Interview with Sophy Henn

Sophy Henn lives and works in Sussex, England. She writes and illustrates children's books in her studio, with a large cup of tea by her side, and can't quite believe her luck. Where Bear?, her first book, was nominated for both the Kate Greenaway Medal and shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize in 2015. Pom Pom Gets the Grumps won Junior Design Awards Best Book of the Year 2015, and Sophy won Best Emerging Talent (Children's Author). She was also the World Book Day Illustrator for 2015 and 2016.

BWB: This is your third Pom Pom picture book. Out of the three which one is your favourite?

SH: Oh heavens, that's like asking someone to chose between their children! Hmmm. I have a huge soft spot for Grumps as it was the original Pom Pom. I didn't know he would have a series at that point and it was written as a stand alone book. The story is based on the real life events that inspired Pom Pom. A lovely little girl having a bit of a moment and telling everyone to "GO AWAY" over and over until everyone did. Then she got a bit worried and we heard her calling out for everyone in a very little, worried voice. Being a toddler is so tricky, all these new situations, emotions and hormones, you are constantly having to work out the 'right' response to things and trying to remember to keep things in check. The idea behind Grumps was to reassure the reader that everyone has bad days, but it's not the end of the world, you just have to own your mistakes and say sorry. Oh, and to make the reader laugh, obviously! But getting to create Champion and Super as well was amazing. Showing the different aspects of Pom Pom has been lovely, I think Super in particular shows another side of Pom Pom, a little more introspective and unsure of himself. So basically I love them all equally (but maybe one a little bit more for sentimental reasons)! 

BWB: I think Pom Pom would make a great preschool tv show. Would you ever consider going that direction with him?

SH: Thank you! It's funny, but a few people have said that since Pom Pom is Super has come out and having thought about it I could imagine Pom Pom tearing it up on the TV! I love a lot of Pre School TV and I have done my fair share of viewing ( I was in the original Balamory and Bob the Builder era!), I might even be known to watch the occasional episode of Hey Duggee!, which is amazing. The spirit of the Pom Pom books is a positive one, celebrating different characters and the joy, excitement and occasional upset that comes with being so little and discovering new things all the time.  I think so long as the programme stayed true to that, the illustration style and characters, then I would definitely consider a Pom Pom TV show. I am now imagining the theme tune!

BWB: Are pandas your favourite type of bear? If so, why?

SH: I love all bears! But Pom Pom had to be a panda, even before he got his name! As I mentioned before the inspiration came from a momentarily furious little girl but I knew I didn't want the character to be a little girl or boy as that seemed too gender specific so I started thinking about animals. I love the You Tube clip Pandas on a Slide, the Pandas are just so happy and laid back, rolling into on another and lolling about at the bottom of the slide, in no hurry to move on or get out of the way of the next sliding Panda. There are no sudden movements, they all just seem very happy. The idea of combining a furious little person with a chilled out, cute and cuddly Panda made me laugh and Pom Pom was born!

BWB: Can we expect more adventures with Pom Pom soon?

SH: Oh I hope so! Pom Pom is always in my mind, I am always jotting down things I have seen or overheard that seem Pom Pom-ish to me! My next book is about a human girl though...

BWB: Who is your favourite fictional bear and why?

SH: Oh heavens, that's like the first question...almost impossible to answer, there are lots of excellent bears about, Balloo, Paddington, Mr.Panda (I'm a stickler for manners!), Jon Klasson's bear with the missing hat, Fred the Bear and of course David Litchfield's piano playing bear. But if I am only allowed one then I think I am going to have to go for the classic....Winnie the Pooh. AA Milne's stories and the themes within them are timeless, endearing, joyous and occasionally heartbreaking, I have learnt many a life lesson from Winnie the Pooh. And EH Shepard's beautiful and seemingly effortless illustrations give such heart to the characters. Winnie's top spot was cemented by my daughter loving him too, though she called him Winnie-a-pooh. Bless!

Thank you to Sophy for once again letting me pick her brains! If you would like to see more of her wonderful work check out her website here. Pom Pom is Super is available to buy now at all good bookshops.

