Hector and the Big Bad Knight by Alex T Smith

With a triumphant medieval tooty fanfare here it is - 

The ultimate tale of good conquering over evil and

small becoming MIGHTY 

in a battle of epic proportions! 

Hector and the Big Bad Knight 

written & illustrated by Alex T Smith 

Published by Scholastic

This tale begins in the sleepy bunting bedecked hamlet of 'Spottybottom' 

A happy trouble free village with the reddest apples and the happiest chickens. 

The peace and tranquillity is brutally shattered when Hector's Granny's magic wand is pinched in one swipe by none other than the BIG BAD KNIGHT! a rapscallion of THE most dastardly order. 

Dashing AND Dastardly

After a hastily organised emergency town meeting, Hector takes it upon himself to retrieve the treasured magic wand - all by himself (well almost all by himself, his trusty sidekick Norman the chicken comes along for the ride) 

Things to spot on this page: Not fussed sheep and temporary foot rest 

The Spottybottom villagers are more than a little dubious that a chap of such a minute and muscle-free stature should take on the Big Bad Knight (this simply can't end well) 

But Hector has a plan!...

With a gingham knapsack filled with useful things Hector and Norman set off in hot pursuit.... and this is how a brutishly bristly yet mysteriously dashing knight with a 'been there slain that' attitude takes on his smallest most cunning adversary yet.

Will Hector prove he is braver and more mighty than his weedy stature suggests? 

Will the Big Bad Knight get his comeuppance? 

...and will Granny ever get her beloved magic wand back? 

I do hope you enjoy this story in all it's anarchic glory as much as I did, a book packed with mild peril, dragons,  pooh and crisps.  

 

Everyone has the potential to be a hero - no matter what. (...and never leave the house without a packet of crisps just in case of unexpected encounters with big fierce dragons) 

We give this book a HUGE triumphant tooty fanfare of approval, a poop-tacular picture book of 

magnificent proportions. 

Nab a copy of this magical adventure NOW 

This is Alex's 9th picture book, can you believe it!? 

That man deserves a Knighthood for services to Children's Literature - someone get on the blower to the Queen. 

From princesses with pugs to sly foxes and cross dressing alligators Alex has an eclectic and limitless imagination. It appears he can unlock his inner child at a moments notice thus creating timeless family favourites over and over again. 

FOLLOW ALEX ON TWITTER @Alex_T_Smith

As always Alex's magnificent flair for creating books which appeal to adults and children across the board is apparent in Hector, what could be more important than creating a book which encourages a shared story experience, this book is gallant and triumphant and if it gives one little person the courage to be brave, confident, bold and clever then we should all give this book our golden seal of approval. 

Etch/sketch style mash-up BRAVO

Rarely have I witnessed an illustrator rocket so deservedly to the giddying heights to which Alex has in such a short time, and it's simply down to four facts...

1. Alex is incredibly hard working, 
2. Hugely talented, 
3. Boundlessly kind 
4. And he still draws for pleasure every single day 

Please visit his blog HERE, it's an utter treat.

With Thanks to Alex, Always 

A BOOK worth a LOOK - Oi Frog by Kes Gray and Jim Field

Ta-Da - Bravo and tooty fanfares! 'Oi Frog' is here - The long anticipated picture book imagined and created by the masterful award-winning minds of Kes Gray and  illustrator Jim Field.

Oi Frog is one of those rare and perfect books which literally leaps off the shelf onto your lap (or the nearest log) everything the cover promises in terms of humour is delivered in bucket loads and more. Such a brilliantly simple concept expertly executed to create a completely satisfying picture book which parents will read over and over and over again without complaint and which little people will sit though effortlessly.   

Inquisitive frog finds himself in a deep discussion with a finicky (some might say down right BOSSY) feline intent on things being done the way they should be (without compromise). Frog has his sights set on changing the rules and is yet to be convinced that as a frog he should always and without exception sit on a log, despite the painful botty splinters he might be subjected to!  

The omnipotent cat diligently explains to frog that each creature has its place and that is the way it has been and always will be.

Life’s rich pageant in all its various shapes and sizes are showcased as the story unfolds with deeply satisfying repetitive rhymes popping up throughout.  Such pure unadulterated joy with hilarious poetic flair. My personal favourites namely ‘Gibbons on ribbons’ and ‘Moles on Poles’ although I did also have a soft spot for the poor ‘Gorilla on a pillar’  

The bold graphic illustrations showcase Jim’s great talent in creating engaging and unique anthropomorphic animals. The characters have such expressive faces you can almost speaking themselves which lends itself very nicely to reading this book over and over, (for ref: Gophers from the deep south , mule from Blackpool, a cow from Somerset, etc etc) each creature could quite easily become a book in its own right, (especially the brogue sporting Hare)   

I am an enormous fan of Jim Fields work and had the great privilege of working with Kes Gray promoting his utterly tear jerking picture book Mum and Dad Glue, Including meeting legendary Bookaboo!

