August news: BUSY. A new USA book acquisition 🐐 🛶 and 2 new manuscripts out to find forever homes...
August: Forum Books Event Corbridge: 📚+✏️= 😁
Look how cute this is - this little chap was telling me all about his self-propelling-helicopter-parrot ... #kidlitart creates connections everywhere.
THE FIXER OF BROKEN THINGS on the National Year 2 curriculum reading list- Activities in action ☞ Erm, how inspiring is this super classroom activity?! See more here
May 2023
MAY HAS BEEN BUSY.
Lots of news & new adventures.
The latest podcast interview is here ☞ with Steven Lenton AKA Studiomate Steve
Lots of news & new adventures.
The latest podcast interview is here ☞ with Steven Lenton AKA Studiomate Steve
MAY 2023
APRIL 2023
This is my newest title out in September 2023 during BANNED BOOK WEEK. Written by the US rapper LushLife aka Raj Haldar...read here for the full Publishing Weekly interview 📕🔥
MARCH 2023 |
23rd February 2023 is the publication date of THE FIXER OF BROKEN THINGS my 5th author illustrated title published by Templar Books
Some lovely review arriving from Bookwaggon Books
Fall 2022 brings in 2 new top secret USA book signings......
Some sneaky hints ☞🦞 + ✏️+🐝+ 🐽+ 🦒 + 🦛= 📚
So today it's finally been announced, this is the one of the two titles that have recently been acquired by my awesome agents Paintedwords Haiku Ew written by Lynn Brunelle by Lerner books/Carolrhoda USA. This will be the third title we've worked on together.
So today it's finally been announced, this is the one of the two titles that have recently been acquired by my awesome agents Paintedwords Haiku Ew written by Lynn Brunelle by Lerner books/Carolrhoda USA. This will be the third title we've worked on together.
Haiku, EW!
TOP SECRET BOOK....
Exciting news ☞ MY SCHOOL STINKS is a 2024 Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominee!
THIS FIELD TRIP STINKS
OUT NOW! Written by the brilliant Becky Scharnhorst (it's hilarious apparently!) sequel to THIS SCHOOL STINKS
SOooo I finished this: ⤵️ I'll drop the link to order it in my BOOKS ➡️ section & drop some of the behind then scenes images in the ILLUSTRATION section over there ◀️
August 2022 is here! News
BLINK*
I think I missed most of this year, beavering away in the studio BUT for the first time ever I have deliberately made sure I've taken some sensible and well overdue self care breaks to re-charge & re-focus. I've been lucky enough to have travelled to some beautiful exotic places with family & loved ones, bathed in turquoise seas, navigated wild bazars in sun drenched lands, along the way laughing endlessly, being visually inspired which led to sensationally stuffed sketchbooks.
With my health and wellbeing at the core, I'm now creating work that I once only dreamed about. My journey as an illustrator & author has been like many others, slow, meticulous, carefully researched and bound with long, long hours. With my new care schedule firmly in place I have had time for not just for 'self-reflection' but I wanted to share with you a few words on gratitude. I'm very pleased to have had the honour of sharing my name on book covers with many fabulous authors and I even own a few books with only my name on the cover, but it's never just me. It's all of YOU!
I want to say thankyou. THANKYOU to all my people. My teams, my colleagues, my agents, my editors, art directors, publishers authors and fellow creatives. I feel I can call you mine, as we've worked so hard together over the years. YOU are the only reason I continue to thrive and continue to make brilliant books. I'm really proud that from day one I recognised and nurtured YOU, my industry relationships. I'm talking about the special people, the ones that have stood the test of time, working with the same geniuses wherever their career pathways have taken them, we've found each other again. I'm talking about TEAM WORK. I'm spending a moment celebrating my PEOPLE, most of whom I am blessed to call my friends. Every single one of is a super star in your own right, and thanks to your guidance you have helped me grow to where I am today. Thankyou for trusting me with hideous deadlines, hilarious narratives & believing in the hair-raising characters whom I created to illuminate them all. Hard work, good luck and a push may get you so far, but being personally recommended, championed behind closed doors & promoted in client meetings by you means everything. Sometimes being a freelance creative can be a lonesome journey, not often hearing feedback, executive decision making and praise for your work, but repeatedly being chosen to work with the same super teams again & again is a true blessing.
We all share one thing in common, that we love our jobs. We are passionate about change, championing under represented voices, searching for narratives that NEED to be told and my goodness we all understand the impact & importance of our role to enable our next generation. Yes, we may live in a world where frogs talk, and princesses thankfully no longer need rescuing BUT our books are not just 'pretty' they are teaching tools, friends to those who need them, and ultimately our legacy of love to pass onwards. Talking about passing it on...⤵️
I think I missed most of this year, beavering away in the studio BUT for the first time ever I have deliberately made sure I've taken some sensible and well overdue self care breaks to re-charge & re-focus. I've been lucky enough to have travelled to some beautiful exotic places with family & loved ones, bathed in turquoise seas, navigated wild bazars in sun drenched lands, along the way laughing endlessly, being visually inspired which led to sensationally stuffed sketchbooks.
With my health and wellbeing at the core, I'm now creating work that I once only dreamed about. My journey as an illustrator & author has been like many others, slow, meticulous, carefully researched and bound with long, long hours. With my new care schedule firmly in place I have had time for not just for 'self-reflection' but I wanted to share with you a few words on gratitude. I'm very pleased to have had the honour of sharing my name on book covers with many fabulous authors and I even own a few books with only my name on the cover, but it's never just me. It's all of YOU!
I want to say thankyou. THANKYOU to all my people. My teams, my colleagues, my agents, my editors, art directors, publishers authors and fellow creatives. I feel I can call you mine, as we've worked so hard together over the years. YOU are the only reason I continue to thrive and continue to make brilliant books. I'm really proud that from day one I recognised and nurtured YOU, my industry relationships. I'm talking about the special people, the ones that have stood the test of time, working with the same geniuses wherever their career pathways have taken them, we've found each other again. I'm talking about TEAM WORK. I'm spending a moment celebrating my PEOPLE, most of whom I am blessed to call my friends. Every single one of is a super star in your own right, and thanks to your guidance you have helped me grow to where I am today. Thankyou for trusting me with hideous deadlines, hilarious narratives & believing in the hair-raising characters whom I created to illuminate them all. Hard work, good luck and a push may get you so far, but being personally recommended, championed behind closed doors & promoted in client meetings by you means everything. Sometimes being a freelance creative can be a lonesome journey, not often hearing feedback, executive decision making and praise for your work, but repeatedly being chosen to work with the same super teams again & again is a true blessing.
We all share one thing in common, that we love our jobs. We are passionate about change, championing under represented voices, searching for narratives that NEED to be told and my goodness we all understand the impact & importance of our role to enable our next generation. Yes, we may live in a world where frogs talk, and princesses thankfully no longer need rescuing BUT our books are not just 'pretty' they are teaching tools, friends to those who need them, and ultimately our legacy of love to pass onwards. Talking about passing it on...⤵️
RE-LAUNCHING SOON: PICTURES & WORDS
Creative mentoring workshops, portfolio reviews, agent acquisition, manuscript consulting, developmental editing and visiting lectures.
MORE NEWS:
Over my twenty + year career I have taught in quite a few universities & run 1-1 mentoring schemes from my studio. Helping fellow creatives to find their USP & individual visual vocabulary is one of my greatest passions alongside my own process. Over this last year whilst I've been rather quiet I have been writing new short creative courses and interactive workshops to launch soon. These are specifically designed to assist & develop those who need a little extra from their higher education or lack of industry inside experience. They will cover everything from interpersonal development, idea generating, successful pitches & portfolios, to perfecting your professional practice and ultimately getting paid to do what you love. I'll be sharing tried and tested seminars to help unblock your fears plus introducing you to my most trusted and inspiring industry contacts who will be giving you REAl top tips and insight into the day to day running, hiring, and succeeding within the design industry. Oh, and if you're asking for a friend, yes they're going to be affordable & great fun, focusing more on YOU than the generic it 'fits all' ethos.
