Nosy Crow's Blog, page 128

My Gym Teacher is an Alien Overlord is out soon – and you can win a proof copy!

It’s not long to go until we’ll be publishing My Gym Teacher is an Alien Overlord by David Solomons, the highly-anticipated sequel to the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize winning My Brother is a Superhero – the book will be out in just a few weeks. And today, you can win an exclusive proof copy of the book!

My Gym Teacher… is another hilarious, exciting adventure – funny, full of heart, and with an absolutely racing plot.

Zack and Lara have superpowers. Luke has new school shoes and a burning sense of resentment. He KNOWS that aliens disguised as gym teachers are about to attack Earth but will anyone listen? No. So one dodgy pact with a self-styled supervillain later, and Luke is ready to save the world. He just needs to find his trainers.

Here’s a look inside the book:

To win one of three proof copies of My Gym Teacher is an Alien Overlord, just sign up to our books newsletter at this page or with the form below, and then send an email to tom at nosycrow dot com with My Gym Teacher is an Alien Overlord in the subject heading. The competition is open to residents of the UK and Ireland, and we’ll contact the winners next week.

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The book will be out on 7th July – good luck!

 

Take a look inside We Love Dinosaurs

This Summer we’ll be publishing a fantastic new picture book for dinosaur-lovers: We Love Dinosaurs by Lucy Volpin, a vibrant celebration of dinosaurs in all shapes and sizes. Finished copies have just arrived in the office, and the book looks AMAZING – and today you can take a look inside for the first time.

Whether they’re big, small, fast, slow, stripy, spotty or anything in-between, there’s just so much to love about dinosaurs – and this joyful read is PERFECT for little dinosaur experts.

Here’s a look inside We Love Dinosaurs:

With bright and elegant watercolours, loveable dinosaurs full of personality and a rhythmic rhyming text that will have everyone chanting along, We Love Dinosaurs is sure to be a family favourite.

We Love Dinosaurs will be in shops in August – if you want to find out exactly when you can buy it, and stay up to date with all of our book news, you can sign up to our books newsletter here, or with the form below.

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The verdict on our latest Nosy Crow Masterclass: How to Write Picture Books

Our first Nosy Crow Masterclass of the year took place on Saturday – How to Write Picture Books – and it was another fantastically creative, inspiring, and informative day, filled with advice, lessons and guidance on writing picture books. The day included brilliant sessions from Nosy Crow’s Managing Director, Kate Wilson, Head of Picture Books, Louise Bolongaro, literary agent Helen Mackenzie Smith, and Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam and Hubble Bubble, Granny Trouble author Tracey Corderoy. And as well as these individual talks, we also offered one-to-one manuscript critiques to all of our attendees, along with lunch, cakes, wine, and lots more. And here’s what some of our attendees said on Twitter afterwards:

So inspired by yesterday’s writing picture books masterclass at @NosyCrow yesterday. Fantastic speakers. Loved meeting @TraceyCorderoy

— rebecca bruce (@RebeccaBruce01) June 12, 2016

Can’t stop smiling as I’m on my way to a picture book masterclass day! With @NosyCrow & @TraceyCorderoy joined by four crit group members :) — Kerry Trickett (@KerryTrickett2) June 11, 2016

@TraceyCorderoy Everyone raved about your talk after! Great picture book master class thanks all at @NosyCrow :) pic.twitter.com/pXbfsB5Wde

— Kerry Trickett (@KerryTrickett2) June 11, 2016

@KerryTrickett2 @NosyCrow @TraceyCorderoy It was a brilliant day! Thank you! — Mahrukh McDonald (@Rukie36) June 11, 2016

Lou delivering words of wisdom at the Nosy Crow picture book masterclass, ft. Charles Dickens Primary School decor. pic.twitter.com/x1bDZpktux

— Tegen Evans (@TegenEvans) June 11, 2016

Exceptionally wonderful day at the Nosy Crow masterclass, watch this space! thanks everyone! @tombonnick@NosyCrow@TraceyCorderoy@TeganEvans — Meredith Vigh (@MeredithVigh) June 11, 2016

@NosyCrow Thank you Kate for such a fab day filled with great advice and insights from all the speakers + cake, food and wine.

