Oliver & Patch

Oliver & Patch

By Claire Freedman and Illustrated by Kate Hindley
Published by Simon & Schuster

 

 

Oliver & Patch is the second book by duo Claire Freedman and Kate Hindley (they also penned the amazing The Great Snortle Hunt together) and what a lovely, heartwarming story it is. It's about a lonely boy befriending a lost dog but knowing he must do the right thing and help find the dog’s owner and possibly lose his new friend in the process.

Meet Oliver, he has just moved to the big city and misses his life in the country, but especially misses his friends. One morning, Oliver goes out to explore and when wondering where to go next, he spots something bright red, its a dog lead and attached to the end of it is a small, soggy dog all alone. The dog’s collar tag reads Patch.  As no one seems to be looking for Patch, Oliver decides to take Patch with him. They have a fun filled day getting to know each other and for the first time since moving to the city Oliver feels happy!

 

However, that night, Patch gazes longingly out the window and Oliver realises somewhere out there is Patch’s real home. Oliver wakes to an excited Patch and they play lots of different games; Hide and seek, tickle tummy, bury the biscuits and curl up and cuddle (their favourite). But at bedtime Patch is sad again and Oliver knows he has to do the right thing. So the next day Oliver makes some Found Posters (with Patch's help), but secretly hopes that no one will end up seeing them. As the days pass by no one calls, leaving Oliver to believe that Patch could be his dog forever.

 

One morning Oliver and Patch go exploring when suddenly Patch breaks free and runs off. When Oliver catches up, he finds that Patch has found his owner, a little girl called Ruby who is very happy to see her Patch. Oliver becomes very sad, as he knows this could be the last time he sees Patch. He then has an idea and asks Ruby if her and Patch would like to visit one day. Ruby agrees but suggests doing something then and there instead. Oliver then realises he hasn’t lost a friend but has found another one!

 

 

Claire Freedman is the author of the funny Underpants series (I reviewed Monsters Love Underpants a few months back), but with Oliver & Patch, she has created a beautifully told story with an uplifting ending.  The illustrations are well suited and will keep little people amused while the story is long enough to entertain older children. Kate Hindley’s illustrations are bright, colourful with good expressive character design, well suited to the story. If you have read The Great Snortle Hunt, look out for the little references.
 

Children and adults alike will enjoy this lovely story and the sweet message about doing the right thing even if you know it will hurt - Oliver & Patch will definitely tug at your heartstrings. The title is aimed at ages 3+ and is available at all good bookshops and online at the Simon & Schuster store.

Boxers or Y-Fronts?! Q&A with Claire & Ben

For the Monsters Love Underpants blog tour, I had the pleasure of asking author and illustrator team Claire Freedman and Ben Cort some cheeky underwear related questions...

Claire Freedman had been quietly writing children’s stories for nearly 10 years, when one day she spotted something amazing! A spaceship landed in her neighbour’s back garden and some funny aliens stepped out. Then, would you believe it – they stole the red spotted bloomers hanging on their washing line! Of course she had to write about it – and Aliens Love Underpants was born!

Some of Ben Cort’s favourite things are tin robots, 1960s US comics, photography, sunny Autumn days walking in the woods, being able to wear jeans and t-shirts everyday (he even wore them to his wedding!) and, of course, aliens! He sometimes creates his illustrations with paper and paints and he sometimes creates them using the computer. Ben does lots of fun events at festivals, schools and bookstores across the country so be sure to check the events page of this website to find out where he will be popping up next – oh and don’t forget to bring your pants!

BWB: Have you ever had any underpants mysteriously go missing?

Ben: No, because I keep my pants in an Alien proof safe and they are also all fitted with a tracking device in case they are ever stolen!

Claire: Funny you should ask that question! I did buy a very expensive pair of pants at my favourite store once. They were wrapped in gorgeous tissue paper and everything. BUT - When I got home and unwrapped the parcel - there was the tissue paper, and the receipt, but NO PANTS! Oddly I felt that I was being followed but didn't spot anyone. Must have been those pesky aliens again. Cheeky!

BWB: Who are you favourite monsters in the book? ( I love the yetis)

Ben: I'm fond of all the monsters, but if I had to pick one it would be the hairy blue one with horns on the penultimate spread.

Claire: I'm glad you like the yetis! My favourite monsters are the sea monsters. I like the sound of those blingy jewel encrusted pants!


BWB: This is your seventh book together, what do you like about working together?

Ben: I love that Claire writes books about all my favourite subjects to illustrate such as pirates, monsters, aliens - and pants of course.

Claire: Well, it goes without saying that Ben is a brilliant illustrator. We both seem to be on the same wave length which is so important. I know I can trust him to do his magic with the artwork without worrying about his interpretation of the text. We also do quite a few events together and get on really well, which is great. In fact it's really nice to be able to do events with someone else, as opposed to just being on my own - which can be a bit scary at times. I honestly can't imagine anyone else illustrating the Underpants Books.


BWB: What kind of pants would Godzilla wear?

Ben: Snazzy Y-Fronts.

Claire: A VERY large pair!


BWB: Have you ever had underpants given to you by fans of the books?

Ben: I haven't, but I have signed a few pairs that fans have brought along to festivals.

Claire: Not actual pants - but I have been given drawings of pants by children.


BWB: Boxer or Y-Front?

Ben: Snazzy Boxers.

Claire: Boxer - though I don't know if the aliens would agree with my choice!! I'll have to ask next time I spot one!


Thanks to Ben and Claire for taking the time to answer all my silly questions! Monsters Love Underpants is available to buy now.

Extra Note: Huge apologies for the delay in getting this up live, our whole household has been very unwell with colds, sore throats and other not so nice things! Sniff sniff  :( x  A special apology to the S&S as this post was expected to go up yesterday as part of the Monsters Love Underpants blog tour. Hopefully the monsters won't be too upset... 

Monsters Love Underpants

Monsters Love Underpants

By Claire Freedman & Ben Cort
Published by Simon & Schuster

Ever wondered where your underpants have disappeared to? Well wait no longer, its all down to some naughty pant stealing monsters! Yes, that’s right, monsters love underpants! - it’s the latest book in the much-loved Underpants series by duo Claire Freedman and Ben Cort, who have also brought out Aliens Love Underpants, Dinosaurs Love Underpants and Pirates Love Underpants!

This picture book will have your children laughing at these silly monsters, who all think pants are fun-tastic! Monsters Love Underpants looks at lots of different types of monsters; monsters found in dungeons who love squeaky armour pants, drool monsters who fill their pants with gooey slime, and even monsters in the deep dark sea where their underpants are covered in beautiful bling bling jewels. And where do all the monsters like to go and show off their underpants?

Disco night in their secret cave of course! Jigging and jiving until the early hours before they all rush home before anyone can see them.

Children and adults alike will laugh at these silly monsters and their taste in underpants (I especially love the swamp monster who can't keep his pants up from all the slippery slime!) - With Ben’s bold and colourful illustrations (and talent to create so many different types of monsters), no child will find these monsters scary! This is definitely another great addition to the Underpants series.

And as always, I have a slight fascination with end papers, and Monsters Love Underpants does not disappoint! Look as this array of different pants! I raise my underpants to Ben for coming up with such an amazing collection!

Monsters Love Underpants is available now in all good bookshops and to buy online. Up next; an interview with Claire Freedman and Ben Cort about all things underpants!