If 2016 was spent tucked away, working on books, then 2017 will see those books published. I completed two books this last year, and they both are major titles that I am especially proud of.
First of all, the new Ella Bella title, which is Ella Bella Ballerina and The Magic Toyshop. This is based on the Respighi/Rossini confection, La Boutique Fantasque, a wonderful Diaghilev ballet that I have a personal fondness for. The music and story are a joy, and I first heard it as a very young child when my sister Kate (“Katie”) was given a record of it. She always called it her “Dolly Record”, and so what I think of as the “Dolly Music” is always linked in my mind to her and our childhood. Here is the paper sleeve she kept the record in!
The story, set on the French Riviera, is about a toyshop filled with extraordinarily life-like dolls. The toy-maker and his assistant welcome assorted customers to the shop, but then trouble arises when two families both want to buy a particular set, a pair of can-can dancers. What no-one quite realises is that these are magic dolls and they are in love… if they are separated, their hearts will be broken! Can Ella Bella save the day? You’ll have to wait until October 5th, when the book is published by Orchard/Hachette, to find out! Meanwhile, here are some images to whet the appetite…
The other book I have been working on is a complete departure from anything I have done before, and I am so excited. Many years ago I wrote a couple of texts for my very good friend Jackie Morris, a wonderful artist and writer. She always promised to return the favour, and now she has… with Mrs. Noah’s Pockets. To be published by Otter-Barry Books in August 2017, the book is a beautifully written twist on the story of Noah’s Ark, in which Mrs. Noah defies her husband and hides… something in her many pockets. I’m not saying what, but it sure was fun to illustrate.
Loosely inspired by my design’s for Britten’s opera Noye’s Fludde in 2013 (see HERE), the illustrations have been created in a whole new way, with printmaking, collage, painting and experimenting. Here’s a glimpse:
Beyond these two titles, I am also able to reveal there will be new KATIE titles… with a difference. These will not be storybooks, but activity books, colouring in or art books.They are published in collaboration with Hachette (Orchard Books) and the National Gallery, and are a perfect extension to this series that has celebrated art for children for nudging 30 years!
Now I am developing some new ideas… and news of these will filter through in time. Some new collaborations, some exciting projects lie ahead…HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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