'Lists'...books and illustrators yet to discover

The last few weeks we have seen a number of Children's Book Award shortlists announced and I feel so thrilled and amazed that Rabbityness has got through to two more of the shortlists; the UKLA Book Award and also the 'Read it Again' Picture Book Award.

The lovely thing about both these shortlists is that as well as my book being sat amongst some of my favourite picture books, I am also sat amongst my fellow students (and part time lecturer Alexis Deacon) from the MA Children's Book Illustration course at Anglia Ruskin (Cambridge School of Art). This is of great credit to the course leaders Martin Salisbury and Pam Smy and all the wonderful part time tutors Paula Metcalf, Alexis Deacon, John Lawerence and James Mayhew to name a few. Without their endless hard work and drive, the course would not be the success it is known for today and subsequently the picture books which have been born out of this course. I'm sure there will be many more ex-students appearing on future shortlists, some who are at the beginning of their publishing careers and other very talented ex-students yet to be discovered (some of which you might find here machildrensbookillustration.com)

Unfortunately my little rabbit didn't make it from the Kate Greenaway longlist to shortlist, which was disappointing, but I'm still very proud he was on the longlist. The great thing about longlists and shortlists is, it makes you aware of some fabulous books you might not have known about and therefore discover as a result of. I have just started reading one of these 'Maggot Moon' by Sally Gardner. I knew it was going to be a great book when I read the dedication (which I wish I'd thought of) and here it is.....'

'For you the dreamers
Overlooked at school
Never won prizes

You who will own tomorrow.'

(Beautiful dedication in 'Maggot Moon' - winner of Costa Children's Book Award)

Beeb

Today I had a very exciting and nerve-racking experience - a radio interview with Mark O'Donnell about Rabbityness and being shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. I must say I was very nervous, but Mark was very lovely and put me at my ease! So if you have a few minutes to spare, make yourself a cuppa and have a little listen.http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p014r4xr

Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2013

Completely over the moon for my little Rabbit to be amongst this 'amazing' shortlist...SO HAPPY:))

You can read more about all the books shortlisted here waterstones-childrens-book-prize-shortlists-announced

Waterstones Picture Books Shortlist:

Lunchtime by Rebecca Cobb (Macmillan Children’s Books)

Rabbityness by Jo Empson (Child’s Play)

Oh No George! by Chris Haughton (Walker)

The Worst Princess by Anna Kemp & Sara Ogilvie (Simon & Schuster)

The Journey Home by Frann Preston-Gannon (Pavilion Children’s Books)

Can You See Sassoon? by Sam Usher (Little Tiger Press)

NOW with sound (thanks to Damien)...'Never Ever' Book Trailer

Here's a 'very' basic animated book trailer for 'Never Ever'. It's a bit 'homemade' and on a minus shoestring budget, but it was great fun to do! I got a bit stuck when it came to adding sound, so a big thank you to Damien and www.freefx.co.uk who helped me out of a hole!

Here are a few spreads from the new book too...

'Never Ever' is Available from all good booksellers including these...
Waterstones
Heffers/Blackwells
Foyles

Tree Treasure

'Alphabetical Disorder' Imaginary Press. Copyright Lo Cole, 2012

Whilst putting away the Christmas Tree and decorations I found some 'tree treasure' in the form of an unopened present addressed to ME! I excitedly opened it (I'm still very much a child in that way) and to my delight discovered it was a wonderful little signed book by Lo Cole 'Alphabetical Disorder'. It was given to me by my good friend Bill, whom I worked with as a fellow designer for many years. We have always been strong advocates of the use of good illustration within design projects and have both always loved Lo Cole's work.

This witty and charming little book of nonsense alphabet was conceived as a result of Lo Cole snapping his Achilles tendon....ouch! So I guess being a bit 'fixed' and not being able to get out and about as one is normally used to (although both painful and frustrating) can have a positive flip side...in the form of a wonderful creation like this! I hope this will give my friend Kim who has also snapped her Achilles tendon (double ouch), comfort, creative inspiration and a chuckle!

