Tiger Aspect develops "What the Ladybird Heard" by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks

Tiger Aspect Kids & Family, part of Banijay Kids & Family, has secured development deal for best-selling illustrated book series What the ladybug heard. The books are created by the award-winning collaboration Julia Donaldson (author) and Lydia Monks (illustrator). The deal covers the option to create a preschool animated series and is the first development of an animated series for Donaldson and Monks, regular contributors whose books have sold over 10 million copies.

Development of the animated series will be supervised by Tom Beattie, MD of Tiger Aspect Kids & Family, who will also executive produce.

"Having read these books to my children, with the brilliant rhyming lines and following the bumpy path through each page in search of the ladybug, over and over again, I am honored to work with Julia and Lydia to bring this brilliant story to the screen." Beata said.

Benoît Di Sabatino, CEO, Banijay Kids & Family, said: "It is an honor and a great responsibility to develop a series based on such a creative and successful series of books with the creators."

What the ladybug heard is published in the UK by Macmillan Children's Books and is the first of four titles. The series has sold over 4 million copies and has been translated into 24 languages ​​around the world. The last book, What the ladybug heard at the sea, came out in paperback in 2021 and spent three weeks at the top of the Nielsen Preschool and Picture Book bestseller charts.

A much-loved modern classic that has been a part of children's and parent's lives since it was first published in 2009, the extraordinarily funny stories feature a clever ladybug (or ladybug for US English speakers) who never has said a word, but the ladybird saw and the ladybird heard. With her farm animal friends, the Ladybug always manages to fool the crafty duo, Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len, and their cunning plans.

The series is the third best-selling picture book brand in the UK this year (Nielsen, 2021), after Peppa Pig e The Gruffalo. What the ladybug heard was live on stage this summer at the Palace Theater in London, and is now on a national tour.

“I am thrilled that mine What the ladybug heard series of books will be adapted for the screen by Tiger Aspect Kids & Family, ”commented Donaldson. "I'm sure Lydia Monks' signature images of the smart little ladybug, poultry and comic thieves will translate brilliantly into animation, and I can't wait to see them all on my television."

Monks added: "Many Tiger Aspect Kids & Family shows are family favorites in my home, so I couldn't be happier working with Tom and the team. I'm sure our little ladybug will be in good hands and I can't see wait to see what he will see and hear next! "

Belinda Ioni Rasmussen, MD, Macmillan Children's Books, said, “We have launched the first What the ladybug heard adventure at Macmillan Children's Books in 2009 and from the very beginning we knew that Julia's clever ladybug and her brilliant story, combined with Lydia's distinctive and brilliant artwork, would be a story that families would take in their hearts. The continued sales and growth of the brand since then are proof of this. We couldn't be happier that Tiger Aspect Kids & Family will now develop the ladybug and bring her adventures in a new way to children and families ”.

The rights were acquired for Julia Donaldson by Emily Hayward-Whitlock of the Artists Partnership in association with the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency and for Lydia Monks by and for Lydia Monks by Hilary Delamere and Tanya Tillett at The Agency.

All distribution will be handled by Zodiak Kids & Family Distribution.

BAFTA award-winning producers Tiger Aspect Kids & Family have created iconic animated series including Charlie and Lola e Mr bean. They work in live action and animation, from preschool to family-friendly content, with other selected credits including Aliens love underwear (Sky Kids) e The tales of Tinga Tinga (CBeebies / Disney Junior).

Julia Donaldson, Children's Laureate 2011-2013, is one of the UK's best-loved children's writers. His books with illustrator Axel Scheffler, including The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom e Zog, has sold over 75 million copies and other distinguished illustrators he has worked with include Nick Sharratt, Rebecca Cobb, Emily Gravett, Helen Oxenbury, David Roberts and Charlotte Voake. The TV series of The Gruffalo e Room on the Broom she was nominated for an Academy Award and was awarded a CBE on the 2018 New Year's Honors List. Her books have been translated into over 100 languages ​​around the world.

Lydia Monks is an award-winning bestselling author and illustrator who has collaborated on several books with Donaldson, including Sharing a seashell, The Singing Siren e Mirror-Belle Princess. Monks' other quirky and colorful picture books include Aaaarrgghh, spider! e I wish I was a dog, both published by Egmont. as well as the Twit Twoo School series published by Macmillan Children's Books.

Banijay Kids & Family, Banijay's children's programming production, distribution and sales division, is a global leader in children's entertainment, producing a wide range of animation and live action series, digital content and formats entertainment for children around the world. With offices in Paris and London led by CEO Benoit Di Sabbatino, Banijay Kids & Family is made up of three production companies: Zodiak Kids and Family, Monello Productions and Tiger Aspect Kids & Family.