I ran these for over 1o years and stopped for a while whilst my work load expanded, now I'll be deliberately annexing some of my time regularly to re-launch once again. Have a read through here: ⤵️
I'm launching a bespoke 'Pictures & Words' creative workshop from my studio for one-on-one tutorials, and i've had hundreds of creatives with astounding skills come and work with me. These tailor-made courses are specifically designed for authors and illustrators wanting feedback on children's picture book texts, illustration advice, portfolio reviews, industry inside information, manuscript critiques and how to get your book 'pitch ready'. I can help you 'join the dots', identify what's missing and turn your creative aspirations into a viable business. With advice on acquiring an agent, re-branding on social media, sketchbook use and trade fairs, these courses are proving to be successful for the creatives that have made the pilgrimage to my studio. My aim is to make you the best you can be.
The day commences at 10am-concluding at 3pm with lunch included and costs £180.00. Included in the price is an emailed 'post tutorial de-brief' in which you'll receive a bespoke reading list, useful industry contacts page and a step-by-step action plan with follow up support if required. Please feel free to contact me and enquire about your specific requirements.
I have also, due to popular demand, began to offer an on line digital reach-out service for creatives who can't make the journey to visit me, which is £40.oo ph for text reviews, book proposals, portfolio reviews and agent acquisitions. Please don't hesitate to contact me for a personalised quote.
Testimonials
"Julia holds a space where she passionately and insightfully guides, prods, questions, communicates, develops and helps build a platform allowing for the artist to move forward knowing there is wealth of support behind them.” Lou Prentice
"Julia’s workshop was an amazing experience. The knowledge she shared with me was invaluable. I learnt so much from Julia and I left feeling I had the tools and support to reach my goals”. Gillian Flint
"The one to one tuition I have received from Juls has improved my confidence and given me a deeper understanding of how to become a published illustrator. Juls’ workshops are fun, relaxed and the tailored action plan she creates after each session provides clear direction, tips and ideas for moving forward in your career as a professional illustrator" Sarah Peel
When I met Julia I instantly felt at ease with her, it was meeting an old friend! Because of her natural manner, I felt very comfortable talking about and showing my work to her, she was very complementary and encouraging. Once I had returned home after our time together, Julia gave me a full email summary of a day to day clear working plan that made complete sense. She emails back instantly with solutions to any questions I have and it's just great to have this level of emotional and practical help. Julia provides a very professional and caring service." Michelle Breen
"Julia Patton is a very rare breed as not only is she an excellent teacher but also an excellent role model. She is a wonderfully warm person, who I found very nurturing of my own individual strengths and very generous with her time along with sharing vital information. But to top it all, from my perspective as a working mother who finds it a continual battle to balance home and work life, she is a true inspiration. For not only is Julia an incredibly talented and successful author/illustrator, along with managing all of her educational events, but this is all done whilst raising children of her own!
I went to Julia in need of encouragement and help with my creative direction and I came away feeling on top of the world and ready for anything.
In short, I would thoroughly recommend her workshop!" Shana Nieberg-Suschitzky
Over my twenty + year career I have taught in quite a few universities & run 1-1 mentoring schemes from my studio. Helping fellow creatives to find their USP & individual visual vocabulary is one of my greatest passions alongside my own process. Over this last year whilst I've been rather quiet I have been writing new short creative courses and interactive workshops to launch soon. These are specifically designed to assist & develop those who need a little extra from their higher education or lack of industry inside experience. They will cover everything from interpersonal development, idea generating, successful pitches & portfolios, to perfecting your professional practice and ultimately getting paid to do what you love. I'll be sharing tried and tested seminars to help unblock your fears plus introducing you to my most trusted and inspiring industry contacts who will be giving you REAl top tips and insight into the day to day running, hiring, and succeeding within the design industry. Oh, and if you're asking for a friend, yes they're going to be affordable & great fun, focusing more on YOU than the generic it 'fits all' ethos.
I ran these for over 1o years and stopped for a while whilst my work load expanded, now I'll be deliberately annexing some of my time regularly to re-launch once again. Have a read through here: ⤵️
I'm launching a bespoke 'Pictures & Words' creative workshop from my studio for one-on-one tutorials, and i've had hundreds of creatives with astounding skills come and work with me. These tailor-made courses are specifically designed for authors and illustrators wanting feedback on children's picture book texts, illustration advice, portfolio reviews, industry inside information, manuscript critiques and how to get your book 'pitch ready'. I can help you 'join the dots', identify what's missing and turn your creative aspirations into a viable business. With advice on acquiring an agent, re-branding on social media, sketchbook use and trade fairs, these courses are proving to be successful for the creatives that have made the pilgrimage to my studio. My aim is to make you the best you can be.
The day commences at 10am-concluding at 3pm with lunch included and costs £180.00. Included in the price is an emailed 'post tutorial de-brief' in which you'll receive a bespoke reading list, useful industry contacts page and a step-by-step action plan with follow up support if required. Please feel free to contact me and enquire about your specific requirements.
I have also, due to popular demand, began to offer an on line digital reach-out service for creatives who can't make the journey to visit me, which is £40.oo ph for text reviews, book proposals, portfolio reviews and agent acquisitions. Please don't hesitate to contact me for a personalised quote.
Testimonials
"Julia holds a space where she passionately and insightfully guides, prods, questions, communicates, develops and helps build a platform allowing for the artist to move forward knowing there is wealth of support behind them.” Lou Prentice
"Julia’s workshop was an amazing experience. The knowledge she shared with me was invaluable. I learnt so much from Julia and I left feeling I had the tools and support to reach my goals”. Gillian Flint
"The one to one tuition I have received from Juls has improved my confidence and given me a deeper understanding of how to become a published illustrator. Juls’ workshops are fun, relaxed and the tailored action plan she creates after each session provides clear direction, tips and ideas for moving forward in your career as a professional illustrator" Sarah Peel
When I met Julia I instantly felt at ease with her, it was meeting an old friend! Because of her natural manner, I felt very comfortable talking about and showing my work to her, she was very complementary and encouraging. Once I had returned home after our time together, Julia gave me a full email summary of a day to day clear working plan that made complete sense. She emails back instantly with solutions to any questions I have and it's just great to have this level of emotional and practical help. Julia provides a very professional and caring service." Michelle Breen
"Julia Patton is a very rare breed as not only is she an excellent teacher but also an excellent role model. She is a wonderfully warm person, who I found very nurturing of my own individual strengths and very generous with her time along with sharing vital information. But to top it all, from my perspective as a working mother who finds it a continual battle to balance home and work life, she is a true inspiration. For not only is Julia an incredibly talented and successful author/illustrator, along with managing all of her educational events, but this is all done whilst raising children of her own!
I went to Julia in need of encouragement and help with my creative direction and I came away feeling on top of the world and ready for anything.
In short, I would thoroughly recommend her workshop!" Shana Nieberg-Suschitzky
Well this was fun...
New LOOK BOOK spread from Painted Words my NY, USA agents
I'm delighted to announce that No.7 Evergreen Street is the winner of the 'Student choice' & 'Teachers Choice' for 5-7 year old children by RIBA- Royal Institute Of British Architects published by Templar Books. This is exciting news as we've just started work on book 2 & 3, out in 2022.
November 2021: NEWS & NEW ADVENTURES
So, I've just undertaken a new adventure, a brand new start and sadly have left my lecturing post at Sunderland (for now) to undertake something rather epic. It's all under a NDA so all I can say is ssshhhhh.... BUT I am also undertaking a new book that I wrote two years ago that I put on hold and right now, today, it begins. It's a story that's very close to my heart and I promise I'll put every ounce of love into it. It's a special one.
Directory Of Illustration NY. USA click here to see the newest illustrations
MY SCHOOL STINKS is out out and the reviews are in in ....
Foreign editions of No.7 Evergreen Street are arriving!
Check out this lovely new addition from Editions Kimane FR with our protagonist Pea being renamed as 'Twig' too sweet. They've created a really lovely edition.
Here's some lovely reviews & shares over on my social media for No.7 Evergreen Street ☞ 🌱 💚
WORLD BOOK DAY 2021
Calling all teachers: An on-line book bonanza this week. To come and join in the fun email [email protected]
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY Y'ALL- Feb 2021
So book 2, the follow on from 'This School Stinks!' has begun.... It's called 'This Field Trip Stinks!' and I'm delighted to announce I think the manuscript is even FUNNIER than it's predecessor. Here's a snippet of the early visuals I'm creating.
Happy New Year 2021 - let's not discuss 2020....
