A Mighty Bitey Creature

A raucous, suspenseful, silly comedy starring jungle favourites Monkey, Zebra, Frog and Lion … and a bottom-biting bush baby!

In this raucous jungle caper illustrated by Dinosaurs Don't Have Bedtimes' Nikki Dyson, something mighty with super-dooper sharp teeth keeps biting Frog, Monkey and Zebra … right on their bottoms! “Ya-hoooooo!” So, guarding their beautiful behinds, the trio run as fast as they can through the jungle. 

They’re looking for big, brave King Lion, who just might know what to do… Delicious drama builds before the bottom-biting creature’s identity is finally revealed in this hilarious tale brought brilliantly to life by the read-aloud sound effects of Ronda Armitage and the exuberant, magnificent art of Nikki Dyson.

Behind the scenes with Nikki Dyson

We’re excited to welcome Nikki Dyson to the Picture Book Party blog for a behind-the-scenes on the making of A Mighty Bitey Creature

My inspiration when creating the artwork for A Mighty Bitey Creature came from a love for Disney concept artists, especially Eyvind Earle, Al Dempster and Mary Blair, I love their use of bold patterns and vibrant colour combinations and wanted to include this feel into my own work for this book. 

They were also amazing at creating a sense of atmosphere to a place and I was inspired by them to make Ronda’s characters feel like they belonged in that environment. The settings and dense foliage also was great for adding intrigue into the scenes to give the reader a sense of mystery on what this bottom biting creature could actually be! 

We wanted to go for an old storybook feel too so it took a very classic format almost like a page from a Little Golden Book. The Mighty Bitey Creature was originally a little baby so a lot of my first roughs were with the baby in mind *spoiler alert!* but I think that the bush baby works just as well and still gives the same feeling of such a small cute little thing that can cause so much havoc (and a lot of sore bums!)  

The colours I had in mind for the book start off with a sleepy serene feel with greens and blues and as the animals become more and more uneasy and frantic I added vibrant yellows and oranges to the scenes which adds to the pace of the story as the animals become more afraid.

 I have my own personal experience with a mighty bitey creature as when I was young my hamster Gizmo had a very mighty bite which he used on me regularly, I hope my first hand knowledge of being bitten by a small fluffy creature gave those biting scenes a little bit of extra realism!

Since receiving her degree in illustration, Nikki Dyson has worked for Hallmark and National Geographic Kids, and has illustrated a number of books for children. Her picture books include Zippo the Super Hippo, written by Kes Gray, the Little Golden Books How to Be a Pirate and How to Be a Superhero, two word books, 1000 Animals and 1000 Things to Eat, and Dinosaurs Don't Have Bedtimes, written by Timothy Knapman. Find her online at nikkidysonillustration.co.uk and on Twitter as @DoodleDyson.

WIN National Theatre: Play in a Box

Everything you need to create, direct and act in your very own play.

Discover how to create, direct and act in your very own play in this brilliant kit from the National Theatre. 

Inside find everything you need to put on a show, including ideas and inspiration for the characters, settings and plot, as well as expert top tips for staging, costume, make-up, props, sound and lighting. 


The box contains 30 Character Cards, 8 Setting Cards, Plot Twist Book, 32-page Stagecraft Handbook and a programme and tickets to colour in. This kit will be the perfect gift and give hours of fun to all young actors, directors and theatre-lovers.

WIN!

To celebrate the release we've got five copies of National Theatre: Play in a Box to give away.

To enter, just email competitions@walker.co.uk with 'Play in a Box' in the subject line before 17th November 2017. Terms and conditions apply.

At the National Theatre we make theatre that is entertaining, challenging and inspiring. And we make it for everyone. We stage around 30 plays a year at our home on the South Bank in London and work with venues and schools all over UK (and beyond) to share theatre with as many people as possible.

Top new picture books this October

We're starting to feel very autumnal here at Walker Books, and what better way to enjoy the evenings drawing in than with one of our fantastic new picture books from some award-winning authors and illustrators?

The Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse

The award-winning Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen of Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, Extra Yarn and Triangle offer a tale of cooperation and creative cuisine that is sure to go down easy.

When a woeful mouse is swallowed up by a wolf, he quickly learns he is not alone: a duck has already set up digs and, boy, has that duck got it figured out! Turns out it’s pretty nice inside the belly of the beast - life's not so bad, considering the alternatives. That is, until a hunter shows up...

We're Going a Bear Hunt: Snow Globe Edition

We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one. Will you come, too? For over a quarter of a century, readers have been swishy-swashying and splash-sploshing through this award-winning favorite. 