For me Field and Gray were an unexpected pairing which showed great vision on the part of the team at Hodder Children’s but which has proven to be 100% charismatic comedy gold.

This book is destined to be a huge success so buy a copy now, or two copies, or two and one for your best friend.

We give this book a huge Book Sniffer paw print of approval – an absolute Technicolor triumph.

If you like you’ll love...

My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes – by Eve Sutton and Lynley Dodd - Published by Puffin

A personal childhood favourite of mine…

Illustrator Spotlight

Jim Field

Visit Jims Website http://www.jimfield.co.uk/ or follow him on Twitter @_JimField

Author Spotlight

Kes Gray

Visit Kes Gray’s website www.kesgray.com Follow Kes on Twitter @kesgray

Also check out the chaps at Hodder Children's @hodderchildrens 

With HUGE thanks to the lovely folk at Hodder Children's Books for sending me a copy of Oi Frog! 

A party of piratical proportions - Captain Beastlie's Pirate Party! by Lucy Coats and Chris Mould

Avast M'hearties, deck swabbers, landlubbers and general layabouts, We are about to set sail on a piratical picture book adventure of a most scurvy nature. 

Presenting scourge of the high seas....

Captain Beastlie's Pirate Party 

Written by Lucy Coats, Illustrated by Chris Mould 

and published by Nosy Crow 

For those of you of a fragile disposition take heed as you will never have met such a fragrant, uncouth and scurvy ridden creature as Captain Beastlie, The creation of prolific children's author Lucy Coats and illustrated by master of pen and ink Chris Mould. 
This dream team pairing have created a magnificent masterpiece in Captain Beastlie's Pirate Party, it has everything, Smelly pirates, bountiful cabbages, a monkey in a fez and lot's of cake. 

Captain Beastlie is custodian of a magnificent pirate ship and a ship shape crew to go with it, eager to please whilst battling to keep things spick and span, despite Beastlie's best efforts to create mess and mayhem wherever he goes. 

Captain Beastlie has begun a countdown, a countdown to his birthday and day by day he counts down on his special birthday calendar, all the while unbeknown to Beastlie his capable crew are hatching a plan and a wonderful birthday surprise! 

Little buccaneers will revel in watching the story unfold right beneath Captain Beastlie's nose.  What on earth do Beastlie's crew have in store for their beloved misunderstood Captain? 

Beautiful to read aloud with little Sniffers and one to be read and re-read over and over again, especially the disgusting bits! 

Packed on every page with bright and masterful illustrations with lots to spot on every spread, this book will be relished by potential pirates of all shapes and sizes. 

A beautifully produced 

book full of high jinx - We award 

Captain Beastlie's Pirate Party

 5 barrels of rum 

AND a bonus sea biscuit!

Birthday suit!

WARNING: This book contains...

• Porridge so gloopy it requires a saw to eat it
• An incident of unsavoury peanut butter extraction,
• Numerous festering cabbages, 
• 7 flashes of pirate pants 
• & a Pirate Captain in his Birthday suit!

Things about Chris Mould which you never knew...

I run about twenty miles a week (but don't seem to be getting anywhere...) 

My studio used to be part of the largest carpet mill in the world.

I now curate a gallery space promoting children's books artwork.

I cook every day ( and i wash up ;-) )

All my dessert choices must contain caramel and a biscuit base.

I do a 'reasonably ' good moonwalk.

Follow Chris on Twitter - @chrismouldink

Some mind boggling facts about Lucy Coats .... Wow

1: I tripped and fell flat on my face in front of the Queen at Buckingham Palace

2: I support Northampton Saints Rugby team #comeonyouSaints

3 I sing nonsense songs to my 3 dogs.

4 I have an Eck nest on my desk

5: I can roll my eyes in 2 different directions

6: I speak fluent Pirate. Aharr! 

Follow Lucy on Twitter @lucycoats 

Purchase a copy of Captain Beastlie's Pirate Party from your local indy book shop or pre-order a copy here  

With thanks to Dom at Nosy Crow, to Lucy for providing some awesome facts 

& Chris Mould for sending me a copy of Captain Beastlie! 

