SHAZAAAaam - Life is Magic by MAGNIFICENT Meg McLaren

Buy a copy HERE 

ALAKAZAM and piff paff poof, 

It's almost here! 

Life is Magic by Meg McLaren

publishes this week!

I have been waiting years for this book, literally YEARS, I first spotted Meg's exquisite work whilst browsing the magical world of Twitter, ever since I've been completely smitten. 
I was a thousand million miles over the moon when I heard that brilliant Libby Hamilton at Andersen Press had finally pulled this magnificent book out of the big publishing Top Hat. 
Meg's illustration style is delicious, cute but not too cute, cool yet uniquely accessible and full full FULL to the brim with clever humour and cheering charm. 

Life is Magic is nothing short of perfection, featuring a merry band of good-willed bunnies who belong to famous magician Monsieur Lapin. 
The great magician needs a new assistant and he thinks he knows just the rabbit for the job, Houdini is everything a good magicians assistant needs to be, he LOVES magic, he's good at looking after his fellow bunnies and he is very VERY enthusiastic.....What could possibly go wrong? Mayhem and back stage anarchy ensue in this picture perfect celebration of the wonderful world of magic. 

Although it is only March, 2016 has already been an interstellar year for children's books and in terms of book design Life is Magic is the creme de la creme. 

The attention to detail from the dust jacket with it's 'make your own magic trick' to the the hardback casing and the tiny advertisements dotted throughout, this book is an example of the love, passion and thought that goes into producing a truly magnificent book for children and adults alike. (Congratulations to all involved) 

Click HERE to learn how to draw your very own bunny! 

Click on the button in the right hand banner

 to visit Meg's website. 

Follow Meg on Twitter @tinyrexwrecks 

Visit the Andersen Press Website

Introducing Belle & Boo and their creator Mandy Sutcliffe

This month sees the launch of two brand new utterly fabulous Belle & Boo sticker and activity books "Play Day" and "My Favorite Things"- If you can imagine french fancies in book form you are almost there - they are literally brimming (BRIMMING I TELL YOU) with fun and inventive things to do - From colouring in, spot the difference and other traditional activities to sticker cupcake decorating and dress-up. 

There is also a subtle educational strand which will help keep the older readers stimulated. 

Children will be entranced by Belle & Boo and their magical friendship and these books allow fans to literally play alongside these two charming characters. 

The treatment of Mandy's sublime artwork has been sensitively adapted to create two content rich books which epitomise the essence of the Belle and Boo brand. 

Perfect for sunny days under a tree, rainy days under a blanket and everyday in between. 

 

We are lucky enough to have been granted an interview with the ever so talented creator of Belle & Boo so here is our Q&A for your delectation.  

Which living illustrator would you most like your portrait painted by?

Jen Corace - I love her work

(You can read more about Jen's stunning work on her website here - http://jencorace.com/ ) 

What are the three most invaluable tools of your trade? 

 my pencil, scanner and wacom tablet

Do you keep sketch books?

 I don't anymore, I keep inspirational folders on my computer that are a collection of things I like and sketches I have done and scanned in.

What is the best part of your job?

There are so many it is hard to choose, working with my friends, getting paid to draw children, seeing my drawings on beautiful products but the best thing must be when I get emails from parents telling me how much Belle & Boo means to them and their little ones.

 Which item other than the books in the Belle and Boo range are you most proud if and why?

 I really love the large dress up Belle & Boo doll we sell as I used to spend hours playing with dress up dolls when I was little and I love the idea that children now are playing with my Belle & Boo.

Do you have any find childhood memories involving books or storytelling?

I have a lovely memory of a rainy afternoon spent in our family tent with my sister and other friends making a story book about a Welsh dragon, my dad art directed the whole thing and we ended up with a really fantastic book, it was a wonderful cosy creative time.

 Which illustrators do you most admire?

 Mary Cicely Barker, E H Shepard & Joyce Lankester Brisley

What is the best gift you have ever received?

It was probably last weekend when my sister looked after my 16 month old twin boys and lent me and my partner Russ her retro camper van for the weekend, we went to the Yorkshire Dales and walked and ate and slept!

 Have you brought any good children's books lately? Which have been. Your favourites? 

 I bought my boys 'The Tiger who Came to Tea' I wish I had filmed their reaction they were "ooohhhhhhh" every time I turned a page and they saw the tiger. We bought them 'I Want my Hat Back" by Jon Klassen and now are a little bit addicted by his books. I also love Miffy and pretty much everything by Maurice Sendak

Who should we follow on Twitter?

oohh you are asking the wrong person I don't even know how it works, our lovely designer Clare is in charge of Twitter but I have just become a big fan of Instagram so follow me at Belle & Boo!

