Nosy Crow's Blog, page 138

School Library Journal review our Goldilocks and Little Bear app

It’s been a couple of months since we released our sixth fairytale app, Goldilocks and Little Bear, and we’ve been absolutely thrilled by the response it’s received.

As well as fantastic support from the App Store, it’s also been the recipient of incredible reviews from, amongst others, Tech with Kids (who awarded the app 5 stars), Children’s Technology Review (who gave the app a 100% rating and an Editor’s Choice Award), The Horn Book, The Observer, Yahoo, and more.

And Goldilocks and Little Bear has just received a fantastic review from School Library Journal! We are so pleased that school and librarians have enjoyed the app – it’s wonderful to hear that it’s being used in schools. Lalitha Nataraj for School Library Journal writes: “Nosy Crow’s modern retelling of “Goldilocks” adds charm and remarkable depth to the classic tale … Readers will have lots of fun playing hide-and-seek with Little Bear, helping Goldilocks pick fruit, and if they choose, using the microphone and camera. … The original music, composed by Steve Burke, is a delightful addition to the production. Vivid art, seamless animation, and a slight parallax effect that adds visual depth, are other standout elements. A story sure to be revisited time and again.”

You can read School Library Journal’s full review here.

If you’re new to the app, here’s our beautiful stop-motion animation trailer for Goldilocks and Little Bear:

 

 

You can read a great blogpost by Ed on how we made the trailer here, and you can download Goldilocks and Little Bear on the app store here. If you’d like to stay up to date with all of our app news, you can sign up to our apps newsletter below:

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Come to the next Nosy Crow Reading Group – we’re discussing Pugs of the Frozen North by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre!

Would you like to come along to the next Nosy Crow Reading Group?

In February we’ll be discussing Pugs of the Frozen North, the third illustrated-fiction collaboration between Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre.

We’ll be meeting on Wednesday, February 24 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). If you’d like to come along, just register for a place with the form below, or at this page.

You can order Pugs of the Frozen North online from Waterstones here.

We’ll post some discussion points for the book a little closer to the date – we hope you can join us!

Buy a signed, limited edition Axel Scheffler print and get a free signed Pip and Posy hardback!

Today we’re launching a very special offer, exclusive to the Nosy Crow shop – for the next two weeks (while stocks last), we’re offering a FREE signed hardback copy of either Pip and Posy: The Super Scooter, or Pip and Posy: The Little Puddle, by Axel Scheffler, for everyone who buys one of our beautiful, signed and numbered, limited edition Pip and Posy giclee prints.

All you need to do to receive one of these signed books is add the title of the book that you’d like to receive in the ‘Order notes’ on the payment page.

These beautiful Pip and Posy prints are produced at a local Southwark press – printed on A3 (29.7 x 42.0cm) heavyweight (308gsm) Hahnemuhle German Etching paper with a hand-deckled edge finish. Each print is signed and numbered by Axel Scheffler, and one of a limited run – and available exclusively through the Nosy Crow website.

Here are the five pieces of Axel’s art available as limited edition prints:

Taken from Pip and Posy: The Little Puddle:

Taken from Pip and Posy: The Super Scooter:

Taken from Pip and Posy: The Snowy Day:

Taken from Pip and Posy: The Scary Monster:

Taken from Pip and Posy: The Big Balloon:

 

You can find our full range of giclee prints here.

The signed editions of both Pip and Posy books are also available to buy separately – you can buy The Super Scooter here and The Little Puddle here.

This special offer will end at midnight on Friday February 5, while stocks last – so if you’d like a free signed Pip and Posy book, don’t delay!

Join us for the next Nosy Crow Illustrator Salon, with special guest Sarah Warburton

We’re enormously pleased to announce the third edition of the Nosy Crow Illustrator Salon, our programme of quarterly evening events celebrating the art of illustration – and we’re absolutely thrilled that our next guest will be none other than Sarah Warburton, the highly-acclaimed illustrator of the Princess and the… picture book series and the brand new Invincibles illustrated fiction series, written by Caryl Hart!

Once again, our host and salonnière for the evening will be Nosy Crow’s founder and managing director, Kate Wilson.

We’ll be returning to The Book Club, in Shoreditch, for Sarah Warburton’s Salon, on the evening of Monday 18th April. After an interview with Kate there’ll be a Q&A with the audience, followed by a book signing and drinks.

And you can save money on a signed copy of any of Sarah’s books by buying one now with your ticket!

