Day and Lenton team up for Puffin's 'Dino Dad'

Puffin is delighted to announce the acquisition of four illustrated young fiction titles in the Dino Dad series by "CBeebies" star Andy Day.

Naomi Colthurst, editorial director, acquired world rights from K T Forster at K T Forster Literary. Colthurst also acquired world rights from Sallyanne Sweeney at MMBCreative for illustrations across the four titles from Steven Lenton.

The first title will be published in paperback in May 2024 with titles following every six months thereafter.

“Dino Dad expands Puffin’s young fiction offerings with this family focused, high-energy series from Andy Day,” the publisher said. “Dinosaurs are a perennial favourite in young fiction, and as the star of ’Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures’, Andy is beloved of children and parents alike.

"Paired with Steven Lenton’s exceptional illustrations, and peppered with dinosaur facts, Dino Dad is for readers who are just getting beyond ‘CBeebies’ and wanting to explore their own reading choices."

Colthurst said: “Andy Day is the undisputed (and literal) rock star of children’s pre-school television, with so many strings to his bow – but it’s his presence as a dinosaur expert that most parents of young people will know and love him for. It’s been a privilege to help Andy harness his incredible creativity in a new direction with Dino Dad – a series that perfectly balances Andy’s dinosaur knowledge and joyfully silly humour. Steven’s amazing illustrations add another fabulous layer to Andy’s world, we know families will return to this brilliant new series over and over.”

Day commented: “I’m excited to publish my first children’s book, and a little nervous too. It’s been a joy working with Steven, he has truly brought the characters to life and they are just how I imagined them to be. Being a dad, I get a lot of pleasure reading to my girls. It is a privilege that other children out there and their parents will get to do the same with a world I have imagined. I hope they find Dino Dad fun, funny – with a sprinkle of prehistoric knowledge.”

Lenton said: “I have also learned a lot about dinosaurs along the way and I love how Andy has introduced some of the lesser-known species into his stories. Fossil your seatbelts, kids, you’re going to have a blast – from the past.”