So let's call it challenging. Covid, lockdown, home schooling, renovating the house with no kitchen, saying yes to too many projects, poor Momma had a heart attack, I had a complete overloaded melt down and PTSD trauma therapy started.... and breathe. BUT I survived (and so did my dear Momma) and I'm out of the other side braver and calmer thanks to may wonderful loved family & friends. Positivity, self care & kindness won.
Global pandemic aside there were some rather lovely highlights I'd like to share with you.....
I was asked to re-brand one of the USA largest fast food restaurants which was super exciting but totally confidential so that's all I can say, and now we begin 2 picture books together to begin the new year with = double exciting but shhh!
I also completed a picture book with the awesome Becky Scharnhorst called My School Stinks.⬇️ published by Phillomell books for 🐧 Penguin Random House USA.
Global pandemic aside there were some rather lovely highlights I'd like to share with you.....
I was asked to re-brand one of the USA largest fast food restaurants which was super exciting but totally confidential so that's all I can say, and now we begin 2 picture books together to begin the new year with = double exciting but shhh!
I also completed a picture book with the awesome Becky Scharnhorst called My School Stinks.⬇️ published by Phillomell books for 🐧 Penguin Random House USA.
There are more images and character development sketches over in the illustration section here for you to see the process and how it evolved from the original title of Elementary Wildwood STINKS!
This also happened ☞
NUMBER 7 EVERGREEN STREET
I'm delighted to be able to share my 4th author & illustrated title which is available to pre-order now: This is book very close to my heart, lovingly created with the amazing Katie Howarth & Genevieve Webster Templar Publishing. delighted to be mentioned in The Sunday Times Culture magazine this week and especially today as it's Mother's Day. A treat indeed!
WANT TO SEE THE AWESOME BOOK TRAILER? click here made by the talented Nick Lewis
Here's a new interview I've recently done for Elephant Books click here to read the full interview.
Click here ☞ to hear me read No.7 Evergreen Street for Hexam Book Festival
A bucket-list moment here....spotted in the Tate Modern Bookshop!!
This is one of the very earliest covers that I created which was eventually replaced with final one that exists today.
New acquisitions and USA adventures!
January news includes the announcement of my new picture book acquisition from Penguin Random House illustrating a tile called:
It's a wonderfully humorous manuscript told through diary entries of a boys unbelievable first week at school. He mistakenly goes to the wrong school and ends up at a school for wild animals. Expect unBEARable creatures that stink, bites and monkey around...
Templar announces two new acquisitions. The Fixer Of Broken Things & other title TBC
I'm delighted to announce that hot on the heals of me completing No. 7 Evergreen Street, I've been commissioned to create two new author & illustrated titles for Templar. The first is a manuscript very close to my heart about one super little girl who is "The greatest Fixer" who unfortunately discovers something that she just can't fix. No tool can help, no manual has instructions.... she has to navigate the problem by doing something exceptionally brave for herself. Speaking up. The other title is to be confirmed as I've got about 20 new picture book texts I've written over the last year.
Drawing Words: Lauren Child at Seven Stories
This photo is a snap-shot of some of my fellow creative #kidlit creators attending the 'Drawing Words' talk and exhibition launch at Seven Stories, Newcastle with the former Children's Laureate and creator of the best selling Charlie & Lola series, Lauren Child. Third from right. Here is the event as told through the words of Suzie Williams (Academic Liaison Librarian for art & design at Sunderland University) in collaboration with myself...
From left to right: Sara Oglvie, Jill Calder, Zoe Waring, Holly Sterling, Lauren Child myself and the grinning rascal that is Chris Chatterton. The exhibition tours globally but Seven Stories is uniquely showing an additional exhibition of original sketches and WIP's -works in progress which is rare indeed.
This is an original pencil sketch from the super talented Emily Hughes from her book 'Wild' which was so beautifully detailed as shown.
I MIGHT JUST HAVE SOME PENGUIN SHAPED NEWS TO ANNOUNCE...
I've got great news to share, Philomel-Penguin 🐧 Random House has snaffled me up to illustrate this magnificent manuscript from first-time author Becky Scharnhorst. You heard it here first, she's one to watch. This is going to be a creative blast as each page is written as diary inserts, so watch out for all my signature collage art. More information as I get it folks... more news and images here:
BACK-TO-SCHOOL
I'm thrilled and exceptionally privileged to have been invited to be part of a brand new, super dooper lecturing team looking after the BA & MA illustrations students a Sunderland University. It is indeed- Life changing. Watch this space....
The Spectacular Revenge Of Suzi Sims gets a SPECTACULAR review...
NEW HOUSE & STUDIO!
:As you might have guessed, yes I've moved home and have a new (BRIGHT PEA GREEN) studio with a black ceiling 👀 and yes, it's quite alarming but surprisingly a great creative space. I'm working on a new picture book right now which has also got a flavour of Pea green about it, so somehow it all makes sense. It's all top secret for now...
More daily news here https://twitter.com/julia_patton/media
More daily news here https://twitter.com/julia_patton/media
Yes, I'm missing an 'N'...
June Book Birthday!
Happy book birthday- THE SPECTACULAR REVENGE OF SUZI SIMS written by my talented friend and mentor Vivian French is
published by Barrington Stoke in dyslexic-friendly text/print. This chapter book is for anyone who’s ever battled with bullies big or small #kindnessalwayswins #kidlit #defeatingbullies #chapterbook #childrensbooks
published by Barrington Stoke in dyslexic-friendly text/print. This chapter book is for anyone who’s ever battled with bullies big or small #kindnessalwayswins #kidlit #defeatingbullies #chapterbook #childrensbooks
MAY BOOK NEWS
Lovely post day today! Thankyou Lerner Books for the Chinese edition of Stinker published by #worldpublishing Xi’an Co.Ltd #kidlitart #childrensbooks #kidlit #children_illustration #picturebooks #illustration #illustrationartists #childrenspublishing
Book dedication
This isn't a great surprise for anyone who knows me that Chris Chatterton and I are BFF's, but this is quite a lovely surprise. I think he's getting soft in his old age!
#WeConnect- connecting young readers with writers
This is a program organised by the brilliant staff and children of Arrowhead Elementary School in Virginia USA who write letters to their favourite authors all bout their books. We are on round #2 correspondence which is awesome.
ARTSMARK- May 2019
Last week I was lucky enough to come and work with not just some of the children at Wooler First School, but ALL of them! From nursery to year 8. We were working specifically with re-cycled papers that I'd gathered to create some colourful Spring flora & fauna. I was thinking specifically of the things usually spotted in Northumberland but we did have a giraffe, one elephant and a whole heap of tropical parrots, so we just celebrated ALL LIFE EVERY WHERE! It was quite a challenge for the children to work without any pencils. No drawing, no lines to follow, no colouring-in. Just old fashioned cutting & sticking. Out of all the creative classes I teach this is the most successful one, even though when the children first see what the art challenge being set is they're at first doubtful they can achieve it. The reality is, every single one of them exceed their own expectations when they begin. It's joyous. As you can see the results are incredible. A riot of colour, pattern and pattern....
THE CHILDREN'S BOOK ART SILENT AUCTION
American Association Of Booksellers - BookExpo USA annual silent auction
This is the illustration that's been selected to be exhibited and sold at the annual silent auction by the American Association Of Booksellers at this years NY BookExp in conjunction with The Children's Book Council. The auction raises funds for the American booksellers For freedom Of Expression (ABFE) and Every Child A Reader, a 501 (c) (3) literacy charity dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading in Children and teens across America.
BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR- SNAIL MAIL!
I'm delighted to share that this April SNAIL MAIL has been selected as one of Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year!!! 🐌💌 How exciting!!
It was obviously the pink speedos that sealed the deal! 👀
BOLOGNA 2019- highlights
Here are some of my compilation book highlights, plus one or two other highlights including new & old friends, the architectural & culinary delights everyone should try in Bologna.
Dear friends Chris Chatterton & Nicki Lander, illustrator and agent respectively from The Bright Agency.
Fellow authors & illustrators (AKA best friends) from left to right: Ben Mantle, Chris Chatterton, myself & Aice McKinley at the S'wine Bar Bologna.
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Our stunning apartment, the glorious sunshine, alfresco dining, and the ceiling of the breathtaking palace where Templar/Bonnier Press hold their after-party. And last but not least the (deliberately un-named restaurant) that the incredible Sourcebooks team and I return to every year. Described in two words. DELICIOUSLY WILD!
March madness
I've been busy dashing around for a super-secret meeting in London last week with no other than one of my bucket-list publishing houses Templar.
