I just had to share this sweet illustration by Trafalgar Square on etsy.
I adore the little rabbit perched on the arm of the chair. Trafalgar Square is illustrator and mum, Kit, she also has a rather lovely blog here. Check out her etsy stores section called Book Love for more sweet illustrations of readers.
The beautiful 24 minute film based on the book Varmints by Helen Ward and Marc Caste was nominated for a BAFTA and shortlisted for an Oscar last year. You can buy the book from we heart books and find out more on the film at the studio aka website here.
This really is a very important book and film, it’s message is something special to share with our children as our environment continues to be something we all strive to protect.
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 came across this awesome poster while reading one of the best mummy blogs around - Babyccino. The post, written by Parisian Emilie is about a kid’s nightclub party organised by So Chic Kidzin Paris. The poster is instantly recognisable as being by one of our fav illustrators Marc Boutavant. What could be more fitting for a funky party, in a PARIS nightclub!!! Wish I could have gone.
There are books I just long to see and own – The Heart and the Bottle is one of those. I will be on the door step of the local indie bookseller on the 1st of March to grab a copy.
This is the current blurb about the book…
‘There is a wonder and magic to childhood. We don’t realize it at the time, of course . . . yet the adults in our lives do. They encourage us to see things in the stars, to find joy in colors and laughter as we play.
But what happens when that special someone who encourages such wonder and magic is no longer around? We can hide, we can place our heart in a bottle and grow up . . . or we can find another special someone who understands the magic. And we can encourage them to see things in the stars, find joy among colors and laughter as they play.’
Oliver Jeffers is my all time favourite illustrator and author. The enjoyment of his picture books transcends age as they contain such beautiful messages and from reading the blurb above this one will be no exception. Watch this wonderful clip and be fascinated by the world of Oliver Jeffers…
Ned’s dad and I were watching At the Movies the other night when Margaret and David reviewed the new animated – Performance Capture animation - film version of A Christmas Carol. We both agreed that we thought the story was very dark and not really appropriate for little kids, although maybe many people will be drawn in by the fact that it is animated – so beautifully. I guess it is the same question about audience that has been debated with the Spike Jonze film version of Where the Wild Things Are.
A Christmas Carol is a dark and grim story that I have never really related to Christmas even though that is the theme of the novel. There have been countless film adaptations of Scrooge and his redemption and my main memory is of the Disney charcter version with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.
Today I saw this book trailer for a version of A Christmas Carol illustrated by the amazing Brett Helquist.
I cannot think of a more appropriate illustrator for this classic story, his Scrooge reminds me a bit of Count Olaf! Having not ever owned a copy of the Dickens story (although this one is an adaptation) I think this will be the version I lash out and buy this Christmas because although it’s grim I think it’s one I should have.
Marc Boutavant is one of our very favourite new illustrators. We were first introduced to him through Around the World with Mouk, a true visual feast of quirky characters and amazing colours.
So we were very excited to hear about not one but two new books illustrated by Marc – Lou first posted about For Just One Day here and he has another new release called All Kinds of Families.
The cute concept at the heart of All Kinds of Families is that you can find a family in all sorts of everyday objects – the food in the fridge, buttons on a shelf and fingers on a hand! Dozens of types of families are mentioned in the text, and the graphic genius of Marc Boutavant contains even more to spot.
Gently and in cute rhyming verse, this book sheds light on the concept of a family in a beautifully child-friendly way…
For Just One Day also has a strong concept at its core – asking the reader to imagine a day in the life of a variety of animals. Marc Boutavant’s illustrations really shine, as he cleverly gives animal features to his human characters and quirky human elements to the animals.
The matt pages and funky colours will make this book, like Mouk, an object of desire for lots of adults as well as littlies. I really adore this book!
||All Kinds of Families and For Just One Day are available in the We Heart Books store||
Locals may notice we are featured in this month’s Christmas Gift Guide for Melbourne’s Child/Sydney’s Child magazine… yippee!
We have some new Charley Harper products in store for Christmas – as well as the gorgeous board books and flash cards, we now have the Charley Harper Memory Game. Lovely Charley Harper gifts for all ages…
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.
