HC to publish Adventures of Paddington TV tie-ins

HarperCollins Children’s Books has secured world rights to publish the tie-in books for "The Adventures of Paddington", a new Nickelodeon television series launching globally in 2020.

The animated pre-school series comprises 26 episodes and features the voice of Ben Whishaw as Paddington in English-speaking markets. It also has a new theme song, written and performed by Take That's Gary Barlow.

It has been directed by Adam Shaw and Chris Drew of animation production studio BlueZoo, developed for television and written by Jon Foster and James Lamont, executive-produced by David Heyman (producer of all eight of the Harry Potter films, as well as two recent Paddington films) and Rosie Alison ("The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas", both Paddington titles). 

The deal to publish the television show's official books is part of a continuing partnership between HarperCollins with The Copyrights Group, and they will be co-published with HarperCollins US.

The list of tie-ins will launch with a "charming" picture book, The Wrong List, and My First Sticker Book in April 2020. Retailing in paperback at £6.99, The Wrong List is described as "full of warmth and slapstick humour", telling a story of Paddington, who has mistakenly picked up the wrong list of chores to do. My First Sticker Book will publish in paperback at £5.99 as "a fun-packed launch activity book with big stickers for little paws, introducing new readers and fans of the TV to the world and hilarious adventures of Paddington".

More titles using imagery from the television series will follow later in the year, including a summer-themed activity book and a Christmas-themed picture book.

Juliet Matthews, publisher for media and brands at HarperCollins Children’s Books, said: “The Adventures of Paddington is a truly delightful series; full of warmth and humour, it is the perfect introduction to the world’s best-loved bear for pre-schoolers. We are thrilled to be publishing this first range of formats, which will charm young readers with its beautifully rich images and wonderfully funny stories.”