We are so chuffed for our Amy Grimes, who has won joint Silver in the Best Baby Book 0-2 category for ‘Pop Up Peekaboo! Seashore’ for DK books, in The Junior Design Awards 2026.
“Little ones will love lifting the big flaps to discover five delightful surprises, from a scuttling crab, and playful seal pup, to an octopus hiding in a rockpool”
“The bright, high contrast illustrations really bring the seashore to life, helping young children connect the world on the page with the world around them” Bonita Turner, editor of Junior
Published by Walker Books, Gaia’s debut picture book takes a story you think you know and turns it on its head, reimagining Asterion not as a monster to be slain, but as a bull-headed boy growing up in a family who love him.
The idea began with a small Etruscan clay cup Gaia remembers from childhood holidays spent among Italy's archaeological sites, showing the infant Minotaur held tenderly on his mother's lap. That single image remained with Gaia, and it’s the quiet, curious heart beating underneath this whole book. In this retelling of the classic myth, we meet the gentle half-boy, half-bull who loves his family. The book asks: what if we got the story wrong? We follow Asterion and his sister Ariadne through summer days in Crete, and eventually out into the wider world. But as Asterion grows, he must fight against the rumours trying to shape him into a monster. He must find his voice… and change fate on his own terms.
Gaia's light blue Asterion is inspired by Desi cattle, and set against a soft palette drawn from the frescoes of the Palace of Knossos. Read our interview with Gaia Alessi to find out how she designed him, and which spread is her favourite.
Making her debut as an author, Dotty’s new vampire adventure for young readers, Moth the Veggie Vampire, is published by Penguin in October. It's the first in a four book series.
Master Timothy Hawthorne, otherwise known as ‘Moth’, is super awkward, super anxious and a half-vampire. Worst of all, he’s a vegetarian! Joined by a zany cast that includes his best friend, Biscuit (a bat), bedbugs, a princess and Gary (a Venus flytrap) - life usually sucks. But thanks to a girl named Mina, he learns a lot about friendship and acceptance along the way. Funny, warm and guaranteed to raise a smile.
Character development is Dotty's great passion, and Moth's world is drawn with plenty of personality. Gothic in the spirit of Dracula but with a modern, emo twist, the book is bursting with illustrations throughout. Dotty’s venture into writing is one that we’re truly happy to witness, and we hope Moth and his friends capture the imagination of young readers as we can guarantee this book is just the start of a wonderfully spooky series of adventures. Read our interview with Dotty Sutton to find out what inspired her to create the characters and what’s her favourite scary movie!
Published this month by Faber, Tales of the Cobb Street Commandos is a fact-filled, funny wartime adventure written by Tony Bradman, with cover and internal illustrations by Aleksei Bitskoff.
Set in London's East End in 1941, the story follows Jimmy and his friends as they form a top-secret commando unit determined to do their bit for the war effort - training in abandoned warehouses, raising money for Spitfires, and even landing a daring mission to meet Winston Churchill himself.
Aleksei Bitskoff’s energetic line work and instinct for comic timing make the Commandos leap off the page, while his eye for historical detail gives the book its real sense of place and period. Known for his intricate, humorous style, his client list includes the bestselling Little Bad Man and Who Let the Gods Out series.
Aleksei Bitskoff blasts onto bookshelves with an uproarious cover for The Galaxy World Cup, a galactic football adventure where underdogs meet aliens and chaos reigns.
Get your boots on and prepare for take-off! Alan Joyce’s The Galaxy World Cup lands courtesy of Chicken House Books with a brilliantly bonkers cover illustration by Aleksei Bitskoff that perfectly captures the madness, humour and interstellar action inside. When a rag-tag team of schoolboys get mistaken for Earth’s greatest players and zapped into the universe’s biggest tournament, Aleksei’s character-rich visuals bring every extraterrestrial oddball and unlikely goal scorer to life - on and off the pitch.
Known for his finely observed line work, imaginative worlds and instinctive sense of comedy, Aleksei’s cover doesn’t just sell the story - it sells the fun. From weird alien spectators to snap-shot moments that feel like they’ve been plucked straight from the game, his art effortlessly invites readers aged 7–11 (and anyone who knows the agony and ecstasy of a last-minute goal) to dive in.
Kristyna Litten’s first book in a brand-new mystery chapter book series, Ivy and Bearlock Holmes: The Case of the Missing Flower is published this month by Magic Cat Publishing.
Back cover info -
" From the mysteries and wonders of the natural world to man-made marvels in science, technology, and innovation, planet Earth is full of fun and fascinating things to discover at any age. Although most knowledge can be obtained online today, there is nothing quite like the charm of learning from a book packed with witty writing and illustrations like Diarmuid Ó Catháin’s compelling series on Little-known Facts. Brimming with character, The Human Body edition presents readers with the unique opportunity to explore the extraordinary and unexpected traits and biology of people in an easy-to-remember and visually delightful way."
Other illustration show samples from Diarmuid's portfolio on a children's book theme.
Born and bred in Dublin, Diarmuid Ó Catháin is a freelance illustrator who has worked with a wide range of local and international projects spanning branding, advertising, publishing, packaging design, and animation. His client list includes Philips, Vodafone, Sony, Vodafone, Facebook, Twitter, Pernod, and the Bank of Ireland.
To see more of Diarmuid's work please visit: https://www.nbillustration.co.uk/portfolios/diarmuid-o-cathain/
Continuing the collaboration between bestselling pre-school author Camilla Reid and illustrator Nila Aye, Who’s Funny? is out now, featuring adorable dinosaurs and their fun little friends; the latest title in this popular board book series full of interactive fun and the cutest characters.
Paperface creates quirky chicken characters for 'Who Flew The Coop?'
'Who Flew The Coop?' is a chicken-themed card game created for Quarto, and set for release at the end of this month.
The project involved crafting a series of humorous, mugshot-style portraits for 24 different chicken breeds, each with its own distinct personality. Research into the breeds and collaboration with the client helped shape the characters, ensuring their traits were visually compelling and integral to the gameplay.
Beyond the game cards, Paperface’s illustrations also appear in an accompanying booklet, offering a deeper look into each chicken’s personality and its ‘flight-risk’ rating!