This new hardback gift edition includes a 3-D snow scene on the cover to add fun and festive flurries to your favorite family adventure story.

La La La: A Story of Hope

“La la la . . . la.” A little girl stands alone and sings, but hears no response. Dejected, she falls asleep on the ground, only to be awakened by an amazing sound... She has been heard.

Kate DiCamillo conveys a lonely child’s yearning for someone who understands. With a subtle palette Jaime Kim brings to life an endearing character and a transcendent landscape that invite readers along on an emotionally satisfying journey.

A Mitey Bitey Creature

In this raucous jungle caper illustrated by Dinosaurs Don't Have Bedtimes Nikki Dyson, something mighty with super-dooper sharp teeth keeps biting Frog, Monkey and Zebra… right on their bottoms! “Ya-hoooooo!”

Delicious drama builds before the bottom-biting creature’s identity is finally revealed in this hilarious tale brought brilliantly to life by the read-aloud sound effects of Ronda Armitage and the exuberant, magnificent art of Nikki Dyson.

Du Iz Tak?

Du iz tak? What is that? As a tiny shoot unfurls, two damselflies peer at it in wonder. When the plant grows taller and sprouts leaves, some young beetles arrive to gander.

With exquisitely detailed illustrations and tragicomic flair, Carson Ellis, author of New York Times Bestselling Home, invites readers to imagine the dramatic possibilities to be found in even the humblest backyard.

Owl Bat, Bat Owl

From award-winning author and illustrator, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, comes a stunning wordless board book that celebrates family, friendship and the power of togetherness. Mummy Owl and her three little owls live happily on their spacious branch. That is, until the bat family move in.

You can get your hands on all these books at your local bookshop. Happy reading! 

Follow the Track All the Way Back

Today is a big day for little Train ... he's going out on the track, all by himself, for the very first time!

From Ben Mantle and Timothy Knapman comes the story of Little Train, who is going out on the track, all by himself, for the very first time! But before he goes, his mummy and daddy remind him: “When it’s time to come home, no matter how far you are, just follow the track all the way back, where we’ll be waiting.” So Little Train heads off into the unknown with a clickety-clack… But, when night falls and the track runs out, will he remember what to do? Young readers will share Little Train’s trepidation and excitement in this uplifting and extraordinary read-aloud adventure, and rejoice in the gorgeously atmospheric artwork of illustrator Ben Mantle.


Check out the fun animated book trailer created by Ben Mantle below!

       

Timothy Knapman is a children’s writer, lyricist and playwright. His children’s books have been translated into fifteen languages and include Soon, illustrated by Patrick Benson, Time Now To Dream, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, Dinosaurs Don't Have Bedtimes, illustrated by Nikki Dyson, and Can't Catch Me, illustrated by Simona Ciraolo. His titles are often featured on CBeebies Bedtime Stories. He lives in Surrey. Find him online at timothyknapman.co.uk and on Twitter as @TimothyKnapman.

Ben Mantle worked in animation, working on Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, before turning his hand to children’s illustration. He is the author and illustrator of the Dinostar series, The Best Birthday Present Ever! and The Best Christmas Present Ever!, and the illustrator of many other picture books. Born in Leamington Spa, Ben now lives and works in Sussex. Find him online at benmantle.co.uk and benmantleillustration.blogspot.co.uk, and on Twitter as @BenMMantle.

Books Are My Bag - #BookshopDay 2017

This week we are celebrating Books Are My Bag, a nationwide campaign to celebrate bookshops!

This brilliant collaboration between publishers, bookshops and authors is the biggest EVER promotion of bookshops. So if you love bookshops as much as we do, then please continue to celebrate - and shop in - our fabulous high street bookshops to ensure they are not under threat.

#BookshopDay 2017 is Saturday 7th October, so go out and treat yourself to a new book!

Check out some of the amazing illustrations our Walker illustrators have created to show their support:

 Bobo by Jez Alborough

 Mr Mole by Jarvis

 Natalie and Alphonse by Daisy Hirst

Nancy by Alice Tait

Tiny by Viv Scwarz

Visit the Books Are My Bag website to find out more.

A Busy Day for Birds by Lucy Cousins out now in paperback!

Peck, hop, flap and make some noise in A Busy Day for Birds, a story full of colour, rhyme and feathered friends – now in paperback!

Flap your wings, fly up high, open your beak and sing in this fun action rhyme story about fantastical birds by multi-award-winning author Lucy Cousins. 

