Introducing .......my new team mate!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE....

I'm thrilled to announce we have a new crew member on board the good ship Book Sniffer  

INTRODUCING 
(with an enormous tooty fanfare) 
our new 
London based 
roving reporter 

Steven Lenton! 
Here's a sneaky taster...

With up to the minute finger on the pulse news, The Book Sniffer blog will continue to be the one stop shop for picture book fanatics of all shapes and sizes.

Award-winning illustrator Steven will be providing much needed vlog content each month, delivered in his uniquely charming and enthusiastic style. 

His first assignment is to set about interviewing and interrogating the crème de la crème of the Illustration world, "no question too quizzical no delve too deep".
So look out for some of our favourites coming very soon. We hope you will enjoy watching this new content as much as we will making it.

You can find out more about Steven and his illustration work here  http://www.2dscrumptious.com 

you can also find Steven and an abundance of puns on Twitter @2dscrumptious

THREE CHEERS AND WELCOME ON BOARD BUDDY! Here's to many mischievous bookish adventures...

Lock up your valuables! there's a master criminal in town...

Shifty McGifty & Slippery Sam

 The Diamond Chase 

By Tracey Corderoy and Steve Lenton 

£10.99 HB Published by Nosy Crow

Our beloved well-meaning dough-wielding dog detectives are back on the case when a valuable diamond tiara belonging to non-other than Lady Kate goes missing in this fabulous penguin filled romp. 

A perfectly rhyming text written by Tracey Corderoy will tickle your funny bone while the luscious illustrations by our next guest will have you reaching for the nearest bun. A fantastic story to read aloud and one which will no doubt be enjoyed over and over again. But for heavens sake keep hold of your jewels...just in case.

Let's sit down and have a chat and a cup of tea with illustrator 
Steven Lenton!

Do you have a favourite cake recipe? 

Lemon Drizzle or Coffee and Walnut are my absolute favourites to make.  As far as 'shop bought' goes we are very lucky/unlucky that our studio is next door to the Hummingbird Bakery in Soho and the chocolatey waves of deliciousness waft in through our windows every morning and afternoon - they bake the MOST DELICIOUS Red Velvet cupcakes.

Do you have a favourite penguin fact?

I love the contemporary classic fact that Benedict Cumberbatch can't pronounce the word penguin correctly. My favorite, more educational fact is that Penguin’s black and white plumage serves as camouflage while swimming. The black plumage on their back is hard to see from above, while the white plumage on their front looks like the sun reflecting off the surface of the water when seen from below. Isn't nature just AMAZING?!

Whats your favourite pantone colour? 

I prefer PANATONE (especially at Christmas), but my favourite PANTONE color would have to be ORANGE 021 C, because it is the orange featured throughout our premier Shifty and Sam fiction title 'The Spooky School' publishing in September, which Tracey and I are really thrilled about. 

Which is your favourite spread in the book? 

It has to be the reveal of the 42 Penguins in the ballroom scene - when Tracey and I have read the story at events and schools the audience always gasps when they see all the dancing dogs surrounded by waiter penguins - but which one is Sidney Scarper?!

Tell us about your three favourite book shops in London. 

Pickled Pepper is my local children's books shop in Crouch End and has a wonderful selection of classic and contemporary picture books and fiction titles.  They also allow me to create lovely window displays for my books and throw lovely book launches too - Steve and Urmi who own and run the business are lovely and BIG Shifty and Sam fans.

Waterstones Piccadilly and Waterstones stores in general have been incredibly supportive of our Shifty and Sam series and I LOVE to spend as much time as possible exploring the floors (maybe even sometimes the cocktail bar on the way 5th floor, ahem!) chock-full with beautiful tomes.

One book shop which I hope to visit soon is the beautiful Tales on Moon Lane - I think that shop could possible become a new favourite too!

Which spread was the trickiest to complete? 

There is a lot of plot going on in the Shifty and Sam picture books, so keeping the illustrations simple yet full of detail and humour is generally quite tricky!  In this one I think again the ballroom scene as there were so many penguins and dogs to draw! I think my favourite bit in this spread is the two bull terriers dancing the tango!

What would your dog Holly make of Shifty and Sam? And who would she be if she was in one of their adventures? 

WELL it's funny you should say that as Holly does feature somewhere in all three picture books so far - can you spot her?  She is a miniature Jack Russell!  In real-life Holly likes to be the centre of attention so I think she would be MILDLY disappointed that she doesn't have a main role in any of the books.....so far!

Do you collect anything? 

I'm sorry/not sorry to say that I am slightly obsessed not only with collecting picture books, but also Jem and the Holograms merchandise...

See my studio desk as proof! I had a secret obsession with the cartoon in the 80's!

Whats on the drawing board? 

I am working on a top secret picture book just now which will tell you more about as soon as I am allowed!  Also Tracey and I are working on the 4th and 5th Shifty and Sam picture books along with the 2nd and 3rd fiction titles! I am also currently writing my second picture book with Nosy Crow. 

Where can we catch you and lovely Tracey on tour over the next few months? 

We have been very lucky this year and have been invited along to all the major festivals and Tracey has been touring literally HUNDREDS of schools up and down the country with The Diamond Chase! Catch us together at the Edinburgh Festival, Bath Festival, The Cheltenham Festival which we are launching again this year.

BUY A COPY HERE 

With HUGE Thanks to Steven 

for taking the time to join us, 

and to 

Nosy Crow and *Dom* for 

sending us a copy of this book! 

