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Andersen Press nets 'hilariously irreverent' picture book by Allan to celebrate King Charles III's coronation
Andersen Press has netted a “hilariously irreverent” picture-book to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation by Nicholas Allan, best known for The Queen’s Knickers (Red Fox).
Sue Buswell, editorial director for picture books, acquired world rights to The King’s Pants from Bill Hamilton at A M Heath. It will publish in April 2023 as a paperback original. Andersen said it will mount its “biggest-ever campaign” for the book. Point-of-sale material will be available for bookshops, including pants-shaped Union Jack bunting. Major spend will be placed on trade advertising and consumer-focused social media content.
The publisher said: “The King’s Pants is a hilariously irreverent take on a new monarch and his favourite underwear. The King cannot rule without his Royal Pants. He has a pair for every occasion: Coronation Pants (he can’t be crowned without them), Organic Pants (edible in royal emergencies) and even inflatable Space-Pants (because one never knows when they might come in handy). But in a boxer-shorts blunder at the Royal Mail, the King’s undies have been posted to his subjects nationwide! With his Y-fronts gone wandering, how will the King possibly cope?”
Buswell added: “It is a real pleasure to work with Nicholas again, and what better book to publishing at this royal moment than The King’s Pants? We have a huge campaign planned to make sure this is the book to celebrate the coronation with children all around the UK and the Commonwealth, a fitting celebration of our new King!”
Allan also commented: “I initially wrote and illustrated The King’s Pants a long time ago, but like an old pair of boxer shorts it has been sat at the bottom of my drawer for many, many years, and now I feel is the right time to bring that original story to light for a whole new audience. I’m delighted to be working with Sue Buswell again, and the brilliant team at Andersen Press, who I know will get this book into as many hands as possible in the run-up to our new King’s coronation.”
