Thursday 31 January 2019

Julian is a Mermaid Wins 2019 Stonewall Book Award!


Huge congratulations to Jessica Love who has won the American Library Association 2019 Stonewall Book Award for Julian is a Mermaid. 

The award was first presented in 2010 and is given annually to English-language children's books of 'exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experience.' 

Julian is on his way home with his Nana when he spots some mermaids. When Julian gets home, daydreaming of the magical mermaids he's seen, all he can think about is dressing up like a mermaid, too. But what will Nana think about the mess he makes — and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julian sees himself? 

Jessica Love said: "I think it is an incredibly rare thing for an artist to get to feel for a moment that her work has reached the people she created it for in the first place. To then be honoured by that group of people closes the circuit so powerfully, it feels like an electric shock. It has been the great honour of my life to make this book." 

Julian is a Mermaid is out in paperback on Thursday 7th February, you can download our activity sheets now!

Tuesday 29 January 2019

CBeebies Bedtime Stories featuring A Busy Day For Birds

We are delighted to say that A Busy Day for Birds by Lucy Cousins will be read out on CBeebies Bedtime Stories on Sunday 3rd February at 18:50. 

Actress Celia Imrie, known for many roles including in Calendar Girls and Bridget Jones will be reading the book! 


Before then you can go behind the scenes with multi-award-winning author and illustrator Lucy Cousins and find out about A Busy Day for Birds in the video below.

            

Thursday 17 January 2019

Top picture book picks this January!

A new year brings with it brand new picture books! We've selected our top new picks for January and you can find out all about them here.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt 30th Anniversary Edition


Celebrate 30 wonderful years of We're Going on a Bear Hunt in this special anniversary edition of the much-loved family favourite. This new anniversary board book brings the story to life for a whole new generation of young readers. Follow and join in the family's excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river, squelch through the mud and brave their way through the swirling, whirling snowstorm in search of a bear.



Tooth


Ouch! Baby’s mouth feels funny. Something is happening, and it’s not just that a puddle of drool keeps escaping. There it is – a new tooth! From discovering what’s good to bite (and what’s not) to mastering the art of the toothbrush, Baby’s dental adventure is sure to give little teething buddies something to chew on.



Beware of the Crocodile



A witty Nature Storybook about crocodiles. The main thing about crocodiles is they’re really scary – or at least the big ones are. They’ve got an awful lot of teeth and they’re not at all fussy about what they eat, as long as it’s got a bit of meat on it.  But you might be surprised to hear that there's more to crocodiles than just their appetites.....




Home in the Rain



Francie and her mum, who is expecting a baby girl, are driving home from Grandma’s in the heavy rain when they stop for a picnic. As the car steams up, Francie presses her little finger on the window, spelling out "Daddy" and "Mummy" and leaving one space free, ready and waiting for the name of her soon-to-be sister... A beautifully observed celebration of the way inspiration can, and often does happen in the most ordinary and unlikely of places.



Flat Cat


A wild, read-aloud celebration of breaking the rules, taking a chance, and having the most brilliant of adventures. Jimi the cat longs to explore the bright and bustling world outside the flat. Where will he go and who will he meet on those wild and exciting streets? Children and parents alike will rejoice in this funny, stylish and heart-warming celebration of freedom, adventure, friendship and love.





Animals with Tiny Cat


From the ever original and wonderfully playful Viviane Schwarz comes a laugh-out-loud, theatrical first animal board book for the very youngest of readers. Tiny Cat is playing dressing-up! She rolls up in a rug to become a snake – hiss! And with booties on her paws, she’s a horse – neigh! In fact, with oodles of imagination, Tiny Cat can be any animal she wants to be! 



Isle of You



Some days are harder to get through than others. Whenever you’re sad, or lonely, or angry, there’s one place you can always go: the Isle of You. Take a moment to shake off your worries, then set sail to a land where your dreams can come true. Soar on the back of an eagle, hunt for treasure, watch dancing polar bears on roller skates – anything you can imagine is yours...





Dreamland

Bedtime surroundings mingle with stunning dream imagery as a little girl drifts into peaceful slumber... From illustrator and Pixar designer Noah Klocek comes a breathtaking depiction of a half-asleep landscape sure to lure readers into a dreamland of their own. 



Thursday 10 January 2019

Celebrate 30 Years of We're Going on a Bear Hunt with our competition!


For thirty years families everywhere have loved to join in the refrain...

We're going on a bear hunt.
We're going to catch a big one.
What a beautiful day! 
We're not scared.

Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury's much-loved interpretation of this familiar join-in story has made We're Going on a Bear Hunt a genuine modern classic. Their sparkling retelling has had readers swishy-swashing and splash-sploshing through the pages and has captured the imaginations of children and their parents since it was first published to great critical acclaim in 1989.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary we have FIVE copies of the We're Going on a Bear Hunt 30th Anniversary Edition paperback with a poster and a bear plush toy to give away! This competition has now closed, good luck!



Monday 7 January 2019

Picture books we're looking forward to in 2019!

