Kelebek Media Founded By Creative Entrepreneur Deborah Thorpe Has Optioned Alex T Smith’s HOW WINSTON DELIVERED CHRISTMAS

Rob Minkoff attached as Director/Producer

Independent production house Kelebek Media, founded by creative entrepreneur Deborah Thorpe, has optioned the rights to the much-loved How Winston Delivered Christmas book written and illustrated by award-winning Alex T. Smith from Macmillan Children’s Books to develop as specials and series. Rob Minkoff is on board as director and will also produce alongside Kelebek’s Thorpe.

Minkoff directed the original and much loved Disney animated classic The Lion King as well as Stuart Little, Stuart Little 2, and Mr. Peabody & Sherman.

Deborah Thorpe says “We are so thrilled to have the opportunity to adapt and expand on this charming, beautifully illustrated story working alongside the incredibly talented Rob Minkoff with his globally impressive track record in leading projects which have created magic for generations of families. In How Winston Delivered Christmas, Alex has created a delightful feel-good book already loved by children around the world. We can’t wait to collaborate on this beautiful holiday tale together and are super excited that Macmillan Children’s Books announced today that Winston’s next adventure is already in the pipeline.”

Rob Minkoff adds “Alex has conjured a delightful cast of characters for this timeless, classic tale that’s brimming with Christmas magic and heartwarming adventure. And I‘m thrilled to be working alongside Deborah Thorpe who is one of the savviest media executives I know.”

Alex T. Smith adds “I am so delighted to be working with Kelebek Media on bringing How Winston Delivered Christmas to the screen. Winston and his kindness and bravery mean so much to me and I have been overwhelmed by the positive reaction to the book over the past few Christmases since it was published. I am thrilled by this new opportunity and can’t wait for readers to see Winston come to life in this beautifully animated adventure.”

Alex T. Smith’s How Winston Delivered Christmas is an irresistible story of a brave little mouse who sets out on a very important mission. On Christmas Eve, he finds a letter that has been lost on its way to Father Christmas – so, with no time to lose, he sets out to deliver it himself in time for Christmas Day! His journey is crammed with adventure, heart and Christmas spirit - and some wonderful new friends along the way.

The book has sold around 72,000 copies worldwide in only two years and has been translated into a number of different languages.

About Kelebek Media
Kelebek Media is an independent production house and global children’s media business focusing on high-end television and film production. In addition to creating its own IPs and adapting literary IP for the screen, Kelebek creates characters and content for select third parties. Kelebek specialises in character design, story development, 2D and 3D animation and brand building though licensing and merchandising, digital and online and publishing. Kelebek produces Wissper a successful home-grown show which has sold into over 100 countries.

Kelebek’s CEO is creative entrepreneur Deborah Thorpe, a highly experienced international television executive. Deborah worked in Channel 4’s Animation Department for many years on Oscar wining and BAFTA nominated animated shows as well as in comedy. She has worked with milkshake!, Disney, Sony, Universal and many other global networks. Deborah is one of the original co-founders of asos.com, the UK’s largest fashion and beauty online retailer. 

About Pan Macmillan
Pan Macmillan UK is one of the largest general book publishers in the UK, with imprints including Macmillan, Mantle, Pan, Picador, Boxtree, Sidgwick & Jackson, Bello, Tor, Kingfisher, Macmillan Children's Books, Two Hoots, Bluebird, Campbell Books, Macmillan New Writing and Macmillan Digital Audio. Pan Macmillan is part of Macmillan Publishers International Limited.

About Alex T. Smith
Alex T. Smith has spent many years honing his world class skills in eavesdropping and people watching. He graduated in illustration in 2006 with a 1st Class Honours Degree. He was chosen as the official World Book Day illustrator in 2014 and has been shortlisted for many prestigious awards, including the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal, the Sainsbury's Book Award and the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize. In 2016, he won both the UKLA Picture Book Awards for Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion and the Children’s Book category of the World Illustration Award for illustrating Dodie Smith’s The Hundred and One Dalmatians.

Alex is the creator of the much-loved and bestselling Claude fiction series for early readers, which is now also a successful animated television series. Macmillan Children’s Books published How Winston Delivered Christmas in 2018.

Alex’s passion for gazing out of windows has strongly influenced the eclectic, diverse and fun filled characters that inhabit the pages of his books.