"Can you imagine ... just for one day ... you're a busy bird? Yes, a bird! Hooray!" Can you stand on one leg like a flamingo or waddle like a penguin? How about say "cock-a-doodle-doo!", "tuwit-tuwoo" and even "tra-la-la"? What a busy day you will have! A bouncy read-aloud book to be enjoyed; beautifully illustrated with bold, bright colours and packed with all sorts of wild and wonderful birds!

We went behind the scenes with author-illustrator Lucy Cousins and found out all about the making of the book in this video…

We're not the only ones who love A Busy Day for Birds!

“A picture book aviary of brilliantly painted plumage ... a riotous, interactive, zingingly colourful book – perfect to share with the very young.” Guardian

“A real joy, popping with colour and energy, an irresistible read-aloud rhyme.” The Bookseller

Pick up a copy of A Busy Day for Birds in your local bookshop.

Join in the fun and download our free A Busy Day for Birds activity sheets.

WIN His Royal Tinyness - plus Sally Lloyd-Jones and David Roberts Q&A

Once upon a time there was a happy family. Until one horrible no good day when a new ruler was born…

New York Times bestselling author Sally Lloyd-Jones’ hilarious narrative voice is brought exquisitely to life by David Roberts, illustrator of Ada Twist, Scientist, in this home-grown fairy tale about a little girl with a new baby brother. 

Marianna, the most beautiful, ever so kindest princess, lives happily with her mum, dad and gerbil. Happy, that is, until the new baby comes along. His Royal Highness King Baby is so smelly. He’s so noisy. And all the talk in the Land is about him – non-stop, All the time! Has there ever been such a time of wicked rule?!

Author & Illustrator Q&A

We were very excited to welcome Sally and David to Walker HQ to answer some questions on His Royal Tinyness, watch the video below.

            

WIN His Royal Tinyness

To celebrate the launch of His Royal Tinyness we’ve got TEN COPIES of the book with exclusive limited edition prints to give away! To enter just answer this question:
In His Royal Tinyness what is the name of the little girl?

a)       Sally

b)       Tilly

c)       Marianna

To enter, just email competitions@walker.co.uk with 'His Royal Tinyness' in the subject line,

before 15th October 2017. Terms and conditions apply.

Pick up a copy of His Royal Tinyness at your local bookshop!

Sally Lloyd-Jones is the author of Skip to the Loo, My Darling!, illustrated by Anita Jeram, Handbag Friends, illustrated by Sue Heap, and Time to Say Goodnight as well as How To Be a Baby, by Me, the Big Sister which was in the New York Times bestseller list, and its sequel How to Get Married. Sally lives in New York City. Find her online at sallylloyd-jones.com and on Twitter as @sallylloydjones.

David Roberts is the author-illustrator of the Dirty Bertie books and the illustrator of many books for children, including the bestselling Eddie Dickens trilogy, written by Philip Ardagh, the Kate Greenaway-shortlisted The Dunderheads, written by Paul Fleischman, and the picture book The Dumpster Diver, written by Janet S. Wong. Born in Liverpool, he now lives in London. Find him online at davidrobertsillustration.tumblr.com/.

Top new picture books this September

We have a fabulous selection of beautiful and fun picture books for you this September, including: 

Owl Babies 

A special 25th anniversary edition of a bestselling modern classic, Owl Babies is a comforting read for any toddler who has ever worried about mum leaving them alone. 

With a foreword and gorgeous golden foil on the cover and spine, this edition is one to share and treasure.




His Royal Tinyness

New York Times bestselling author Sally Lloyd-Jones’ hilarious narrative voice is brought exquisitely to life by David Roberts in this home-grown fairy tale about a little girl with a new baby brother. 

Marianna, the most beautiful, ever so kindest princess, lives happily with her mum, dad and gerbil. Happy, that is, until the new baby comes along. All the talk in the Land is about him – non-stop, All the time! Has there ever been such a time of wicked rule?!

Watch a Q&A with Sally and David here.

I Want to be in a Scary Story 

From the team behind the acclaimed Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise comes a very scary read-aloud story … or is it? Monster wants to be in a scary story – but is he brave enough?

Brilliantly interactive, children will delight in the wickedly funny turn-of-the-pages, see themselves in the goofy, unconventional monster, and revel in the bold, hilarious illustration of celebrated graphic artist, Jean Jullien.

Follow the Track All the Way Back 

From Ben Mantle and Timothy Knapman comes the story of a Little Train who is going out on the track, all by himself, for the very first time! But before he goes, his mummy and daddy remind him: “When it’s time to come home, no matter how far you are, just follow the track all the way back, where we’ll be waiting.” 

Young readers will share Little Train’s trepidation and excitement in this uplifting and extraordinary read-aloud adventure. 

