Templar Books, an imprint of Bonnier Books UK, is delighted to announce the acquisition of Gotcha, the first preschool board book series by award‑winning illustrator Mark Nicholas.
Ruth Symons, editorial director (Preschool and Complex Novelty) and Laura Hall, art director at Templar Books, acquired world rights from Paul Moreton, Bell Lomax Moreton Ltd.
Prepare for lift-the-flap surprises and oodles of silliness in this bold new preschool offering. Dog is hiding somewhere. But so are lots of unexpected animal friends. Little ones will love to lift the chunky flaps on their search. Bright tones, playful typography and sturdy paper engineering combine perfectly in this nostalgic package.
Mark Nicholas says: “The buzz around my Gotcha books has truly been a pinch me moment. Creating these playful books has been such a magical experience, and working with the incredible Templar team to bring these books to life has been an absolute joy. I can’t wait to share these little bundles of fun with the world.”
Ruth Symons, editorial director, Preschool and Complex Novelty, at Templar Books, said: “Everyone at Templar is so excited to be publishing Gotcha. Flap books are a family favourite for a reason – but making them clever, funny and downright stylish is no small feat, and Mark has nailed it. Templar has a rich history using paper-engineering to create immersive, playful reading experiences, and Mark’s books sit right at the heart of this.”
Laura Hall, art director at Templar Books, said: “Mark’s playful artwork and mischievous characters are a total delight, created using linocut techniques and bold palettes. The fun flaps and themed hide-and-seek games will have little ones asking ‘again!’ – and adults only too happy to oblige!”
Paul Moreton, Bell Lomax Moreton Ltd said, “I knew from the moment that Gotcha landed in my inbox that Mark had created something very special. We had huge interest from publishers but I feel that Mark has found the perfect team at Templar to launch his books to the world. Mark is a major talent with many amazing new pre-school to come in the future. This is just the beginning…”
Award-winning illustrator Mark Nicholas is an exciting new talent on the preschool scene, using linocut print-making techniques to achieve his distinctive style. His background as a model-maker, working on everything from CBBC shows to museum displays, has given him the perfect insight into making interactive novelty books that leap off the page. Born in Yorkshire, Mark now lives in Wales with his young family.
Mark was the inaugural winner of the Carmelite Prize for his illustrations for The Story of Tantrum O’Furrily by Cressida Cowell. The book went on to be nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal and was longlisted for the Klaus Flugge Prize in 2019. Gotcha Dog and Gotcha Rabbit are Mark’s first pre-school books.
Gotcha Dog and Gotcha Rabbit will be publishing in May 2027 with two more board books in the series to come in 2028.
Photography credit: © Mark Nicholas
