | Buy |
| 3 | In the Wild | 2025 | Zadie Smith | Buy |
Zadie Smith’s picture books are a departure from her literary fiction, written for young children and illustrated by Magenta Fox. The first, Weirdo (2021), tells the story of a boy named Kit who feels out of place and different from the other kids. It is a story about learning to be comfortable with who you are.
The Surprise (2022) followed, and In the Wild is set for 2025. The books share Fox’s colorful, expressive illustrations and Smith’s interest in characters who see the world from an unusual angle. While Smith is best known for her adult novels, these picture books show her writing in a lighter register, aimed at the youngest readers.