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 ]
A new book provides a more comprehensive look at reproduction. Imagine a picture book that explains where babies come from--but never references gender. What Makes a Baby is described as "a book for every kind of family and for every kind of kid," which means it doesn’t matter if parents are... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2013-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The shortlist nominees for the 2013 PEN Literary Awards have been announced. Categories include debut works, nonfiction, picture books and translation. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Sally Gardner has won the prestigious Carnegie Medal for "Maggot Moon;" Levi Pinfold won the Kate Greenaway Medal, which awards excellence in illustration, for his picture book "Black Dog." Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-06-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Simon & Schuster Children's in both the UK and US will be publishing a picture book... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Amazon's got a new Kindle promotion vehicle, thanks to the National PTA, which wants to boost kids' reading with their families. Amazon's Kindle is the exclusive sponsor of the new Family Reading Experience program that the National PTA wants to roll out across the U.S. to boost kids' reading... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2013-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
MacLachlan, author of 'Sarah, Plain and Tall,' said she was inspired to write a picture book after talking with her friend, an illustrator who lives in Newtown. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Collins' book, which will be based around her own experiences with a father in the military, will be released this fall. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Hachette Children's Books has begun making its picture books available as ebooks from... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Children's publisher Nosy Crow has partnered with John Lewis to create a picture book of the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Nosy Crow has appointed Louise Bolongaro as its head of picture books, with Bolongaro moving from... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
'This Is Not My Hat' is from Jon Klassen, creator of the award-winning 'I Want My Hat Back.'Picture books might be for kids who can't read, but parents have been known to enjoy them as well. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The virtual world for picture books, Magic Town, has gained a new resident with the addition of... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The success of 'Harry Potter, 'Twilight' and other has created a halo effect for the entire genre. And kids aren't the only ones doing it.For years, the book industry has been mired in debates about the plight of independent booksellers, the rise of Amazon and the fate of print as it struggles... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Orchard Books has appointed Kate Burns to the role of publisher for picture books, gift and... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Egmont has appointed Melissa Fairley as publishing director for its Picture Books and Gift list... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Adam Mansbach's picture book 'Go the F--- To Sleep' is now available in a kid-friendly version called 'Seriously, Go To Sleep.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Oxford University Press has signed Carnegie Medal-winner Philip Reeve and new picture book... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter from McFly sign a publishing deal to produce two children's picture books. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2012-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Written By: Caroline Horn Publication Date: Fri, 04/11/2011 - 15:21 Independent bookseller Ron Johns is moving into childrens fiction publishing, following a number of successes as a publisher of picture books and coffee-table books under the Mabecron Books imprint. Johns, who owns bookshops... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Written By: Caroline Horn Publication Date: Mon, 07/11/2011 - 08:30 Independent bookseller Ron Johns is moving into childrens fiction publishing, following a number of successes as a publisher of picture books and coffee-table books under the Mabecron Books imprint. Johns, who owns bookshops... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this