Friday 21 October 2016

August 2019 Update!

 Two new picture books out this summer - Save the Day for Ada May! and Scary Mary

I am delighted to announce that I have had two picture books published this summer -  Save The Day for Ada May!, published by lovely Willow Tree Books, hit the bookshelves on 1st August.
There is a wonderful blog tour taking place from 12th August.

This is my first interactive picture book. Whilst there are already interactive books out in the market, which have fun stories and involve children in tapping, tipping and twisting books to move the story along, but I wanted to write a book that was more exciting, more action-packed, ensuring that the child reader would become very involved, having to act really quickly to help save another child. And if it could be funny too, bonus!

In my story, poor Ada May is taken out in her buggy by her older, terribly unobservant brother, who accidentally allows her to head towards all kinds of predicaments. Only the reader can stop her rolling into the river, help her down from the tree, out of the speeding trailer, away from the angry bull, and more, by tipping, twisting and slapping the book, blowing hard, pulling funny faces and much more besides to save Ada May – and her cuddly bunny. But each rescue somehow leads to yet another crisis! Can Poor Ada May be saved? Can the readers truly be heroes?

This book has been beautifully illustrated by Patrick Corrigan, who has created such an endearing Ada May, and whose colourful illustrations really bring out the humour of the story.


My other picture book out this summer is quite different, it is a fun rhyming text called Scary Mary published by Serenity Press in Australia (available for purchase on Amazon). That, too, is beautifully illustrated by Irene King and is about living life to your full potential.



Lots of Early Readers!

I have been very busy in the last two years, writing picture books, but also Early Readers for two lovely publishers - Maverick Press and Franklin Watts and I have had 27 published or due for publication. Among my latest ones are Cara the Cowgirl, Who Will Win the Cup!, The Scary Sleepover, The Detective Club:Buried Treasure and Guard Goose all published by the lovely Maverick Press and The Dinosaur Bone, Goodbye Tessa,  Magic Marcus, A New Friend for Hannah and I Don’t Want Danny Here published by Franklin Watts

They are all intended to be fun stories, all beautifully illustrated and graded by colour to indicate the reading level, starting with Pink for those children who are just starting to read their first books. 

                           
I am thrilled to reveal that my picture book Off to Market!, illustrated by Erika Pal and published by Frances Lincoln  was a runner up in the Dundee Picture Book Awards 2015. It was a lovely occasion and the children who hosted the event and, indeed, chose the winners were quite delightful.



 I am delighted to announce that my picture book, When Betsy Cane to Babysit, illustrated by Zoe Waring and published by Tamarind Press, was read on CBeebies on the Bedtime Hour earlier this year.
 And I have recently had several picture books and Early Readers published, the latest onet being Nothing Can Frighten a Bear published by Nosy Crow on 1st September. 

This book is beautifully illustrated  by Paula Metcalf.  This humorous rhyming text conveys a gentle, reassuring message that’s perfect for young children. 

Snuggled up in bed one moonlight night, Baby Bear is sure he hears a monster outside. Daddy Bear insists there’s nothing scary in the forest and, anyway, nothing can frighten a bear. But as the family of bears set out to make sure, and all vanish one by one, it looks like Daddy Bear might not be as brave as he seems…
This bedtime story is full of comic surprises and gentle reassurance. After all, the things that go bump in the night are never as scary as you might think!

If you'd like to take a look inside please go to http://nosycrow.com/blog/take-a-look-inside-nothing-can-frighten-a-bear/