The SAA are very pleased to be supporting the World Illustration Awards by sponsoring The SAA Agents Award for New Talent.
picture book 
21st July, Bright and Puffin Books hosted a swashbuckling soirée to launch Fred Blunt’s debut author/illustrated picture book Captain Falsebeard in a Very Fishy Tale, aboard the 16th Century galleon, The Golden Hinde.
I defy you not to be touched by this book
- Elisa Offord, Marketing & Publicity Director, Simon & Schuster
Summer 2015 is set to be a popular season for Bright picture books launching into the public eye and gracing the shelves of book lovers the world over. One of these future classics comes from the pen of award-winning author illustrator Benji Davies and is set to supersede Benji’s critically acclaimed debut title The Storm Whale (Simon & Schuster) having already been shortlisted in the AOI World Illustration Awards 2015. This month, we proudly add the stunningly illustrated & powerfully written Grandad’s Island (Simon & Schuster) to our growing Bright Bookshelf.
Following an award studded 2014 for Bright star Nicola O’Byrne - including the coveted Waterstones Children’s Book Prize - this year was already set to consist of gleaming prosperity. The BookTrust‘s Booktime story for 2015 – that is to be gifted to 700,000 reception-aged children in UK – is Nicola O’Byrne’s debut picture book, Open Very Carefully (Nosy Crow).
The book with bite, which was brokered by Bright M.D Vicki Willden-Lebrecht, has been a seemingly huge success with children of all ages, their parents & schools the world over. Kate Wilson, Managing Director of Nosy Crow, aptly describes why the book has been received so well by young readers -
‘With its invitation to interactivity, its humour and its stylish but accessible illustration, Open Very Carefully seems to have really wide appeal’
The Nosy Crow book, which is to be distributed to all UK school children aged 4-5, will be accompanied by a Booktime pack that provides guidance & notes for parents aimed at installing the importance of reading with their children.
With a reach of two million children & families, the BookTrust is Britain’s largest reading charity. As the organisation’s 10th Booktime story to be gifted to every reception child in UK, Open Very Carefully will no doubt continue to grace the shelves of more and more young readers this year – especially with the availability of 13 languages.
See Nicola O’Byrne’s Literary Portfolio HERE for previous titles, awards & upcoming projects.
Nicola O’Byrne is represented by the Bright Group
David has hit the ground running at Bright securing his first picture book deals in both the UK and the US. His distinctive style mixes colour and drama to inspire an incredible atmosphere which creates a huge scale from which to entertain his readers.
David's début Picture Book - The Bear and the Piano (published with Frances Lincoln), is available for pre-order now!
David first began drawing when he was very young, creating Star Wars & Indiana Jones mash-up comics for his older brother and sister. His illustration heroes and biggest influences are Albert Uderzo, Sylvan Chomet, Jon Klassen and Shaun Tan. He uses a variety of techniques to create his illustrations and considers himself to be a mixed media artist as he usually combines all the elements together in Photoshop.
David Litchfield is represented by Bright
Chris Garbutt's long-awaited debut picture book, It's a Groovy World, Alfredo! written by Sean Taylor, is published by Walker on 4th June.
Poor Alfredo is a frog who just can't dance. No matter how hard his best friend Marty (a smooth talking fly) tries to teach him all the fancy dance moves - all he ever does is Jump! Jump! Jump! It's just not cool! Or… is it?
Chris' use of rich colours with subtle washes, combined with his simple yet expressive characters gives this heart-warming story a really unique feel. Here's a preview of his gorgeous illustrations.
Chris Garbutt is represented by Arena Illustration.
Alex T. Smith's fantastic new picture book, Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion is published this month by Scholastic Children's Books. Alex artfully brings a new, cheeky little twist to the classic Little Red Riding Hood tale, setting his charming story in Africa with gorgeous hot colours and introducing a greedy lion to replace the cunning wolf. Our plucky heroine, Little Red, is a fearless little girl who won't let a lion get between her and curing her Auntie Rosie from a mysterious rash!
This 'riotous romp of a story' was Fiona Noble's 'Editor's Choice for the Month' in The Bookseller (20th February, 2015). She goes on to say:
“Little Red is not a girl to be messed with…. The spreads of her travelling to her auntie’s house are a particular joy: dashing, creeping and wiggling (with her trusty goat sidekick) past a glorious menagerie of giraffes, crocodiles, monkeys and more. There are quirky details to spot and savour, all decorated in a vivid palette of red and gold. Smith’s sense of mischief is everywhere, with moments of pure, joyful silliness…. As the parent of a six-year-old I have a strict standard of merit for picture books: does it still delight on the 10th re-reading? A resounding yes!”
Alex T. Smith is represented by Arena Illustration.
The luxury Italian fashion brand Gucci, commissioned Kristyna Litten to give their 2015 Children's Spring Summer Collection a picture book twist.
Kristyna created animal and kids characters and twenty three different scenes for their catalogue along with additional elements for their Look Book, to showcase their children's accessories. Using photographs of all the clothing and accessories, she developed each of the kid's characters around them, giving Gucci a variety of poses for other uses in the Look Book. The result is a fresh and vibrant series of spreads that beautifully display the clothes, hats, sunglasses, bags, shoes and belts in the range.
Kristyna Litten represented by Arena Illustration
Simon Bartram's Bob and Barry's Lunar Adventures continue in Curse of the Werefleas, published this month by Templar.
A big, hairy asteroid clips the moon and it take Bob and his dog, Barry, ages to clear up the itchy dust. Next morning Bob finds the itching is worse, and he has a strange hunger for - meat! Under a microscope all becomes clear, the dust was actually thousands of WEREFLEAS, travelling across the galaxy, turning planets and asteroids into hairy, scary, werewolf -infested places with their cursed bite! Can Bob save the Moon from the same fate, especially if he's feeling hair-raisingly unusual himself? Fortunately, Barry is there to help him, canine-to-canine!
Simon Bartram is represented by Arena
It's been several years in the making, but we're very proud to announce that Tado's first picture book 'Monster Trucks: The Big Race' was published on July 3rd and is now available in all good bookshops.
Written by Jon Hinton and published by Scholastic Children's Books, The Big Race is the first in a new series of fast-paced, big-wheeled racing romps that follow Bolt, Chunk, Roxy, Fizz, Newton and Masher as they rev off on exciting adventures in a crazy world full of fun, laughter and a few spills along the way.
Tado is represented by Debut Art
A story for complete and utter football nutters everywhere, Up For The Cup, by Simon Bartram is published by Templar this month. Simon's long awaited tale about his favourite subject - FOOTBALL, follows the tale of a dedicated football fan who's team have made it all the way to the cup final against the odds.
Simon Bartram is represented by Arena
