World Book Day illustrator, Alex T Smith has written and illustrated his ninth picture book, Hector and the Big Bad Knight, published by Scholastic this month. Hector and his sidekick chicken, Norman, battle the evil Knight who has stolen Granny's magic wand. Can the tiniest boy in the village outsmart the naughty Knight and his humongous hungry dragon? Well, anything is possible with just little bit of magic and a bag of crisps!
To celebrate World Book Day, Alex also shows us 'How to Draw a Knight' in a series of pictures for The Guardian online.
Gigantosaurus, is the gorgeous, brand new picture book about Dinosaurs from award winning author and illustrator Jonny Duddle. His beautiful landscapes and detailed, lush forests of ancient ferns are a playground setting for dinokids; Bonehead, Tiny, Fin and Bill as they go on their adventures in the Cretaceous sun. They meet a triceratops, a diplodocus, a stegosaurus and a very scary Gigantosaurus in this crazy prehistoric caper. The new hardback edition comes with an enormous poster featuring the Gigantosaurus chasing our four little heroes. This is Jonny’s fourth picture book published by Templar Publishing.
The summer is nearly over but it's been a very busy time at Artist Partners with three new highly anticipated Children’s Picture Books being published this month!
Its all very exciting news!! The first of those books is the most recent one illustrated by David Roberts and I can say it's already creating a real buzz in Children’s Publishing circles!
Published by Abrams Books "Rosie Revere Engineer" is the follow up to the hugely successful Iggy Peck picture book, also written by talented author Andrea Beaty and beautifully illustrated by the ever popular David Roberts.
Reviewers in the US and Europe are naming it as the book to watch, with a rhyming tale about a young girl living her dreams inventing gizmos and gadgets as a budding engineer!
Congratulations to Levi Pinfoldwhose stunning picture book, Black Dog, has won the prestigious CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2013.
The judges describe the book as ‘A visual treat, full of mood and atmosphere, the beautiful illustrations are full of detail and perfectly in keeping with the story … A timeless, thought-provoking book about facing up to anxiety, fears, and the black dog that visits some of us from time-to-time.’
Black Dog has also won first prize in the Children's Book Category in the year's AOI Illustration Awards AND the picture books category in the Coventry Inspiration Book Awards 2013.
As part of a one man show exhibiting Simon Bartram's artwork, The Illustration Cupboard will be hosting a Family Day on Saturday 27th April at 2.30pm. This is a great opportunity to meet Simon, creator of the popular books about Bob, Man on the Moon, who will be reading and signing - the Arena team would love to see you.
The Art of Simon Bartram show will be on from 24th April to 12th May at the Illustration Cupboard, 22 Bury Street, London SW1Y 6AL.
Alex T Smith's exciting new picture book 'Primrose', is published by Scholastic this month. Primrose is a princess who just wants to have fun but the King tells her off for climbing trees and the Queen shrieks when she catches her jumping on the bed with Percy the pug. She isn't allowed to dig in the garden or cook cakes in the kitchen, her life is boring, boring, boring! This is until Grandmama comes for a visit and reminds everyone in the royal household how important it is to have some belly-laughs. This book is very pink, feisty and a lot of fun - it's available in hardback, paperback and the ebook is narrated by Lucy Porter through Me Books. Alex T Smith is represented by Arena
We are excited to announce that 'The Princess and the Frog', published by Ladybird books is out now, featuring the gorgeous illustrations of Livia Coloji. Having previously produced artwork for Sleeping Beauty in the same series of classic fairy tales, Livia was commissioned again, as Ladybird loved her effortless style and charming characterisations. She has proved to be the perfect choice to bring a fresh, contemporary take on these much loved stories.
‘It’s been an exciting start to the year for Bright artists with a lot to follow in 2013. Take a look below at all the latest news from Bright Group International:
We are extremely excited and proud to announce that Ada Grey, one of Bright’s newest stars has been chosen by Bloomsbury for their new royal baby book ‘Shh don’t wake the royal baby!’ Due for release to coincide with the birth of the royal baby. Ada has also been signed up to a two book deal with Little Tiger Press - we are very excited to see Ada’s progression with us this year, stay tuned!
Nicola O’Byrne’s debut picture book, ‘Open Very Carefully’ has been published this month by Nosy Crow and is available to buy on Amazon Now! This funny tale for young children is about a very grumpy crocodile trapped in entirely the wrong story – a must read for your kids!
We’re sending big congratulations over the pond to our US agent Kirsten Hall and to our UK based artist Shelagh McNicholas for their book, ‘Tea Time with Sophia Grace and Rosie’ making its debut on the Ellen Show! The book, published by Scholastic was quickly put together by those involved to feature Ellen’s favourite guests, Sophia Grace and Rosie.
And finally our wonderful Ben Mantle has won the 2013 Bishop’s Stortford Picture Book Award! Competing against 50 other picture books, ‘Callum’s Incredible Construction Kit’ published by Egmont won the votes and affections of over 1300 school children.
Simon Bartram's Bob, Man on the Moon was first published in 1992 and the Bob books have become a picture book phenomenon reaching sales of 250,000 and winning Simon The Blue Peter Book Award.
To celebrate Bob's 10th Birthday, Templar have launched Simon's new picture book, Bob and the Moontree Mystery.
"Bob is truly stumped by the arrival of a mysterious Moontree growing out of crater 483. Moontree questions ping around his head - where did it come from? How did it get here? And why does Bob feel like it's his job to protect the tree and it's golden podberries?"
Watch out for forthcoming events and competitions. Simon Bartram is represented by Arena
Kristyna Litten's debut children's picture book Chicken's Can't See In The Dark, is published on 7th June by OUP Oxford. This delightful story is about a chicken called Pippa who dares to be different! When Mr Benedict tells his class on Sunnyside Farm that chickens can't see in the dark, she sets out to prove him wrong and discover the secrets of night vision.
