Sarah Dennis – Michael O’Mara
The Good Bee is a celebration of this most vital and mysterious of nature’s wizards, written by Alison Benjamin and featuring a beautiful decorative cover artwork by paper-cut artist Sarah Dennis.
FRANCES CASTLE ILLUSTRATES ANIMALS IN WARTIME
The Imperial War Museum’s new colouring book featuring over 25 beautiful hand-drawn scenes by Frances celebrates the amazing stories of how our animal friends have helped humans throughout wartime.
Did you know that over 16 million animals served during the First World War alone? 250,000 pigeons helped deliver important messages during the Second World War! Dogs’ abilities to sniff out hidden mines and to locate wounded people on the battlefield, or bombed out houses have made them invaluable during wartime. Since ancient times animals have helped humans in marvellous ways, showing their incredible bravery, strength and loyalty.
“You can’t help but be enthralled by the stories behind these heroic animals and the unbelievable situation they embarked on, managing to project their characters in simple line drawing has been a fascinating challenge,” said Frances, whose eye-catching and graphic style is perfect for this project.
This is Frances Castle’s second colouring book collaboration with the Imperial War Museum, following on from their World War Two Planes Colouring Book, published in 2023. She’s also illustrated other projects for them including their EXPLORE! A Kid’s Guide to the IWM London.
Frances Castle is represented by Arena Illustration.
Alex Vs Axel: The Impossible Quest
ALEX VS AXEL by best-selling author, Sam Copeland, showcases Dotty’s creative versatility from the stunning cover and lettering right through to the interiors which include a fabulous fantasy map.
We are so proud that Alex Vs Axel: The Impossible Quest is also Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month for May!
Alex is a normal, everyday boy living a normal, everyday city. Axel is a monster-slaying hero, living in a world of magic. Unfortunately, when the two boys mysteriously swap worlds, each of them ends up being mistaken for the other.
Alex has zero experience of heroism, he can’t even climb the rope in a gym but he is thrust into an epic quest to defeat the evil Felonius Gloam who has stolen the Book of Lifetales and is using it to unravel the very fabric of the world of Aérth. Axel would love to be saving the world… but instead he has to win a chess tournament (when he doesn’t even know how to play) AND pass a maths test!
Can the two boys complete their Impossible Quests and fine a way back to their own lives? Dotty Sutton’s characters leap off the page using dramatic lighting to full effect. This book is a wonderfully funny adventure about family, friendship and finding your inner confidence and strength and shows the reader that heroes come in many forms.
Dotty Sutton is represented by Arena Illustration.
Donough O’Malley – How Families Are Made
Published this week, 'How Families are made' is written by GP and TV presenter Dr. Amir Khan.
The book is enlightening and educational and takes the young reader on a journey to discover how families begin and how we all become a part of one.
A perfect way for kids to become little experts, the book is complemented by Donough's vibrant and bold illustrations, creating an engaging visual feast on every page.
Lee Ford for HarperCollins
Lee Ford lent his talents to the cover of The Shetland Way: Community and Climate Crisis on my Father's Islands, a memoir and investigation exploring loss, community and the climate crisis in the Shetland Islands by environmental journalist Marianne Brown.
Gareth Lucas – Albert Whitman & Company
Hurrah for the micro-beasts! Putting the spotlight on these fascinating insects, Cicada Symphony by Sue Fliess is out now, fully illustrated by Gareth Lucas, our very own natural world specialist.
LAUGH OUT LOUD 2023 BOOK AWARDS WINNER!
Congratulations go to Arena illustrator Thomas Flintham and author Pamela Burchard for winning the 6-8 category for A Monster Ate My Packed Lunch.
EMILY FOX – ZOOPERTOWN RETURNS!
Emily and Jem Packer re-unite for their second action-packed adventure in Zoopertown, published this month by Bloomsbury.
LIGHTS, DRAMA, ACTION – ALEKSEI BITSKOFF!
Harper Drew is back! Aleksei Bitskoff teams up with author, Kathy Weeks for the third instalment in this phenomenally successful series published by Hachette Children’s Books.
Hannah Bailey illustrates a mind-blowing range of mushrooms for RPA.
Hannah Bailey has illustrated a mind-blowing range of mushrooms for a new book written by author, fungi advocate and educator Meg Madden and publisher Running Press Adult. The illustrations have also been adapted into a puzzle, poster and mini-kit with magnets.