Another year and another packed schedule of exciting picture books to publish! We have lots of new picture books on offer this year and below we've picked out just some of our favourites but you can expect much more throughout the year.

Stay tuned to Picture Book Party this year for more information on all the books below and many more! 

Kiss the Crocodile by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Ben Mantle
February


Down in the jungle, three best friends – Monkey, Tortoise and Anteater – are playing silly games together. Monkey is feeling especially cheeky and, with a twinkly glint in his eye, invents a new game ... a DARING game. KISS THE CROCODILE. Who is brave enough to steal a peck from the croc, with his big tail, pointy teeth and sharp claws? MWAH!

Brimming over with the thrill of friendship and play, this hilarious new story from the author of Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise demands to be re-enacted, and is the perfect match for the animated, visually-rich artwork of Ben Mantle, illustrator of Follow the Track All the Way Back.


Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
February


Mesmerizing and full of heart, this is a picture book about self-confidence and love, and a radiant celebration of individuality.

While riding the subway home with his Nana one day, Julian notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train carriage. When Julian gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies and making his own fabulous mermaid costume. But what will Nana think about the mess he makes – and even more importantly – what will she think about how Julian sees himself?



Circle by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen
March


This book is about Circle. This book is also about Circle’s friends, Triangle and Square. Also it is about a rule that Circle makes, and how she has to rescue Triangle when he breaks that rule. With their usual pitch-perfect pacing and subtle, sharp wit, Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen come full circle in the third and final chapter of their clever shapes trilogy.


Little Frida by Anthony Browne
April


The artwork of Frida Kahlo inspires former Children's Laureate and twice winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal Anthony Browne in this beautiful and surreal picture book. Telling the story of a lonely young girl who discovers the power of the imagination to set you free. A tribute to an iconic artist exploring themes of belonging, creativity and hope, this is an exquisite and touching picture book.

Hummingbird by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Jane Ray
May


From Nicola Davies and from Jane Ray comes an exquisite Nature Storybook about … hummingbirds! 

A hummingbird is smaller than your thumb and weighs less than a 20 pence piece – however you measure it, it’s tiny. But every spring, hummingbirds that have spent the winter in Mexico fly north to make the most of the warmer weather. They nest as far north as Canada and Alaska; a 2,000 mile trip! This is the story of one spring migration: of a tiny bird, its amazing journey and the people it meets along the way.


Tooth Fairy in Training by Michelle Robinson, illustrated by Briony May Smith
June


Tate’s big sister May is taking her out on her very first tooth-collecting mission, and it’s going to be a little … well, dangerous. It will involve trekking through the deep, dark jungle, plunging into the murky ocean, and facing the ice of the Arctic. Because it’s not just sweet, slumbering little children that lose their pearly whites, oh no... All kinds of toothy predators lose their gnashers, too! Can Tate collect missing teeth from crocs, sharks and anacondas ... and all without waking up a single creature?


This Little Piggy by Jarvis
August


Count from one to ten while wiggling your toes in this goofy twist on the classic nursery rhyme!

From award-winning bookmaker Jarvis, the creator of Alan’s Big, Scary Teeth comes a fresh, very funny first number book – perfect for sharing whilst wriggling tiny toes! With bright, beautiful graphics, read-aloud rhymes, and a stylish, sturdy feel, this board book is the perfect gift for a new arrival, and a fantastic addition to a toddler’s first library.


The Child of Dreams by Irena Brignull, illustrated by Richard Jones
September


A little girl wants to know where she came from and why she doesn’t have a father. When her mother cannot tell her, the girl decides to find out for herself. Her journey leads her on a quest through the woods, tracing her own story back to its source with the help of the animals she meets, until she discovers what truly matters in making a family.


Pick a Pumpkin by Patrica Toht, illustrated by Jarvis
September


It’s Halloween! Which means it's time to dangle cobwebs and bats from the windows, put on costumes, and – most important of all – visit the pumpkin patch and pick out that perfect pumpkin! Then cart it home, scoop out the insides, carve a scary face, and finally light a candle inside, transforming it into a one-of-a-kind, glowing jack-o’-lantern...

With warm, autumnal art, and a rhythmic read-aloud text that captures all the excitement and familial feeling of Halloween, this is the perfect book to share by flickering candlelight on the spookiest night of the year.


Thursday 3 January 2019

WIN our January Picture Book of the Month - Flat Cat

From Hiawyn Oram and Gwen Millward comes Flat Cat - a wild, read-aloud celebration of breaking the rules, taking a chance, and having the most brilliant of adventures.
Sophie absolutely adores Jimi and smothers him with treats. She thinks he has everything a cat could possibly desire. And Jimi does... but secretly Jimi longs to explore the bright and bustling world outside. So when Sophie rushes out one day forgetting her keys, there’s only one thing for it: Jimi slips on his coat and skedaddles out of there, too! Where will he go and who will he meet on those wild and exciting streets? And what on earth will Sophie say?


Children and parents alike will rejoice in this funny, stylish and heart-warming celebration of freedom, adventure, friendship and love.

We have FIVE copies of Flat Cat to give away. This competition has now closed. Good luck!