— Kerry Trickett (@KerryTrickett2) June 11, 2016

Wow! Coming home from the Picture Book masterclass @NosyCrow fabulous day. Thanks to everyone. Cannot wait to get writing #amwriting — Bonnie Bridgman (@BonnieMrsbbh) June 11, 2016

Thanks 4 great #picturebook masterclass @NosyCrow Giant cityscape lampshade & church hymns added dramatic effect. pic.twitter.com/VnzSBfOhc5

— Yasmin Finch (@itsYasminFinch) June 13, 2016

As with our previous Masterclasses, this was a sold-out day (with a long waiting list). We haven’t announced details for any future masterclasses at the moment, but if you’re interested in attending one, you can sign up to our newsletter below, and you’ll be the first to hear as soon as any new dates are confirmed.


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The next Nosy Crow Reading Group is almost here – we’re discussing The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

The Nosy Crow Reading Group is back in just under a fortnight – we’ll be discussing The Girl of Ink and Stars, the debut novel by Kiran Millwood Hargrave.

And if you’re interested in coming along, there are just a couple of places remaining!

We’ll be meeting on Tuesday, June 21 at 6.30pm, here at the Nosy Crow offices – 10a Lant Street, London, SE1 1QR – for a discussion of the book (along with wine and crisps).

As usual, we have a few questions prepared for discussion – here’s some of what we might talk about on the evening:

How important is the illustrative design of The Girl of Ink and Stars? What does it add to the experience of reading the book?
How successful did you find Millwood Hargrave’s world building, and the world of Joya?
What did you make of Isabella as a narrator and heroine?
Who do you think this book is “for”?

 

If you’d like to come along, just register for a place with the form below, or at this page – if the reading group becomes fully booked, you can add your name to our waiting list, and we’ll notify you if a place opens up.

You can order The Girl of Ink and Stars online from Waterstones here. You can read a preview of the book here – and here’s a video of Millwood Hargrave introducing the book:

We hope to see you there!

 

Nosy Crow at the Edinburgh Book Festival

The line-up for the 2016 Edinburgh International Book Festival has been announced, and there are simply buckets of events with Nosy Crow authors and illustrators – there’s something for everyone! Tickets don’t go on sale for a couple of weeks, but are bound to sell out fast, so here’s a look at what’s happening at the festival this year – start planning now…

On Tuesday 16 August at 11:45am, Ross Collins, author-illustrator of the Greenaway-shortlisted There’s a Bear on my Chair, will show you how he draws creatures great and small, before giving you a chance to create some colourful characters of your own. You can find out more here – and here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

On Saturday 20 August at 10:30am, Rose Campion and the Stolen Secret author Lyn Gardner will share the stage with Katherine Woodfine, author of The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow, for an event that’s bound to be perfect for fans of mystery. You can find out more here – and here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

On Saturday 20 August at 12:15pm, award-winning author Pamela Butchart will be sharing the latest adventure of Izzy, star of the Baby Aliens series, with Attack of the Demon Dinner Ladies. Expect a LOTS of laughs… You can find out more here – and here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

On Sunday 21 August at 10:30am, Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam creators Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton will lead a show-stopping event to celebrate the launch of their new picture book, Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: The Diamond Chase. You can find out more here – and here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

On Monday 22 August at 7:30pm, The Many Worlds of Albie Bright author Christopher Edge will be taking part in The Great YA Debate – an incredible panel of authors answering the question, “What is Young Adult fiction?” You can find out more here – and here’s a look inside The Many Worlds of Albie Bright:

Buy the book.

On Saturday 27 August at 3:15pm, Axel Scheffler will be on stage sharing the latest wonderful picture book in the Pip and Posy series, Pip and Posy: The New Friend – with live-drawing, a reading from the book, and more. You can find out more here – and here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

On Monday 29 August at 1:15pm, Hrefna Bragadottir brings you her heart-warming debut picture book, Baxter’s Book, with live drawing and the chance for you to create your own exciting book character. You can find out more here – and here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

And finally, on Monday 29 August at 5:30pm, author Philip Ardagh and illustrator Axel Scheffler say goodbye to the Grunts with The Grunts on the Run, the final book in the hilarious series, in an event packed with familiar faces and disgusting delights. You can find out more here – and here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

Tickets for every event at the festival go on sale at 8:30am on Tuesday 21 June – mark your calendars, and we hope to see you there!

