BOOK LOVE: CHILDREN'S BOOK

Oh wow. This book is so beautiful. I have looked at it so much since it arrived and we have read if for bedtime every night this week. It was well worth splashing out the money for the hardback cover as it is definitely a keeper. The book is called 'Wild' by new author/illustrator to the scene Emily Hughes. It is published by Flying Eye Books and the finish on it is very lovely. Nice paper and cloth binding (a favourite of mine - such a binding geek!) Anyway the story is about a little girl living in the wild having been brought up and taught everything she knows by the animals that live there.

However soon she is whisked off to live in 'civilasation' but of course she doesn't like the way they live and vice versa. Find out what happens when they try and teach her the 'correct' ways. The story is simply written but poignant, and the illustrations just stunning. Plenty to look at in the detail and a lovely feeling of the 70s - a little Richard Scarry esque. I can't wait for more books by this new talent.

AND ALSO!!! Just 8 days left to link up any great toddler proof recipes you may have tucked up your sleeve. I've had 2 lovely links left already. I will be posting another recipe next week and testing out one of the ones left for me. An easy mid week number coming up, for all the family!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Hello all. Well hello to anyone left. Sorry I haven't posted anything in an age. I have some really big (and exciting) projects on at the minute which means I'm dedicating all my time to that and have put blogging aside for a bit. I'm still in the process of moving spaces too, and that will happen sometime in July - I'll let you know when I'm up and running in my new web home!

In the meantime I thought I'd let to you know that to celebrate Independent Booksellers Week I will be doing an event this Saturday 29th June at Bag of Books in Lewes at 10.30am, and then next Saturday 6th July I will be at the Book Nook in Hove at 11am. I love both these shops and feel it is really important to support independent booksellers where I can. I much prefer buying from a bookshop than somewhere on line - you get a better weath of information from talking to an 'actual' person, and they may be able to help you with other choices you may not have thought of. Nothing as lovely as poking around a bookshop for a bit! I will be reading my book Bear's Best Friend and showing my process of making a book as well as getting everyone to draw their 'best friend teddies'. There will be badges and colouring in sheets too, so lots of fun for all the family!

So please do come along to these events if you are local to the area and say "hi"! I have just guest posted on a lovely new blog called Little Lewes for anyone in the sussex area that is after inspiration on what to do on days out with the kids. Kate is a friend of mine and has put great thought into starting this blog. There is a wealth of information already up there - so go on with Summer holidays just around the corner head on over to the blog for interesting days out and things to do in and around the Lewes area.

WORKING 9-5 {and then some....}

Ok, so good news over here! I have a lovely new book deal with the people at Frances Lincoln. It is a follow up to this book, and I'm so happy to be drawing that little Monster family again. The deadline is pretty tight, most of the artwork needed by mid March to make the Bologna International Book Fair. Hopefully there it will be well received and can sell, sell, sell to other countries! I will be having my head down over here, colouring in like crazy, so please excuse the lack of blog posts that are about to follow...

I do have a little giveaway lined up though for the beginning of next week. To celebrate my near break down in large, well know electrical store with a broken printer that is only a few months old and failing me miserably, I now have a shiny new Canon that is hopefully going to serve me well in the future.  ::crosses fingers::
So check back Monday for details on how to win!

WORK

I'm currently drawing lots of these guys for a potential new story at the minute.

I obviously can't show you much as it is early stages, but I'm hoping to be working on a new picture book soon. The last one I worked on feels like an age ago! I am also getting some new prints ready for my etsy shop, and working on some chine colle prints if I manage to find the time to get myself into an actual printing studio. I am busy though which is nice, although some days I get a little overwhelmed by how much I have to do and how much I want to get done work wise. Still it is always good to be able to do both. My job is flexible and I feel lucky about that - but I'm afraid I may neglect the blog a little bit for a while to get my work in order. Some big meetings ahead in London and I need to be prepared. I may be down to just one or two posts a week for a while, but I hope you all understand!

THE GARAGE

Ben picked up this book for Stanley from the Tate Modern bookshop the other day. It's so nice I almost didn't let Stanley touch it, but that is mean. And he does love anything to do with cars, trucks, books and flaps! It is a really beautifully produced book, printed on thick cream card stock with a textured jacket cover - it feels lovely to read. The flaps are unusual - they open at different angles, there are even flaps under flaps - who'd have thought it! Although there are only six double page spreads there is a lot going on. The illustrations are wonderfully retro and there is much humour to discover when lifting the flaps. Cheeky stuff to say the least! I think we will BOTH get much pleasure out of looking at this book again and again. Good find Daddy! Written and illustrated by French illustrator Christophe Merlin it is a truly special book. You can buy it here, but always if you can you should buy from your local independent bookstore if you have one ;)

 

 

TALK.

will be here tonight giving a talk about my children's books and sketchbooks along with 5 other illustrator types for the Brighton Illustrators Group. i'm normally not that nervous after teaching at degree level for 5 years but i feel out of touch at the minute as i've been out of it for too long! plus with stan being ill i feel more unprepared than usual...
off to practise now. it's only short so should be ok, hoping i won't fall asleep.....

Children's Book Circle

On Thursday I am speaking at the Children's book Circle at Penguin Books, the Strand. The topic is 'Illustration for the Next Generation' and other speakers are Val Braithwaite, Creative Director, and Ele Fountaion, Editor both Bloomsbury Children's books.

We will be discussing design and illustration in children's books. Where do illustrators and designers find their inspiration? What role does illustration play in the art of storytelling and how can pictures tell us more than words alone? And are design and illustration fundamentally more important than written content for younger readers?

It will be very interesting to discuss these points as they are something I feel strongly about. I'm sure many children's book illustrators/readers of books have opinions on the matter......please feel free to leave a comment, it'd be great to hear what people think on the subject!

You can find out more info and buy tickets here.

Armadillo Review

Mrs Muffly's Monster has made Editor's choice over at Armadillo magazine. You can take a look here. And very pleased about it I am too. Always lovely to hear nice words about a book I'm proud of!
Lots of other great books feature, I love Ed Vere's Bedtime for Monsters book.