Hodder Children’s Books Inks Bottersnikes & Gumbles Publishing Deal

LONDON: CAKE and the Australian production outfits Cheeky Little Media and Mighty Nice have signed a U.K. publishing deal with Hodder Children’s Books for the new CGI comedy series Bottersnikes & Gumbles.

Hodder Children’s Books will publish a series of young fiction and sticker and activity books aimed at 6- to 9-year-olds based on the series. Bottersnikes & Gumbles is set to air on CBBC in July. The 52×11-minute show is co-produced by CBBC in the U.K. and Seven Network in Australia and is also a Netflix global original title.

Bottersnikes & Gumbles was adapted from the four-book series of children’s books by Australian writer S. A. Wakefield and illustrator Desmond Digby, published between 1967 and 1989.

Ed Galton, CCO and managing director at CAKE, said, “We were hugely impressed with the presentation that Katie and her team at Hodder Children’s Books pitched to us and this solidified our belief that they are the best publishing partners for this unique property.”

Patrick Egerton, executive producer at Cheeky Little, added, “The passion we poured into creating the TV series was fueled by our love for the original books as kids. To be embarking on a new series of books with the talented team at Hodder Children’s Books, and taking what we’ve reimagined for the TV series back into print, is really exciting. The Bottersnikes & Gumbles are coming home!”

Katie Price, licensing director at Hachette Children’s Group, commented, “We are delighted to be publishing the books to accompany this new CGI children’s TV series. The Bottersnikes & Gumbles world is active, playful, involving and big-hearted with a wealth of funny characters and timeless storytelling at its heart.”