07 Mar 08

MOTHERS’ DAY GIFT BOOK IS A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

Coolabi’s Purple Ronnie licensing programme goes from strength to strength with the news that Purple Ronnie’s Little Book for a Lovely Mum climbed to number 3 in the Sunday Times’ chart of general hardback bestsellers at the beginning of March. This gift book is part of the popular range written by Ronnie creator Giles Andreae and reveals the mischievous character’s softer side with a collection of poetic thoughts eulogising mothers. In the run up to Mothers’ Day the book outsold almost all the competition, including close rival My Bump and Me – Myleene Klass’s chronicle of her recent pregnancy.

Book licensee Pan MacMillan has sold over 2.5 million copies of Purple Ronnie books to date, helping to make Giles Andreae the bestselling living poet in the UK. The publisher will launch two new titles, Lovely Grandma and Smashing Grandad, in June.  In addition American publishing giant Andrews Mcmeel is launching Lovely Mom in May for North America’s Mothers’ Day and Smashing Dad in June for Fathers’ Day facilitating Ronnie’s publishing debut on the far side of the Atlantic

 “Gift books and greetings cards are the foundation of the Purple Ronnie licensing programme,” says Janet Woodward, Coolabi’s Head of Licensing. “We’re delighted with the recent success which comes hot on the heels of the incredible sales we saw for the numerous Valentine’s Day products – 9 Purple Ronnie titles in the Sunday Times top 100 best sellers with Perfect Lover at number 10.  As 2008 progresses we will maintain our focus on celebration days in addition to developing a range of products that will appeal to Ronnie fans all year round.”

Bestselling author Purple Ronnie was unavailable for comment but a spokesperson confirmed that Ronnie’s own bump was due to a little gentle over-eating and that he was pleased to be bigger than Myleene in every respect.