A Busy Day for Birds 

Flap your wings, fly up high, open your beak and sing in this fun action rhyme story about fantastical birds by multi-award-winning author Lucy Cousins. 

"Can you imagine ... just for one day ... you're a busy bird? Yes, a bird! Hooray!" A bouncy read-aloud book to be enjoyed; beautifully illustrated with bold, bright colours and packed with all sorts of wild and wonderful birds!

We Found a Hat 

Hold on to your hats! From the Kate Greenaway-winning creator of I Want My Hat Back and This Is Not My Hat comes the much-anticipated conclusion to the celebrated hat trilogy. 

Two turtles have found a hat. The hat looks good on both of them. But there are two turtles. And there is only one hat... Evoking hilarity and sympathy, the shifting eyes tell the tale in this perfectly paced story in three parts, highlighting Jon Klassen’s visual comedy, deceptive simplicity and deliciously deadpan humour.

The Little Adventurers: What Bear? Where?

From the award-winning Philip Ardagh, and rising illustration talent Elissa Elwick, comes the second installment in a brand-new picture book series! 

Meet the Little Adventurers – Finnegan, Sprat, Floss and Peanut. With an activity idea and an information page the Little Adventurers four will encourage hours of immersive play, and will ignite the imagination of curious explorers everywhere.

You can get your hands on all these books at your local bookshop. Happy reading! 

5 Reasons we LOVE Maisy

Lucy Cousin’s beloved Maisy Mouse has been around for over 25 years now. So why do we love Maisy so much? Well, here are five reasons from the Maisy team at Walker to get started…

1) Maisy is an excellent role model for girls and boys of all ages

Want to drive a train? Fly to the moon? Board a pirate ship and search for buried treasure? Maisy has done it all! From playing football to making lemonade to growing her own garden, Maisy is never afraid to take on a challenge. Little ones and grownups take note; anything is possible for girls, boys or – in Maisy’s case – mice!

2) Maisy is a good friend

Whether it’s taking a scared Charley to the dentist when he has a wobbly tooth, comforting Eddie when he’s having a tough day, or picking out the perfect present for everyone, you can always rely on Maisy to be there for her friends! Maisy always brings wisdom, laughter and fun… not to mention the best snacks!

3) Maisy is creative

Here at Walker, we love a good “crafternoon”… and so does Maisy! From her inspired fancy dress Zebra costume to the colourful works of art hanging all over her house, Maisy books are full of resourceful ideas and creative things to make and do. In fact, when we are working on the Maisy books, it’s usually a good excuse to crack out the glitter glue…

4) Maisy is adventurous

When Maisy heads out on a day trip or to ride the tallest roller coaster at the funfair, it often prompts us to get our own boots on and go out on adventures. As much we all love to curl up with a good book, Maisy’s passion for camping, swimming and the big, beautiful world in general is great for inspiring us to go outdoors.

5) Maisy is just so fun and colourful

Maisy’s creator, Lucy Cousins, has always loved working with bright, bold colours, and Maisy is no exception – her whole world is full of vibrant colours and characters. Every detail, from clothing to the tasty feasts, just pops on the page. It’s a joy to look at and work with, and a big reason why Maisy is still so fun, lively and well-loved after all this time. 

So there you have it! Just five of the many reasons we love Maisy so much. Did we miss anything off the list? Let us know why you love Maisy below! 

Don’t forget to check out Maisy’s latest lift-the-flap adventure Beep, Beep Maisy!... not that she needs to toot her own horn when we’re so happy to do it for her.

Win the Picture Book of the Month, Owl Babies

A special 25th anniversary edition of a modern classic, Owl Babies reassures young children that Mummy will always come home.

"The perfect picture book" Guardian

A special 25th anniversary edition of a bestselling modern classic, Owl Babies is a comforting read for any toddler who has ever worried about mum leaving them alone, or any child starting pre-school for the very first time. 

Sarah, Percy and Bill the baby owls wake one night to find their mother gone. And as the darkness gathers and they perch patiently on their branch waiting for her return, oh how they worry! Never has the plight of young ones who miss their mum been so sensitively told or so beautifully rendered as in this tale from picture book masters, Patrick Benson and Martin Waddell and, with a foreword and gorgeous golden foil on the cover and spine, this edition is one to share and treasure.

                       

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the beloved owl babies with this board book and paperback edition of the bestselling bedtime classic, which continues to comfort young readers the world over! 

WIN!

We have five Owl Babies goodie bags to give away! Each goodie bag includes the paperback and board book editions of Owl Babies, plus stickers and a poster. To enter, just email your name and address to competitions@walker.co.uk with ‘Owl Babies PBP' in the subject line for your chance to win. 