What would your ideal picnic consist of and do you have a favourite picnic spot

 We used to live near Hampstead Heath and had lovely sunny lazy picnics there, I am a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to picnics, french bread, cheese, pink bubbles and a vanilla slice from Patisserie Valerie

What is your favourite thing to do on a rainy day?

Lie on my bed in the attic under the sky light and watch the rain falling on top of me, I will never get tired of the sound of rain.

 What does your studio look like?

 Very corporate I am afraid, I have a glass desk in a corner of an office with a computer, printer and scanner, I imagine I can make it look a lot prettier but when I am at work I always have too much work to do.

Is Belle based on anyone real and did you have an imaginary friend as a child?

I think she is based a little on me as a child as I had the same hair style, no I didn't have an imaginary friend but I believed my toys were real and I still believe in fairies.

What is next for Belle and Boo?

 We hope Belle & Boo get to travel, we have friends all over the world and we want that to grow.

 You can find out more about Bell & Boo by visiting their website http://belleandboo.com/ 

I heartily reccomend you have a look at the entire Belle & Boo story book range - they are utterly divine - you can check them out here 

THANK YOU to Orchard Books and the delightful Sarah Mays for including us on this wonderful blog tour, for sending us such sublime books and for letting us quiz Mandy! 

You can follow Orchard Books on Twitter @orchardbooks

Martha and the Bunny Brothers - I Love Bedtime - An illustrated interview

It is fair to say that when I'm not perched upon my picture book sniffing cushion, one mostly likes to be tucked up beneath a thick quilt and some fine quality Egyptian cotton sheets with a big pile of picture books. 
Bedtime is absolutely one of my MOST favourite times 
of day.

Purely by chance one of my best-beloved illustrators has just created a beautiful picture book celebrating just that.
Clara Vulliamy's charming Martha and the Bunny Brothers hit centre stage once again in I LOVE Bedtime (published by Harper Collins Children's Books)

I LOVE Bedtime is the second in the tuttifruity-fabulous picture book series Martha and the Bunny Brothers, hotly pursuing  I Love School (read our review here), we once again find ourselves smack bang in the midst of the family hubbub that is life in the bunny household. 

Clara's masterful and unique observation of the quirks and joys of everyday life will have little readers pouring over the pages of these books for hours. 

Blossoming with bright vibrant illustrations and written in the voice of Martha Bunny, these books cleverly explore the momentous events in a young bunnies life, such as going to school and the thrills of an evening with a cool babysitter. 

Each page is fit to burst with scrumptious detail and little things to spot and discuss,which partnered with the  
classic contemporary text make a perfect read together book.

Accessible, engaging, entertaining and utterly charming!   

Well it just so happens Martha Bunny is also a good chum of mine and she has very kindly agreed to get her crayons out and help with our very first illustrated Book Sniffer interview (with a little help sharpening her pencils from dear Clara)

So here Sniffers is my bedtime interview with one of the hippiest hoppiest bunnies in town!

What would do your dream slippers look like? Mine are tartan with red piping and very smart indeed (though I might say so myself) 

I'm a big fan of a small snifter and a triangular gentleman's relish sandwich before bed, What's your perfect pre-bedtime treat?

 

Which of your beloved toys would make the best guests at a sleepover?

 

Obviously I know there isn't one *quivers beneath the duvet* BUT if there was, what does the monster in the cupboard on the hallway look like? 

 

I recently discovered a sixpence, a matchbox, three lost socks and a caterpillar underneath my bed, What's underneath your bed?

What do you most like to read by torchlight under the covers?

As well as the obligatory satsuma, walnut and small net of chocolate coins, What would you like to find nestled in a stocking at the end of your bed on Christmas morning?

I'm pretty sure my dear old bear Binky has been out and about gallivanting in the middle of the night, Where would you go on an adventure if perchance one of your toys magically came alive in the middle of the night? 

What makes the perfect breakfast after a long night of blissful Zzzz filled slumber?

I think you'll agree Martha certainly has a talent for drawing! what larks and a huge THANK YOU and triumphant congratulations to Clara.

I MUST draw your to you attention The Bedtime Bunny's song which you will find on Clara's fabulous website here 
I'll admit I was agog and dewy eyed to discover that Clara had made her very own musical box, Simply-unbelievably wonderful, It will brighten up your day!

You can also follow Clara on Twitter @claravulliamy

See more of Clara's books here.. 

Hold on to your hats! 

BEEP BEEP ...COMING SOON ...