Templar rebrands ahead of 40th birthday

Illustrated children's book press Templar Publishing has unveiled a new brand identity ahead of its 40th anniversary next year.

An imprint of Kings Road Publishing, Templar Publishing was founded in 1978 and comprises two sub-imprints, Templar Books and Big Picture Press.

The new brand identity includes new logos for Templar Publishing and Templar Books. Created by Templar’s art director, Genevieve Webster, Drake the Dragon made his first appearance at Frankfurt Book Fair last week as part of the new Templar Books logo. All books published under Templar Books will carry the logo from January.

Publishing director Lisa Edwards said: “We asked ourselves what animal most represents our books and realised that it had to be a dragon. Our bestselling and best-known title is Dragonology and the Templar name evokes images of knights and dragons. It had to be Drake.”

The new brand identity will also include a new website for Templar Publishing.

In celebration of its 40th year, Templar will also launch a new illustration prize in November, also based on a dragon theme. Aspiring illustrators will be invited to submit work for a prize to be awarded in Spring 2018.

“With our emphasis being firmly on new illustration, we wanted to create an annual prize that would give new talent a springboard into children’s publishing. As multiple prize-winners ourselves, we wanted to start our 40th celebrations with a new logo and a new prize," said Edwards.

Templar Publishing titles have won both the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal and Bologna Ragazzi ‘Opera Prima’ awards twice in its 40-year history.

Further plans for Templar’s 40th year include a series of 40 publishing and promotional events to mark the anniversary, including new books from illustrators who have contributed to Templar over the years.

Edwards added: “I really wanted to create a publishing programme that celebrated the heroes of Templar’s past, as well as showcased the stars of Templar’s future. I’m delighted that we have new books coming from Simon Bartram, the creator of the Blue Peter-award-winning Bob, Man on the Moon, Greenaway Medal-winning Grahame Baker Smith and Waterstones Prize-winning Jonny Duddle.”

Templar publishing was acquired by Bonnier Publishing in 2008.