The Book That No One Wanted to Read

What is it that makes YOU want to read a book? Richard Ayoade’s children’s debut gives you all the answers in a way that’s silly, funny, and thoroughly beguiling.

Have you ever thought about how it feels to be a book? To be left under a whiffy pant pile or shelved, forever collecting dust? To have your pages bent backwards or your spine BROKEN? What if you don’t have a sparkly unicorn or dragon adorning your cover – who will pick you out of the bookshop then? This is the story of the sadly neglected Book That No One Wanted To Read – can its destiny change when it finally meets the right reader? Spoiler alert: yes.

About the Author

Richard Ayoade is a highly-tolerated British comedian, BAFTA-winning actor ( The IT Crowd), writer, director and TV presenter (the 2021 BAFTAS, Have I Got News For You?, Travel Man) and a bibliophile. He regularly appears on comedy panel shows such as 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and The Big Fat Quiz of the Year. He wrote and directed the film Submarine from the novel by Joe Dunthorne, and directed and co-wrote (with Avi Korine) The Double. He has written three books on film; this is his debut children's book. He is married to Lydia, who is also his wife. They have two children, who also have names. They would rather not tell you where they live, but are happy to send you a drop pin via text.

About the Illustrator

Tor Freeman graduated from Kingston University with a BA in Illustration in 1999 and has worked as an illustrator, author and comics-maker ever since. She is the illustrator and creator of many children's books and comic strips, including The Toucan Brothers, the Olive series and Welcome to Oddleigh. Tor is the holder of a Sendak Fellowship, and won the Observer/Cape/Comica graphic short story prize in 2017.