Award-winning Cardiff indie Candy Jar Books has secured the reprint rights for the original Ivor the Engine picture book based on the beloved TV series. This title, originally released in 1962, will now be available for a whole new generation to enjoy as a faithful reproduction of the first ever book, which was published to coincide with the show’s original broadcast on ITV in monochrome.
Ivor’s charming adventures were a staple for children on TV screens for decades. They charted the exploits of Ivor the steam engine as he shuttled between Welsh mining villages in the idyllic “top-left hand corner of Wales”.
Written by the Oliver Postgate and illustrated by Peter Firmin, this first Ivor book immediately evokes the magic of the TV series, with other Smallfilms classics such as The Clangers, Noggin the Nog and Bagpuss following closely behind.
Daniel Postgate, the son of Oliver Postgate, is thrilled that Ivor’s earliest escapade will be pulling out of the station soon. He says:
“My father, and his partner Peter Firmin, really pushed the boundaries of great storytelling. I truly believe that children, parents, grandparents, and perhaps lovers of trains, will thoroughly enjoy the early days of Britain’s best loved locomotive hero.”
Being his first journey, the book is simply called Ivor the Engine, and sees Ivor longing to join the village choir. With the help of a kindly fairground owner and his pipe organ, it seems he might just get his wish.
With this uniquely soothing series being reintroduced to modern viewers on Britbox and ITVX, this 2023 edition is sure to prove popular to readers young and old.
Candy Jar Books will reproduce the original title in its hardback format, with plans to follow up with the second book, Ivor’s Outing, in 2024.
The titles are to be distributed by the Books Council of Wales and will be available through all good bookshops.
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