General admission costs just £7. £11 will include entry to the salon, PLUS a signed paperback copy of either a Princess picture book, or the first book in the Invincibles series, Piglet Pickle. Or for £14, you can get a signed hardback copy of any Princess picture book.

Doors will open at 6.30pm for drinks and conversation, and the salon will start at approximately 7.00pm.

Booking is essential and tickets are extremely limited – save your place today!

Here’s a look inside The Princess and the Peas, the FANTASTIC first picture book from Sarah and Caryl:

If you don’t want to miss out on any of our future salon events, sign up to our mailing list below.

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We hope to see you there!

Celebrate Penguin Awareness Day with Rounds: Parker Penguin!

As I’m sure you’ll all know, January 20th is Penguin Awareness Day – and what better way could there be to mark the occasion than with our non-fiction story app, Rounds: Parker Penguin?

This highly-acclaimed, award-winning app is the second in our fantastic Rounds series, and just like the first one, Rounds: Franklin Frog, it combines a charming and accessible story with a bold, graphic illustrative style (using only circles and components of circles), some hugely innovative interactivity, animation, voicework and original music throughout, and LOTS of fun facts – perfect for both home and the classroom.

You can help Parker do all the things that penguins do best – waddle, slide, swim, hunt, march, dance, protect their eggs, help a chick to hatch and shed its down – and then start all over again with Percy! Along the way, there’s lots to find out about penguins and the Antarctic – did you know that penguins can dive over 500 metres underwater? Or that they can hold their breath for 20 minutes when they are hunting?

The app is the winner of a 2013 FutureBook Innovation Award and was named as one of USA Today’s top 10 apps for kids for 2012.

You can watch a preview of the app at the top of this post – and here’s a free, downloadable penguin fact sheet to accompany the app:

Happy Penguin Awareness Day – we hope you have fun with Parker!

We’re looking for a Senior Designer for our picture book and novelty lists

We’re currently looking for a senior designer for maternity cover for our picture book and novelty lists, and we’ve just extended the deadline for applications – so there’s still time to apply for this role!

This is a fantastic opportunity for a highly creative, talented, hardworking and bright Senior Designer to join our design team for maternity cover (to begin on March 1st 2016), looking after part of our incredible, award-winning picture book and novelty list.

Ideally this is a full-time role and the successful applicant will be based in the London office of Nosy Crow in Borough (near London Bridge, Borough and Southwark tube stations, and 15 minutes’ walk from Waterloo). We would consider an exceptional candidate who was not able to work full-time, but we’re looking for an absolute minimum of 4 days per week in the Nosy Crow nest.

Candidates will have experience in children’s publishing, and ideally will have worked on both picture books and novelty titles. We are looking for someone who is bursting with ideas and creative energy.

Proficiency in Indesign, Photoshop and Illustrator programmes, excellent proven book design and typographic skills, and a love of children’s book illustration are essential, along with good written and spoken communication skills, and the ability to work to a deadline.

The successful candidate will manage illustrated book projects from initial layouts all the way through to production, supporting the illustrator or the author/illustrator throughout the creative process. The designer will report to the Head of Design but will work closely with other members of the Nosy Crow team, particularly the editorial staff, to produce child-focused, parent-friendly, high-quality books.

We are a small, close team here at The Crow’s Nest working in a friendly, highly creative and professional environment and we need a team player who is willing to muck in, particularly during busy times.

If you would like to apply for the role, please send a CV and application letter, along with digital samples of your design work, to Stephanie Amster via email (stephanie@nosycrow.com).

Candidates will have the right to live and work in the UK.

The closing date for applications is 21 February 2016 at midnight (UK time).

Creating a soundtrack for The Many Worlds of Albie Bright – a guest post by Christopher Edge

Today’s guest post is by Christopher Edge, author of The Many Worlds of Albie Bright, on creating a soundtrack for the book.

I love music. I can’t listen to music when I’m writing. This is a source of great frustration to me.

But even though The Many Worlds of Albie Bright was written mainly in silence, punctuated only by the occasional sound of me banging my head against the laptop keyboard, there is a soundtrack to the book. These are the songs that in some way inspired me as I was writing or which now take on a new meaning as I think about Albie’s story.

I really envy songwriters and musicians their almost supernatural ability to evoke an emotional response not only with lyrics, but also wordlessly with a melody, a key change or a fading chord. Music connects on a primal level. And the music that soundtracks your life can become freighted with new meaning when something happens that completely changes your world.

