The Bolds written by Julian Clary and illustrated by David Roberts

To say I was excited when this landed on my doorstep would be a vast understatement.

A new book with artwork from David Roberts is always a highlight of the year for me and I can never wait to get my hands on it and pore through it's pages. To be able to vary his style, with it still being recognisable as his work, is incredible - take Iggy Peck, Architect and Tinder for example. I particularly love his picture books including his own character Dirty Bertie, his work with Andrea Beaty, Peter Bently and his sister Lynn Roberts. He's also illustrated covers for iconic children's books; The St Clare's series by Enid Blyton, 101 Dalmations by Dodie Smith and The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper.

David has also illustrated children's fiction for many wondrous writers, Sally Gardner, Kenneth Grahame and Philip Ardargh to name a few. But not for Julian Clary before...


INTRODUCING...

Julian Clary's first book for children... And a bloomin' good one it is too...

THE BOLDS

Meet Mr and Mrs Bold, and their twins Bobby and Betty in this utterly hilarious novel for children aged eight and up.

And so we begin...

After witnessing the death of two humans who were on their honeymoon in Africa (they were taking a nuddy dip in a pond and unfortunately got snapped up by some rather hungry crocodiles). A somewhat quick conversation arose about moving to England, including pointing out the highly commendable fact that 'the humans there love queuing', Sue and Spot the hyenas find themselves assuming the identity of Fred and Amelia Bold. Snatching The Bold's passports, tucking in their tails and donning Amelia and Fred's outfits, they make their way back to The Bold's humble abode in Teddington to start a new life as well-bred humans. Julian Clary says, on the setting of his new book - 'I grew up in Teddington - a very suburban place with tree-lined streets and a nice park - so it seemed right and proper to set [The Bolds] there'.

Once in Teddington, The Bold's try to settle in to human life. Getting to grips with concepts like money, jobs, supermarkets and driving is tough for most humans, let alone hyenas. But Mr and Mrs Bold adjust quickly and soon find themselves with perfectly suited roles. Mrs Bold sets up a stall selling unusual hats which the ladies of Teddington take a fancy to, wearing them to weddings. Mr Bold gets a job writing jokes for Christmas crackers, just as well he's always fit to burst with laughter! I imagine Mrs Bold's new job is a nod towards David Roberts' passion for hats, with his background in millinery and fashion, which you can often spot in his work.

Bobby and Betty are born shortly afterwards and their parents decide to tell them about their real heritage just before they start primary school (so as to not show off their tails of course). All goes swimmingly, and later even the twins school friend Minnie, who accidentally discovers the tail whilst playing fancy dress with Betty, keeps their secret.

Their neighbour Mr McNumpty however is a rather suspicious character, quite mean and rude and doesn't seem to like The Bolds at all. What is Mr McNumpty up to? Does he know The Bold's secret? Will he uncover them and send them back to the wild? Throughout the book there are suspicious lines about Mr McNumpty including - 'for some reason he was a touch nocturnal himself' and 'in fact, he quite fancied having a dig himself...'  indicating that Mr McNumpty might have a secret of his own!

After a family trip to Kenton Safari Park, to introduce the children to their roots, a plea for help from some fellow hyenas' gives The Bolds a mission - to save an elderly hyena called Tony from being 'put to sleep' at Kenton, a decision somewhat lightly made by the vet and safari park worker.

There are some real laugh out loud bits, including this one for the adults - "his sturdy shopping bag, which had served him well for many years (indeed, proclaimed itself to be a 'bag for life!') suddenly gave way along it's seams and fell apart."

and when one of the hyenas at Kenton Safari Park, Ena, introduces herself (eight year old me would have told this to EVERYONE!)

'This is my Boo, and I'm Ena,' said Ena.
'Hi, Ena,' said Fred. 'Hyena! That's funny!'

Very cleverly written, with lots of humorous bite, Julian Clary has crafted a brilliant story. Funny, quick-witted and inventive, this fantastic book will keep both children and adults entertained. Perfectly sinister at times but with obvious playfulness running through it, a thoroughly enjoyable novel.

I'll be giving away a copy of The Bolds by Julian Clary, illustrated by David Roberts on my Twitter - @lauramainellen - so check out there to be in with a chance of winning #TheBolds

The Bolds is published by Andersen Press and is £6.99, available in all good bookshops.

The very special Clara Vulliamy

Recently, my very lovely friend Clara Vulliamy created a unique little illustration just for me. I feel SO lucky and can't help but smile every time I see it!

Clara is an incredibly talented illustrator and author of lots of wonderful children's books, including the Dixie O'Day series with her mother, Shirley Hughes. She's also got a book coming out in September with Polly Faber called Mango and Bambang: The Not-a-Pig (Walker Books) which is truly lovely and a review will be popping up on here closer to publication date!

