22 September 2025 – BBC Children in Need and Puffin are proud to announce the upcoming publication of Pudsey and the Thread of Hope, a magical and moving new picture book by bestselling author Tom Fletcher, now available for pre-order.

To support BBC Children in Need’s Challenge Yourself campaign for the 2025 Appeal, Tom Fletcher took on the challenge to create something truly special – a story that would embody the spirit of the charity and its iconic mascot.

Pudsey and the Thread of Hope follows Jai, a young boy navigating grief after the loss of his father, as he embarks on a journey of healing and hope with Pudsey. Along the way, they meet other children connected by a golden thread of kindness, discovering the transformative power of friendship, courage and love.

BBC Children in Need believes every child should have the opportunity to thrive. That means having someone to turn to for help and support when life gets tough. Across the UK, the charity funds people and places in communities so that no child faces challenges alone. Right now, too many children are struggling without support – making the message of Pudsey and the Thread of Hope more timely and poignant than ever.

Written by Tom Fletcher and illustrated by Joris Bergmans for Creative Conspiracy, the book celebrates 40 years of Pudsey’s legacy and the vital work of BBC Children in Need.

Puffin and Tom Fletcher are proud to give £1 for every paperback copy sold in the UK and Ireland to BBC Children in Need (registered charity number 802052 in England and Wales and SC039557 in Scotland). BBC Children in Need helps to support children and young people in communities across the UK.

Tom Fletcher is one of the UK’s most popular children’s authors, whose books have been translated into 41 languages and to date has sold over 6 million copies in the UK alone, and 10 million globally. The Christmasaurus was the biggest debut children’s novel of 2016 and was shortlisted for a British Book Award, and continues to be a reader-favourite; this year sees the publication of the paperback edition of the second picture book from this magical world, The Christmasaurus and the Night Before Christmas.

Pudsey and the Thread of Hope is available for pre-order now, before publishing in paperback on 6 November 2025.

Tom Fletcher said: “I was so excited to be asked to write this magical story that brings Pudsey and his wonderful qualities to life on the page. Across the UK, children and young people are facing impossible challenges without anyone to turn to. But everyone needs a thread of hope, and I hope that, together, through this book, we can raise money that helps provide support, connection, and care – when it matters most.”

Claire Hoyle, Chief Campaigns & Engagement Officer at BBC Children in Need, added: “Pudsey has always been a symbol of hope and resilience for children across the UK. Pudsey and the Thread of Hope beautifully captures the spirit of what we stand for – helping children feel seen, supported and empowered. We’re thrilled to see Pudsey’s story brought to life in such a heartfelt way.”

Joe Marriott, picture-book publisher at Puffin said: “Puffin is thrilled to be publishing this magical story from the imagination of beloved storyteller Tom Fletcher. We’re proud to be working with Tom to help raise awareness of the wonderful and important work that Children in Need do, and to be sharing this heartwarming and hopeful story.

To pre-order visit www.bbc.co.uk/pudseythread

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For more information please contact: [email protected]

Notes to Editors

About BBC Children in Need

• BBC Children in Need believes that every child should have the chance to thrive and be the best they can be. For this to happen, we want every child to have someone they can turn to for help or support to overcome challenges they face.
• We make sure there’s someone able to give food, clothes and beds to a child living without; someone qualified to talk a child who is anxious, isolated or grieving; someone trained to mentor teenagers in communities facing inequality, violence or lack of opportunity; someone to be there for children living with serious illness, disability or carrying a load that’s just too heavy to manage alone.
• Right now, we can only help 1 in 6 organisations that asks us for support.
• Further information on BBC Children in Need can be found at www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk

About Puffin

Puffin is the biggest children’s publisher globally, and is a loud, proud voice for the power of stories to spark imaginations.

In 2025, Puffin is celebrating 85 years of publishing children’s books. Since publishing a series of non-fiction in 1940, Puffin has grown to become one of the world’s most iconic children’s entertainment brands. Publishing stories for children from 0-12, Puffin is home to famous authors, illustrators and children’s brands, including Roald Dahl, Jacqueline Wilson, Malorie Blackman, Nathan Bryon & Dapo Adeola, Tom Fletcher, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Snowman and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Many of these stories live beyond the book and have inspired TV, films, music and games.

Puffin is always on the look-out for new talent and is committed to giving children access to stories, through innovative formats and partnerships; ensuring that the magic of imagination passes from one generation to the next.

Puffin is an imprint of Penguin Random House, the world’s number one publisher representing a vibrant community of publishing houses marked by unparalleled success.

Puffin: Stories to Spark Imaginations

For more information, please visit www.puffin.co.uk

Or follow us on: Twitter/Facebook: @PuffinBooks | Instagram: @puffinbooksuk

About Tom Fletcher

Tom Fletcher is one of the UK’s most popular children’s authors. Tom’s books have been translated into 41 languages and to date he has sold over 6 million copies of his books in the UK alone, and 10 million globally.

The Christmasaurus was the biggest debut children’s novel of 2016 and was shortlisted for a British Book Award. Since then, Tom has published several more chart-topping children’s novels, including The Christmasaurus and the Naughty List, The Creakers and the instant number-one bestseller The Danger Gang.

For younger readers, Tom writes the incredibly successful Who’s in Your Book? picture-book series and is one half of the author duo behind the Dinosaur that Pooped picture-book series with bandmate Dougie Poynter. For older readers, Tom co-authors the Eve of Man series with his wife, Giovanna Fletcher.

As well as his career as an author, Tom is also a founding member of the Brit Award-winning band McFly, which has sold over 10 million records worldwide.

About Creative Conspiracy

Creative Conspiracy, also known as CC, is an award-winning production company based in the city centre of Ghent, Belgium. They produce commercials, tv series, short films and feature films.