Ivor the Engine is back thanks to Welsh publisher
A Welsh publisher has pulled off something of a coup by securing the reprint rights for the original Ivor the Engine picture book based on the beloved TV series.
Award-winning Cardiff independent publisher Candy Jar Books is to faithfully reproduce the first ever Ivor the Engine book, originally released in 1962 to coincide with the show’s original broadcast on ITV.
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.
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Today Ivor, tomorrow: Nogin the Nog!
Stopped off in Port earlier for a brew in the Ffestiniog Railway Station cafe, no wonder they get 5 stars, such a well run happy outfit, pity they are not in charge of all the railways in Cymru…
My late brother was a model railway enthusiast, he had a friend called Ivor who used to help him build his layout. I remember it got featured in one of the hobby magazines…
Another Welsh Icon just across the road from the station in Port is ‘Cob Records’, a bikers caff that became an international mail order sensation like Price’s in Newtown. My love of the Blues was nurtured there from 67 onwards… There were some serious players around Port, Penrhyn, Blaenau and Abermaw busy growing their hair and getting to grips with the likes of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds and Jimi Hendrix… The Harlech family used to have some of the big stars as house guests…Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton to name some royalty…I’m reminded of the song ‘Bod Dylan’s Dream’… Read more »
For anyone wanting to pre-order before the book’s official release at the end of November, you can do so HERE!
Ivor The Engine will also be available at all good bookshops and will be distributed through the Books Council of Wales. Please support your local bookshops where possible.
As a child of the 70s used to love watching Ivor the Engine. It was a rarity to see a cartoon character that come from Wales. Another classic that was 100 % Welsh was S4C’s SuperTed. Recorded both in Cymraeg & English had some amazing voice actors too from Victor Spinetti, Jon Pertwee, Melvyn Hayes & Roy Kinnear ect… And who can forget the brilliant stop animation series Gogs set in the stone age. Again, Welsh to its core.