TOOT TOOT 

Tom McLaughlin and his marvellous Story Machine

                                

The Story Machine - REVIEW

Just before Christmas a smart little seasonal elf delivered a very special preview PDF into my in box - (Always such an utter treat to get my peepers laid upon something before I see it in book form) It was the brand new picture book by Sniffer chum Tom McLaughlin. It's called 'The Story Machine' and is heartily endorsed by none other than that Oliver Jeffers chap.  

We'll the cover says it all doesn't it? - Absolute inspiration in picture book form, I was scrabbling for my Tupperware crayon box almost before I'd even finished the story, and I guess that's the pure unadulterated essence picture books, triggering impossible thoughts and inspiring as yet unexplored ideas. 

Join Elliot as he discovers a magnificent old fashioned typewriter, in turn unlocking the wonder of discovering words and creating stories. However this magical discovery isn't all plain sailing and Elliot realises that his talent for drawing pictures in collaboration with his wonderful Story Machine mean he can explore the outer limits of his imagination and beyond. 

Words and pictures weave and swirl across the pages in a dreamlike fashion as the pair set about creating wonderful timeless stories together. 

A fantastically encouraging story for people young and old who struggle with words and spelling but are invigorated by stories and storytelling.  The Story Machine is a must have, especially for those young readers just beginning to experiment with reading and writing on their own. It's the beginning of a fantastical, never ending adventure and this is a great way to start! 

Tom is an insightful author with a spectacular talent for creating beautiful illustrative spreads which draw you hook, line and sinker straight into the heart of a book. 

GRAB A COPY HERE .. or in your local book shop! 

We are most honoured and chuffed to bits that clever old stick Tom McLaughlin has agreed to come and visit Book Sniffer Towers, his very first picture book The Diabolical Mr Tiddles has always been a tip top fave. 

                                  

PRESENTING - Tom McLaughlin

                             

How would your children describe you?

I have asked Harry, my 6-yr-old son and after much thinking, and scratching his head, he said ‘..….nice’.

Describe yourself as a child in 5 words? 

Shy, nervous, daydreaming, hat wearer.

Can you tell us a joke? 

Q: What’s the first sign of madness?

A: Suggs coming up the driveway. BOOM BOOM!

What is your earliest memory?

I remember being at my Nan’s eating chops and mash under the coffee table watching Laurel and Hardy on the TV. I used to watch a lot of those shows when I was little.

Why is it important to encourage children to enjoy books and reading?  

Everything starts from reading. Whether a child goes on to be an accountant or an astronaut, everyone needs to read. The only way to do that is by having children fall in love with words.

About The Story Machine / your work - 

Tells us a little bit about your new book?

It’s about a boy who draws pictures with words. He finds a typewriter and wants to make stories, but because he can’t spell very well, so he decides to draw stories out of letters instead.

The book is about how how frustrating it can be if you’re not good at writing, but yet have stories to tell inside you. being dyslexic it’s how I felt as a child.

Who would this story appeal to? 

Hopefully as many people as possible

Which other illustrators work do you admire? 

If you could illustrate one children's classic which would you choose? 

How long did it take you to develop Elliot as the lead character in The Story Machine? 

Corny I know, but it came to me while I was asleep at 5am. I had an image of a boy playing a typewriter the was some would play a piano, but instead of words flying out, pictures did. By the time 7am came around, I had the whole thing in my head.

Which other author would you like to collaborate with?

I’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with Caryl Hart, Curtis Jobling and Michelle Robinson, anyone else is a bonus!

Tom and Michelle Robinson  

What are your thoughts on the future of digital publishing?

Anyway to get more people reading is fine by me. I have to admit though, I like how a book feels in my hand. It feels right.

What's the strangest question you've ever been asked at an event? 

Are you Roald Dahl? I took a chance and said ‘yes’.

If you could invent any machine what would you invent and why? 

Hmm this is a hard one. I’m still waiting on the flying skateboard from Back to the Future.

                          

Or perhaps it should be a mug that keeps your tea warm, or what about a pair of disco trousers. Yes, definitely the last one!

                                                 

What can you see from your studio window? 

The sky. It’s usually grey, but occasionally blue.

what will you be working on next? 

I’m collaborating with Disney on a TV project, I’m writing and illustrating my first children’s novel for Oxford University Press, as well as writing and illustrating picture books for Bloomsbury and Simon & Schuster.

With HUGE thanks to Tom - 

You can follow him on Twitter! @_TomMcLaughlin 

AND you might also see fit to pop along to visit Tom's fabulous website http://www.tommclaughlin.co.uk/