Mould, Mills and Magic ...

Toot Toot Sniffers, I have just returned from a mini-holibob visiting my best buddy and squire of Yorkshire, Mr Chris Mould. (you may have seen him in Yorkshire Life magazine)

Who would have thought so much jollification could be stuffed into one measly weekend, I'm fair dinkum pooped.

We started the tour of the north by visiting Dean Clough Mills, a wonderful historical complex rammed to the rafters with creative types.


Behind each door you are likely to discover another exciting artists busily beavering away creating a masterpiece. Behind one such door high up in the rafters of Dean Clough we met Animator and Mould's partner in creative crime Mr Matt Howarth who happens to have wonderful luscious beard.

They are working on an amazing top secret project which you will be hearing about VERY shortly on the App Puppy Blog. I can't tell you much more right now but lets just say it's a cracker!

We also me fellow bearded gentleman Dug who paints voluptuous nudes all day between frequent cups of tea, and a very tall chap who creates wonderful works of art from Lego, and whilst enjoying a cup of hot chocolate the size of Belfast in the 'on site' cafe we met "Essex Stuart" who is actually from Cambridge. He's a computer type and a very nice chap sporting a fashionable Gillet.

A cake with REAL edible glitter ... wow

The afternoon larks continued with a grand tour of Chris Mould's creative lair. My eyeballs fair popped out gawping at all the artwork in his studio, lots of wonderful spreads from his new piratical project with Nosy Crow, 'Captain Beastlie', which I might say is looking rather bloomin' fabulous.

The tools of his trade were laid out on his desk and I took note of the tidy nature of his work space.

Many more cups of tea were quaffed as we caught up on all his thrilling new projects.

After a brief trip to the super market to stock up on supplies (NB:No giant Lindor Choco balls made it into our trolley fortunately)

GULP!

We retired to Mould Mansions to meet the rest of the clan, including Moulds feverishly licky and delightful puppy Alfie.

The evening was spent watching Mould perform his newly acquired magic tricks and supping a fine pint of Sneck Lifter.

As a foot note I would like to mention Moulds handmade onion and goats cheese tart which certainly didn't have a soggy bottom and would have got a double thumbs up from Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood -  AND Following further contractual issues Mould has now agreed to perform his magic tricks (BOTH OF THEM) at the Sniffer Christmas get together! you lucky things.

After a restful night of slumber day two of the tour commenced (following a feast of croissants and about a hundred cups of tea natch).

We headed to a private view back at Dean Clough Mills, the illustrations from a book previously featured on the Sniffer blog was being exhibited so I was most excited.

The artwork from Chris Vines The Baked Alaska Story looked like wonderful jewels on the wall. We were lucky enough to catch up with Chris as he signed copies of his books for eager fans, he was a jolly lovely chap. (pop to Dean Clough if you are up that way and have a peep)

We also had a quick squiz at an exhibition of photography entitles 'Pleasureland' which was utterly stunning in a dark-horrifying-depressing-seaside type of way.

From Dean Clough we jetted off to Saltaire to visit The Salts Mill, somewhere I have been hankering to visit since it was recommended by the delightful Matt Baker on Countryfile.

It was everything I had imagined and more, such a beautiful imposing historical building, with a book shop to rival the best. had I remembered to bring my doubloons I would have been honest to goodness broke. as there were tables piled high with wonderful Children's books (including an intriguing new book by Lauren Child AND the new Jon Klassen which I must get my mitts on) There were also a few interesting publications form No Brow which as also whetted my appetite.

After a sneaky pasty we headed back to Mould Mansions for an afternoon of R&R. The evening was spent scoffing curry and nibbling a naan bread which was as big as a the moon.

I'm back at Sniffer Towers now with an armful of books and a pocket full of happy memories. I cant wait to give Chris's new Pirate Book Pirates 'n' Pistols published by Hodder a good sniffing. (review to follow shortly)

Chris Mould has an exhibition of his work including a display of his sublime painted pebbles so I hope I'll get back 'up north' for that one.

Pebble with pen for scale

A tiny pebble painted to look like a skull

In the meantime keep your peepers peeled for more on his fabulous top secret project on the App Puppy very soon.

Thanks a million to Mr and Mrs Mould and the Mini Moulds and of course Alfie who lent me his bed for the weekend.

Trick or Treat with Giles Paley-Phillips

Seems only a moment ago I was sat in my hammock with my handkerchief hat and sangria, now winter is almost upon us.
The nights are drawing in and the spiders are coming out which means only one thing, tis the season of trickery and pumpkin related fun.

Who better to play a quick game of Trick or Treat with than author Giles Paley-Philips who's new book has more monsters and ghouls in it than you can shake a witches broom at.

INTRODUCING Tamara Small and the Monster's Ball

Prepare to hide behind the sofa lily livers, this is a brilliantly scary rhyming story just in time for Halloween and beyond from author of The Fearsome Beatsie Giles Paley-Phillips.

Meet Tamara Small, a gal with vim who finds herself accompanying a monster (who quite frankly needs a wax) to a fabulous monster ball. There are all kinds of ghouls and warty witches to keep Tamara entertained - soon she's taking to the dance floor and busting some moves worthy of a 'sevuuuun' from Len Goodman.
Any book with a break dancing werewolf gets a sniffer lick of approval. The groooovy monsters have one last tasty surprise for Tamara before she goes home to bed but what could it be? you'll have to read it to find out.

A jolly rip-roaring-read - full to the cauldrons brim with slime, warts, googly eyes, hair where there shouldn't be hair, skeletons and scales.