POM POM is Super

POM POM is Super

By Sophy Henn

Published by Puffin

Pom Pom is back again and he's more SUPER than ever! In his third outing, Pom Pom is discovering all his friends have 'super' talents - but what makes him special? Another gem from super talented Sophy Henn has landed!

One morning Pom Pom bursts from his bed, he's super excited that his friends are coming round to play. He gets everything ready; his best toys all out and lined up and lots and lots of snacks. DING DONG! went the doorbell. His first guest was here! Buddy flashes in and announces that he's Buddy the FANTASTIC Footballing Flash! Then Rocco turns up dressed as The Ant King, along with SCOUT the SPECTACULAR! Last to arrive is Baxter, dressed as Twinkly Twirly TORNADO BEAR. 

All his friends all looked super, and Pom Pom wanted to be super too, but what was he super at? He tried juggling but that didn't end well (especially when you use biscuits), he gives being a super-duper tidy-upper a go (but he decides that's not really something he wanted to be super at), maybe he was a superhero that could fly? Unfortunately Pom Pom finds out that Pandas aren't meant to leave the ground and comes down with a thump. With a little help from his friends, Pom Pom discovers that he's not just super at one thing, he's SHOUTY HULA DISCO Pom Pom!

All the usual ingredients are here; Sophy's colourful and bright illustrations we've come to recognise through all her books and a heart warming, funny story about friendship and finding out what you're good at. Of course this Pom Pom outing has that extra dash of 'super' which makes it the perfect book for your little superheroes.

Pom Pom is Super is available to buy now at all good bookshops and online at Puffin here. I caught up with Sophy to get more Pom Pom exclusives and ask her some bear related questions. Check out the interview here.

Hilda And The Stone Forest

Hilda And The Stone Forest

By Luke Pearson

Published by Flying Eye Books

Hilda is back for her fifth adventure and what a thrilling adventure awaits! Filled with a host of characters from the previous instalments, this is definitely a welcome return for everybody's favourite blue haired adventurer.  

Hilda is spending more time outside than inside and her mother doesn't approve of her constant adventure seeking. The story begins with Hilda chasing a piece of earth that has four legs, on top is the house of a family of invisible tiny elves. Hilda eventually outsmarts the runaway turf and returns the house to its village, with Hilda now feeling responsible for the helpless invisible folk that live there - she's somewhat become a Superhero to them that constantly saves the day.

With Hilda rarely at home, her mother starts to get anxious about where Hilda is spending all her time. Things come to a boiling point when Hilda gets grounded for sneaking out to take a flight on the huge talking raven and after days of being stuck inside, Hilda can't take anymore and decides to use Tontu to slip away to see the fireworks at the Bird Parade. It's only when she's stepping through a crack in the wall that her mother comes in to make amends and they end up in the stone forest. 

Hilda, twig and her mother embark on a way to get back to Trolberg, but instead find trolls and lots of them. They get discovered when a baby troll sniffs them out and mayhem erupts when the other trolls are alerted of their presence. Luckily, by using a pile of food the trolls have stolen, Hilda, Twig and her mother manage to sneak out and see Trolberg in the distance. But their ordeal isn't over yet when Twig is left behind and Hilda's mother returns to save Twig from a two headed troll. 

Inside the trolls world, Hilda's mum quickly gets stuck in what looks like a dead end and its Hilda's impatience that gets her out. A chase from the two headed troll has Hilda and company on a run for their lives, but not all trolls are bad, as Hilda's mum finds out. With a troll and it's offspring putting them up for the night and helping them find the outside world again her faith is restored - but what will the next morning bring? 

Hilda And The Stone Forest is another thrilling instalment to the series and ends on a cliffhanger that will have you wanting the next book already (please hurry Luke!). If you're a fan already (and if you're not, why not?) you won't need a review to tell you how brilliant this series is, but be rest-assured that Luke's art is once again top notch and Flying Eye have pulled out all the stops to create a beautiful book to present it all (the usual spot varnish cover with cloth spine adorns the hardcover). All in all a must buy for young and old, Hilda is a great read for one and all. Hilda And The Stone Forest is out the 1st September in all good bookshops and available to buy on the Flying Eye Books website. 

