Awards news for Templar Publishing – Plus WIN all of these titles…

2014 has been a pretty busy year for us. We’ve been on some pirate adventures with Jonny Duddle, discovered how Marvellous Maths can be with Jonathan Litton and Thomas Flintham and learnt How Animals Live with Christiane Dorion. 

We love hanging out with our authors and illustrators.  In fact, we think we have some of the finest (and most fun) books – and it seems lots of other people think so too. Just look at the awards we’ve been shortlisted for below:

Schütterts Bilderbuch Bärchen (Winner)

Adam Stower – Silly Doggy

Hampshire Illustrated Children’s Book Award (Winner)

Jonny Duddle - Pirates Next Door

Blue Peter Book Awards

Jonathan Litton and Thomas Flintham  - Marvellous Maths

Maine State Library ‘Cream of the Crop’ List

Helen Ward - The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

Waterstones Children’s Books Prize

Helen Hancocks – Penguin in Peril

Read it Again! The Cambridgeshire Children’s Picture Book Award

Emma Yarlett – Sidney, Stella and the Moon

Helen Hancocks – Penguin in Peril

Independent Bookweek Shortlist

Jonny Duddle – The Jolley Rogers and the Ghostly Galleon

Dundee Picture Book Award

Gemma O’Neill – Oh Dear, Geoffrey

Kate Greenaway Medal

Olivia Gill – Where My Wellies Take Me

Royal Society Young People’s Prize

Christiane Dorion – How Animals Live

Sheffield Children’s Book Award

Adam Stower – Troll and the Oliver

Andy Mansfield and Henning Lohlein – Fish Food

* * WIN * * 

To be in with a very special chance to win a bundle of all of these titles, just tell us in the comments box below which is your favourite Templar Publishing book and why :-)

Enter by 6pm on Monday 23rd - UK Only.

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A few dates for your diary

Upcoming events in March 2013!

Saturday 2nd March 2013

C.J. Busby

C.J. Busby, author of the magical Frogspell series (www.frogspell.co.uk) will be signing books at WHSmith Exeter (Guildhall Shopping Centre) from 12pm


Jonny Duddle will be at Waterstones Liverpool One from 2pm

Sunday 3rd March 2013

Karen Saunders, author of Me, Suzy P will be signing books in WHSmith Bath from 2pm


Friday 8th March

Karen Saunders

Jonny Duddle is appearing at the Book Nook in Brighton from 4:30pm

Saturday 9th March

Jonny Duddle is at Waterstones Southampton West Quay from 11:30am

Simon Bartram will be at Discover Centre from 12 -1pm

Belinda Rapley will be at WHSmith Norwich from 12pm

Sunday 10th March

Michael Morpurgo is appearing at Oswestry Festival at 10am

Saturday 23th March

Simon Bartram

Jonny Duddle will be at Waterstones Chester 11:30 - 12:30 and then from

2:30 - 3:30 at Waterstones Wrexham


Sunday 24th March

Jonny Duddle will be at Waterstones Llandudno from 11:30 until 12:30

Wednesday 27th March

Jonny Duddle is at Waterstones Altrincham from 11:30am

and then from 2:30pm Jonny will be at Waterstones Manchester Deansgate

Saturday 30th March

Jonny Duddle will be at Waterstones Cheltenham from 11am until 12 noon.

Jonny Duddle

Keep an eye on our Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with events and news!

CHESTER SHINES ON JONNY AND SIMON

After spending a very comfortable night in the hold of the Duddle pirate ship last Friday - on what was a really dull and dismal day, we awoke to glorious sunshine on Saturday!  A few clouds scuddered across the blue sky, the wind was a fair westerly and all boded well for that days events with the GobbleDEEbook festival in Chester.

Swopping sails for wheels, Capt Duddle drove us into Chester in his trusty Morris Minor - and averaging at least 45mph on a downward hill with the wind behind us, we arrived at St Mary's - the venue.



It was a de-commissioned church and really lovely inside with a  play area, light refreshments, Waterstone's book shop and an event space that soared up to the rafters.

We met Simon for a quick coffee in the city centre and were amazed when a Roman legion, complete with urchins begging, marched past us on their way to the river.