So for this illustration I sent Clara a few childhood snaps, and she's done a very fine job - it really does look like me as a little girl. The inspiration for the illustration comes from the name of my blog, Written in the Kitchen Sink and my YouTube video blog, Plugging Pictures - both inspired by one of my favourite books I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.

Clara has captured everything perfectly, from the books stacked in the dish rack right down to the red ribbon in my hair and my yellow wellingtons. Three cheers for Clara, illustrator extraordinaire!

Lucky by David Mackintosh (and a sneak peek of What's Up Mumu?)

So I've just posted a video review of David Mackintosh's latest picture book Lucky which came out last summer with HarperCollins...

Please check it out and let me know what you think! 

Home by Carson Ellis

Hello!

So I've decided to try something new, and I've just posted my very first video blog on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icxueFeePWA

It's a sneak peek of a VERY special picture book called Home by Carson Ellis, coming out in September with Walker Books.

Check out my short video, with lots of 'um's' and mistakes and Bambi-like editing and please do let me know what you think!

Seen and Not Heard

The children of Shiverhawk Hall are to be seen and not heard... So what do you think they get up to when no one's around?! Pillow fights and midnight feasts (starting with pudding of course!) but they must be back in the nursery before sunrise.




This is a lovely book to read aloud, the words skip, stop and rhyme over the pages. Every little detail has been thought about in this delightful picture book, the names of the children alone make the book pretty darn cool:
Lily and Percy Pinksweet
Billy Fitzbillian III
Lila and Vila DeVillechild
Prudence, Peter and Pearl Plumsey

Katie May Green's illustration is so soft, with sweeping neutral colours throughout and cheeky grins from all the children. Katie got some of her inspiration from old Victorian paintings of children - see her post on Walker Books' website here

Oh and don't forget to look out for the black cat on nearly every page and the teeny tiny mice!

Seen and Not Heard by Katie May Green is published by Walker Books in hardback at £11.99 and is available at all good bookshops and at waterstones.com

Before After

Firstly, format wise this book offers something different - it’s a large hardback fiction size but purely illustrated, not a single word graces the pages.

I really love the way that this book says so much with pictures, and pictures alone. Each page depicts a before and after scenario - an acorn and an oak tree, an inkwell and quill opposite a typewriter, a pumpkin and a carriage. Some are fairly obvious, a caterpillar and butterfly for example. Whereas others are more complex, a rocking horse and a rocking chair. Each double page spread is a delight - the simple drawings and choice of colours are perfect.

Reading in sequence, page after page, you’ll notice a few of the images are potentially connected in one way or another but I won't spoil it... A particularly lovely book to discover with children (and adults!)

This gorgeous book by Anne-Margot Ramstein & Matthias Aregui is published by Walker Books is available in hardback at £12.99 and is available at waterstones.com

Millie Marotta's Animal Kingdom

This is a brand new totally awesome colouring book for older children and grown ups that haven't quite grown up yet (like me!)

Millie Marotta is a freelance illustrator based in Wales, her intricate work is perfect for for filling in with bursts of colour. Her book is absolutely full of pages (ninety to be exact - if you include the fab endpapers which are free to colour too!) of animals and nature to bring to life.

Every detail has been thought about. If, like me, you have a bit of OCD with things like stripes (I almost always alternate two colours) you'll notice there is always an even number of stripes - PERFECT!

Armed with my Muji felt tips and my Fabriano colouring pencils I set to work! I'll let the pictures do most of the talking this time...

Millie Marotta's Animal Kingdom is published by Batsford at £9.99 and is available at Waterstones Piccadilly, waterstones.com and most independent bookshops. 

Happy Birthday Madame Chapeau

I once found a book,
and was instantly hooked.

Iggy Peck was his name,

and architecture his game.

Then Rosie came too,

and oh how she flew!

I was told of Chapeau,

(David used to make hats - did you know?!)

Circling the pub date,

I just couldn't wait!

Happy Birthday Madame Chapeau, is a perfect book. 

Every year on her birthday, lonely milliner Madame Chapeau visits the most elegant restaurant in town, Chez Snooty-Patoot. On her way there she trips and a bird snatches her favourite hat! She's offered one to wear by a baker, a policeman and a cowboy but she knows that none are quite right. A gorgeous story about friendship and love that has the perfect fit at the end. 

Combining clever and witty rhyming text with the most beautiful illustrations, completely destined to make a very special picture book. Andrea Beaty's thoughtful prose rolls off the tongue (unlike my verse above!) as you follow Madame Chapeau's story.