Touch Think Learn: ABC

Touch Think Learn: ABC

By Xavier Deneux

Published by Chronicle Books

Using the same innovative production technique used in the acclaimed TouchThinkLearn series, here is an alphabet book like no other, which literally adds a new dimension to learning your ABC's!

This is an ABC book with a difference, you can touch and feel every letter throughout the book, and each one is designed in relation to an animal, place or object. Raised die-cut pieces nestled in mirroring indented cut-outs engage readers on both visual and tactile levels. The illustration style is graphic, using simple shapes and bold colours. A joy to look at as well as feel!

Touch Think Learn: ABC is a wonderful addition to any young child's learning library. It's beautiful to look at and each page shows how much thought and detail has gone in to designing each little bit. From a parents point of view I can't recommend this more - I for one will be looking at purchasing the rest of the series. It's available to buy now from all good bookshops and from the Chronicle Books website.

Don't Cross the Line!

Don't Cross the Line!

By Bernardo Carvalho & Isabel Martins

Published by Gecko Press

Are you a rule breaker? Do you walk on the grass when you're not supposed to? Or play ball games when they're frown upon? Don't Cross The Line! is a picturebook that tells the story of a rule that people don't understand why they should obey it.

The guard always follows the general’s orders without question. This time, the order is that no one must cross the line. The right-hand page of this book must be kept blank for the general. As the crowd builds up on the border, the guard is under pressure. If no one is allowed onto the next page, what will happen to the story? After the guard is endlessly asked why no one can cross the line/page, it takes a bouncing ball to break the system and allow a revolution to begin!

Artfully designed with the right hand page of the book being completely blank for 8 pages, enforcing the message that that page is 'Free'. It really is a powerful book that children and adults will gain a lot from.

Isabel's illustrations are colourful and very lively. She uses a number of styles for the many characters (sixty in all) that appear throughout the book, with the endpapers listing each one with their name. I spotted a few that I recognised from the film world - see if you can spot the character inspired by E.T. My favourite is a astronaut that starts to run out of air as he's stuck on the left page. Once he crosses it he finally manages to open his helmet so he can breath easy.

Don't Cross the Line! is available to buy now at all good bookshops and online at the Gecko Press website.

Gus's Garage

Gus's Garage

By Leo Timmers

Published by Gecko Press

Gus runs a garage and stores all sorts of useless things. It might look like a heap of rubbish but will Gus find use for them somehow?

When Gus' friend Rico comes over with a problem - a seat that is too small on his scooter. Gus finds just the thing to solve it. One by one Gus’s friends bring him their vehicles and Gus solves their troubles with ingenious solutions—a cooling system made with a fridge that doubles as ice-cream machine, a burst of speed from a rocket blaster. Soon the workshop is almost empty, but the last scraps might be just enough to solve Gus’s own problem at the end of a long day.

Gus's Garage comes from Belgian illustrator Leo Timmers, and boasts his usual colourful and detailed style. The vehicles Gus creates are mechanical masterpieces, using all types of odds and ends to make the perfect vehicle. The story is a simple one which younger children will adore - especially those that love cars and things on wheels!

Gus's Garage is available to buy now at all good bookshops and online at the Gecko Press website.

Animal Magic

Animal Magic

By Phil Allcock & Gina Maldonado

Published by Maverick Arts Publishing

Is it a hedgehog, or a toad, a worm or dog? Children are encouraged to guess which animal comes next in this magical nonsense rhyme board book.

"I saw a funny hedgehog who walked across a road. Then right before my very eyes, it turned into a..." What comes next? Animal Magic encourages young children to guess the next word, in this case its guess the next animal. A fun and cute book from author Phil Allcock, with bright and colourful illustrations from Gina Maldonado. This is a lovely little board book which will help children put their rhyming hats on and join in on the magical animal fun. 

Animal Magic is available to buy now from all good bookshops. For more information on the book and author check out the Maverick Publishing website here.