Piccadilly Press, an imprint of Bonnier Books UK, has acquired DADBOT, a hilarious full-colour graphic novel series full of robots, puns and dastardly dad-napping from award-winning author-illustrator Jack Noel.
Ruth Bennett, editorial director at Piccadilly Press, acquired world all language rights to three books from Claire Wilson at RCW.
In the first book, Josh and Daisy are excited for their summer holidays which go from dull to dynamite with the purchase of Dadbot. With super-strength, hot chocolate on tap and a printer for a butt, Dadbot might be the most exciting thing Josh and Daisy have ever discovered – and he only cost £3! But the evil Doctor Egg is lurking to steal Dadbot for his own plans of world domination… Can Josh and Daisy protect their new robo-parent before it’s too late?
Jack Noel said: “I’m thrilled that DADBOT has found a home with Ruth and the rest of my new friends at Bonnier. I love robots and I quite like being a dad. It feels great to bring these things together in the best type of book there is: a comic book! DADBOT is about family, technology and the power of love and lightning. It’s timely as heck – it was even created by an A.I. (ageing illustrator).”
Ruth Bennett, editorial director at Piccadilly Press, said: “DADBOT is a funny and chaotic concoction of robots, dad jokes and sibling antics, combining heartfelt family drama with a healthy dose of epic battles that will have readers clamouring for more. Fortunately, it’s a series, so their wishes will be granted! DADBOT has all the elements that we know our youngest graphic novel enthusiasts are hungry for more of. Let’s just hope it doesn’t give them any ideas about upgrading their own parents…”
Claire Wilson at RCW, said: “Jack Noel is a huge talent and DADBOT is a joy – I am so glad he has found such a perfect creative partnership in Ruth, and am excited for readers to discover his inimitable humour and unforgettable style.”
Jack Noel is an award-winning author, illustrator and book designer. He lives in South London. He is the creator of My Headteacher is an Evil Genius, Skater Baby and the Comic Classics series. He has been reading comics and then copying out his favourite bits since 1988. His influences are The Beano, The Simpsons and Terminator 2. He is a dad, but not a robot.
Piccadilly Press is marking its 40th year of building future generations of readers. The imprint is the home of exciting and engaging children’s fiction, with a host of blockbuster publishing lined up for the year ahead, including Ash Bond’s Peregrine Quinn and the Cosmic Realm; and a new title in the bestselling Max Magic series by Stephen Mulhern with Tom Easton, and illustrated by Begoña Fernández Corbalán.
The first DADBOT in the series will be publishing in paperback and ebook in March 2025.
