Illustrators

Rebekka Seale

9 May 2012 by Lou · Leave a Comment

Our stunning new blog header was drawn for us by artist Rebekka Seale.

Rebekka is an artist and illustrator from Nashville, Tennessee. She writes a beautiful blog and does the most amazing commission work, including stunning house portraits.

Rebekka is just so talented and we feel so very privileged to have been able to work with her.

As a little treat for this our first post back here is a little interview we have done with Rebekka …

What were your favourite books when you where little?

My two favorite books when I was very tiny were “Oh Captain Kitty” by Godfrey Lynn and “The Fire Cat” Esther Averill. Haha…do you sense a theme developing here? I also loved (and still love) all of the Elsa Beskow books…The Sun Egg, Around the Year, Children of the Forest…my grandmother was Swedish, and I felt such a connection to her through Elsa’s stories.

Do you have some favourite contemporary illustrators for children?

Oh my, yes. Jen Corace’s work is so breathtakingly beautiful, in such a quiet, special way. And Pamela Dalton’s papercuts (especially the ones she did for “Brother Sun, Sister Moon“) are just mesmerizing. And I love Carson Ellis…gosh, who doesn’t?

Would you like to author/illustrate a book? What would it be about?

It’s only my lifelong dream! Right now I’m working with Artisan Books on a really exciting book project (I can’t give details yet), but it’s not a children’s book. I would absolutely love to author and illustrate a children’s book of some sort. There are lots of ideas bumbling around inside my head right now and I’m hoping to put together a proposal for one of them sometime this year!

We absolutely cannot wait to see a book illustrated by Rebekka!

Filed Under: Illustrators

Story Bear

12 August 2011 by Lou · Leave a Comment

Such a beautiful new print in the Petit Collage range by Lorena Siminovich. He is called Story Bear and he is a print on Maple veneer. Petit Collage will ship Internationally.

Lorena also illustrates the ‘In My‘ series of board books.

Filed Under: Art, Illustrators

Guest Blogger Katie

8 July 2011 by Lou · Leave a Comment

Recently the very talented Cinti from My Poppet had a spectacular trip to Japan. While she was away Katie did a guest post for her on the My Poppet blog about one of our very special new books in our store, The Secret Circus by Johanna Wright.

Pop over to the My Poppet blog to see Katie’s review of this gorgeous book and to find out more about the author and illustrator Johnna Wright.

Filed Under: Age 2+, Art, Illustrators, Picture books, Uncategorized

Happy Birthday Alfie

4 July 2011 by Lou · 2 Comments

Did you know that Alfie, that endearing little character created by Shirley Hughes in the 80′s, turns 30 this year?

I adore Alfie, actually all of Shirley Hughes’ work really. Dogger, which I have written about before on the blog, is one of those books that I can remember vividly from my childhood.

I was thrilled a year or so ago when I picked up a copy of The Alfie Treasury in an op shop in amazing condition for a couple of dollars. Ned has treasured it.

The reason that Alfie is endearing is because he is so like every pre school child. Children can relate to him as his stories are normal everyday occurrences in their lives. He gets new shoes, gets locked in the house, he gets babysat, goes to a birthday party and plays with his little sister, Annie Rose.

Shirley’s illustrations are comforting and homely. Her detail is delightful, there is always so much going on in each picture that you can pour over for hours and still see something new.

Each story has connections from another story. For example when Alfie is being babysat by Mrs MacNally’s Maureen his new yellow boots from the previous story Alfie’s Feet are sitting in the hall next to the stroller.

Our favourite Alfie story has to be Alfie Gets In First. Alfie and mum and Annie Rose are coming home from the shops. Annie Rose is tired, mum is flustered and Alfie runs through the front door banging it behind him leaving mum and Annie Rose on the front steps.

Alfie can’t reach the handle to open the door and soon the whole neighborhood is involved in trying the get the door open.

I love this story because I know how mum feels and how easily this could happen to us and Ned loves it for the same reason. He totally relates to Alfie’s predicament and we often talk about what it would be like if it did happen to us.

Last month children’s book museum, The Illustration Cupboard in London, had an exhibition to celebrate 30 years of Alfie.

Watch this clip of Shirley Hughes explaining some of the illustrations displayed in the exhibition – one of which is one of the illustrations from Alfie Get’s In First.

Happy birthday Alfie! We love you.

If you’d like some more Alfie then pop over to the website that publisher Random House UK have set up for the 30th anniversary. The website has some great colour and activity printables that are perfect for the school holidays.

Filed Under: Age 2+, Authors, Classics, Illustrators, Ned, Picture books