Simon's event was a near sell-out and as ever, the children loved all his teasing and pantomime antics.  Book sales were terrific - and made Helen, the bookseller very happy.

Without pausing for breath - Jonny's event came up next and was in fact the last one that day, and closed the festival.

Not as many costumed pirates were in evidence as were at Cheltenham, but a good and hearty crowd nonetheless and Jonny was still signing books and posters an hour afterwards.

Great hospitality and friendly welcome from Harry, Emily and the team - and nice to meet Jessica who was my original point of contact all those months ago.  Thanks to you all!

Sunny Times at Cheltenham

Festival goers enjoying  the autumn sun

Well, they say the sun always shines on the righteous - not sure how righteous we all are, but certainly lucky with a bright, sunny weekend at Cheltenham for the Times Literary Festival.
Spread over two squares and in every theatre and town hall, the festival attracts thousands of visitors and this year was no exception.  Everyone who was anyone was there - including of course, the lovely Templar team!

First off on Sunday morning - a 10 am start, but queues all down the road to get into Dave Lowe's My Hamster is a Genius event.  Over 60 tickets sold beforehand, but with at least that number again turning up on the morning, it was packed and Dave really enjoyed the banter from the children (and their parents).   The quiz once again generated lots of laughs and furrowed brows and the winning child got to take home their very own Stinky toy.

All the event stock was sold with lots of parents asking when the next one was out - and teachers commenting on what a great series it was for their 7-9 year old pupils.

Young fans

After a quick coffee, it was time for Simon Bartram's event - and once, again, families queued around the block with a rush for the front seats.  Though one family who came with their  children clutching the two largest balloons ever weren't that popular - until, of course, the balloons ended up floating up to the very high ceiling.

The audience were treated to a whistle-stop tour of the 10 years of Bob and it ended with Simon reading aloud The Moontree - with an ending that satisfied everyone.

Making sure Simon spells her name correctly!

It was a bit daunting for Simon sitting alongside Jacqueline Wilson in the signing area (she had been there all the time he was doing his event) but the Bob fans were as enthusiastic and delighted to chat to Simon.










 The Waterstone's staff were thrilled when Simon  drew them a special alien for their display wall of fame!

Finally we ended the day with a raucous pirate event led by Jonny Duddle.  Most of the children and some of the adults came dressed in pirate costumes and they all loved seeing his images and hearing him read the Pirates Next Door.  Jonny was also very proud of his new hat with a lovely feather.

Group aaaargh

Even mummy pirates came along

A happy and fun filled day and thanks to all at Cheltenham who made it so!

Jonny Duddle at Waterstones Piccadilly

Ooohh aarrrhh! We had a swashbuckling Friday with author and illustrator of the award winning The Pirates Next Door in Waterstones Piccadilly last week.

Jonny's editor Libby and Press Officer Jayne,
warm up the crowd whilst we wait for Jonny to arrive.

After a shaky start, due to his train being held up rain and fog, Jonny Duddle arrived in a full pirates costume and immediately captured the children's attention. Their disbelief was audible as Jonny described his time on board a ship as a real life pirate, especially when he produced a biscuit from 2004 - with added creatures...!

The ship Jonny worked on

Jonny then launched into a fantastic reading of The Pirates Next Door (complete with pirate voices and sound effects!) before finishing the talk by drawing a pirate whose big nose and the owl (?) on his shoulder was directed by the children!

There was just enough time to squeeze in a few questions before the children had to leave and we got ready for the next session!

Click here to watch a stock motion video of Jonny drawing a pirate during the afternoon session.

You can view all of the photos taken on our Facebook page

VIII pb tour off to a flying start

VIII in good company as  pb tour launches on St George's Day or Shakespeare's Birthday - Monday 23 April 2012

Despite driving rain and freezing cold winds, the enthusiasm and energy of over 100 year 8's at Thomas Knyvett College in Ashford, Middlesex gave Harriet Castor a great start for her pb tour which started today ... and will take in Hampton Court,  the Boleyn Festival, Ipswich, Oxford, Warwick, Bramhall and Manchester until early May.

With thanks to Rebecca, the events manager at the Staines branch of Waterstones, and on the day, Natalie Likness, Branch Manager as well as the librarian Madeleine Manning at the college was really keen to introduce authors to her year 8's in a bid to support the college's literacy drive.