David Roberts (yes I am a MEGA fan) considers every detail possible, I notice something new and interesting in his illustrations every time I visit his books - this one is no exception. Roberts was a milliner and talking to him earlier this year, he had so much fun creating something with two of his loves; hats and illustration, and this definitely shows in the book.

I am certainly no fashion fanatic but my mother used to take me to VV Rouleaux in Marylebone on my birthday every year to choose some new ribbons, I know it's a bit old fashioned but I loved it (and I still have most of them tucked away in a box!)

This books is utterly delightful and a perfect gift for any story lover.

Published by Abrams and is £10.99 in hardback. 

Nearly two years later...

So after nearly two years of not blogging at all, I've decided to take it up again!

I'll be regularly posting about children's books (mostly!) whether they are new, old, soon-to-be published or out of print. 

Follow me on Twitter @lauramainellen or subscribe by email to keep up to date with my latest posts!

Down under picture books for ankle biters!

It being Australia ('Straya!) day last Saturday, I got thinking about picture books that have an Australian theme or even small details relating to Australia and I managed to come up with quite a few off the top of my head! 

I had various Australian Au pairs growing up; Kylie One, Kylie Two and Vanessa (I'm not joking about the Kylie's!) until I was about 12 (I was regularly called an ankle biter and nipper) I also had a some great lodgers for a while, two lovely Australian couples from Melbourne (of which all have children now and are living back in Aus). "G'day" and "no worries" were definitely part of my everyday language as a kid with these guys around!

My mum also spent quite a bit of time in Aus when she was about 25 and she is always saying how much she loved her time there. 

Anyway I thought I'd share this list on here (as I've never written anything but reviews on here so far...) so here goes!

'Possum Magic' written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas

“Once upon a time, but not very long ago, deep in the Australian bush, there lived two possums. Their names were Hush and Grandma Poss. Grandma Poss made bush magic…”

Grandma Poss uses bush magic to do all sorts of things, including making Hush invisible. But one day Hush wants to be visible again and the only way to do this is to find the right food (people food not possum food!) So they tour Australia from Brisbane to Sydney trying different foods to make Hush visible again; including ANZAC biscuits, pavlova and Lamingtons!

A brilliant story with fabulous illustrations - a treasured book in my house. 

'Slow Loris' written and illustrated by Alexis Deacon

OK so Alexis isn't Australian and neither is this book... But I had to include this little illustration from the book! 

'Diary Of A Wombat' written by Jackie French and illustrated by Bruce Whatley

Way before Diary Of A Wimpy Kid there was Diary Of A Wombat! Simple illustrations detailing an introduction of what wombats do with their days. Oh, they like digging holes, eating and sleeping (as well as something else but you'll have to read to find out!)

There is also Diary Of A Christmas Wombat and Diary Of A Baby Wombat which are equally fantastic.

'Boomer The Roo' & 'An Emu Called Tangles' written by Josephine Barrymore and illustrated by Leanne Fleming or Lauren Wilhelm

Both of mine are inscribed 'Dear Laura, lots of love always, Kylie one xxxx' and I truly treasure these - the publisher was fitting for me, Little Aussie!

'Here come the Little Aussies running down the track, they're off to visit Tangles in the Great Outback. 

First comes Kip, he's carrying his swag.

Smokey's put his bush hat on and Buttons has her bag.'

Kip's a surfer and a skateboarder by the way, and Boomer is a lifeguard. Awesome characters and of course a moral to each story where Boomer or Tangles save the day and teach the Little Aussies (koalas) a lesson!

'This Is Australia' written and illustrated by Miroslav Sasek

Again not actually Australian but a lovely addition to anyone's library, gorgeously illustrated detailing landmarks, Australian animals and culture. 

Someone told me a few days ago that they never wanted to visit or live in Australia because what little culture they had was boring and uninteresting, I honestly don't think she could have been more wrong and I really hope I'm lucky enough to visit one day (or to live would be my dream!)

Here's a little Roo just because they're so cute! 

Anyway I hope you've enjoyed this post, and please do comment/tweet me letting me know of any other Aussie books you would recommend! Also if you're ever in Melbourne visit The Little Bookroom (@Little_Bookroom), a delightful children's bookshop. 

Extra Reading:

'Edwina The Emu' by Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement

'Edward The Emu' by Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement

'Greetings From Sandy Beach' by Bob Graham

'Window' by Jeannie Baker

'W Is For Wombat' by Bronwyn Bancroft

'Kangaroo's Can Can Cafe' by Julia Jarman and Lynne Chapman

'Aussie Animals' by Rod Campbell

'The Bungarra Five' by Josephine Barrymore and Lauren Wilhelm

'The Arrival' by Shaun Tan

Slightly unrelated but also pretty much any book published by Walker Books Australia too.