People's Book Prize winning author Giles has a rare gift for writing edgy, just scary enough, modern picture book texts with lilting and clever rhyme.
Illustrated by again by Gabriele Antonini, with well crafted lively spreads with a familiar Pixar style and packed with all sorts of not too scary creatures. Three cheers for this dynamic team.
 

 

 

Follow Giles on Twitter @tenderbranson10
Check out his author page on Facebook

Picture Book FEAST ! Nom nom nom

 

Toot toot sniffers! The beginning of autumn is upon us, thus it will only be a matter of mere moments until we are donning our tweed and snuggling up betwixt the log burner and the sherry decanter. 

I have a rather droolsome abundance of gem-like wonderment to introduce you to this month, with treasures from amongst others the delightful Kevin Waldron, squeezesome Holly Surplice and new comer Emma Yarlett.
 

So sit yourself in a comfy chair and get a brew on...lets start with an EXCLUSIVE  Sneak peek! (or should that be PEEKS !) at

Pandemonium at Peek Zoo by Kevin Waldron
published by Templar Publishing

 

It seems an age since the first Mr Peek book (5 years in fact) and now, almost upon us is a second, Mr Peek and his assistant Jimmy are celebrating a new arrival of their own in the form of a new baby panda (ahhhh)

Peek is busy organising a free extravaganza at the zoo so everyone can come and greet the monochrome bundle of joy, however as preparations are underway Peek realises the baby panda has in fact GONE MISSING! (and before you ask, NO it wasn't me...) as you can imagine, chaos ensues in the mad dash to find the missing star of the show.

A picture book with a baby panda in a bucket AND a chimps tea party certainly gets he sniffer seal of approval, also look out for Mr Peeks rather snazzy PJ's, I wonder if they do those in pug size...

With all the charm of the first book this welcome addition to the book sniffer shelf is witty and chic in bucket loads.

 

 

Sidney, Stella and the Moon By Emma Yarlett -
Published by Templar Publishing

Anarchic monobrowed siblings Sidney and Stella do everything together, everything EXCEPT sharing. Disaster strikes when the troublesome pair accidentally break the moon! Gasp. With spectacular pull out spreads to drool over and a good smattering of tittersome little details to spot. This modern and fresh picture book is set to be an intergalactic success.

Guinea Pig Party by Holly Surplice published by Nosy Crow.

This iced gem of a picture book is quite literally packed with chubby warbling guinea pigs in party hats, what's not to love!
Any book with a guinea pig conga, mild peril in the form of pin the tail on the donkey, scoffing too much cake, space hoppers and balloons gets a big licky seal of approval from the Sniffer. Counting to ten has never been so much fun. Holly has created a jolly counting book and her candy colour illustrations and spongy cover are the cherry on what is a quite delightful picture book.

Lovely treats for tiddly peeps!

Visit Holly's website here... and check out her wonderful blog !... you can also follow her on Twitter ...@HollySurplice

Fondant Fancies all round! TOOT TOOT

 

MORE NEXT WEEK! ... including treats from Claudia Boldt, James Mayhew AND David Roberts

OH and while I'm here and you're there, get your mitts on a copy of this book (Little Big Books) it is absolutely marvellous! Any Sniffer worth their salt should have this on their shelf!

P.S in regional news... (dated 20/09/12) Pop along to Chris Haughtons exhibition on Brick Lane this weekend and pick up some early Christmas prezzies.. AND check out our Shaun Tan signed book competition on the Book Sniffer Facebook Page! - Closing date 24th Sept 2012)

High Times and Happy Days

A magnificent pug in his flying machine....

Tada-ta-tiddly-tadaaaa.. I'm in my Biggles goggles and my silken scarf is a fluttering in the breeze, My passion for taking to the air has been ignited with a wondrous flame of ingenious publishing from the cads about town at NOBrow.

So fasten your seat belts and crack open your miniature bag of peanuts for today we are sniffing High Times by Golden Cosmos

High Times details the history of flight and aviation from Icarus to jets and beyond. Featuring hot air balloons, rockets, Zeppelins, world war two bombers, passenger airlines and space shuttles amongst many more.  
Unlike any common or garden wall chart you may have come across in the past this unusual leporello style book folds out into a stunning double sided concertinaesque panoramic story-scape (now that's a mouthful) it's jewel like colorscheme and vintage style make this a unique publication which doesn't bow down to a younger audience but will positively grab their attention and launch it straight into the atmosphere. 

As an object it it droolsomely stunning and worthy of framing, as an educational tool it is packed with detail whilst being absorbing and accessible in equal measures.

These beautiful objects would make a welcome addition to any young sniffers library to be poured over again and again.

In addition to High Times this series also includes the stunning Swan Lake which features front of house and back stage spreads.

With comical characters in the audience enjoying the show to theatre workers beavering away in the wings, children will love using their imagination to disappear into the wonderful magical world of ballet. Ive been spinning about the house in my tutu ever since.

Now let me tell you a little bit about NoBrow, I first sniffed their publishing in a snazzy art gallery in Edinburgh and was so utterly blown away by the quality that I had to have a sit down and a cup of tea and a cake.

No Brow strive to publish books with their inherent qualities as objects in mind, doing everything in their super powers to ensure that they look good, smell good and most of all tell great stories!

You must must must check out the NoBrow website here AND follow them on Twitter @nobrowpress - You won't regret it, and that's a cast iron Book Sniffer promise with a cherry on top.