Sandycove to publish book by star of the Late Late Toy Show

Sandycove has acquired A Hug for You by David King and his six-year-old son Adam, who "stole the hearts of the nation" when he appeared on Ireland's "Late Late Toy Show" in 2020. 

Managing director at Sandycove, Michael McLoughlin, acquired world rights from William Ryan, and the book is due to hit the shelves in November this year. 

In the new illustrated children's book Adam and David tell the story of the "virtual hug", which started out as a heart-shaped sign Adam carried during the coronavirus pandemic to help him stay connected to his teacher while he was learning from home. Adam has a brittle bone condition called Osteogenesis imperfecta, and took his "virtual hug" to his regular hospital appointments to show his doctors, nurses, and care staff that he was still giving them a hug, just in a different way. After he appeared on the "Late Late Toy show", the hug made its way on to mugs, postage stamps and even all the way to outer space. 

King said: “I am absolutely over the moon to work with Sandycove on this project. Adam and our family have been on a wonderful adventure over this last year with the virtual hug, and everyone has been a part of it. Inspired by these events, I am delighted to have written a story about bringing light to the tough times we have all experienced. I hope you will all see a bit of yourselves in it, of the power of connectedness and hope and how the smallest gestures can have the greatest impact. This story, like Adam's virtual hug, is for everyone.”

McLoughlin added: “We are absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to work with Adam and David on this book. Like everyone else in Ireland, we were all blown away by Adam on the "Late Late Toy Show" last Christmas. We feel so privileged to be part of Adam’s story, and the story of the virtual hug.”