Templar Books acquires new picture books from Sebastien Braun

Bonnier Publishing imprint Templar Books has acquired world rights for two picture books from Sebastien Braun in a deal with Arabella Stein of the Bright Agency.

Braun, who studied fine art in Strasbourg, is best known for his illustrations in books by Julia Donaldson and Allan Ahlberg, as well as his own picture book, I Love My Daddy (Boxer Books). 

His first new picture book with Templar Books will publish to coincide with Father’s Day 2018, introducing a new character, Raj in Raj and the Best Day Ever, a "warm and affectionate" story about a father and a son’s special day out. It is said to be based on the illustrator's own personal experiences as a father, giving his new titles "emotional heart that will speak to parents and children everywhere", according to Bonnier Publishing.

Lisa Edwards, publishing director at Templar Publishing, commented: “Sebastien’s agent Arabella Stein showed us his first illustrations of Raj and we immediately fell in love with the young tiger character and his world. Here is an illustrator with his own stories to tell and the team at Templar Publishing are delighted to be able to present them to the world.”

Braun added “I can’t tell you how much I loved working on Raj with the precious help of the team at Templar. It feels so natural and personal at the same time. Raj and his family have found an amazing home in Templar and this is only the start of what I hope to be a long and exciting adventure.”