Safe & Sound

Safe & Sound

By Jean Roussen

Illustrated by Loris Lora

Published by Flying Eye Books

This sweet bedtime story introduces young children to animals and their homes. To be released early February, it's a lovely new addition to the Flying Eye Books collection.

This picture book is definitely one for the little ones; it offers simple statements covering a range of animals and how their young stay safe and need help until they've grown. It features a good mix of animals from big to small; from chipmunks, to rhinos, little bluebird chicks, wolf pups, kangaroos and snappy crocodiles. 

It's a lovely way to introduce how animals care for their young in their own unique and special way. With graphically striking illustrations and a beautiful colour palette - they work wonderfully together.

Safe & Sound has a lovely and sweet ending, with parents putting their child to bed making this a great last bedtime book to read. Available soon, a great gift for any little animal lover - for more information, please click here.

Mr Tweed’s Busy Day

Mr Tweed’s Busy Day

By Jim Stoten 

Published by Flying Eye Books

You might also know this book as Mr Tweed's Good Deeds - the hardback edition of the first search-and-find adventure from Jim Stoten. It's now available in paperback with attractive new cover art, another reason to go and have a look if you haven't already discovered Mr Tweed and his super finding abilities.

Mr. Tweed sets out on his afternoon stroll, but soon finds some friends in need of his help. Can you come to his aid and help him find what they are looking for? Hidden in pages of vibrant colour and highly detailed illustrations lie a variety of different objects waiting to be discovered! Stoten’s wonderfully whimsical designs will enchant young readers into this fun and quirky world where counting is made easy.

Obviously this isn't the first children's book that gives the reader the challenge to search and find objects/people within busy environments. What makes Mr Tweed stand out is the vibrant illustrations and the pure level of detail. The book has a lovely retro feel to it, harking back to animation like Mr Benn and The Magic Roundabout. I adore Jim's style - the colours and fine line work perfectly together along with creating an amusing story to tie the search and find spreads together. My 2 year old loved finding the objects on each page - it kept her amused longer than most picture books, so a big thumbs up from her!

Mr Tweed's Good Deeds / Mr Tweed's Busy Day (paperback) is available to buy now from all good booksellers and direct from the Flying Eye Books website.

Interview with Joe Todd-Stanton

Joe is a south London based illustrator who graduated from Bristol University in 2012, since then he has worked with a large range of clients including Anorak, Nobrow and Cricket Magazine. He has a bold colourful style, but still tries to keep his work grounded in his strong line work, due to the heavy childhood influence of illustrators such as Tove Janssen and Maurice Sendak.

BWB: Arthur and the Golden Rope is your debut book for children. Are you happy with the end result?

JTS: I'm very happy with how it turned out. After spending so much time developing it it's an amazing feeling just to be able hold it and see other people enjoying it. I also can't wait to use everything I have learned from this experience on my next project. 

BWB: How did the idea for Arthur and the Golden Rope come about?

JTS: The idea came from loving illustrators like Tom Gauld & Mike Magnolia who can take huge ideas from mythology or literature and make them there own. Really the first idea I had was something along the lines of Hellboy for kids although this changed a lot as the story grew. 

BWB: Who and what inspires your work?

JTS: The boring answer is anything and everything but I especially love going to museums. I don't think I ever walk away from a trip to the Natural History Museum without an idea for an illustration or two.  This also goes for the Hunterian although those ideas are normally a lot stranger! 

BWB: I adore your illustration style. Is it mostly digital or do you have a technique you prefer to use over software?

JTS: Thank you! I draw everything in pencil and then colour using Photoshop. One thing I focus on is still trying keep my work looking loose and hand drawn so I limit myself to only a few brushes in Photoshop. 

BWB: How long did Arthur and the Golden Rope take to produce from the first idea to the finished book in your hands?

JTS: The whole process took nearly four years! This was because we made a version which was never released as we weren't happy with some of the elements. Obviously I am really happy with how it turned out so I have no regrets. 

BWB: Any plans for a follow up?

JTS: We have a basic outline for the second story now which I am really happy with. It still needs a few tweaks but I will hopefully get started on it later this year for a 2017 release.

Huge thanks to Joe and Emma at Flying Eye Books for making this interview happen. Arthur and the Golden Rope is available to buy at all good booksellers and on the Flying Eye Books website. Check out my review right here. 

Arthur and the Golden Rope

Arthur and the Golden Rope

By Joe Todd-Stanton 

Published by Flying Eye Books

Come with us now on a journey through time and space, to a world filled with vikings, magical objects, powerful gods and mythical beasts and your new favourite book series from new talent, Joe Todd-Stanton.

Imagine a vault so cavernous that it could contain the world’s greatest treasures, from mummified remains of ancient monarchs to glistening swords brandished by legendary warriors. How did Professor Brownstone come into possession of such a collection? Hear the tale of the very first Brownstone and his quest for the golden rope as we travel back to the land of the Vikings. A place filled with magical objects, powerful gods and legendary beasts to be conquered!