Now I'm madly dashing around preparing work for meetings in Bologna for the 2019 International Children's Book Fair. Ok, with a small smattering of pasta, prosecco and best book friends...
New collaborations and new books
Looky here! My first ever chapter book with the awesome, one and only book guru herself Vivian French. I'm speechless to be asked by her personally to collaborate on this project, and even more humbled to be able to consider her a close friend now.
New Year News
Dear friends here's a couple of tiny snippets about what project have been keeping me very busy lately...
Here is a tiny tease of a project that I'm collaboration on with the awesome talent that is Alli Brydon. Go and check out her adventures as a writer, editor and creative director.
These are the thumbnail pencils for my next author illustrated title under construction. No you can't have any more details just yet, watch this space for more news...👀
Below is a sneeze of my new up-and-comming author illustrated title No. 7 Evergreen Street published by Templar. I'm at the pencils stage and have realised I've given myself a marathon of a job to do. More news soon.
Fabulous feedback from book fans
It's always lovely to hear from families that read my books and share their thoughts on social media, especially when pictured with an adorable child in PJ's! this ticks all the boxes to make my heart glow with happiness... Thankyou FATHER READING EVERYDAY oh and the youtube reading it too adorable for words. THANKYOU.
SNAIL MAIL PEN PALLS ❤️
I've got a new pen pall, and she rocks- just saying!
New editions of picture books -early reader and GIANT lap books ❤️
NOVEMBER NEWS...
Here is a visual diary of some of the adventures I've been up to over the last few weeks...
Here are some close-up details of some new oil on board painting i've been commissioned to undertake. They depict an abstracted Northumberland landscape in the beautiful autumnal blue/grey light.
I've been asked to create the Christmas card for my new agents Painted Words in NY USA which send it out to all the publishing houses in America, which is rather exciting...
I have been asked to submit some illustration work for this festival which I'll share with you very soon.
It's been an honour to be added to the brilliant bookroo list with a collection of my latest books and a small gallery of images of work-in-progress.
Q&A WITH JULIA PATTONOctober 13, 2016albertwhitmanandcochildren's literature, picture books, q&ACornelius was not expecting a cat to be left on his doorstep in Drat That Fat Cat! by author-illustrator Julia Patton.
We were lucky enough to sit down with Julia Patton to chat about Drat That Fat Cat!, her career trajectory, and the cat—and human—who inspired the story.
Q: How did you become a children’s book author and illustrator?
A: When I was very little my earliest memories were playing ‘Post Office’ underneath my Grandma’s kitchen table. I’d spend hours cutting and sticking making envelopes and stamps to post to my long suffering sister. I always knew my heart lay in being a creative so I followed this pathway through my undergraduate in Textile Design which was very fine art-based. I then spent many years creating greeting cards & wrap for international stores. My interest in children’s picture books was reignited when I began sourcing books for my own small boys. I fell in love with picture books and I knew it was time to go back to big school myself. I swiftly enrolled on the MA Illustration program at Edinburgh University and had my first picture book Unstoppable Max was published a year later.
Q: In Drat That Fat Cat! which came first: the text or the art?
A: Both are intrinsically linked, interwoven at every stage. When writing books I initially create the protagonist in my sketch book, secondly the other characters, and then I create a title, which just has to be a showstopper! Then the story arc grows from there. The funnier the better. I find humour and picture books perfect partners. I wrote Drat That Fat Cat! over five years ago and showed it to my editor and art director at The International Children’s Book Fair in Bologna last year. The silly end papers had us all howling with laughter. We worked together collaboratively to strengthen the story and its publication date is this October.
Q: Do you have a cat? What would you do if one was left on your doorstep?
A: I’ve had one very fat, stray cat arrive at my doorstep a few years ago, covered in fleas, wriggling with worms and creating the most horrid smells. We loved her. The idea of the highly contrasting Cornelius Van Ploof’s character in Drat That Fat Cat! comes from my beloved father. He loves order, with everything being very neat and tidy. I knew putting him and a flea-bitten, smelly cat together would drive him utterly bonkers! He’s yet to see the book. I may be in trouble!
Q: What is your favorite medium to work with?
A: With an undergraduate in textiles I’m instinctively drawn to creating beautiful aesthetics and tactile surfaces and with my new found love of illustration the two are now inseparable. I love collage and incorporate it into picture books whenever I can. I believe the multi-media approach to my illustrations make them easily identifiable from other’s work.
Q: What was the process of working with your editor and art director like?
A: Albert Whitman and I are on our third book together and Jordan Kost has been my art director on all of the projects. She is an incredibly talented creative to work with, professional, hard-working and we’ve developed a very close and hilarious friendship which moulds our books. She is the magical glue. I’d be lost without her encouragement, support and humour.
Q: Do you have a regular routine while creating a book?
A: The routine is work, work, work. Seven days a week, lots of late nights, until it’s finally done. The best books happen when you listen carefully taking everyone’s advice from art directors, editors and publishers. Then take a breath and begin the next project.
This quote is exactly how I feel: Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. —Confucius
Q: Are you working on any other projects?
A: I write continuously and have approximately 6-10 books in various states of completion that I visit and rework at different times. I have been very fortunate to have been commissioned three of my new titles recently that I’m going to be working on over the next year. It’s going to be a very busy but exciting time. I have also recently written a story called Charlie & Pip inspired by a non-verbal child we know as family friend. It’s a story about a child not engaging in the outside world or communicating with anyone, until she meets Pip. He becomes her voice, her emotional buffer, showing her how to interact with others. This is a book for anyone struggling to find their voice, whether it’s a language barrier, anxiety or self-confidence problems. I think it’s a special book with a story that needs to be told. I’m very proud of it.
I believe my responsibility and role as an author and illustrator is to illuminate words, suggest the magical and interpret the unspoken.
Q: What books did you like to read as a kid? What type of books do you like to read now?
A: I was obsessed with any book by Richard Scarry because of all the funny details I could find, this was later replaced by Heath Robinson with his hypnotic contraptions and fabulous inventions. I adored, and still do, Dr. Seuss’s wonderful books. Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? is a favourite of mine. Now I read every picture book I can get my hands on. I’m initially attracted to the artwork but love deconstructing the narrative. Some of my favourite illustrators include Quentin Blake, Barroux, Dan Santat, and Oliver Jeffers.
Q: Any last words?
A: I love my job.
Thanks, Julia! Fall in love with Cornelius and his fat cat, and check out the book on our website. Find out more about Julia on her website, and don’t forget to follow her on Twitter.
We were lucky enough to sit down with Julia Patton to chat about Drat That Fat Cat!, her career trajectory, and the cat—and human—who inspired the story.
Q: How did you become a children’s book author and illustrator?
A: When I was very little my earliest memories were playing ‘Post Office’ underneath my Grandma’s kitchen table. I’d spend hours cutting and sticking making envelopes and stamps to post to my long suffering sister. I always knew my heart lay in being a creative so I followed this pathway through my undergraduate in Textile Design which was very fine art-based. I then spent many years creating greeting cards & wrap for international stores. My interest in children’s picture books was reignited when I began sourcing books for my own small boys. I fell in love with picture books and I knew it was time to go back to big school myself. I swiftly enrolled on the MA Illustration program at Edinburgh University and had my first picture book Unstoppable Max was published a year later.
Q: In Drat That Fat Cat! which came first: the text or the art?
A: Both are intrinsically linked, interwoven at every stage. When writing books I initially create the protagonist in my sketch book, secondly the other characters, and then I create a title, which just has to be a showstopper! Then the story arc grows from there. The funnier the better. I find humour and picture books perfect partners. I wrote Drat That Fat Cat! over five years ago and showed it to my editor and art director at The International Children’s Book Fair in Bologna last year. The silly end papers had us all howling with laughter. We worked together collaboratively to strengthen the story and its publication date is this October.
Q: Do you have a cat? What would you do if one was left on your doorstep?
A: I’ve had one very fat, stray cat arrive at my doorstep a few years ago, covered in fleas, wriggling with worms and creating the most horrid smells. We loved her. The idea of the highly contrasting Cornelius Van Ploof’s character in Drat That Fat Cat! comes from my beloved father. He loves order, with everything being very neat and tidy. I knew putting him and a flea-bitten, smelly cat together would drive him utterly bonkers! He’s yet to see the book. I may be in trouble!
