Piccadilly Press acquires new children’s book series from Horrible Histories’ Martin Brown

Piccadilly Press acquires new children’s book series from Horrible Histories’ Martin Brown

Piccadilly Press has acquired world rights for two fiction titles from bestselling Horrible Histories illustrator Martin Brown. Felicity Alexander, senior commissioning editor for Piccadilly Press, acquired the rights from Caroline Walsh at David Higham Associates.

Written for readers age 7+, Nell and the Cave Bear, the first book in the two-colour series, will publish in July 2021. The series, featuring a stone age girl, Nell, and her pet Cave Bear, will be both written and illustrated by Martin Brown.

‘I was absolutely captivated by Martin’s storytelling. Nell and the Cave Bear is a wonderful blend of wisdom, humour and adventure … It’s timeless, gripping and full of heart.’

When Nell learns that her clan are planning to give her beloved Cave Bear away to the visiting Sea Clan, she sets out on a journey to save him. With the classic appeal of Winnie-the-Pooh – as well as Martin’s inimitable humour – this is a wise and entertaining tale for chapter-book readers. A second book in the series will be published in 2022.

Felicity Alexander, Senior Commissioning Editor, Piccadilly Press, said: ‘I was absolutely captivated by Martin’s storytelling. Nell and the Cave Bear is a wonderful blend of wisdom, humour and adventure – with a richly drawn prehistoric setting and a characterful trio of girl, bear and kitten that you can’t help but root for. It’s timeless, gripping and full of heart.’

Martin Brown added: ‘I’m thrilled to be working with Felicity and Bonnier Books UK. This fiction thing is a bit new for me so it’s good to know I’ll be in the safest of hands. Actually, Nell and the Cave Bear began as an idea for a non-fiction book – ages ago – but the narrative line running through it took over. Nell’s adventure morphed into a picture book and then into a chapter book. That’s the thing with stories, sometimes they won’t let go. Over the years I’ve learned that horrible history has great tales to tell –  I hope the same goes for pre-history.’