FOLLOW Steven on Twitter @2dscrumptious 

Be sure to check in with Picture Books Blogger for the final stop on this blog tour! 

A Yuletide Bonanza!

‘The Yuletide season is almost upon us dear chums, the perfect time for sharing a picture book under a huge cosy quilt so here for your delectation and delight are a selection of absolute Christmas Picture Book Crackers.‘

Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan

Published by Hodder Children’s Books

A mesmeric addition to Shaun Tan’s eclectic array of thoughtful and surreal picture books.

Two brothers explore the boundaries of their relationship in a breath taking landscape inhabited by a menagerie of make-believe creatures. This book grows more sublime with every brush stroke and each turn of the page.

Herman’s Letter  by Tom Percival 

Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

The best depiction of friendship since Bert and Ernie, Herman (the bear) and Henry (the raccoon) are best of friends but when Henry moves away Herman has trouble dealing with his own company and feeling jealous of Henry’s new life.

Herman decides to embark on an epic and at times hilarious journey to find his best friend.  A perfect book for sharing with someone you love.

Ernest and Celestine - Merry Christmas 

By Gabrielle Vincent

Published by Catnip distributed by Bounce Marketing

Dear old bear and little mouse are back in a beautiful classic, Using ingenuity and love Ernest organizes a wonderful Christmas party for Celestine and her friends. A wonderful traditional tale with a supremely relevant message about the joys of a homemade Christmas and sharing it with those you love. Home really is where the heart is with Ernest and Celestine, this book is as warming and comforting as an afternoon by a log fire with a cup of hot chocolate.

Professor Astro Cat’s Frontiers of Space 

By Dr Dominic Walliman and Ben Newman 

Published by Flying Eye Books

Flying Eye Books are trailing a dazzling blaze with this utterly visually arresting book - Professor Astro Cat guides our intrepid space explorers on an amazing interstellar adventure – Ben's artwork is eye boggling, cool and cutting edge and compliments perfectly the fact filled text in a unique and engaging way. Complete with a fact file at the back and cheese stealing aliens – What’s not to love. 

A beautifully produced book which will leap off the shelves.

Princess Penelope and the Runaway Kitten 

By Alison Murray 

Published by Nosy Crow

A perfectly pink rhyming ‘tail’ about a mischievous kitten and a ball of magical pink wool. 

Penelope has the run of a most marvelous palace as she chases a playful kitten tumbling and skipping through the grounds of her home. With a wonderful vibrant pink glittery trail to follow on each page. Completely delicious .

The Story of Stars – By Neal Layton 

Published by Hodder Children’s Books

The third in the ‘Story of…’ series , The Story of Stars contains millions of stars and the rest of the cosmos squashed into 10 pop-up pages.. that’s all!!!!!

You will gasp and gawp at the incredible pop-up’s which spring, shoot and unfurl from the pages of this book. A chronological journey through the discovery of stars with Neal’s hilarious mad cap style and numerous funny details to spot  - this book will be shared over and over for millions of years to come.  

Stars the universe and EVERYTHING – what more could one ask for? Also a special mention to in mind boggling background research undertaken by Captain Layton – He certainly deserves a sit down and a cup of tea.

PERFECT STOCKING FILLER:

A Letter for Bear – By David Lucas 

Published by Flying Eye Books

A glistening gem of a book – a small hardback printed in the colours of frosted ginger bread this story tells the wintery tale of an earnest post man bear and how a cockle warming cosy Christmas cave party with his forest friends came to be.

CLASSICS TO COVET:

Alice Through The Looking Glass

By Emma Chichester-Clark 

Published by Harper Collins:

A beautiful re-imagining of the lesser known Alice tale including all of your favorite characters to spot.  

This version will engage and enthrall readers of all ages and make an enviable addition to any home library. 

Emma’s vibrant pallet and ability to create movement and character make this particular version a true treasure.

The Babar Collection – By Jean De Brunhoff 

Published by Egmont

An exquisite slipcased edition of a much-loved collection of stories featuring a regal family of elephants. 

With a beautiful mix of 5 classic stories including Babar and Father Christmas, fans of Babar new and old will relish this wonderful book.

This timeless collection would make a wonderful gift.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea – Special Edition

By Judith Kerr – Published by Harper Collins

A delectable celebration edition of what must be one of the most iconic picture books of recent generations. With vibrant technicolor illustrations which will transport you instantly into Sophie’s world. 

First created in 1968 this tale of an imaginary tiger and the implications of having one over to tea will continue to appeal to young readers for many many years to come.

Pug’s Picks of the year: 

A special mention for some of my 

particular highlights of 2013

I have been extremely lucky this year to have received an absolute abundance of wonderful picture books, but if I was pushed and HAD to choose 4 which I just KNOW you will love then these are the one's I'd pick.

The Storm Whale – By Benji Davies (@Benji_Davies)

Published by Simon and Schuster - Review here

Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam

By Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton  (@TraceyCorderoy and @2dScrumptious)

Published by Nosy Crow - Review here

Primrose by Alex T Smith (@Alex_T_Smith)

Published by Scholastic - Review here

Bubble & Squeak by James Mayhew and Clara Vulliamy (@mayhewjames and @ClaraVulliamy)

Published by Orchard Books - Review here

Happy Reading Sniffers – See you next year! TOOT TOOT!

Please don't forget to follow me on Twitter this Christmas season @maybeswabey and join our fabulous Facebook page here