Templar snaps up three-book series from Mike Barfield illustrated by Franziska Höllbacher

Templar Books, an imprint of Bonnier Books UK, has snapped up a new three-book series from author Mike Barfield, illustrated “in a lively comic-strip format” by Franziska Höllbacher. 

Sophie Hallam, head of Templar, acquired world rights to The World’s First Rollercoaster: and Other Amazing Inventions and two other books from Anne Clark Literary Agency and Wundergarden agent Maria Bogade. 

The World’s First Rollercoaster: and Other Amazing Adventures will publish in paperback on 11th April 2024, followed by The World’s First Human Cannonball: and Other Incredible Jobs in 2025, and The World’s Last Dodo: and Other Missing Marvels in 2026. 

The first in the series tells the “fascinating true stories behind an amazing range of inventions and innovations”. From bubble wrap to barcodes, pizza to Post-it notes, trainers to teddy bears – “readers will discover how these lightbulb moments left their mark on the world, big or small” the publisher said.   

Barfield said: “I’m very excited and honoured to be working with the lovely people at Templar on such a fun series of new non-fiction titles, with a special shout-out to my wonderful illustrator Franzi Höllbacher for splashing so many extra jokes over the pages. The World’s First Rollercoaster – our first book together – has been a real blast and everyone is eager to get back in the carriage and go round the track again and again and again!” 

Höllbacher added: “Mike and I share a similar sense of humour, which makes it a dream job in many ways. Not only do I get to express my own funny side with my illustrations, but I also learn all sorts of curious and fascinating things in the process. That’s why working on the book series is so exciting for me. Every chapter is a new revelation. I love it.”