Chris Garbutt: It’s a Groovy World, Alfredo! – Debut Picturebook

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: Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion – Just Published

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. 

Kristyna Litten: Gucci Children’s Collection Spring Summer Catalogue

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: Bob and Barry: Curse of the Werefleas

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

Tado’s first book published by Scholastic.

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

Just Published: Simon Bartram’s Up For The Cup

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

Retrospective exhibition of Gary Blythe

Pirate Gran

Rose Forshall's illustrations for the Pirate Gran series of children's books, are coming to life at a theatre near you soon!

Pirate Gran has been dramatised by Scamp theatre from the books written by Geraldine Durrant, illustrated by Rose and published by the National Maritime Museum. We love this poster and can't wait to see what Rose's characters look like in 3D!

Squishy McFluff, The Invisible Cat

We are excited to announce the release of 'Squishy McFluff, The Invisible Cat', by Pip Jones, featuring the wonderful illustrations of Ella Okstad. The first of three books published by Faber, it tells the charming tale of when a little girl, Ava, discovers an imaginary cat in the cabbage patch which becomes her new best friend! Together, Ava and Squishy McFluff get up to all kinds of mischief. There is a fantastic web site dedicated to Squishy: https://squishymcfluff.com/

Ella Okstad is represented by The Organisation

Claude on the Slopes by Alex T Smith