Charity partnership with Action For Children leads plans, plus TruffleShuffle planning merchandise.
2020 marks the 40th anniversary of David McKee’s classic picture book, Not Now Bernard, with Andersen Press planning a host of activity to mark the occasion.
A new edition of the bestselling paperback will be released in June 2020, featuring a fully foiled cover in the famous orange colour and David’s bright original art.
Leading the celebrations Andersen Press will partner with Action For Children, the charity dedicated to making sure every child grows up safe and happy. Action For Children has supplied notes for the back of the book, explaining how reading with your child (and not ignoring them like Bernard’s mum and dad) can contribute towards their development and can help them thrive.
Andersen Press will also curate an online auction of illustrator’s interpretations of their Inner Monster to raise funds for the charity. Illustrators taking part include Tony Ross, Michael Foreman, Catherine Rayner and Rob Biddulph. A children’s drawing competition will accompany the auction.
In addition, new licensing and special events are planned from the summer. These include Independent Booksellers Week initiative with limited edition prints and pins for indie book shops; special anniversary POS for retailers and libraries; an influencer campaign; plus original art forming part of Henley River and Rowing Museum summer exhibition and Wonder’s Myths and Monsters Exhibition in Bath in the autumn.
For the first time, Not Now, Bernard merchandise will be created by adult nostalgia website TruffleShuffle featuring adult size t-shirts, tote bags and a mug.
“Here at TruffleShuffle, we love any excuse to celebrate a childhood classic and you don’t get more classic than Not Now, Bernard,” enthused Claire Wood, buying director. “We had great fun re-imagining this terrific tale into a range of official merch to celebrate the 40th anniversary and the aesthetic of David McKee’s iconic picture book works perfectly on our range of retro tees and giftware. We just know our customers are going to love celebrating this iconic story with us.“
Paul Black, PR and brand director at Andersen Press, added: “Bernard continues to delight children whilst highlighting to adults how distracted we all are, 40 years on parents are still going through the same worries of ignoring their children – now with iPhones in their hands.
“With our partnerships and events for 2020 we hope to not only introduce the book to more children, but to tap into the nostalgia around this iconic book and (with tongue firmly in cheek) remind people that we’re still either vying for attention, or ignoring someone, with Action For Children do some good with our campaign.”
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