Captain Quack and his trusty yak deliver the post to the mountains and back. At least, that's the idea, but Yak keeps picking up friends instead, with hilarious consequences. Published this month by Alison Green Books, What Can You Stack on the Back of a Yak? is brought to life byAdam Stower's wonderfully characterful illustrations. Find out just how much Yak really can stack on his back...
Adam Stower's new picture book Troll and the Oliver is published this month by Templar. Adam has created a visual treat with a gorgeous blue troll at the heart of his hilarious story. Troll is very hungry, and every day he tries to eat Oliver on his way to the shops. But catching Oliver is not as easy as it looks…
Adam has created wonderful expression with Troll's wayward eyebrows and big toothed grin and he also captures Oliver's personality beautifully as he skips through the book taunting Troll with his basket of goodies.
Don't just believe us, book & media blog: "Read It, Daddy!" love it too, here's what they think:
"As monster books go this is pretty much perfect. It sets its cards on the table early on, then gathers them in one by one in such a manner that you will reach the end, flip the book back to page one and begin all over again. Troll and Oliver are brilliant characters (you really will not like Oliver at first, but bear with, bear with!) and like all clever ideas for children's stories, it's such a simple premise but beautifully executed. We just could not get enough of it."
Our friends in Minnesota State University Moorhead have recognised the talents of Adam Stower awarding his book, Silly Doggy! the Wanda Gág Read Aloud Book Award 2013, we're very proud of him and of course Lily and her beloved 'doggy'.
We are proud to announce that Valentina Mendicino's first children's picture book as author and artist, published by Top That! Publishing, is hitting the shelves this month. 'The Tragic Tale of Dwayne, The Eating Monster' is the hilarious story of one little monster's insatiable appetite. He eats and eats, and grows and grows, until.... well you'll just have to find out his fate for yourselves! Valentina's striking and original artwork conveys the story perfectly, and we are pleased and excited to be part of the blossoming career of an artist and author who is definitely one to watch over the coming months.
Childrens book illustrator Mandy Millie Flockton is working on an exciting new project. The hero is a very clever mouse who manages to find his way to the moon! Mandy’s endearing little character appeals to all ages and should be a great hit.
We’ve had some great successes over the past month with our SAA Artists; Emily Bolam has just finished another fantastic book for Ladybird in the ‘This Little…’ series. Recent titles have included: This Little Angel and This Little Builder
Yasmeen has also jumped across the pond, travelling to New York City and spending a development week with Blue Apple Books to work on her deluxe activity book with them. This will be published in 2013!
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)
