Adam Kay to write more children's books

Tuesday 16th March 2021, 9:32am

Adam Kay

Following the success of his children's book Kay's Anatomy, Adam Kay has signed a deal to write three further non-fiction books for young readers.

The next, Kay's Marvellous Medicine, will be out in September.

Kay's Anatomy launched to phenomenal success in October 2020, becoming publisher Puffin's biggest ever hardback non-fiction launch and a Sunday Times Number One children's bestseller. It was the fastest-selling children's general non-fiction hardback of the last decade, the bestselling children's non-fiction title overall in 2020 and has already been translated into 21 languages.

Talking about the next book, Puffin say: "Kay's Marvellous Medicine is as remarkable and remarkably revolting as his children's debut and will also be illustrated throughout by award-winning artist, writer and comedian Henry Paker. The book for readers aged 7 and over will transport kids back to the days when doctors didn't have the slightest clue about how our bodies worked. They will discover why Ancient Egyptians thought the brain was just a useless load of old stuffing that might as well be chucked in the bin, why teachers forced their pupils to smoke cigarettes, why hairdressers would cut off their customers' legs, and why people used to get paid for farting."

Publisher Ruth Knowles says: "Everyone at Puffin is delighted to be working with Adam in such a big and exciting way. His unique brand of laugh-out-loud funny and informative non-fiction took the children's market by storm this autumn and that was only the beginning. We can't wait for more and more young people to become completely fascinated by the human body."

Adam Kay comments: "I have absolutely adored the first steps of my journey as a children's author and am thrilled to have tricked Puffin into publishing three more books. There's a lot to recommend writing children's books - for example, this is the first time I've been given 'twelve million stars out of ten' for my writing, or been sent a depiction of me and my dog carved out of a potato. Ruth and the whole team at Puffin have been utterly brilliant partners for me and Henry on Kay's Anatomy, and I can't wait to get started on the next book. (Unless I've meant to have already started writing it, in which case please ignore that last bit, Ruth.)"

This Is Going To Hurt

Adam Kay

Adam Kay's first book, This Is Going To Hurt: Secret Diaries Of A Junior Doctor, which focused on his time working in the NHS from 2004 until 2010, became a number one bestseller when it was published 2017.

Production is currently underway on a BBC Two comedy drama series based on the book. This Is Going To Hurt, which has been written by Kay, will star Ben Whishaw in the lead role.

Book Donation

Kay, who is a World Book ambassador, will - alongside Puffin - be donating 1,000 copies of the paperback of Kay's Anatomy to schools in Birmingham and the North East this week via the National Literacy Trust, along with worksheets (which are also available online).

Jonathan Douglas from the National Literacy Trust says: "We are so thrilled to receive Puffin's generous donation of 1,000 copies of Adam Kay's Kay's Anatomy in our Birmingham Stories and Read North East Hubs. Our research and experience shows non-fiction books are a brilliant way to engage readers and bring information alive. The pandemic has made all of us more aware of our health, and Kay's works demystify many unknowns about the human body in a fascinating way. I'm sure children and teachers alike are excited to attend his special virtual event in June and I can't wait to read some of the children's reviews of early copies of Kay's Marvellous Medicine!"

Adam Kay - Kay's Anatomy

By Adam Kay

Discover all the weird and wonderful things that go on inside your body with Dr Adam Kay. Covers key stage 2 / 3 human biology syllabus (in a slightly repulsive way).

Do you ever think about your body and how it all works? Like really properly think about it? The human body is extraordinary and fascinating and, well... pretty weird. Yours is weird, mine is weird, your maths teacher's is even weirder.

This book is going to tell you what's actually going on in there, and answer the really important questions, like:

Are bogeys safe to eat? Look, if your nose is going to all that effort of creating a snack, the least we can do is check out its nutritional value. (Yes, they're safe. Chew away!)

And how much of your life will you spend on the toilet? About a year - so bring a good book. (I recommend this one.)

So sit back, relax, put on some rubber gloves, and let a doctor take you on a poo (and puke) filled tour of your insides. Welcome to Kay's Anatomy.

First published: Thursday 15th October 2020

  • Publisher: Puffin
  • Pages: 416
  • Catalogue: 9780241452912

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  • Publisher: Puffin
  • Catalogue: 9780241452943

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Buy and sell old and new items
Search for this product on eBay

BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.

Not in the UK?

Fear not! Many items can still be ordered. Amazon in the UK delivers to many international territories, whilst their Australia, USA and Canada stores also supply many equivalent or imported items.

If you are in the North America, look out for US/Canadian flag icons on popular product listings for direct links.

If you order from a UK store, please note that the UK is in Region 2 and B, respectively, for DVDs and Blu-rays - check your player's compatibility, or look for multi-region products if you are located in another region.

If you are in Australia or New Zealand (DVD Region 4), note that almost all DVDs distributed in the UK by the BBC and 2entertain are encoded for both Region 2 and Region 4. The UK and Australasia are in the same Blu-ray region (B).

Adam Kay - Kay's Marvellous Medicine

By Adam Kay

The hilarious book from bestselling, record-breaking author Adam Kay.

The olden days were pretty fun if you liked wearing chainmail or chopping people's heads off but there was one TINY LITTLE problem back then... doctors didn't have the slightest clue about how our bodies worked.

It's time to find out why Ancient Egyptians thought the brain was just a useless load of old stuffing that might as well be chucked in the bin, why teachers forced their pupils to smoke cigarettes, why hairdressers would cut off their customers' legs, and why people used to get paid for farting. (Unfortunately that's no longer a thing - sorry.)

You'll get answers to questions like:
Why did patients gargle with wee?
How did a doctor save people's lives using a washing machine, a can of beans and some old sausages?
What was the great stink? (No, it's not what doctors call your bum.)

If you're sure you're ready, then pop a peg on your nose (there was a lot of stinky pus back then), pull on your wellies (there was a lot of poo there too), wash your hands (because they certainly didn't) and explore this gross and gruesome history of the human body!

First published: Thursday 30th September 2021

  • Publisher: Puffin
  • Pages: 240
  • Catalogue: 9780241508527

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BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.

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Not in the UK?

Fear not! Many items can still be ordered. Amazon in the UK delivers to many international territories, whilst their Australia, USA and Canada stores also supply many equivalent or imported items.

If you are in the North America, look out for US/Canadian flag icons on popular product listings for direct links.

If you order from a UK store, please note that the UK is in Region 2 and B, respectively, for DVDs and Blu-rays - check your player's compatibility, or look for multi-region products if you are located in another region.

If you are in Australia or New Zealand (DVD Region 4), note that almost all DVDs distributed in the UK by the BBC and 2entertain are encoded for both Region 2 and Region 4. The UK and Australasia are in the same Blu-ray region (B).

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