Angel's Great Escape is an interactive story book app beautifully illustrated by Kristyna Litten for independent app producer And So We Begin. Written by Kirstie Rowson and narrated by national treasure, Alan Titchmarsh the app for Android, Nook, iPhone and iPad is available to purchase this month. Angel's Great Escape is a magical story about Angel and her tree decoration friends, Fairy, Reindeer, Snowman and Teddy who have been left behind at the house of Mr Mean and his son. They know that they belong on the Christmas tree in the house of the Good family across the road. Children can tap, drag and swipe to help the decorations try to make their escape to the Good family, in hot pursuit by the Mean family's cat. This is Kristyna's second app project having previously worked on Discover's StoryCloud App, illustrating Michael Rosen's poem The Talent Show.
Winning team Neal Layton and author Nicola Davies are back with their sixth book about animal biology. Deadly! The Truth About The Most Dangerous Creatures On Earth, is a brilliantly funny look at how animals have become masters of murder, exploring the ingenious and often hilarious means of survival that both predators and prey employ.
Deadly! is published this month by Walker and Neal's playful illustrations make the subject both accessible, informative and very, very funny.
Lots of excitement and buzz are surrounding the newly to be published edition of the classic “Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Graham
The book is lavishly illustrated by the wonderfully talented David Roberts and published by Oxford University Press
A thoroughly modern makeover of Mole, Ratty, Badger, and Toad - Wind in the Willows has already been tipped by the Bookseller Publication as a book to watch for, and predicted to be one of the hottest Christmas Gift Books for this year!
This timeless story opens with Mole leaving his spring-cleaning and going above ground to explore the world beyond his burrow, making friends with Ratty, the two become inseparable and together they spend long summer days enjoying the delight of the river and its banks. More wonderful characters join Mole and Ratty, the incredibly fabulous character of Toad recklessly driving fast cars, and the dapper and distinguished character of Mr. Badger.
David Roberts a truly individual illustrator, famous for many illustrated books, and for his much loved characters in the Dirty Bertie series. Here in this book he works his wonder on these classic characters, and gives them all their own sartorial elegance.
A richly illustrated book, that deserves to be on everyone’s bookshelf.
David Roberts has become hugely successful and sought after having illustrated many picture books for Julia Donaldson – Tyrannosaurus Drip, The Troll, Jack and the Flum Flum Tree, and he has also had the privilege to work on many other books by a selection of top authors : The Dunderheads, Iggy Peck The Architect, and Dear Tabby to name a few. David is also famous for producing the wonderful character Dirty Bertie, which has now become a successful and growing fiction list of twenty –odd books in the series, and more in the pipeline. With a busy schedule, he has lots of exciting picture books projects ahead of him, and has become a much admired illustrator, who has carved his own fashionable niche in the market !
Once David had finished working on the book and all the illustrations for Wind in the Willows were completed, David mentioned feeling rather bereft at having to say goodbye to drawing his dear friends Mole, Ratty, Toad and Badger....
The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame
Illustrated by David Roberts
Published by Oxford University Press
ISBN 978-0-19-273234-7
David Roberts is proudly represented by Artist Partners
In the post this week we were lucky enough to receive a copy of ‘Beauty and the Beast’, illustrated by The Artworks’ very own Sarah Gibb.
“I’m really proud of this book. I’ve always loved the classic fairytales and so was thrilled to be asked to illustrate Beauty and the Beast for Orchard. I had particular fun creating the Beast for this book. I took lots of photos of the animals at London zoo. Back home in the studio I took inspiration from the warthog and the lions. I also wanted to make the Beast beautiful in a raw and animalistic way, so you could say he was cross between a warthog, a lion and Mr Darcy!”
Sarah’s beautiful illustrations really breathe new life into this classic fairytale and she is even starting work on a third book, in the series for Orchard, to be published in 2014. ’Beauty and the Beast’ is available to preorder now from Amazon! (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beauty-Beast-Ursula-Jones/dp/1408312719)
Adam Stower's picture book Naughty Kitty! is published by Templar this month. In this charming sequel to the popular Silly Doggy! we meet Lily again, just as her mum finally agrees to buy her a pet - but it's not a doggy, it's a kitten! When things start to go wrong around the house, Lily is quick to blame her new little furry friend with hilarious consequences.
Here are some spreads from the book. Adam will also be appearing at the Edinburgh Book Festival this summer.
The University of Aberdeen has recently commissioned Natalie Kilany to illustrate "The Kings Dream", a fairytale written by Jackie Ross. The story follows a King who is troubled by nightmares; with worries of what the future holds for his people. None of his expert advisors can explain his dreams, but a young hill farmer has insights which help the King harness the collective wisdom of his people and let him sleep peacefully once more. Natalie says "In a nut shell the fairytale tells the story of two contrasting futures faced by Britain's hill communities, based on research from the Sustainable Uplands project. This was a fantastic book to work on, I was given complete creative freedom that I utterly enjoyed and flourished in." Commissioner Mark Reed was very happy too, he said of the illustrations "... they’re BEAUTIFUL!!!! Really great job Natalie and bang on time! Very pleased indeed..."
Adam Stower will be interviewed alongside author Francesca Simon on the Big Book Babble on Tuesday 24th April at 11am. Red House and Scholastic present Big Book Babble to encourage children to enjoy reading. Each programme features popular children's authors, illustrators and poets in a Q&A session with comedian James Campbell in front of a live and virtual audience of children. Fans of Horrid Henry will see author Francesca Simon talking about her recent book, The Sleeping Army, illustrated by Adam Stower. Adam will be drawing live in the studio and also discussing his own picture book, Silly Doggy! (Templar).
CONGRATULATIONS! We’re proud to announce that Jonny Duddle, has won the most prestigious and valuable children’s book prize in the country for his picture book The Pirates Next Door (Templar). His book was crowned overall winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2012 which, champions new and emerging talent in children’s writing.
Announcing the award, Melissa Cox, Children’s Buyer at Waterstones, described the book as a thoroughly deserving winner: “The Pirates Next Door is full of the anarchic wit and invention children love in a picture book. It’s fresh and fun and has been a huge hit in Waterstones’ shops across the country, and had an incredible reception from booksellers, parents and, most importantly, children. Jonny is a huge new talent in the picture book field.” Book Trade
Published on March 1st, Christopher Corr is excited about the launch of 'The Goggle-Eyed Goats'; a childrens' book he has illustrated for Andersen Press. Gallimard Jeunesse in Paris are also publishing the book on the same day, which just happens to be World Book Day. Christopher says "It's my first book with both houses. The story is set in Mali in Timbuktu and Mopti and is full of goats and mud mosques and desert scenes." The 'wonderfully vibrant and unusual picture book' will be launched at the Rowley Gallery in Notting Hill on March 1st.
The Chris Beetles gallery recently hosted the launch of the exciting new project Daniela Terrazzinihas been busy working on, the first title in the series from JJ Books, ‘Tales for Great Grandchildren’. Daniela was asked to illustrate the whole book including both the full colour watercolour pages, title pages and the cover illustration. The author John Jackson has written a fantastic set of stories based on the folklore and mythology of India and Nepal and Daniela’s intricate and beautiful illustrations are the perfect accompaniment for such a special project, ‘The bewitching illustrations by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini bring the characters out of the page and into our hearts. Her work is enchanting and seductive, and will spark the imaginations of all’.