If you’d like to stay up to date with all of our book news (and be sure never to miss out on a Nosy Crow event or new book), you can sign up to our books newsletter at this page, or with the form below.

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A starred review for There’s a Bear on my Chair!

The plaudits keep coming for There’s a Bear on my Chair, the brilliantly witty and joyously illustrated picture book by Ross Collins. The book is currently shortlisted for the CILIP Greenaway Medal – and it’s just received a fantastic starred review by Publishers Weekly!

Publishers Weekly write: “A playful portrait of impotent rage, Collins’s rhyming story looks at what happens when a problem is just too big to tackle … Collins’s drawings win laughs with confident, swooping lines and witty details … his sparkling verse has the ring of a nursery classic.”

You can read the full review here – and here’s a look inside There’s a Bear on my Chair:

Buy the book.

You can also buy beautiful, limited edition, signed and numbered giclee prints featuring artwork from There’s a Bear on My Chair exclusively from the Nosy Crow shop – here’s a look at the prints on offer:

Buy this print.

Buy this print.

Buy this print.

Buy this print.

Take a look inside Little Mouse’s Big Breakfast by Christine Pym

Next month we are incredibly pleased to be publishing Little Mouse’s Big Breakfast – the first picture book to be written and illustrated by Christine Pym. Finished copies have just arrived in the office, and they look beautiful – and today, you can take a very first look inside the book!

Hungry Little Mouse is looking for some breakfast and he knows just where to find it. Scampering into the kitchen, he finds lots and lots of delicious things until he spots something that is just perfect. But Little Mouse quickly discovers he’s not the only one looking for breakfast…

Here’s a look inside the book:

Smart, funny, and brilliant to read aloud, this is a truly fantastic picture book from an incredibly talented author-illustrator.

Little Mouse’s Big Breakfast will be in shops next month – if you want to find out exactly when you can buy it, and stay up to date with all of our book news, you can sign up to our books newsletter here, or with the form below.

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Reading Pictures: Dinosaur Pirates – a guest post by Penny Dale

Today’s post is by Penny Dale, author-illustrator of Dinosaur Pirates, the latest fantastic book in the Dinosaur picture book series.

A couple of weeks ago I posted this illustration from Dinosaur Pirates in reply to a jolly comment on Twitter.

Later, in a reply to another comment about the tweet, I mentioned I’d particularly enjoyed the research and detailing in this particular illustration, and that started me thinking… I know details can be a great way of adding depth, description and atmosphere to simple text, and children do enjoy peering at, and spotting things in pictures. But also, if an adult is reading to a child, it’s good to have detail that can be interpreted, or ‘read’ by them too, and passed on to the child in, “What d’you think that is?” type exchanges.

I thought it could be fun to list some of the possibly less obvious elements in this spread from Dinosaur Pirates.

So in no particular order:

1 The map: It’s based on early map graphics and appears a couple of times in story. This is a lesson to beware of in illustration. If you draw something complicated, and it appears more than once in the book watch out, because it’s much harder to repeat, especially from a different viewpoint. I fell into this trap here, and paid the price, having to wrestle with redrawing it a couple more times in the book!

2 Captain and parrot: The parrot is on the T rex’s shoulder, but also features in two paintings on the wall. One conclusion would be that the captain is very fond of his parrot! The Captain also has a picture of himself on display. Discuss.

3 The paintings: During preparation time on the book I happened to visit Amsterdam and was surprised to find taking non-flash photos was allowed in the Rijksmuseum. So thanks to that, the cabin has some Dutch master inspired paintings on the walls.

4 Captain’s earring: It is attached to his hat as the T rex has no earlobes?!

5 Tilt and curve: The whole scene is tipped out of level to suggest the swell of sea, also the lantern is swinging. The wake of the sea out of the window is curved to imply the ship is turning.