The Many Worlds of Albie Bright is a story about a boy trying to come to terms with the death of his mum and tells how he uses quantum physics to journey to parallel worlds in search of her. There’s sadness in its pages, but I hope that readers find hope and wonder there too. I wanted Albie’s story to tap into the emotions that these songs hold for me, to move people and remind readers that, no matter how dark things get, the stars still shine in the sky.

You can listen to the Spotify playlist here and, if you want to read along with the soundtrack, the tracklisting at the bottom of the page indicates the chapter each song belongs to. I won’t tell you about every tune, but here’s some of my favourite songs from the soundtrack and why I chose them.

Do You Realize?? by The Flaming Lips – A beautiful song about the miracle of life and the inevitability of mortality, filled with science and wonder. I couldn’t have started the soundtrack with any other song.

Death With Dignity by Sufjan Stevens – From Carrie and Lowell, an album of songs inspired by the death of Sufjan Stevens’ mother, for me this haunting track evokes the loneliness and loss that the death of a parent can bring. In this article from The Guardian, the journalist Danny Wright writes movingly of the solace this album brought him when his own father died.

Shroedinger’s Cat by The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger – Finding a song about quantum physics isn’t as easy as you might think, but in this track from Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl, the physicist’s metaphorical cat muses on love and mortality.

Intergalactic by The Beastie Boys – Now I don’t want you thinking The Many Worlds of Albie Bright is a total sob-fest. From a stolen stuffed platypus to a kidnapped psychopathic cat, there’s a lot of humour in the pages of the book and this joyous tune from the Beastie Boys literally soundtracks a pivotal scene in the story.

Come Home Baby by The Charlatans – From my album of 2015 comes this beautiful song filled with love and yearning. In my mind I hear the lyrics as an ode to a newborn baby. It’s a song I can imagine Albie’s mum singing to Albie as he lay in his cot and years later it’s a song that could fuel Albie’s search for his mum through parallel worlds, and maybe even bring him home.

P.S. You Rock My World by Eels – One of the key inspirations for The Many Worlds of Albie Bright is the Many Worlds Interpretation of quantum physics which proposes that parallel worlds exist. This theory was created by the US scientist Hugh Everett. His son, Mark Everett, is the lead singer and songwriter of Eels, and made Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives, a fascinating documentary about his father’s theory and the relationship they had. In this song, the key refrain of ‘Maybe it’s time to live’ echoes the strength that I hope readers find in Albie’s story.

The Prettiest Star by David Bowie – The soundtrack ends with a triptych of songs about the stars, with pride of place taken by this beautiful song from the great David Bowie. And in tribute to an icon whose music brought such inspiration to me and millions of others, here’s a line from The Many Worlds of Albie Bright. Shine on, Ziggy.

“There’s a piece of heaven inside you and there’s piece of heaven inside me. We’re all made of stardust.”

The Many Worlds of Albie Bright – a chapter-by-chapter tracklisting:

1. Do You Realize?? – The Flaming Lips [Chapter 1]

2. Death With Dignity – Sufjan Stevens [Chapter 2]

3. Silent Sigh – Badly Drawn Boy [Chapter 4]

4. Galaxy of Emptiness – Beth Orton [Chapter 5]

5. Shroedinger’s Cat – The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger [Chapter 6]

6. Across the Universe – Rufus Wainwright [Chapter 6]

7. Inner Meet Me – The Beta Band [Chapter 7]

8. Rings Around the World – Super Furry Animals [Chapter 10]

9. Intergalactic – Beastie Boys [Chapter 12]

10. Race For The Prize – The Flaming Lips [Chapter 13]

11. The Scientist – Coldplay [Chapter 15]

12. Stay – Bernard Butler [Chapter 16]

13. Come Home Baby – The Charlatans [Chapter 16]

14. P.S. You Rock My World – Eels [Chapter 16]

15. The Prettiest Star – David Bowie [Chapter 17]

16. Stellify – Ian Brown [Chapter 17]

17. Shine Like Stars – Primal Scream [Chapter 17]

The Many Worlds of Albie Bright is out now – you can read the opening chapter of the book below, and buy special signed copies of the book exclusively from the Nosy Crow website here.

Buy an exclusive signed copy.