This is a thrilling tale about an unlikely hero who uses his intellect to become a great warrior. I couldn't put this book down. Joe's illustrations are full of depth and immense detail and on top of that we have a wondrous story to boot! I love Arthur's character, a little adventurer that loves to explore and do the right thing. Throw in a huge dash of mythology and you have a story that any fantasy book fan will adore. If you're a Hilda fan then this will definitely whet your appetite - and that's coming from a huge Hilda fan.

Overall Arthur and the Golden Rope is a wondrous debut from a brand new talent that's one to watch. I'm sure there will be more great treasures from Joe very soon...

Arthur and the Golden Rope is available to buy from all good booksellers and from the Flying Eye Books website here. To find out more about its creator, I interviewed Joe about all sorts here.

BOO!

BOO!

By Ben Newman 

Published by Flying Eye Books

I'm a huge fan of Ben's work, so to find out he was creating a new picture book for Flying Eye was a nice surprise. Ben's latest book is firmly back on earth and is about a little mouse that's the bravest animal there ever was...

BOO! introduces us to a whole cast of colourful characters in this debut picture book from Ben Newman. But who is scarier than who? The story starts with a very brave mouse who claims she is the bravest animal there is. But she is soon scared off by a bigger and braver owl. The owl then proclaims he is the bravest and wisest animal there is - that is until a monkey comes along and scares the owl off. With each spread comes a bigger and fiercer animal, that is until our cover star appears again and scares the biggest animal straight off the page. Bigger doesn't always mean braver!

This is a beautiful picture book. Filled with Ben's signature style, he uses bold colours and shapes to create engaging characters that just pop off the pages. A really fun read before bed time that's sure to get a giggle at the end of the story.

I always enjoy a well crafted endpaper and these endpapers are cleverly thought out. The cover of the book has die-cut circles in the title and when you open the book up it reveals a very scary crocodile! The endpapers at the back reveal the cast of characters showing who scares who - although the next line shows what happens when a certain little rodent intervenes.

Another great title from the folks at Flying Eye books that will keep young and old entertained. BOO! is available to buy at all good booksellers and on the Flying Eye Books website here.

100 Bears

100 Bears

By Magali Bardos

Published by Flying Eye Books

A counting book with a difference! This fun, anarchic book from French illustrator, Magali Bardos,  takes readers on a journey from the number 1 to number 100, chasing a group of adventurous bears through mountains and forests and down into the city.

A stylish and funky counting book, 100 Bears breaks away from traditional counting books and adds a fun narrative as you count up to 100. It's the perfect way for parents and children to count together. The story is wacky and often humorous, with the bears making fools of the hunters as they are chased here and there.

Magali Bardos' illustration style is produced using similar techniques to silk screened printing. Her illustrations are simple and flat, using a loud colour palette to make simple shapes to pop on the page. There's plenty to see on each spread and lots to count. From hunters, to foxes to bees and a hundred trees, you won't get bored of this counting book in a hurry! 

100 Bears is available to buy now from all good bookshops and from the Flying Eye Books website. I recommend checking out Dogs In Cars by Flying Eye Books too if you're looking for more alternative books to counting. 

Dogs In Cars

Dogs In Cars

By Emmanuelle Walker & Felix Massie

Published by Flying Eye Books

Do you like dogs? Do you also like cars? Well you are certainly in for a treat! Dogs In Cars comes from illustration duo Emmanuelle Walker and Felix Massie who create something that's very fresh and funny.

Join these canine critters as they zoom around town in their dogmobiles. Count to 100 through the many breeds of dogs from French bulldogs to Great Danes, as they wreak havoc upon the streets in their recognisable locomotives!

Emmanuelle Walker's illustrations are gorgeous. Each car and dog breed is meticulously designed, all drawn at the same angle as they continue on their rhyming counting journey. Sleek sportsters, a cement truck, a posh Bentley and even a tiny Smart car are just some of the vehicles you'll find crammed on to each page. This may be a book full of dogs (for all those dog lovers) but there's a little surprise for cat lovers in this dogtastic book too...

I particularly love the nods to popular culture, with the DeLorean from the Back to the Future films making an appearance and old english sheepdogs being covered in Dulux paint! The book ends with a brief list of things to go back and count again (just if you needed another reason to have a flick through!). A fun counting book for parents and children to read together or simply just a fun book for us adults who love dogs and cars!

Dogs In Cars is available to buy now at all good bookshops and from the Flying Eye Books website.

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. 

Hug Me

Hug Me

By Simona Ciraolo

Published by Flying Eye Books

A little cactus is in need of a hug but none of his family are the hugging type. Will he find a friend that he can get a cuddle from?

In her debut picture book, Simona tells a heartwarming story about loneliness and finding friendship. The story is full of wit, with even Felipe's first unwanted hug being targeted towards a huge yellow balloon! (don't worry the balloon survived the ordeal!). Felipe's adventure to find a hug (and a friend) takes him through the desert until he finds someone crying for the same reason. He finds a huggable friend in the form of a rock. I guess a stone is sometimes the most solid friend you'll ever need! 

This was Simona's debut for Flying Eye and its an instant classic. Full of endearing illustrations and one of the most lovable cactus' I have ever laid eyes on! A lovely story to share and have a cuddle with if you're even needing that hug like Felipe! If you'd like to know more about Simona do check out the recent interview I had with her here. Hug Me is available in all good bookshops and from Flying Eye Books here.