Lively discussions and excellent questions ensured the 50 mins or so sped by before Harriet signed books and spoke to members of staff - all of whom said how much they had enjoyed the morning.

After a  quick coffee and a toastie, Harriet back on the train into London to find a quiet space to continue her work on book no. 2 and prepare for tomorrow's events at the Henrietta Barnett School in Hampstead Garden Suburb and Queen College in Harley Street.

CELEBRATING THE LAUNCH OF ILLUSIONOLOGY

Last week saw Illusionology, the latest book in the Ology series, hit the bookstores. To celebrate this, we enlisted The Deceptionist – master magician and consultant on the book – to ‘wow’ some children in London.

Starting at Waterstones, O2 centre, Finchley Road we were greeted by the friendly staff who were all prepared for the event. Copies of Illusionology surrounded the area ready for the performance, the stage was set and the audience were seated. The Deceptionist donned his steampunk-style bowler hat and he was ready to go!

The audience watched in awe as The Deceptionist performed trick after trick. Coins dropped from one hand to the other and then levitated back again. He pulled coins out of an empty purse. He turned a stack of blank paper into real five pound notes. He borrowed a twenty pound note from a lady in the audience, then proceeded to fold it until it was the size of a stamp. When he unfolded it, it had turned into a twenty euro note! More folding, it changed to a fifty dollar note!!! How – I hear you wondering? Has the lady lost her twenty pound note? Phew! The last folds brought the twenty pounds back again!

The finale trick was a classic... The Cups and Balls. Three little miniature footballs were placed under the cups. They then started to appear and disappear from under the cups. The Deceptionist then took it one stage further – the audience may have thought there was a little football under the cup but instead The Deceptionist revealed a full size baseball! And not just one! Every time he uncovered a cup a baseball would appear. With exhaustion, he took off his hat and threw it on the table. After mopping his brow, he revealed his show stopper! Under the bowler hat was a massive red die!!!

Following a quick signing session, more tricks and huge thanks to the Waterstones team, it was time to head east!

At Foyles in the new Westfield shopping centre, near the new Olympic complex, Illusionology was found in the window next to fellow Templar books. Inside it was displayed with other books on magic. You could definitely learn a trick or two in this store today!

The Deceptionist started to work his magic throughout the store. At first the unsuspecting kids and families were unsure what to expect but within seconds, smiles appeared followed by “How did you do that?” and, “Could you make my brother disappear?”

Customers to the store got their own little magic show and some went and got their friends to see more. When The Deceptionist pulled a long strand of paper out of his mouth, you had no idea it would then reach all the way to the front door!

Perfect for a bookshop, The Deceptionist would ask someone to choose a randomly selected book off the shelves, turn to a random page and then a random word. Using his magical abilities, he was able to tell the volunteer the precise word they had chosen, leaving them astonished. How could he have known?

The perplexed customers were left with Illusionology to try and find some possible answers! Thank you to the team at Foyles for their enthusiasm and support.

* All children’s faces have been obscured for online safety

The Pirates Next Door shortlisted for Waterstones prize!

Shiver me timbers, Jonny Duddle's The Pirates Next Door has been shortlisted for the Waterstones 2012 Children's Book Prize!

The Jolley-Rogers - a pirate family, are moving to Dull-on-Sea, a quiet seaside town where rumours spread quickly. Defying the grown-ups, Matilda from next door decides to become friends with the youngest pirate son. When the Jolley-Rogers leave, the town discovers they were wrong to assume the worst - the pirate clan have buried treasure in everyone's gardens.

Arrr Cap't Jonny Duddle

Jonny Duddle

About the Author: Jonny Duddle is an illustrator and concept artist. He wrote and illustrated the hugely successful picture book, The Pirate-Cruncher, which was longlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal. He also illustrated the cover for Nation by Terry Pratchett, which was shortlisted for Best Children's Illustrated Book at the English Association Book Awards. As a leading computer games illustrator, Jonny's work has been used by Sony, Warner Brothers, Vista and Universal. Jonny is one of the concept artists for Aardman Animation's forthcoming film The Pirates! (released in March 2012). He also lectures in Animation and VFX at Staffordshire University. Jonny lives in Mold, North Wales with his wife and young family.