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Louise Bolongaro, Head of Picture Books, looks back at her time on the Non-Fiction list

Gosh, it’s been a funny old week. On the one hand, we’ve had great moments of hoopla and celebration. Yesterday was the publication day of The Bird Spotter Guide, the first non-fiction title in our partnership with the National Trust and I couldn’t have been more happy. The Bird Spotter Guide is a brilliantly useful little book and, with binoculars, a notebook and pencil too, it really is perfect for budding ornithologists (I’m a bit of a twitcher myself now). I also hope that you saw the front cover of the Bookseller last week with the list of our launch titles for The National Trust – always an exciting day for a publisher when months of hard work and planning are suddenly revealed to the world!

On the other hand, this is the week when I say goodbye to the Non-Fiction list. I have been looking after both Picture Books and Non-Fiction for the last year and a half but, as Nosy Crow continues to grow and grow, we’ve decided that a separate Head of Non-Fiction might be a Good Thing. The wonderful Katherine Halligan has now joined the team and I am thoroughly delighted to leave things in her more than capable hands. She is brilliant and fizzing with ideas so watch this space – I just know that she is going to come up with some very gorgeous things.

As I say, it’s a funny old week with a rattlebag of emotions. Goodbyes are always a little sad, aren’t they? I know I’m not meant to have favourites amongst my non-fiction children but I do have a soft spot for Hares, Hedgehogs and other Mammals, beautifully illustrated by Nikki Dyson and coming out later this year. Then again, how can I resist Ros Beardshaw’s beautiful collection of concept board books? And what about Sebastien Braun’s Look and Say What You See in the Countryside? They are ALL my favourites, and I shall be using cards from our lovely Colouring Book of Cards and Envelopes to say a proper thank you to everyone (just forgive me if I sometimes go over the line).

But, as most of you probably know, picture books have always been my first and greatest love, and I’m delighted to return to my full-time focus on this part of the list. The list has continued to expand and, boy, do we have some lovely things lined up. The latest Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam title (by the brilliant Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton) has just proofed and Sarah Warburton is sharpening her pencils ready for Caryl Hart’s latest princess story, The Princess and the Rescue. Again, no favourites are allowed, but I do think this might be Caryl’s best Princess title yet. We also have new books coming from Frann Preston-Gannon, superstar Nicky O’Byrne is working on a follow-up to Open Very Carefully (honestly, no one is more excited about this than me, no, not even Nicky) and we’re delighted to welcome the multi-talented Jason Cockcroft to the list. And did I say that we have a beautiful classic list launching soon? Not to mention some wonderful debut talent . . . sorry, getting over-excited, must remember to B R E A T H E.

So, it is a little goodbye to Non-Fiction but, as you can see, there’s no time to mope. Where’s that new notebook? I’ve got things to do!

It’s January Publication Day at Nosy Crow!

Today is our January publication day, and we’re very excited to announce the release of our very first books of 2016! This is a particularly exciting publication day for us, as it is five years to the month since Nosy Crow’s very first publication month! Whether you’re looking for the latest book in one of our fantastic series, or seeking out something completely different, like our National Trust Complete Bird Spotter’s Kit, there’s sure to be something here that will pique your interest!

First up is the latest book in Jannie Ho’s lovely Tiny Tabs series, Snuggle Puppy looks for the perfect hug!

Snuggle Puppy is looking for the perfect hug. The hedgehogs are too spiky, the worms are too wiggly, the rabbits are just too jumpy . . . will she ever find a hug that is just right? This charming little board book has chunky, very sturdy, tabs to push and pull, and is perfect for babies and toddlers aged one year and upwards.

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Buy the book online.

Also out this month is the brand new board book edition of Penny Dale’s fantastic Dinosaur Rocket! This is the fourth book in Penny’s brilliant Dinosaur series, and follows the dinosaurs as they take one giant leap for dinosaurkind.

No longer content with building, or zooming, or even rescuing, the dinosaurs now have their sights set on something much, much bigger… The MOON! Join our fearsome friends as they prepare for their cosmic journey: is the rocket all ready? Will the launch go smoothly? Can they make it to the moon? Another fast and furious adventure for anyone who loves dinosaurs AND vehicles!

Here’s a look inside the book:



Buy the book online.

We’re also publishing Love, the latest addition to Emma Dodd’s stunning animal book series.

Join little rabbit and his mummy as they spend a glorious sunny day together in the meadow. Little rabbit finds love everywhere, but knows that a mummy’s love is always the best love of all.