6 On the floor: There are rats, not mice, eating other half of ships biscuit dropped from the table. I had an exchange in a conversation across the virtual studio of Twitter, with Elys Dolan about the difference between mice and rats when drawing them very small. Coincidentally we had both been drawing rat studies on the same day.

 

And as far as the feel of the whole scene… thinking about it reminded me of this photo. It shows me, and my brother playing on a replica of the Golden Hinde.

I based the dinosaur’s pirate galleon on a model of this ship. This almost life size  replica was built for a TV series about Frances Drake made in the 1960’s (I know, look at my dress). It wasn’t strictly speaking a pirate ship, but to us it was, and seemed thrillingly real! I particularly remember being fascinated by the captain’s cabin, the sloping, curved walls, the furniture, the pictures and equipment, maps and telescopes… In fact all the details!

Thank you, Penny! Dinosaur Pirates is out now – you can take a look inside the book below, and buy it online here.

If you’d like to stay up to date with all of our book news, you can sign up to our books newsletter at this page, or with the form below:

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Crimson Poison Candy Perfection – a guest post by Crimson Poison author Susan Moore

Today’s blogpost is by Susan Moore, debut author of Crimson Poison, the gripping first instalment in the Nat Walker Trilogy.

When I was little I’d dream of working in a sweet factory where I’d be elbow-deep in sherbet-lolly mix and marshmallow all day. I’d never want a day off, I’d even double up and do the night shift, and I’d be paid in candy.

This was my top-secret future career until one day my big brother was boasting about becoming a fireman: “Best job in the world,” he said.

I was not to be outdone. “I want to work in a sweet factory. That’s the best job in the world.”

He grabbed me by the elbow, leaned in close to my ear. “When you go for the interview they make you sit on a chair at the end of the conveyor belt and eat every sweet that comes off it, until you’re sick, so you don’t want to eat sweets ever again. Then they let you have the job.”

Budding candy maker crushed in a whisper.

Fast forward and my new book Crimson Poison is about to be published, and Spun Candy have invited me to a masterclass in making themed sweets for the launch party.

I walk through the Spitalfields shop’s glass doors, into the candy lab. The air smells like candyfloss. Rows of steel tables with marble tops are piled high with jewel-coloured sweets being cut, packed, and wrapped by hand. There’s not a conveyor belt in sight.

Apron on, and I meet Tom, Master Candy Maker. He shows me his sketches of how he wants to create the book’s heroine, orphan heiress and kung fu student Nat Walker, and Fizz, her dragon robot, as giant lollipops.

“They look great, but how do you make them in candy?”

I’m expecting a computer program, robotic arms …. instead he takes a vat of molten sugar and pours it out onto the table. It’s cooling off fast. He selects various potion bottles and mixes in red, white, green, yellow and black with a palette knife, and then with his hands, kneads the cooling sugar like bread dough.

There’s no piping bag, only scissors, as he rolls out strands for shaping. It’s an artist at work. It’s sweet alchemy. Giant lollipops are rolled and sculpted into shape. I get to mould and shape my own version of Fizz in emerald, fashioning his flames out of sticky orange and yellow syrup. Mine’s an abstract Fizz. If you screw up your eyes and hold the stick at a distance he might just pass for being a dragon of sorts, but Tom’s are brilliant. He’s brought Nat and Fizz into glorious, technicoloured sweet life. I’m pretty sure that this is one of the best jobs in the world – yum!

Thank you, Susan! Crimson Poison is out now – you can take a look inside the book below, and buy it online here.

Cinematic and fast paced, this action-packed story is full of high-tech gadgetry and fun – perfect for 9+ fans of exciting, futuristic adventure.

If you’d like to stay up to date with all of our book news, you can sign up to our books newsletter at this page, or with the form below:

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Our June books are out today!

It’s our June publication day – and WHAT a selection of books we have being released into the wild today. Here’s what you can find in shops now!

It’s publication day for two brand new books in Axel Scheffler’s fantastic Sound-Button Story series – Portly Pig and Cuddly Cow! These charming little board books have big sound buttons featuring noisy farmyard sounds – little fingers will just love pushing the big sound button to hear Cuddly Cow mooing and Portly Pig oinking on every page.

