50-51 Publishing LSB 2020_muk.qxp_NEW LSB 2008 GRID 22/09/2020 20:12 Page 51
STATE OF THE NATION: PUBLISHING
Macmillan steams ahead Hornby has joined forces with Macmillan Children’s Books for a new official partnership. The tie up is celebrating the launch of the second book in Macmillan’s Adventures of Trains series – Kidnap on the California Comet. As part of the partnership, a special Hornby/Macmillan webpage is now live at hornby.com, with visitors being able to meet the authors (M.G Leonard and Sam Sedgman), read about the two Adventures on Trains stories, listen to extracts from the series, download activity sheets and enter a competition to win the books. A special event with the two authors is also being planned for later in the autumn. Both companies are also working with ten UK independent book stores, which are stocking the book and also have a special Hornby window display in place featuring its Industrial Freight train set. The partnership will continue in the lead up to Christmas and into 2021 to celebrate the launch of Murder on the Safari Star, the third book in the series. Below: Axel Scheffler is among the artists who have contributed to the auction.
Charitable monsters Some 40 illustrators have channelled their inner monsters to take part in a charity auction celebrating 40 years of David McKee’s Not Now, Bernard. Publisher Andersen Press has partnered with Action for Children on the auction, which has seen artists including Rob Biddulph, Posy Simmonds, Chris Riddell, Lydia Monks, Axel Scheffler, Marion Deuchars and Tony Ross bringing their inner monsters to life. In addition, the auction also includes art from mentees from Pop-Up Pathways Into Children’s Publishing, a two-year programme for illustrators from backgrounds which are underrepresented in children’s publishing. Discover Children’s Story Centre in East London is sharing the artwork with its visitors in an exclusive exhibition of 35 pieces. The exhibition will run until November 2, with the artwork then being sent on to the winning online bidders.
Above: The Hornby tie-up is celebrating the launch of the second book in the Adventures of Trains series.
Bing unboxed Kennedy Publishing has teamed up with Acamar Films for the launch of a new concept for its preschool brand, Bing. Box of Bing is priced at £3.99 and packaged in a branded carry case. The six-weekly title is aiming to appeal to consumers looking for reduced plastic, value for money, educational support and creative content. The fully branded carry box packaging features a 16-page craft magazine, a 16-page colouring magazine, two fold-out sticker sheets, a fold-out poster, giant sticker story and lots of creative gifts, from paint pots and crayons to cookie cutters and craft supplies. Bing will also feature on arty and educational activity spreads as part of Kennedy Publishing’s compilation titles, Busy Time and Get Busy. Sophie Rowlands, licensing director at Kennedy Publishing, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Acamar on a brand new magazine product that has really excited retailers.” Below: Box of Bing is aiming to appeal to consumers looking for reduced plastic.
LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2020
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