It all started with one mischievous monster . . . and one simple sentence: "You must never touch a monster!".
Little did we know that this playful idea would grow into one of our bestselling children's book ranges, loved by families around the world.
Where It All Began
The original idea came from bringing together two fun concepts. The first was a classic touch-and-feel book featuring a friendly monster. The second was the cheeky phrase, "You must never touch..."—the kind of thing that instantly makes little ones want to do exactly that!
It was such a fun title that it became the name of the book. At the time, we had no idea it would become an entire series.
The Touch That Changed Everything
Around the same time, squishy silicone toys were becoming incredibly popular. After spotting them at a toy fair, we wondered: what if we could bring that same irresistible squishiness to a children's book?
Working closely with our production team, we developed a unique way to mould silicone directly onto the pages, creating fun textures that could become almost anything. Suddenly, every page offered a sensory surprise, turning storytime into an interactive adventure.
The result? A book that told children "never touch"... while inviting them to do exactly that!
Why Monsters?
Our very first book featured a monster because monsters can be wonderfully silly! They gave us the freedom to create funny characters, unusual textures, and laugh-out-loud moments that children loved exploring.
The response was incredible. What was meant to be a one-off book quickly became the start of something much bigger.
A World Full of Animals
As the series grew, so did the cast of characters.
Today, there are more than 30 Never Touch books, featuring everything from dinosaurs and dragons to sleepy lions, polar bears, capybaras, and grumpy bunnies.
At first, we thought we were limited to animals you really shouldn't touch. Then we realised . . . there's always a wonderfully silly reason not to touch something! Whether they're grumpy, sleepy, prickly or hungry, every character brings its own personality and playful twist.
One of the biggest fan favourites? Never Touch a Dinosaur, which has become one of the most successful books in the series.
Bringing Every Character to Life
A huge part of the range's success comes from the charming illustrations by Stuart Lynch. His warm, humorous artwork gives every character a unique personality, making each book just as fun to look at as it is to touch.
More Than Just Books
What began as a single touch-and-feel story has grown into an entire world of interactive fun.
Alongside the bestselling Never Touch books, the range now includes Never Pop!, pop-up books, plush toys, games, and more—bringing the much-loved characters to life in exciting new ways.
Still Impossible Not to Touch!
Years later, one thing hasn't changed: children still can't resist reaching out to touch the squishy silicone on every page.
And that's exactly how we like it.
Here's to many more years of giggles, sensory fun, and wonderfully silly adventures with the Never Touch family!