Q: What is your favorite medium to work with?
A: With an undergraduate in textiles I’m instinctively drawn to creating beautiful aesthetics and tactile surfaces and with my new found love of illustration the two are now inseparable. I love collage and incorporate it into picture books whenever I can. I believe the multi-media approach to my illustrations make them easily identifiable from other’s work.
Q: What was the process of working with your editor and art director like?
A: Albert Whitman and I are on our third book together and Jordan Kost has been my art director on all of the projects. She is an incredibly talented creative to work with, professional, hard-working and we’ve developed a very close and hilarious friendship which moulds our books. She is the magical glue. I’d be lost without her encouragement, support and humour.
Q: Do you have a regular routine while creating a book?
A: The routine is work, work, work. Seven days a week, lots of late nights, until it’s finally done. The best books happen when you listen carefully taking everyone’s advice from art directors, editors and publishers. Then take a breath and begin the next project.
This quote is exactly how I feel: Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. —Confucius
Q: Are you working on any other projects?
A: I write continuously and have approximately 6-10 books in various states of completion that I visit and rework at different times. I have been very fortunate to have been commissioned three of my new titles recently that I’m going to be working on over the next year. It’s going to be a very busy but exciting time. I have also recently written a story called Charlie & Pip inspired by a non-verbal child we know as family friend. It’s a story about a child not engaging in the outside world or communicating with anyone, until she meets Pip. He becomes her voice, her emotional buffer, showing her how to interact with others. This is a book for anyone struggling to find their voice, whether it’s a language barrier, anxiety or self-confidence problems. I think it’s a special book with a story that needs to be told. I’m very proud of it.
I believe my responsibility and role as an author and illustrator is to illuminate words, suggest the magical and interpret the unspoken.
Q: What books did you like to read as a kid? What type of books do you like to read now?
A: I was obsessed with any book by Richard Scarry because of all the funny details I could find, this was later replaced by Heath Robinson with his hypnotic contraptions and fabulous inventions. I adored, and still do, Dr. Seuss’s wonderful books. Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? is a favourite of mine. Now I read every picture book I can get my hands on. I’m initially attracted to the artwork but love deconstructing the narrative. Some of my favourite illustrators include Quentin Blake, Barroux, Dan Santat, and Oliver Jeffers.
Q: Any last words?
A: I love my job.
Thanks, Julia! Fall in love with Cornelius and his fat cat, and check out the book on our website. Find out more about Julia on her website, and don’t forget to follow her on Twitter.
Here is a lovely collection of Instagram blogs from @picturebooksreveiw and @goodkidsmn about two of my picture books DRAT THAT FAT CAT published by Albert Whitman & Co. and THE VERY VERY LONG DOG published by Sourcebooks USA.
OCTOBER ANNOUNCEMENT
I'm delighted to be able to announce I'm now represented by Lori Nowicki of Painted Words USA.
A new portfolio, a new voice, a new adventure...
A new portfolio, a new voice, a new adventure...
October news and events
On Saturday 20th October at 10 am, Holy Trinity Parish Centre, Berwick-Upon-Tweed. UK I'll be chatting about illustration & inspiration on a selected panel @BerwickLitFest with a handful of Berwick's finest creatives @stephens_helen @twillistration Anna Parker & a virtual @katiedraws for tickets☞ http://m.maltingsberwick.co.uk/ image courtesy of Helen Stephens.
September News
No. 7 Evergreen Street which will be published by Templar under the watchful eye of ubber editor Katie Howarth is underway! The thumb-nail sketches are with them as we speak. Watch this space for updates...
Im delighted to announce I'll be teaching every Monday at Teeside University on their foundation course which has a variety of students from BA (hons) architecture, fashion, product and graphic design. I'll be teaching a 12 week course 'Thinking Through Drawing' so if you'd like to join us, hurry up and enrol now.
This is the inspirational quote illuminating my studio...
August highlights
I'm thrilled announce I'm 110 on the Top 500 Children's Books Influencers list. Thankyou to Alan O'Rourke
A few notes about this data.
Being relatively new to the picture book world I wanted to understand it better. More specifically I did not want to miss any books, news or events I might be interested in. My day job is marketing so I applied that knowledge to the UK and Ireland children's book market.
I manually researched the leading people in the industry /community and created a sample list. From that sample list I ran it through some of my own marketing tools to find out who are the people, publishers, books shops and publications that most people follow and listen to. This list is then ranked according to how many children's books people follow them. The thousands of results were then filtered down to the top 500 people and organisations, catagorised and researched for additional data. Sources: The data is based on Twitter and Instagram research and of course not all influential people are on social media (but most of them are)
What's the point?
Follow these to know all that is happening in Children's Publishing
Learn from the professionals.
They are nice people. Make friends :)
A few notes about this data.
Being relatively new to the picture book world I wanted to understand it better. More specifically I did not want to miss any books, news or events I might be interested in. My day job is marketing so I applied that knowledge to the UK and Ireland children's book market.
I manually researched the leading people in the industry /community and created a sample list. From that sample list I ran it through some of my own marketing tools to find out who are the people, publishers, books shops and publications that most people follow and listen to. This list is then ranked according to how many children's books people follow them. The thousands of results were then filtered down to the top 500 people and organisations, catagorised and researched for additional data. Sources: The data is based on Twitter and Instagram research and of course not all influential people are on social media (but most of them are)
What's the point?
Follow these to know all that is happening in Children's Publishing
Learn from the professionals.
They are nice people. Make friends :)
Newly updated: PICTURES & WORDS Creative Workshops and lectures
Two years ago I launched a bespoke "Pictures & Words' creative workshop from my rural studio for one-on-one tutorials, since then I've had over 30 creatives with astounding skills come and work with me. These tailor-made courses are specifically designed for authors and illustrators wanting feedback on children's picture book texts, illustration advice, portfolio reviews, industry inside information, and how to get your book 'pitch ready'. With advice on acquiring an agent, re-branding on social media, sketchbook use and trade fairs, these courses are proving to be successful for the creatives that have made the pilgrimage to my rustic woodshed. My aim is to make you the best you can be.
The day commences at 10am-concluding at 3pm with lunch included and costs £170.00.
Post tutorial you'll receive a bespoke reading list, useful contacts page and de-brief with a step-by-step action plan with follow up support if required. Please feel free to contact me and enquire about your specific requirements.
I have also, due to popular demand, began to offer an on-line digital reach-out service for students who can't make the journey to visit me, which is £30.oo ph for text reviews, book proposals, portfolio reviews and agent acquisitions. Please don't hesitate to contact me for a personalised quote.
Testimonials
"Julia holds a space where she passionately and insightfully guides, prods, questions, communicates, develops and helps build a platform allowing for the artist to move forward knowing there is wealth of support behind them.” Lou Prentice
"Julia’s workshop was an amazing experience. The knowledge she shared with me was invaluable. I learnt so much from Julia and I left feeling I had the tools and support to reach my goals”. Gillian Flint
"The one to one tuition I have received from Juls has improved my confidence and given me a deeper understanding of how to become a published illustrator. Juls’ workshops are fun, relaxed and the tailored action plan she creates after each session provides clear direction, tips and ideas for moving forward in your career as a professional illustrator" Sarah Peel
When I met Julia I instantly felt at ease with her, it was meeting an old friend! Because of her natural manner, I felt very comfortable talking about and showing my work to her, she was very complementary and encouraging. Once I had returned home after our time together, Julia gave me a full email summary of a day to day clear working plan that made complete sense. She emails back instantly with solutions to any questions I have and it's just great to have this level of emotional and practical help. Julia provides a very professional and caring service." Michelle Breen
As an established lecture from both Edinburgh and Manchester University I offer the following workshops and presentations for educational establishments.
Professional practice, portfolios and preparations for day 1
This presentation is tailored specifically to individuals taking their first steps into children’s publishing, which is delivered by a collection of bespoke workshops and activities. Tutorials include industry inside information, getting day 1 ready, portfolio guidance, manuscript feedback and advice on how to find the perfect agent.
Words and pictures
This presentation is an introduction to the collaborative relationship between visual and verbal communication and how they work within the format of a picture book. We take a look at how illustrations can illuminate characters, suggest the magical and interpret the unspoken, and how words can elevate drama, evoke emotions and finally comment on the power and accessibility of wordless books.
