One of the most beautiful self published books I have seen has arrived in our store. I Hear Two Birds is a counting book and a work of art written and illustrated by Brisbane local Kathy Panton.

Kathy has a Bachelor of Visual Art, and has recently given up her job as a special education teacher to be a fulltime artist. She told us … ‘I really believe in following your passion and that is why I am an artist.’

‘I can’t say I have any specific influences, but I have long studied the work of other artists who illustrate children’s books. A lot of people say my work is like Eric Carle’s, and that is a great compliment, as I think he was a real innovator in children’s book illustration.’

Kathy actually paints first and then cuts up her work which she uses in a collage technique to make her exquisit pictures. We are so lucky to have these photos of Kathy’s studio to share…

You can see here where she keeps her cut up paintings for use in her pictures…

I believe that Kathy has really captured the essence of what all the great, classic children’s books have. I Hear Two Birds works on so many different levels, it has beautiful flowing, rhythmic text, counting, recognition of colour, shape and everyday objects including animals and nature. It truly is a stunning book and we are very proud to have it.

Kathy also sells her beautiful prints, which are perfect art for a child’s room, from her Etsy store here.

I have always said that the gorgeous Charley Harper flash cards would be perfect for wall art and neglected the Charley Harper Memory Game. Then I came across this spectacular photo and post on the awesome blog Made By White

These memory cards are so beautifully made, on strong, durable card and the reproduction of Harper’s art is so vibrant that they just beg to be used like this.

Thank you to Kelly from Made By White for the permission to use her photo.

 Our great friend Nicci directed us towards this hilarious clip on Youtube… 

The Terrible Plop is definitely one of my favourite picture books this year.

This beautiful picture is called On Books and is by Melbourne artist and illustrator Charlotte Lance. Charlotte has illustrated many children’s books and you can see more of her art on her website here.

Her art is whimsical, graceful, warm and expressive.

Charlotte  illustrated one of my favorite intermediate novels Wiggy and Boa by Anna Fienberg. I also love her children’s t-shirt range  called BOYGIRL which is available in selected stores in Melbourne – you can find out more here.

The detail in this beautiful screen print of an original papercut called a Squirrel Village instantly reminded me of the lovely posts Katie has done in the past of Need a House? Call Ms. Mouse and the Alison Uttley books. 

Artist Cindy Mindy Pindy has some beautiful work in her Etsy store here.

Kate from With Love From Kate is an amazing graphic designer and artist who is currently working on a storybook – I can’t wait to see it. This gorgeous print is a sample of her overwhelming talent. Have a look at her Etsy store, website and blog.

We have a birthday party to attend on the weekend and I have bought this lovely book for the little fellow who is turning three. His parents have spent a bit of time in New York and adore it so I thought this picture book would be an apt choice for them to enjoy, as well as the birthday boy.

A Walk In New York is a gorgeous large format picture book that, as the title suggests, follows a boy and his father on a walk around Manhattan. Each page spread highlights a different part of the city and even the endpapers are a map so you can follow the journey the boy and his father take. Included, almost hidden, amongst the illustrations in a subtle font are little facts about the landmarks they visit; did you know? - ‘More hot dogs are eaten in New York  than anywhere else in the USA’ or that ‘The library lions (at the New York Public Library) are called Patience and Fortitude. They’re made of pink marble from Tennessee.’

I didn’t know either of those facts or many of the others that author Salvatore Rubbino includes in the book. His painting are gorgeous, colourful and funky – as illustrations of New York should be! He really gives the reader a sense of being on the ground with the boy aand his dad and conjurs up the smells and the sounds of the city. The scale he creates in his paintings is also wonderful with a fold out page of the Empire State Building a definite highlight.

Rubbino has created a book which captures the spirit, the history and the excitement of a beautiful city. I’m sure the little boy whom I have bought this book for will fall in love with the city and dream to visit it one day in the future.

I think this bag would make a gorgeous library/book bag. It is part of the Clothkit range distributed in Australia by Lark Handmade.  The beauty of Cothkits is that  all the cutting lines are printed directly on the fabric so you don’t have to worry about pinning a paper pattern.

The kits contain everything you need, the fabric, thread buttons etc.  The fabric is called Fox and Hens and instantly reminded me of Rosie’s Walk. After finding the designers website, Katrin Moyle, I indeed discovered that she based the design on Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins. Moyle is actually a ceramic designer and has a beautiful tea cup set on her site in the Fox and Hens design.

If you’d like some more books on chooks Katie wrote a wonderful post here about Chook Books!

I ♥ this print by my favorite Australian author/illustrator Alison Lester from her book Purrr. You can order this print and those of other wonderful illustrators on the Books Illustrated website.

Alison has an amazing new book, called Running With the Horses, due for release in November this year.

This book promises to be spectacular and I will review it very soon.

||Our good friend Sarah writes about her favorite author/illustrator Alison Lester here|| 

The Walk by Carson Ellis. Illustrator of, among others, The Composer Is Dead by Lemony Snicket - which we will post on very soon.

This image has just made me so happy on this Friday night and I wanted to share it.