Bolinda snaps up Sophie Dahl children's book

Bolinda has acquired exclusive audio rights to Sophie Dahl’s debut children’s book, Madame Badobedah. 

Bolinda rights and content manager Ellis Moore bought exclusive world English language audio rights from Alice Lutyens from Curtis Brown. 

The audio edition will be released simultaneously worldwide with the print edition, published by Walker, today (3rd October) in trade CD, MP3CD and digitally. 

Dahl's debut tells the story of a little girl called Mabel, and the enigmatic old lady who moves into the seaside hotel in which she lives. Mabel names this potential super villain Madame Badobedah, and throughout the story, tries to unravel her mystery.

Narrated by Dahl, the audiobook also features a fully scored song  co -written by Dahl alongside her husband, the Grammy nominated musician, Jamie Cullum. Dahl sings the vocal of the song and is accompanied by Cullum on the piano.  

Moore said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work creatively on this beautiful, moving and wonderful story. Bringing Sophie’s words to life has been such a fun, creative and magical experience. We’re so pleased to have produced this edition, and we can’t wait to see what Sophie creates next!’ 

Dahl added: “It’s been a great joy to work with Bolinda on this incredibly special audiobook. I’ve loved co-creating a living, breathing thing, with crashing waves, a dodo, rowdy pirates, and a waltz... Working with my talented husband was an added bonus, we had such a happy time songwriting we might do it again!”

In libraries, the audiobook will available digitally through the BorrowBox library lending app as well as in physical CD, MP3CD and Playaway format. 

Author and former model Dahl signed a four-book print deal with Walker Books last year. Madame Badobedah, featuring illustrations by Lauren O'Hara, marks her first foray into children's publishing. Commissioning editor Emma Lidbury bought world rights Madame Badobedah and three further titles from Felicity Blunt at Curtis Brown. 

Dahl's first novel, Playing with the Grown-Ups, was published in 2007 by Bloomsbury following her illustrated novella, The Man with the Dancing Eyes (Bloomsbury, 2003), Dahl, who has written numerous cookbooks, has sold 113,564 copies for £1.16m through Book Scan, with Miss Dahl’s Voluptuous Delights (HarperCollins) her bestseller at 52,767 copies sold.