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Puffin has won a three-way auction for Swedish hit The Book That Did Not Want To Be Read, the debut picture book from comedian David Sundin.
Andrea MacDonald, editorial director at Penguin Random House Children’s, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights for the book and two further titles in the series from Josephine Oxelheim at the Salomonsson Agency. It will be published in hardback on 24th June 2021, and is translated by B J Epstein, with graphic design by Alexis Holmqvist.
The title was Sweden's bestselling children's book of 2020, shifting more than 100,000 copies, and rights have been sold in 24 territories.
Its synopsis explains: “The Book That Did Not Want To Be Read is a laugh-out-loud picture book which brings children and grown-ups together for a very special kind of reading adventure. In trying to read this book — that ABSOLUTELY does not want to be read – both old and young will experience some strange and silly things. A word-of-mouth sensation in its native Sweden, this is a joyful and interactive book which brings creativity and comedy out in all who read it, and celebrates the very special magic that happens when people come together to share a story.”
MacDonald said: “What an incredible treat to be able to bring David’s brilliantly funny work to UK readers. This is a book which turns the adult reader into a stand-up comedian performing a sell-out gig for their small audience. Despite the book’s very best efforts – throwing us out-of-context alligators, awkword (sic) words and all kinds of unexpected trickery, once you get to the end you’ve experienced a bravura lesson in the power of reading to bring and share joy. Sorry, book, but I can’t wait for you to be read. A lot.”
Sundin added: “When I wrote this book, I actually dreamt of it standing in a shelf in a British bookstore, sporting a Puffin on the cover. But never in my wildest imagination did I think it would become reality! Having been taken under the wings of the fantastic team at Puffin, I’m certain this book will have to put up an even tougher fight in order to not be read.”