Canongate to Publish Russell Brand's Children's Stories, TRICKSTER TALES

Canongate has signed a deal to publish a series of modern retellings of classic children's stories written by Russell Brand and illustrated by Chris Riddell. Jamie Byng, Publisher and MD of Canongate, acquired world rights in three books from Nik Linnen at John Noel Management (on behalf of Russell Brand) and from Philippa Milnes-Smith at LAW (on behalf of Chris Riddell).

Filled with the humour and mischievous energy for which Brand is so renowned, Russell Brand's Trickster Tales will launch this November with The Pied Piper of Hamelin. The next two books will follow in 2015 and 2016 respectively. All three titles will be published as full colour hardbacks, illustrated throughout by the award-winning cartoonist Chris Riddell. The North American rights to the series have been sold in a major pre-empt to Judith Curr, the publisher at Atria Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster.

After over a decade in the limelight, Brand remains an international phenomenon. As well as starring in films such asDespicable Me, Get Me to the Greek and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, he has also written five books, including Sunday Times bestseller My Booky Wook. In 2011 Brand was given the Outstanding Contribution to Comedy award at the British Comedy Awards, and for the last six months has been touring his stand up show The Messiah Complex worldwide. He regularly writes for the Guardian and recently guest edited the New Statesman.

Illustrator, author and political cartoonist, Chris Riddell was awarded the 2013 Costa Book Award (Children's category) forGoth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse. He has also previously won two Kate Greenaway Medals, the British librarians' annual award for the best-illustrated children's book and three Nestlé Smarties Book Prizes, as well as many other accolades.

Russell Brand says: "Fairy stories are a code to change the way children see the world. Once children see the world differently change is inevitable."

Chris Riddell says "I am delighted to be working with Russell Brand and Canongate on this very special series of books. Russell's voice is unique - funny, wise and engaging, perfectly matched by Canongate's innovative and ambitious publishing and consistently superb production values. And there will be rats, lots and lots of rats!"

Jamie Byng says "The pairing of Russell and Chris is a match made in heaven and their series of illustrated retellings has the potential to become a worldwide phenomenon. We are enormously excited at the prospect of publishing these two creative geniuses."

Russell Brand's The Pied Piper of Hamelin, illustrated by Chris Riddell, will be published in hardback by Canongate on November 6th, priced £12.99.

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