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Buy the book.

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Buy the book.

There are brand new board book editions of two fantastic Nosy Crow picture books out today – Alison Murray’s Princess Penelope and the Runaway Kitten, and Superhero Dad, written by Timothy Knapman and illustrated by Joe Berger. Here’s a look inside each book:

Buy the book.

Buy the book.

Copy Cat is out today – the first picture book to be written and illustrated by Ali Pye, illustrator of the fantastic, Scottish Children’s Book Award-winning Moonlight School picture books. With hilarious kitten antics and vibrant illustrations, this author-illustrator debut is a perfectly-observed portrait of playground behaviour. Comic capers and cute-as-a-button characters deliver a gentle message about joining in and finding your own way. Here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

It’s publication day for Dinosaur Pirates!, the fifth Dinosaur story by Penny Dale. Our brave team of dinosaurs are back, but this time they are pirates in search of buried treasure! Having navigated their way to a desert island and dug up their booty, they are just sailing away when they are ambushed by a fearsome band of marauding baddy-pirates! Will our goody-pirates save their gold, their ship and their honour, or will the baddies win out? Here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

Blocks by Irene Dickson is in shops from today – a wonderful picture book for the very young, all about sharing. Featuring a block-shaped, die-cut cover and a witty twist at the end, this stylishly-illustrated, ingeniously simple picture book is set to become a classic. Here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

We’re incredibly excited to launch a fantastic new fiction debut today: Crimson Poison by Susan Moore, the gripping first instalment in the Nat Walker Trilogy. Cinematic and fast paced, this action-packed story is full of high-tech gadgetry and fun – perfect for 9+ fans of exciting, futuristic adventure. Here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

And we’re THRILLED to be publishing Sweet Pizza, the second book by G.R. Gemin, author of the highly-acclaimed award-winning debut Cowgirl. This is another wonderful book for 9+ readers with a great story, fantastic dramatic writing, strong characters, and big-hearted social realism. Here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

The Secret Rescuers: The Magic Fox, the fourth book in the brilliant Secret Rescuers series, written by Paula Harrison and illustrated by Sophy Williams, is out today – set in a fantasy world populated by dragons, unicorns, storm wolves and firebirds, this superbly-realised series for 7+ year olds is packed with magical adventures and baby animals in peril. Here’s a look inside the book:

And we’ve got some INCREDIBLE new non-fiction out this month, too! It’s publication day for Hedgehogs, Hares and other British Animals: A Nature Sticker Book. Packed with facts about mammals and their homes, and bursting with beautiful illustrations by Nikki Dyson, this sticker book is perfect for young animal lovers. With 120 stickers and lots of detail to add to every scene, you can put the rabbits in their warren, fill the sea with dolphins, match the babies with their mums and much, much more.

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Buy the book.

123: A Walk in the Countryside, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw, is out today – this new series for the very young follows two little children on a day in the countryside, where they spot all kinds of animals and plants in their natural habitats. A delightful counting book, with beautiful narrative illustrations, this is a book to visit again and again.

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Buy the book.

The Colouring Book of Cards and Envelopes: Summertime by Rebecca Jones is out now – get creative with this amazingly innovative colouring book, full of beautifully-designed cards and envelopes to tear out and colour. The twenty-four beautiful summertime designs include seashells, flowers, dragonflies and more, and are perfect for all ages to decorate and send to family and friends.

Take inspiration from nature or get experimental – try unusual colours and different materials to make each card truly unique! With enough blank space inside for a message, envelopes to customise and cute stickers to seal your card – this is the complete creative package!

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Buy the book.

And finally, it’s publication day for Harry the History Hound’s Hysterical Historical Facts and Jokes, written by Tracey Turner and illustrated by Sarah Horne! This hysterical, historical joke book is full of hilarious jokes and illustrations based on characters that children will recognise throughout history. Featuring kings and queens, medieval Knights, Victorians and many more, this terrific compilation of jokes and facts will have children roaring with laughter! Here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

Congratulations to all of today’s authors and illustrators!