Illustrator and author widely admired for The Church Mice, his series of children’s picture booksGraham Oakley, who has died age 93, was an illustrator and writer known almost entirely for one series of picture books: The Church Mice, published over a period of nearly 30 years from 1972. Beautifully illustrated, written and designed, they are a series of warm-hearted and witty books which demonstrate perfectly that a successful picture book needs to be subtle and many layered, on the assumption that it may be read and re-read many times over and that its audience will be intergenerational.Art-school trained and with a background in set design, latterly as a production designer at the BBC, Oakley was as interested in the settings of his stories as the characters and their actions. Drawing on the Victorian illustrative painters as well as, in particular, the work of the American artist Norman Rockwell, Oakley’s painterly illustrations for The Church Mouse (1972) appealed immediately, both for their colourful scene-setting and their wonderful observations conveyed in line illustrations. Into these Oakley crammed a mass of detailed action commented on in witty asides presented as part of the picture. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2023-01-24 17:41:11 UTC ]
James Patterson certainly isn’t a stranger to surprising collaborations. His The President is Missing, a political thriller that credits Patterson and Bill Clinton as co-authors (Co-parents? Idea generators?), was one of 2018’s bestselling books and Showtime will be adapting it for TV. If you’ve... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-05-07 18:22:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Nosy Crow has acquired three new picture books by Hugless Douglas author David Melling. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-27 13:28:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Emma Blackburn is leaving Bloomsbury Children's Books after eight years to join Hachette Children’s Group in the role of picture book and non-fiction publisher. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-24 10:24:27 UTC ]
More news stories like this
As quarantine continues, we’re all noticing that we respond to lockdown differently. While many spend each day providing care, food and other necessities, those of us privileged enough to be 'stuck at home' are seeing our friends’ and family members’ behaviour change under the new... Continue reading at British Council global
[ British Council global | 2020-04-17 15:42:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Once upon a time Ken Kesey wrote an endearing tale about a wily squirrel and a hungry bear. The unlikely picture book was one of two written by Kesey nearly three decades after his well-known 1962 novel set in a psychiatric hospital, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Who knew? Kesey—as well as... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-04-17 08:48:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Avon buys a new one by Erin Sterling after a six-house auction; Little, Brown preempts a debut middle grade novel; and the sequel to a picture book classic lands at Candlewick. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-04-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
An updating list of online treats from bibliophiles including JK Rowling, Simon Armitage and Lynda La Plante to entertain locked-down children and adults • The best arts and entertainment during self-isolationGruffalo artist Axel Scheffler has put out a free new picture book explaining the... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-04-09 11:04:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Gather the kids and get to know some trailblazers in civil rights, education, disability, and more through these picture books about social justice leaders. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2020-04-09 10:41:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Egmont has snapped up world rights to a picture book of Matt Lucas' coronavirus version of his charity comedy single, "Thank You, Baked Potato", with proceeds for the book going to his #FeedNHS campaign. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-08 11:15:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this
A 2014 picture book with the timely topic of patience returns Mo Willems to our list. Plus Broken Earth series author N.K. Jemisin launches a new trilogy with ‘The City We Became,’ and ‘Station Eleven’ author Emily St. John Mantel check in with ‘The Glass Hotel. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-04-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Simon & Schuster Children's UK has acquired two picture books from author and illustrator Tom Percival. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-25 16:26:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Parents keen to encourage children into good hygiene practices during the coronavirus outbreak turn to Tony Ross’s anarchic creation for helpParents desperate to persuade their children to keep washing their hands have been turning to Tony Ross’s anarchic creation the Little Princess for help,... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-03-23 12:31:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Macmillan Children’s Books has signed illustrator David Tazzyman to its list for his debut middle-grade fiction series and a new picture book. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-11 16:24:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Puffin has snapped up Zadie Smith and Nick Laird's "endearing" debut picture book, Weirdo, featuring a judo suit-wearing guinea pig. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-10 07:57:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this
A picture book newly arrived from Australia offers some advice as virus anxiety sets in. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-02-27 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
For the next installation in our interview series with contemporary poets, Peter Mishler corresponded with Victoria Chang. Victoria Chang’s books include OBIT (April 2020), Barbie Chang, The Boss, Salvinia Molesta, and Circle. Her children’s picture book, Is Mommy?, was illustrated by Marla... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-02-21 09:48:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Macmillan Children’s Books is publishing its first new title in 37 years from writer and illustrator Jill Murphy this September. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-02-20 04:50:08 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Is there anything LeBron James can’t do? Before you attempt to form a response, let me save you some time; the answer, of course, is no. Case in point: HarperCollins yesterday announced a two-book deal with the LeBron James Foundation. James’ debut, a picture book titled I Promise,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-02-19 16:36:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this
When Jokha al-Harthi and Marilyn Booth won the Man Booker International Prize last year, for Booth’s translation of Sayyidat al-Qamr (Celestial Bodies), many hurried to note that al-Harthi was the “first Omani woman writer” to have a book in English translation.While true, this may give the... Continue reading at British Council global
[ British Council global | 2020-02-19 10:26:57 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Scholastic and Penguin Random House retained their #1 spots in our rankings of children’s frontlist fiction and picture book bestsellers by corporation, respectively, though each company’s share of positions on its list diminished slightly from 2018. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-02-15 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this