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Friday, October 30, 2015

Storytellers, Inc. 2016 Illustrators Calendar!

Earlier in the year Katie Clapham, the owner of the independent bookshop
Storytellers, Inc. in St. Annes-on-Sea, asked me to contribute a page
to the fourth edition of the Illustrators Calendar.

I jumped at the chance to be part of this project, and managed to bagsie
October for Halloween-themed fun.
I made this two panel trick-or-treating picture:
Yesterday my copy of the calendar arrived, and it's come out so well.
I'm proud to be in the super company which you see here...


To go with the calendar, Storytellers, Inc. runs a project called ‘An Illustrated Year’
for Key Stage 1 groups in primary schools, delivering them a gift-wrapped
book by the illustrator each month, complete with an activity sheet to have
their own classroom picture book events. They send their packs each month
 to 28 local classrooms across nine schools. 

They've had great success and feedback with the project, and are hoping to
build on it for 2016.
I couldn't be happier to be involved!


The Illustrators Calendar 2016 for sale now on the Storysellers, Inc. website for £14 - a fine way to anticipate 2016!

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Pumpkin patch!

Here are Will, Bill, Florence and Shane hanging out in the pumpkin patch. 

When I was a child in California one of the highlights I remember was when the local destination The Nut Tree had their annual Pumpkin Patch. This included a ferris wheel and a biggest pumpkin competition, scarecrows, candy apples and giant lollies. And all the thrill of Halloween approaching! I'm feeling nostalgic for it this week - tinges of the excitement I used to feel on those lovely autumn visits. I wish I could ride on the miniature train again, and look through The Nut Tree's selection of semi precious stones for sale. And hang out on an enormous pumpkin!

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Turtle picture

This lovely picture is by Caitlin, my friend's niece. The crucial moment in Turtle and Me, where everything goes wrong for our hero! 


I think Caitlin has done a super job - look at the expressions on her people!! Poor old Turtle is really in for it!