Drawing Masterclasses
This workshop involves either a beginners, intermediate, or advanced life and still life drawing class utilising a variety of medias. We cover the importance of composition, scale, line, tone and sequential imagery.
Visiting lectures are either half or full day presentations beginning with a personal introduction, interactive group workshops concussing with individual tutorials. For half/full day fees please feel free to contact me at [email protected].
The day commences at 10am-concluding at 3pm with lunch included and costs £170.00.
Post tutorial you'll receive a bespoke reading list, useful contacts page and de-brief with a step-by-step action plan with follow up support if required. Please feel free to contact me and enquire about your specific requirements.
I have also, due to popular demand, began to offer an on-line digital reach-out service for students who can't make the journey to visit me, which is £30.oo ph for text reviews, book proposals, portfolio reviews and agent acquisitions. Please don't hesitate to contact me for a personalised quote.
Testimonials
"Julia holds a space where she passionately and insightfully guides, prods, questions, communicates, develops and helps build a platform allowing for the artist to move forward knowing there is wealth of support behind them.” Lou Prentice
"Julia’s workshop was an amazing experience. The knowledge she shared with me was invaluable. I learnt so much from Julia and I left feeling I had the tools and support to reach my goals”. Gillian Flint
"The one to one tuition I have received from Juls has improved my confidence and given me a deeper understanding of how to become a published illustrator. Juls’ workshops are fun, relaxed and the tailored action plan she creates after each session provides clear direction, tips and ideas for moving forward in your career as a professional illustrator" Sarah Peel
When I met Julia I instantly felt at ease with her, it was meeting an old friend! Because of her natural manner, I felt very comfortable talking about and showing my work to her, she was very complementary and encouraging. Once I had returned home after our time together, Julia gave me a full email summary of a day to day clear working plan that made complete sense. She emails back instantly with solutions to any questions I have and it's just great to have this level of emotional and practical help. Julia provides a very professional and caring service." Michelle Breen
As an established lecture from both Edinburgh and Manchester University I offer the following workshops and presentations for educational establishments.
Professional practice, portfolios and preparations for day 1
This presentation is tailored specifically to individuals taking their first steps into children’s publishing, which is delivered by a collection of bespoke workshops and activities. Tutorials include industry inside information, getting day 1 ready, portfolio guidance, manuscript feedback and advice on how to find the perfect agent.
Words and pictures
This presentation is an introduction to the collaborative relationship between visual and verbal communication and how they work within the format of a picture book. We take a look at how illustrations can illuminate characters, suggest the magical and interpret the unspoken, and how words can elevate drama, evoke emotions and finally comment on the power and accessibility of wordless books.
Drawing Masterclasses
This workshop involves either a beginners, intermediate, or advanced life and still life drawing class utilising a variety of medias. We cover the importance of composition, scale, line, tone and sequential imagery.
Visiting lectures are either half or full day presentations beginning with a personal introduction, interactive group workshops concussing with individual tutorials. For half/full day fees please feel free to contact me at [email protected].
June Highlights
Well, a rather exciting box arrived full of DVD's. DVD'S OF THE VERY VERY VERY LONG DOG! Sourcebooks Jabberwocky Kids have commissioned Dreamscape to create an animated film from the book with incredible music and voice overs. As soon as I've got permission I'll share it with you....
May highlights
This great review of SNAIL MAIL written by the incredible Samantha Berger published by Running Press, Hachette USA has just popped up in The New York Times today.....
and of course you guessed the image that accompanied the text... yes, the pink speedos!
The Very Very Very Very Long Dog is headed to the Newark Book Festival
I'll be bringing Bartelby and friends to this years Newark Books Festival on the 14th July 2-3 pm. Come and join us for readings and some very very very fun activities. More information here www.newarkbookfestival.org.uk looking forward to seeing you there!
Photos courtesy of thebabybookwormblog.wordpress.com and Samantha Berger's #AYA respectively.
The Very Very Very Long Dog has reached Australia!
Bologna Children's Book Fair Bologna highlights 2018
Warning: may contain gratuitous images of delicious Italian food and drink....
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Marvellous March reviews
Thankyou to Kirkus for their starred ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review of Snail Mail written by Samantha Berger
KIRKUS REVIEWThe Snail Mail Promise: “Neither rain, nor snow, nor heat, nor hail will stop a snail from bringing the mail.”
After asserting that before “e-mail and sending, clicking and texting,” letters were sent by Snail Mail, the text introduces four snail mail carriers: Dale Snail, Gail Snail, Col. McHale Snail, and Umbérto. The tongue-in-cheek text goes on to say that people agreed that certain types of mail were made more special by Snail Mail. When a girl in Santa Monica who loves a boy in New York makes him a card, the snails are determined to deliver the letter. They creep into position under the letter and begin their slow, arduous journey. The art shows irresistible snails with eyeballs on stalks protruding above their clothed soft parts, shells exposed to the weather. There is a nod to cinematic conventions as the snail trail, represented by dashes in red ink, winds from the deserts of the West through the country’s heartland and into urban New York. Engaging watercolors offer varied landscapes and postcardlike views of famous landmarks. Another scene shows the snails briefly hitching a ride with sparrows. Both children have sweet, brownish faces. The absurdity of the premise—and repeated promise—is humorously upheld throughout.
Art and text take a literal definition and do a great job of running—er, creeping—with it. (Picture book. 3-7)
After asserting that before “e-mail and sending, clicking and texting,” letters were sent by Snail Mail, the text introduces four snail mail carriers: Dale Snail, Gail Snail, Col. McHale Snail, and Umbérto. The tongue-in-cheek text goes on to say that people agreed that certain types of mail were made more special by Snail Mail. When a girl in Santa Monica who loves a boy in New York makes him a card, the snails are determined to deliver the letter. They creep into position under the letter and begin their slow, arduous journey. The art shows irresistible snails with eyeballs on stalks protruding above their clothed soft parts, shells exposed to the weather. There is a nod to cinematic conventions as the snail trail, represented by dashes in red ink, winds from the deserts of the West through the country’s heartland and into urban New York. Engaging watercolors offer varied landscapes and postcardlike views of famous landmarks. Another scene shows the snails briefly hitching a ride with sparrows. Both children have sweet, brownish faces. The absurdity of the premise—and repeated promise—is humorously upheld throughout.
Art and text take a literal definition and do a great job of running—er, creeping—with it. (Picture book. 3-7)
February news and updates
After a small hiatus to the Alpes for a spot of minus 8 apres-ski I'm back home ( astonishingly break free) and settling back into studio life. Here are a couple of Feb highlights for you. I'm delighted to announce that Barnes & Nobel Fifth Avenue NY, USA have included The Very Very Very Long Dog into the 'Character Wall Of Fame' after all it is the #yearofthedog and officially #LoveYourPetDay!
As part of the 'World Read Aloud Day' celebrations I held a Skype meet & greet with Richmond Hill Elementary School, Georgia USA. The students had prepared a whole heap of brilliant questions for me and were super enthusiastic shouting OH BARTELBY! at all the right times. If your school or organisation would like to request a virtual visit see here and below for details:
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This is what waving across 4000 miles looks like!
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Love for 'The Very Very Very Long Dog'
Here some snippets of what's happening in Bartelby's exciting life over in the USA....
New editions!
I'm delighted to share with you the Korean foreign edition of Professor McQuark & The Oojamaflip written by Lou Treleaven and published originally by Maverick. The Korean publisher is Times Education and the quality and attention to detail is fantastic. Look at those rounded corners, and the three-diamentioanl font/typeface. A masterclass.
New Year, New Home, New Studio
I've moved. I've moved home and have a brand new underfloor heated studio. It's blissful. Here are a few sneak peaks of my new creative space, and some of my favourite tools. Do come over and say hello on Instagram for more pictures and news. I'm quite new so be gentle...
November announcements
New representation =I'm delighted to be able to announce that from today I'm officially represented by the brilliant Jodie Hodges of United Agents.
A brand new start, a brand new portfolio and a selection of brand new stories ...
THE VERY VERY VERY LONG DOG
I'm also delighted today to announce The Very Very Very Long Dog is #9 on The Winter 2017-2018 Kids' Indie Next List Preview The Indie Next List is drawn from bookseller-recommended favorite handsells, and being in the top ten means that out of every book, from every publisher that is available this upcoming winter, booksellers voted The Very Very Very Long Dog as one of their absolute favourites. Thankyou.