With flurries of foil throughout and featuring a tenderly-told rhyming text and heartwarming illustrations, this beautifully-designed, padded picture book will soon become a bedtime favourite.

Here’s a look inside the book:



Buy the book online.

If you’re looking for a good fairytale-with-a-twist this January, why not pick up The Last Book Before Bedtime – the latest book by wonderful award-winning author/illustrator Nicola O’Byrne.

Everyone knows that the very last story before bed is the best story of all. But what kind of story is it? Is it a funny story, a romantic story or one full of action and danger? All the fairytale characters, including Cinderella, the Three Little Pigs and Red Riding Hood, battle it out to prove who has the best story of all!

A multi-layered interactive picture book that is destined to be a much-requested last story before bed.

Here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book online.

Littleland: All Year Round is also out this month – now in paperback! This lovely book is the third in the Littleland series, and is beautifully illustrated by Marion Billet.

Loosely following the months of the year, this colourful, busy book follows the little ones as they take part in seasonal activities, from visiting the spring lambs to paddling on the beach to cooking for an autumn feast. With a ‘Can you see?’ feature on every spread and a simple, conversational narrative, this is the perfect step on from board books.

Here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book online.

Also publishing this month is Pugly Bakes a Cake, a brand new book from award-winning Pamela Butchart, and illustrated by the brilliant Gemma Correll.

Even a tiny pug can have a big dream! Pugly is going to bake the best cake ever! It’s going to have eggs and cream and spaghetti and EVERYTHING in it! Clem the cat thinks Pugly can’t do it, but Clive the goldfish knows he can. If only Pugly hadn’t got himself stuck in the catflap…

Here’s a look inside the book:



Buy the book online.

Another brilliant fiction title is out this month in the form of The Many Worlds of Albie Bright, by Christopher Edge, the author of the fantastic Twelve Minutes to Midnight trilogy.

When Albie’s mum dies, it’s natural he should wonder where she’s gone. His parents are both scientists and they usually have all the answers. Dad mutters something about Albie’s mum being alive and with them in a parallel universe. So Albie finds a box, his mum’s computer and a rotting banana, and sends himself through time and space to find her…

The Times called The Many Worlds of Albie Bright “a clever story infused with science that wears its intelligence humorously”, and last week named it Children’s Book of the Week, we think deservedly so!

Here’s a look inside the book:

You can buy special signed copies of The Many Worlds of Albie Bright here.

And finally, it is also publication day for our very first title for the National Trust – the Complete Bird Spotter’s Kit! Written by Robyn Swift and illustrated by Mike Langman, this comprehensive kit is the perfect introduction to birdwatching for children aged 8–12!

Ideal for any budding birdwatchers, this backpack encourages children to get outside and spot birds in the wild! Children will be able to use their own binoculars, and then scribble down notes in their handy notebook. The spotter’s guide is packed with useful information about how to get started, as well as a comprehensive field guide section full of expert tips on how to identify a species when they’re out and about.

Here’s a look inside the spotter’s guide:

Buy the kit online.

Congratulations to all of today’s authors and illustrators!

Five top days: Top five moments

Today’s post is by Nosy Crow’s new Assistant Editor, Fiona Scoble.

Five days ago I swooped in to join the Crow’s Nest, perched romantically at the summit of a terrifying cast iron spiral staircase. I’m thrilled to be working as Assistant Editor on their fabulous fiction list, and in honour of our altitude I’ve listed five high points of my time so far:

Relishing the ambitious and playful use of quantum physics to tell a very human story in The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge. What a wonderful bit of storytelling!

I’ve been flush with publication advances this week. Not only did Albie Bright arrive, but also the hilarious Pugly Bakes a Cake and Attack of the Demon Dinner Ladies, written by comic genius Pamela Butchart. I’ve been quietly chuckling on my commute home every day.

Observing the pigeon soap opera unfolding on the rooftop outside the window. They may lack the glamour necessary for a TV career, but those guys can sure do drama.

Being in the middle of whirling conversations about book covers, submissions, cake icing and plot lines. The Nosy Crow office is a lively and collaborative place, full of caffeine and ideas.

Being extremely close to Borough Market – although I may reconsider this one when I get gout after a few weeks of eating wild boar pasta and Comté for lunch.

I can’t wait to read and see more from the amazing authors and illustrators on Nosy Crow’s list, and to help find new talent to join this great imprint. I couldn’t be happier to brave the Nosy Crow staircase each morning!