Here are my favourite spreads...

Copyright Lo Cole, 2012

Copyright Lo Cole, 2012

'Alphabetical Disorder' Imaginary Press. Copyright Lo Cole, 2012

A New Year, A New Book

''Never Ever' by Jo Empson

I have recently had two lovely book events to celebrate the launch of ‘Never Ever’ (published by Child’s Play) along with much cake (many thanks to Emma), the first at Octavias in Cirencester and the second at Heffers in Cambridge. I really appreciated so much, that many friends, family and customers came along to support these events, especially in Cambridge as it was such a very, very cold night to be out and about. This is my second picture book and it will be company on the bookshelves for ‘Rabbityness,’ my first picture book (also published by Child’s Play). I have been thrilled with the positive reviews of ‘Rabbityness’ and I do sincerely hope SO much that big and little people alike will also enjoy ‘Never Ever’ too. This is the scary bit when your book is first out there and you have absolutely no idea if people (and more importantly children) will like it or not! As siblings often are, the two books are very different in content, but both carry a significant message for the reader. In appearance, although they were born through the same ink technique, this is expressed through different colour palettes, reflecting each of the two books’ individual narratives.

Piggy Cup Cakes

The story is about a girl  who thinks nothing exciting EVER happens to her. Whilst she struts along her path with her nose in the air and eyes firmly closed, she misses all that happens around her. Her journey starts alongside an orchard full of grazing pigs, where her constant companion (a soft toy rabbit) spots a flying pig...which of course she misses! Followed by the flying pig, their journey continues over heather-covered hills, yellow fields of dandelions, stepping stones crossing a river and long, lush grasses.

Hidden within the changing landscapes, unbelievable and fantastic characters reveal themselves to join the procession behind our oblivious little character. As the story progresses, there are more surprises in store for her (which I won’t spoil by revealing). Fortunately she comes to no harm, and the book ends with her tucked up safely in bed (or is she?) snuggled up beside her ‘ever-knowing’ guardian -  that is, her soft toy rabbit! The text is a play on the words ‘never’ and ‘ever’, which work alongside the illustrations as a décalage adding humour and surprise. I think the text will be fun to read, gathering pace and encouraging children to be expressive when reading aloud.

Interestingly, a lot of adults who have seen a preview of ‘Never Ever’ seem to recognise themselves within the girl character. This doesn’t surprise me as the idea for the book came as a memory of being a child who loved exciting stories, I was forever disappointed that real life in a small town in Hampshire didn't quite match my imaginary expectations of what might be around the next corner...apart from chalk-pits!

...More Cake

A Summer of Colour and Music

I've been looking through some photos from the Summer and found these lovely pictures of children's unrabbity creations. The first group are taken from two school visits in Hackney, it was a lovely hot Summer's day (one of the rare ones), I remember feeling quite nervous, but I needn't had as the children made me feel very welcome! They sat quietly listening whilst I read Rabbityness, then we had a discussion and the children eagerly asked the most fantastic questions. I thought at the time when I saw the sea of hands up, desperately trying to stretch themselves higher to make 'their' hand seen...how wonderfully inquisitive young children are and how different the response is sometimes when asking a room full of adults 'any questions?'! I asked the children to think of some other unrabbity things that 'Rabbit' might like to do, here are their wonderful pictures of Rabbit swimming, making a garden, eating ice-cream, dancing and sliding down a rainbow...

 The second group of photo's are taken from another Rabbity event in the Summer, at one of the most wonderful independent Children's Bookshops called 'Octavias' in Cirencester. For me, it is like being a child in a sweet shop, sooooo many delicious books, carefully chosen and where staff know each and every one of them along with their individual qualities. We made a giant didgeridoo which children coloured with stickers and paint dabbers and then attempted to play in a very similar vain to all the other rabbits in the story!!  The day was made even more special by family coming along to support the event, which always makes for a perfect day!