I
Instagram news
It's been a very creative few months travelling and scribbling. Here are the results of both over on my new Instagram page, come and join the conversation...
Elizabeth Dulemba, a fabulous fellow creative and publishing genius, asked me a few questions for her blog about my creative process...
Here is the rest of the interview...
UNSTOPPABLE MAX
Unstoppable Max's Chinese, Australian and UEA foreign edition published by Oxford University Press have just dropped on my woodshed doorstep. They are beautifully printed hardbacks..
STINKER
The hardback edition of Stinker has finally arrived. You can pre order your copy here:
THE VERY VERY VERY LONG DOG - bookmarks!
Something very exciting arrived in the post today along side my Advance Reader Copies (ARC's) of The Very Very Very Long Dog......
These fabulous bookmarks!!!!
Hardback copies of The Very Very Very Long Dog are available to pre-order here from Dec.'17
Celebrating the importance & beauty of wordless picture books
This month at Tiny Owl, we’re launching a campaign to celebrate the importance and beauty of wordless picture books. We want to investigate some intriguing questions – why are wordless picture books important? Do they fill a gap that books with words can’t fill? Are their messages more universal? Do they aid literacy? Or is it just that they’re so beautiful to look at?
We contacted experts in all kinds of areas of the book industry, from authors and illustrators to booksellers and journalists, as well as teachers and parents, to ask them for their thoughts. Here are the first four responses from Nicolette Jones, Julia Patton, Duncan Partridge and Catell Ronca.
Here is the full interview and further information.
They were given this question:Wordless picture books are becoming more popular with people of all ages. Why do you think this is?
Nicolette Jones:
Sometimes their silence is golden!
Wordless picture books can be effective ways of telling a story, and works of art. They involve interpretation and creativity on the part of readers, and some, such as Shaun Tan’s The Arrival, Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman, Quentin Blake’s Clown and Jeannie Baker’s Belonging (and Mirror) reward the most sophisticated attention. They also have the advantage of inclusivity: they reach speakers of any language, the very young and those who find reading difficult. They remind us that pictures can convey both ideas and narrative, independently of text, and there is no reason why school children and students should not be encouraged to analyse them as they would a written story. Sometimes, their silence is golden.
*Nicolette Jones is Children’s books Editor at The Sunday Times.
We contacted experts in all kinds of areas of the book industry, from authors and illustrators to booksellers and journalists, as well as teachers and parents, to ask them for their thoughts. Here are the first four responses from Nicolette Jones, Julia Patton, Duncan Partridge and Catell Ronca.
Here is the full interview and further information.
They were given this question:Wordless picture books are becoming more popular with people of all ages. Why do you think this is?
Nicolette Jones:
Sometimes their silence is golden!
Wordless picture books can be effective ways of telling a story, and works of art. They involve interpretation and creativity on the part of readers, and some, such as Shaun Tan’s The Arrival, Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman, Quentin Blake’s Clown and Jeannie Baker’s Belonging (and Mirror) reward the most sophisticated attention. They also have the advantage of inclusivity: they reach speakers of any language, the very young and those who find reading difficult. They remind us that pictures can convey both ideas and narrative, independently of text, and there is no reason why school children and students should not be encouraged to analyse them as they would a written story. Sometimes, their silence is golden.
*Nicolette Jones is Children’s books Editor at The Sunday Times.
Julia Patton:
Wordless books transcend language barriers
Our industry is lucky to be championed by publishers, educationalists and parents that understand and actively promote the importance of sharing a book with a child as early as possible. In my experience, even sharing a book with words with a very young child is often edited to reduce the vocabulary until their literary comprehension advances. I personally devoured picture books before I could read or spell, specifically Richard Scarry’s books filled with endless details to discover. I actually ate one page because I loved it so very much, behaviour I don’t condone! As an author and illustrator I’ve always believed it’s my privilege and responsibility to illuminate characters, suggesting the magical whilst interpreting the unspoken. A wordless book passes on that incredible gift to whoever turns the first page… A wordless book is the ultimate visual communication tool that encourages, sometimes demands, the viewer’s interaction. One has the opportunity and creative freedom to become the narrator, and potentially the same book may never be described the same way twice. A wordless book is a springboard for personal interpretation, allowing the reader to hear their own voice and personally identify with the protagonist and themes. Wordless books transcend language barriers, breach learning gaps and plant the seeds of adventure into the youngest of hearts. They are masterclasses in beauty and narrative, expanding the visual, verbal and empathetic vocabulary of any child. I’ve witnessed a wordless book being absorbed silently by individuals, and conversely being utilised as a powerful platform for sharing excited questions, taking whole classrooms on unforgettable journeys of wonder. A wordless book is simply a legacy of enchantment.
*Julia Patton is an illustrator/author in the UK.
Wordless books transcend language barriers
Our industry is lucky to be championed by publishers, educationalists and parents that understand and actively promote the importance of sharing a book with a child as early as possible. In my experience, even sharing a book with words with a very young child is often edited to reduce the vocabulary until their literary comprehension advances. I personally devoured picture books before I could read or spell, specifically Richard Scarry’s books filled with endless details to discover. I actually ate one page because I loved it so very much, behaviour I don’t condone! As an author and illustrator I’ve always believed it’s my privilege and responsibility to illuminate characters, suggesting the magical whilst interpreting the unspoken. A wordless book passes on that incredible gift to whoever turns the first page… A wordless book is the ultimate visual communication tool that encourages, sometimes demands, the viewer’s interaction. One has the opportunity and creative freedom to become the narrator, and potentially the same book may never be described the same way twice. A wordless book is a springboard for personal interpretation, allowing the reader to hear their own voice and personally identify with the protagonist and themes. Wordless books transcend language barriers, breach learning gaps and plant the seeds of adventure into the youngest of hearts. They are masterclasses in beauty and narrative, expanding the visual, verbal and empathetic vocabulary of any child. I’ve witnessed a wordless book being absorbed silently by individuals, and conversely being utilised as a powerful platform for sharing excited questions, taking whole classrooms on unforgettable journeys of wonder. A wordless book is simply a legacy of enchantment.
*Julia Patton is an illustrator/author in the UK.
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Duncan Partridge:
Wordless books cross cultures and open up cultures Wordless books cross cultures and open up cultures. Universal themes can be explored through resonant images, which draw on and play with aesthetic traditions and contemporary vision. *Duncan Partridge is Director of Education at The ESU. |
Catell Ronca:
Children are naturally very good at improvising!
Images appeal deeply and instantly to the human intellect and leave strong impressions more than words can. An image arises first, then comes a word, which then encapsulates aspects of the image. We react to images emotionally and actively, so I believe it is a very pleasurable experience for everyone of all ages to indulge in a purely visual story and make sense of it without it being explicit. Children are naturally very good at this, telling stories and improvising, but adults need to relearn it and I believe this is the reason why wordless books are so attractive.
*Catell Ronca is an illustrator from Switzerland.
Children are naturally very good at improvising!
Images appeal deeply and instantly to the human intellect and leave strong impressions more than words can. An image arises first, then comes a word, which then encapsulates aspects of the image. We react to images emotionally and actively, so I believe it is a very pleasurable experience for everyone of all ages to indulge in a purely visual story and make sense of it without it being explicit. Children are naturally very good at this, telling stories and improvising, but adults need to relearn it and I believe this is the reason why wordless books are so attractive.
*Catell Ronca is an illustrator from Switzerland.
SCBWI interview : Style Bibles & Sketchbooks...
Here is an article written by my friend Elizabeth Dulemba an author, illustrator and lecturer for the USA SCBWI magazine. We talk sketchbooks, style bibles, notebooks and journals of all types for every creative... My A-Z, also known as my sketchbook, is incredibly important to my creative process. I scribble and write in it everyday and take it with me when having meetings with publishers. Once a year I completely reconstruct it with new blank pages for another year of ideas, narratives and characters to evolve...
My A-Z, also known as my sketchbook, is vital to my creative process. I draw and write in it everyday and take it with me when having meetings with publishers. I categories my sketchbook alphabetically so I can dip in and out at a moment's notice. B=Bunnies and Bears etc....
I adore college and typography utilising found lettering and references from other images makers. As you can see from my sketchbook above there is a strong influence upon my picture book illustrations and narratives shown here in my final spreads..
Once a year I completely reconstruct it with new blank pages for another year of ideas, narratives and characters to evolve. Here is a few examples of my recent pages that have inspired picture books...
