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The Goodnight Star

How it began

I always find it interesting when I have finished a book to look back at my very first thoughts. Some spreads end up almost identical to my first thumbs where others go through many changes. It took me a while with Goodnight Star to get Megan right. I had a lightbulb moment when I decided to put her in pyjamas rather than a floaty nightdress. Suddenly I felt she had the right attitude.

Click on all images to enlarge.

'The Goodnight Star'  author Amy Sparkes will be having a book launch on Saturday 12th September from 10.30-11.30 at Tiverton Library.

Find out more about Amy here.

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The Goodnight Star

by Amy sparkes

I'm really pleased to be able to share with you my latest book 'The Goodnight Star' beautifully written by Amy Sparkes and published by Random House Children's Books. 'The Goodnight Star' will be available to buy from 27th August.

 'Megan is afraid of the dark.'

 'Holding the star carefully, she climbed up to her treehouse...

 This image was my favourite so I was really pleased that it was chosen for the cover.

'The Goodnight Star' is my 8th book with Random House Children's Books. I'd like to thank the team at Random for all their help. Special thanks to Kerrie and Joe.

Daddy Is My Hero

Happy Father's Day to all you Dads!

'Daddy Is My Hero' Written by Dawn Richards - Published by Random House 2013.

Lucy and Henry Are Twins

By Elizabeth Winthrop

It's like buses no blog posts for 2 months... and then 4 come at once!!! I am busy busy painting...excuses excuses!

Lucy and Henry Are Twins is published by Two Lions (Amazon Publishing) and written by the widely published author Elizabeth Winthrop.

'Lucy and Henry are brother and sister. They may be twins, but that doesn't mean they do everything the same way.' 'Delightful illustrations and simple rhythmic text combine to make a wonderful first book for twins...'

I Love You, Blankie

By Sheryl Haft

The author Sheryl Haft has done an amazing job publicising I Love You, Blankie. Sheryl recently held an event in her hometown New York and these are just a few of the photos from what looked like a really fun book party.

 I absolutely love the Blankie Baby puppet! It is so exciting to see my illustrations literally brought to life. Thanks Sheryl and thanks to the puppeteers and performers.

More Blankie updates on Sheryl Haft's website.

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ONLY 10 SLEEPS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

One Little Baby written by Richard Dungworth and 

published by Puffin Books 2013.

One Little Baby Birthday - Publication date Jan 2014.

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A New Book for The New Year

'One Little Baby wants to share a book.'

One Little Baby written by Richard Dungworth and published by Puffin is published this week. I'd like to thank the team at Puffin for doing such a great job.

I'd also like to wish you all a slightly belated but Very Happy New Year-hope it's a good one!

Home for Christmas

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I love decorating our home for Christmas. These are a few of my favourite festive bits.

1. I can't get enough of dots this year. I picked up a string of Engel confetti bunting at the brilliant Castor & Pollux down here on Brighton seafront and the ball lights are by Cable & Cotton. Card by Walter Erhard.

2. Fisher Price helicopter, Pez Santa, Vintage Mr Frosty and my favourite Marc Boutavant book-'Another Night Before Christmas' written by Carol Ann Duffy.

3. Tree detail from 'The New Nutcracker Suite' beautifully illustrated by Ivan Chermayeff.

I couldn't help but spot this hand drawn envelope when it arrived in he post. It contained a fantastic poster by Helen Dardik-an early Christmas present!

4. I am loving all the bright knitwear this year. I picked these up at H&M.

5. Noel card from a great selection by Lisa Jones. Pez Snowman.

6. Last but not least - my very own 'Quality Street' angel made a couple of Christmases ago.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS
see you in 2013

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New Books

I am working on a few publishing projects at the moment but am having to keep them under my hat. Bloomsbury have kindly given me permission to show a few snippets from a series of books that I am producing for them at the moment. More soon...

Inspiration

Back to School

This Ladybird classic really takes me back to my school days. Warm milk, the smell of the canteen, the nature table and dancing in the school hall in big knickers!

Illustrated by J. H. Wingfield 1959.

©Roger Hargreaves 1980

I love the line and humour of Richard Scarry.

©Richard Scarry 1969

This image reminds me of trips to Woolworths for my new school kit. A geometry set, garish fluffy pencil case and new pumps!

My very dog eared copy of The School by John Burningham.

First published 1974. This image reminds me of my very first school. It was a victorian building in a small village in Suffolk.

Pieces from a wooden puzzle by Victory picked up at a car boot just the other week.

Inspiration

All Change!

Have been giving the toy cupboard a spring clean to make way for some new friends! The owl is by the Early Learning Centre. You can press one foot to move the hands on the clock and the other to open his eyes to reveal the time numerically. Open Your Eyes published in 1964 is a recent gift. Thank You x. It is written by Roz Abisch and illustrated by Boche Kaplan.

I love this Slush Puppie cup that I picked up at the weekend. I can't remember how long I have had the little sweet box but it reminds me of my childhood.

Inspiration

365 Games to Make and Play

I picked this great book up at a car boot last Summer.

I especially love the end papers. The book was first published

in France in 1975.

Inspiration

Potato Printing by Helen R Haddad

I picked up this great vintage book before Christmas. I had a go with the family over the holidays but have to confess that we only ended up with large sheets of unrecognisable splodges!

Inspiration

22 to Piccadilly Circus

Title Page-This is London by M. Sasek

Piccadilly Circus at night by M.Sasek.

Ladybird Book-Boys and Girls Illustrated by R. Ayton.

Wooden vehicles by MUJI-I think! Have had these a while.

1960's Glass Dish by Kenneth Townsend.

Looking at these images reminds me of the days I used to catch the No.22 along the Kings Road to work. It was always slightly nerve wracking hopping on and off! I absolutely love the 'This is' series illustrated by M. Sasek and my dog eared collection of Ladybird Books.

Inspiration

Pere Castor's Wild Animal Books

Cover and detail from No.4 FROU

No.1 MISCHIEF

Detail from No. 2 QUIPIC THE HEDGEHOG

Just a few images from this stunning collection of 8 books. Also featured Ploof the Wild Duck, Martin The Kingfisher, Bourru the Brown Bear, Cuckoo and Scaf the Seal.