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Retail praise for Prince's gift book

25.09.08 Caroline Horn

Random House Children's Books has unveiled further details of its major autumn release, The Birthday Book, which will celebrate the Prince of Wales' 60th birthday and support the Prince's. Foundation for Children & the Arts (Jonathan Cape, 6th November, £16.99).

More than 50 authors and illustrators will contribute extracts as well as new stories and illustrations to the gift book, edited by Michael Morpurgo and Quentin Blake. It will launch with a high-profile publicity and marketing campaign this autumn. Well-known names signed up to write introductions to classic extracts include author Kate Mosse, comedian Victoria Wood, author and comedian Charlie Higson and TV survival star Bear Grylls.

As yet, retailers have been shown only a glimpse of its content although Waterstone's is giving its backing. Justin Hutchinson at Waterstone's said: "The Birthday Book contains some of the biggest names in books, there really is something for everyone. I'm particularly excited to see some of the illustrator/author combinations such as Emily Gravett partnered with Malorie Blackman, Michael Foreman drawing Peter Pan and, of course how Quentin Blake will tackle illustrating Harry Potter."

Waterstone's publicist Jon Howells believes that the book will stand on its own in the Christmas market. "It's a traditional Christmas present, a real celebration of the best in children's writing and illustration, and we think it will attract a lot of interest from consumers and the media," he said. "The Prince Charles and charity connections can only help take it to a very wide audience."

Independents will be offered bookmarks designed by some of the schools involved with Children & the Arts, which will be released to independent bookshops across the UK to coincide with the launch of the book.

Caroline Horn Random House children's Prince of Wales

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