Ian Brown (Allenby, 1982) releases the tenth Albert the Tortoise title with Albert and the Long Night

Congratulations to Old Haileyburian Ian Brown (Allenby, 1982) as he celebrates the release of the tenth book in the beloved Albert the Tortoise series, Albert and the Long Night, published on 27 August and now arriving in bookshops.

Ian credits Haileybury with nurturing his early creativity: 

“I would say my enthusiasm for writing was certainly encouraged at Haileybury. Being creative was heartily encouraged by the late Jack Thomas.”

After Haileybury, Ian built a successful career in journalism and television, working on national newspapers before moving into TV production on programmes ranging from The South Bank Show to Top Gear, The Fast Show and The Simpsons. Over a 40 year career, he has worked with a remarkable range of global names across entertainment, sport and politics.

His journey into children’s publishing began with a real-life moment involving his family’s tortoise, Albert, now more than 80 years old, which inspired the first book, Albert Upside Down, published in 2021. The series has since grown into an award-winning collection, with stories spanning everything from floods and fossils to festive summer snow, with an animated adaptation in development.

Alongside Albert, Ian is co-creator of the Hugg ‘n’ Bugg series, set in the Himalayas and launched in spectacular fashion at Mount Everest Base Camp.

We wish Ian every success as he continues to visit schools, festivals and libraries across the UK, championing reading, creativity and resilience. For more information, visit www.alberttortoise.com.