It’s a happy day when the new issue of Frankie magazine is available. My idea of heaven is having some blissful moments with a cup of coffee and Frankie.

So what a thrill it is for Katie and I to have our blog featured on the Frankie blog today.

We knew Frankie loved the work of UK illustrator and author Robert Hunter, so we sent them some copies of his book Bearly Warm to giveaway. That’s right GIVEAWAY! Head to the Frankie blog for all the details on how to win this unique handcrafted book. 

Bearly Warm is the improbable yet absolutely endearing story of an extremely large polar bear who just can’t get warm. When he decides to borrow some clothes from a long washing line in a nearby village, not only does he find that the clothes bearly fit, but that the villagers are bearly happy… What can the villagers do to help a bearly warm bear?

Cleverly playing on the word ‘bearly’ the restrained text relays a poignant story of giving. A snowy landscape and quirky buildings and figures set the backdrop for illustrations of a beautifully expressive bear.

This limited and numbered edition, self-published by UK artist Robert Frank Hunter is a gorgeous book which will more than bearly warm your heart.

|| Bearly Warm is availble from the we heart books store ||

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.