NEW LOOK RICHARD AND JUDY LAUNCH CHILDREN’S BOOK CLUB

Iconic presenting duo Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan have been transformed into cartoon characters for the launch of their Children’s Book Club exclusively with WHSmith, it was announced today (THURS).
The cartoons created by Nick Diggory for WHSmith were released in store to mark the launch of the children’s version of their record-breaking Book Club.

The Children’s Book Club is made up of three categories with six book titles in each; Reading Together, Reading by Yourself and Fluent Reader, and aims to help parents choose great books which children will love.

Richard and Judy are working alongside Booktrust, an independent charity which aims to encourage people of all ages and cultures to enjoy books.

Richard said: “The cartoons are great fun and really make clear that these choices are aimed at a younger audience. We hope that parents who take pleasure in and love the Book Club will enjoy choosing our selection for their children too.”

Rachel Russell, WHSmith Books Business Unit Director said: “We’re delighted to be bringing Richard and Judy’s book recommendations to support children’s reading. They are trusted by millions of UK book buyers. Having the advice and support of Booktrust to further support parental choice and encourage our younger readers to enjoy and share the experience of reading books is a fantastic endorsement.”

Judy said: “Reading from an early age is something that we always encouraged with our own children and we feel very strongly that this addition to the Book Club is an important and exciting one. Getting children to engage with their favourite books and share their thoughts with friends is a great way to enjoy books and we hope that we can help give parents the suggestions they need to get the most out of the amazing stories that are out there.”

The selection of books boasts debut titles as well as well-known favourites. Best-selling author, Jo Nesbo, whose adult novel The Snowman was a best-seller for the Autumn Book Club, has seen his first children’s novel, Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder, included in the Children’s Book Club. The title has already been an overnight phenomenon in Nesbo’s home country of Norway.

The Richard and Judy Book Club has experienced an over-whelming response from readers when it launched in Autumn 2010 and with the recently launched Spring Book Club. The first title in the Autumn Book Club, Sister by Rosamund Lupton, broke WHSmith records when it became Number 1 paperback and the fast selling title by a debut author in WHSmith’s history. Of the Spring Book Club titles, three achieved top ten Paperback status after only a week of sales with The Postmistress hitting the Number 2 slot.

Children’s Book Club Titles

Fluent
Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder, Jo Nesbo
Muncle Trogg, Janet Foxley
Scarlett Dedd, Cathy Brett
The Ogre of Oglefort, Eva Ibbotson
The Wombles, Elisabeth Beresford
Vordak The Incomprehensible: How to Grow Up and Rule the World, Scott Seegert

Read by Yourself
Claude in the City, Alex T Smith
The Raven Mysteries: Flood and Fang, Marcus Sedgwick
Max & Molly’s Guide to Trouble: How to Catch a Criminal, Dominic Barker and Hannah Shaw
Scream Street: Heart of the Mummy, Tommy Donbavand
The Magic Princess Dress, Gwyneth Rees
Will Gallows & the Snake Bellied Troll, Derek Keilty

Reading Together
Dinosaur Cove: Attack of the Lizard King, Rex Stone
Horrid Henry and the Football Fiend, Francesca Simon and Tony Ross
Jake the Good Bad Dog, Annette and Nick Butterworth
Molly’s Magic: The Witch’s Kitten, Holly Webb
Roodica the Rude & The Famous Flea Trick, Margaret Ryan
Winnie Goes Batty, Laura Owen and Korky Paul