Hello! Just a quick one from me today with my regular monthly bulletin.
Mer May
I haven’t created any new work for Mer May this year, as this month has actually been one of the busiest I’ve ever had since becoming a professional children’s illustrator. However, last year, I developed my own book pitch which is set in an underwater world inhabited with mer-creatures. I have been posting a few images from this pitch on my socials. Feel free to contact my agent if you want to know more about this story.
Indie Children’s book of the month
This month saw my first ever middlegrade book publish in the UK. If that wasn’t already exciting enough, it was also voted Indie Children’s Book of the Month by independent bookstores! If you fancy getting a copy, please try and support your local bookshop. If they don’t already stock it, I’m sure they will be very happy to order it in for you. Finn Jones Was Here, written by Simon James Green, illustrated by me and published by Scholastic UK.
In conversation with Lauren Child
I took a day away from my desk this month, and joined some wonderful illustrator buddies at a talk at University of the Arts London, Camberwell College of Arts, organised by the Association of Illustrators. I spent the day looking around bookshops and seeing friends, before attending the talk. It was so inspiring to learn more about Lauren’s process, and hear her point of view on things such as how artificial intelligence might change our industry, and also how spelling words correctly all the time really isn’t that necessary. I was lucky enough to get a copy of her new Clarice Bean book, Scram! signed by Lauren for my daughter.
What we reading?
YA: This month I read Boy Like Me by Simon James Green. Published by Scholastic. I am of course a massive SJG fan and really enjoy his writing. Boy Like Me is set in a UK school during the 90s and, thanks to section 28, gay relationships cannot be mentioned, discussed or celebrated. It’s both heart warming and heartbreaking in equal measure, and a really important book for everyone to read, especially as so many of the points made in the book are still very relevant today.
Picture books:
You’re so amazing: Written by Lucy and James Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George and published by Faber. This book published this month and is the perfect follow up to What Happened To You. You’re So Amazing encourages us to rethink the way we talk to and think about people with disabilities and helps us have conversations with our own children that we may otherwise struggle to have. The illustrations are beautiful and the humour throughout the book keeps children engaged and ensures important lessons still stay light-hearted and fun.
Speak Up written by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dapo Adeola and published by Penguin Random House Children's UK. Another new book out this month, and the third of a really wonderful series. We are really massive fans in our house. So much so that last month we went to the immersive experience at the Discover Story Centre in Stratford, London. This book celebrates books, the important role libraries play within our local communities, and how we can really make a difference if we all come together.
Thanks so much for reading. In June I will be celebrating 3 years since my agent found me and thought I might answer some of the questions I often get asked about how my style has developed during this time and what is has been like having an illustration agent. If you have any questions you would like me to answer then please get in touch.