Templar gets Gotcha, Mark Nicholas’ first preschool series

Templar Books has acquired Mark Nicholas’ Gotcha board book series, the first move into preschool by the award-winning illustrator.

Art director Laura Hall and Ruth Symons, editorial director for preschool and complex novelty at the Bonnier Books UK imprint, sewed up the deal for world rights with Paul Moreton at Bell Lomax Moreton.

The initial brace, Gotcha Dog and Gotcha Rabbit, will be published in May 2027, with two more in the series following in 2028. 

Templar says there will be "lift-the-flap surprises and oodles of silliness" in the range. The books will feature bright tones, playful typography and sturdy paper engineering "combining perfectly in this nostalgic package". The publisher continues: "Dog is hiding somewhere. But so are lots of unexpected animal friends. Little ones will love to lift the chunky flaps on their search."

Nicholas was the inaugural winner of the Carmelite Prize for his illustrations for The Story of Tantrum O’Furrily by Cressida Cowell (Hodder Children’s Books). The book also went on to be nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal and was longlisted for the Klaus Flugge Prize in 2019. Nicholas has a background as a model-maker, working on everything from CBBC shows to museum displays. Born in Yorkshire, he now lives in Wales with his young family.

He said: "The buzz around my Gotcha books has truly been a pinch-me moment. Creating these playful books has been such a magical experience, and working with the incredible Templar team to bring these books to life has been an absolute joy."

Symons added: "Everyone at Templar is so excited to be publishing Gotcha. Flap books are a family favourite for a reason – but making them clever, funny and downright stylish is no small feat, and Mark has nailed it. Templar has a rich history of using paper-engineering to create immersive, playful reading experiences, and Mark’s books sit right at the heart of this."