Competition closes on 5th October 2017. Terms and conditions apply.

Pick up a copy of Owl Babies in your local bookshop and join in the fun and download our free Owl Babies activity sheets. 

               

How did they come from Zabalooloo? Behind the scenes with Sean Taylor

We are friends on epic adventure to Planet Earth! We got space ship! OOH LA LA!
From Sean Taylor and Kate Hindley comes a wildly inventive, contemporary picture book comedy about aliens. Boron, Bazoo and Zob are three extra-terrestrials on a mission. They’re going to get a 'big-sized thing' from Earth and bring it back to their home planet, Zabalooloo! Something like … an enormous elephant! 
But this goofy, giddy trio are simply too overexcited – they’re never going to catch anything if they keep wiggle-woggle dancing, taking selfies and shouting, “Ooh la la!”.

Behind the scenes with Sean Taylor

We’re excited to welcome Sean Taylor to the Picture Book Party blog for a behind-the-scenes on the making of They Came from Planet Zabalooloo!

Like lots of interesting creations, the plot for They Came from Planet Zabalooloo! started when two unconnected things met.

First, I had a story in my head. The title was: THEY CAME BY SPACE BICYCLES! Here’s my scribbled plan for that story:

If you can read any of that, you’ll see it’s a plan for a story about a group aliens arriving on planet Earth. Armies, fire brigades and TV reporters assume they are dangerous invaders. But it turns out they’re only after something they don’t have on their planet: rock’n’roll records…

I knew this wouldn’t make a good picture book story. Alien planet-invasion is a big theme for a small book. Rock’n’roll records may mean something to old codgers like me, but they won’t mean and awful lot to 3-6 year-old picture book readers. So, this scribbled plan lay around on the floor in my studio, going nowhere fast (by space bicycle.)

Then one tea-time, our son Rafa (now seven…then five) decided he’d entertain us by acting out something his teacher, Mr Hewitt, had got his class to do. It was a piece of fun where the teacher calls out the names of different kinds of beans, and the children strike particular poses. ‘FROZEN BEANS!’ means you wrap your arms around yourself and shiver. ‘RUNNER BEANS!’ means you run on the spot. And so on.

It’s a fairly well-known game. But Rafa, being a naturally hilarious performer, managed to give the different beans all sorts of extra life. And he especially delighted in the ‘FRENCH BEANS!’ pose. For this you put one hand on your hip, one hand on your ribs and say, “Ooh la la!” He had us falling about laughing. So “Ooh la la!  was repeated rather a lot. And, actually, every time it seemed to make us laugh more.

I’ve published over 25 picture books and so I’m forever collecting potential ingredients for picture book stories. So I scribbled, Characters who love saying ‘Ooh la la!’ pic book? into my notebook.

Then the meeting of two unconnected things happened. The story of aliens on a mission to get something from planet Earth bumped into the possibility of Characters who love saying ‘Ooh la la!’ And a proper picture book story was born.

I imagined aliens who say, “Ooh la la!” They were small, young and excitable. They liked disco music and silly dancing. They wanted to get a ‘big-size thing’ from Earth to take back to their planet. How about an elephant?

What was blurry, came into focus. And when a blurry story comes into focus it almost always becomes more straightforward. The alien transport simplified to a space ship (with a party area.) One character would be bossy. One would be strong. One would be a bit zany. And once I could picture these little aliens, the voice of the narrator (with his comical alien lilt) came to me…

We come from planet Zabalooloo.

I am Zoron. Very clever.

There is Bazoo. He is SO strong.

That one is Zob. He gets overexcited and does

crazy wiggle-woggle dancing, but we love him.

We are brave friends on epic adventure to planet Earth…

I wrote the book quite speedily, the next day. Here’s a page of that first hand-written draft. Perhaps you can see the enjoyment in my messy writing!

I still quite like the ‘space bicycles’ idea. Perhaps I’ll scribble out some fresh plan involving them. Then maybe I’ll leave it lying about until it bumps into an unconnected idea that brings it to life…

Pick up a copy of They Came From Planet Zabalooloo! at your local bookshop. Plus, take a look at this brilliant animated trailer!
          

Sean Taylor has written more than 40 books for young readers. These include picture books such as Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise, illustrated by Jean Jullien, Where the Bugaboo Lives, illustrated by Neal Layton, The World Champion of Staying Awake, illustrated by Jimmy Liao, and Don’t Call Me Choochie Pooh!, illustrated by Kate Hindley. Find Sean online at www.seantaylorstories.com and on Twitter as @seantstories.