I adore college and typography utilising found lettering and references from other images makers. As you can see from my sketchbook above there is a strong influence upon my picture book illustrations and narratives shown here in my final spreads..
Once a year I completely reconstruct it with new blank pages for another year of ideas, narratives and characters to evolve. Here is a few examples of my recent pages that have inspired picture books...
Come and say hello: Instagram
I've given in. I'm now an official member of the Instagram community. Come on over and see what I get up to in the woodshed. You'll see countryside shenanigans, picture book illustrations, my exotic travels plus a sprinkling of outdoor cooking....
The Border Artist Exhibition: The Watchtower Gallery
I've been producing some large-scale mixed-media paintings on board for this exhibition. Here are the other participating creatives and the work i'll be exhibiting :Gallery
LAUNCH: PICTURES & WORD CREATIVE PICTURE BOOK WORKSHOPS
Some more updates and feedback for prospective illustration or children's picture book authors who need some one-on-one tutorial time...Thankyou to the very talented Sarah Peel for this. Photograph with Chris Chatterton on his creative writing masterclass. One of his books developed on his PICTURES & WORDS day is slated for publication 2018 with Macmillan.
I have recently launched personalised "Pictures & Words' creative workshops from my rural studio for one-on-one tutorials. These tailor-made courses are specifically designed for creatives wanting feedback on children's picture book texts, illustration advice, portfolio reviews, industry inside information, and how to get your book 'pitch ready'. With advice on re-branding on social media, sketchbook use and trade fairs, these courses are proving to be successful for the handful of creatives that have already made the journey to my rustic woodshed. My aim is to make you the best you can be.
The day commences at 10am-concluding at 3pm with lunch included and costs £150.00.
A comprehensive reading list, contact page and de-brief with step-by-step action plan is provided post tutorial with follow up support if required. Please feel free to contact me and enquire about your specific requirements.
The day commences at 10am-concluding at 3pm with lunch included and costs £150.00.
A comprehensive reading list, contact page and de-brief with step-by-step action plan is provided post tutorial with follow up support if required. Please feel free to contact me and enquire about your specific requirements.
BOLOGNA HIGHLIGHTS 2017
Bologna 2017 was filled with sunshine, beautiful publishing people and adventures aplenty. I had wonderful meetings with Sourcebooks, Albert Whitman, Lerner, Macmillan and Bonnier Publishing which reaffirmed and strengthened our relationships. We spoke about hot-off-the-press projects to be developed over 2017, so watch this space for announcements of new collaborations and new adventures.... oh, and a day exploring Lucca to top it all off.
Oh, Bartelby! after some gentle encouragement from Barnes & Noble has had a title change...and here he is unveiled at Bologna on the Sourcebooks stand! Here's his original cover....
A proof of Stinker was also revealed at Bologna on the Lerner stand published by Carolrhoda Books publication date Sept 2017 next to my previous book Mind Boggling Numbers. EXCITING NEW ANNOUNCEMENT COMING THIS WEEK...
Pre-Bologna madness....
Getting new texts and characters ready to take to Bologna along with new postcards, printed portfolio & sketchbooks. It's always madness at this time of year. Here is a little sneaky peak at my new title BIG RED ROCK EATER. It's going to be mostly collage using recycled papers which will be a new adventure for me. A nod to my previous greeting card & art licensing days working for Paperchase. FUN!
Fab Feb!
Oh, Bartelby! is finished. Stop-the-press, which is one of two books sold to Sourcebooks publication December 2017. I have emerged only briefly to fly down to have some very top-secret meetings in London with the fabulous Macmillan folks. I also have to announce that Snail Mail written by the quite brilliant Samantha Berger is underway which will be published by Hachette, Running Press.
HAPPY NEW YEAR- WELCOME 2107
I've a very happy New Year announcemnet as i'm busy in the studio creating OH, BARTLEBY! for Jabberwocky for Sourcebooks...
I'VE HAD KITTENS! I'm a proud Momma of DRAT THAT FAT CAT kittens thanks to the talents of Stephanie Cowburn who handmade them out of felt.
I'VE HAD KITTENS! I'm a proud Momma of DRAT THAT FAT CAT kittens thanks to the talents of Stephanie Cowburn who handmade them out of felt.
IT BEGINS...
Shhhh...our little secret
November news
A look-behind-the-scenes interview with Pippa Wilson.
Hello! I’m delighted to welcome the super-talented Julia Patton to my hellopipski blog. It will be fascinating to find out how an illustrator of picture books operates! Julia has illustrated many books such as Mind Boggling Numbers by Michael Rosen and Professor McQuark and the Oojamflip by Lou Treleaven, and she also writes and illustrates her own books such as Drat That Fat Cat and Unstoppable Max.
Hi Julia! Can you tell us how you got into illustration? I knew ever since I was very little that I wanted to draw. I spent every hour cutting and sticking inside my hand-made sketchbooks. This eventually lead me to choose my undergraduate subject in Textile Design which was very fine art-based. I then spent many years creating greeting cards and wrap for international stores.
My interest in children’s picture books was reignited when I began sourcing books for my own small boys. I fell in love with picture books and I knew it was time to go back to big school myself. I swiftly enrolled on the MA Illustration program at Edinburgh University and had my first picture book Unstoppable Max was published a year later.
How do you like your workspace organised?I work in a rural woodshed in the wilds of Northumberland which is terribly romantic and perfect for a creative mind; however it’s freezing! ‘Character building’ I’ve been told…. I’m a rather spoilt creative as I have two studios, one indoor and one in my woodshed. I mostly dwell inside the woodshed overlooking my vegetable garden. Inside I’ve got an enormous 6′ double-skinned, hand build desk (with a wide shelf in between where I have all my papers, and portfolios to hand).
From left to right is the ‘messy desk’ where I can gradually move along from the sticky, painting area, getting gradually to the dry media zone. I have children’s picture book reference library here and in my inside studio inside where I keep my digital suite.
I love to have all my pencils in colour order, everything neat and tidy until I’m painting then all the rules are broken. Mess rules. This is sometimes when the most loveliest accidents occur. I have an eclectic music collection playing from movie soundtracks to Yo Yo Ma to Radio 1. The closer the deadline the louder the music, it keeps me from getting distracted. I work everyday including weekends from 9-4 and then in the evenings late if I needed to as I have two ever hungry boys who need their Momma.
What’s your favourite medium to use? I work with traditional media and adore oil paint, watercolour and pencils which I work in collage and hand-printed text that I then scan into my computer to finish. I work with every genre of character if it be an anthropomorphic frog or space pirate princess.
My own childhood was heavily influenced by Richard Scarry because of all the funny details I could find, this was later replaced by Heath Robinson with his hypnotic contraptions and fabulous inventions. I adored, and still do, Dr. Seuss’s wonderful books. Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? is a favourite of mine. Now I read every picture book I can get my hands on. I’m initially attracted to the artwork but love deconstructing the narrative.
I am now mostly illustrating my own books that I’ve written, which is simply wonderful. As I’m writing the narrative and visuals unfold simultaneously, I struggle to get the pencil scribbled down quickly enough. I usually create a character and then give it a title and figure out what possible journey it/they could go on.
The most important issues to remember are the the story arc and being mindful of our splendid diversification. There are just some stories that need to be told.
I believe every child should be able to see themselves, identify with the themes and hear their voice within a picture book
What are you currently working on? I’m currently working on a story called Oh, Bartelby! which is a very humorous tale of one very long, clumsy sausage dog and his little friends who live in bookstore. No spoilers! Aesthetically it’s more hand-drawn book than my other work with a heartwarming message.
As I’m writing, the narrative and visuals unfold simultaneously, I struggle to get the pencil scribbled down quickly enough. I create a character and then give it a title and figure out what possible journey it/they could go on. I usually have about 5-10 stories ‘growing’ like baby seedlings inside my A-Z sketchbook, which is where my visuals and story ideas live. At any time I can get a call to meet with prospective publishers who’d like to work with me an I show them my A-Z and discuss which story they like the idea of, and we create that book together organically. The story arc and being mindful of our splendid diversification are super important. There are just some stories that need to be told.I believe every child should be able to see themselves, identify with the themes and hear their voice within a picture book. I’m an incredibly privileged creative because I’ve got a huge support system around me.
What’s the best thing about your job? I’m an incredibly privileged creative because I’ve got a huge support system around me: My darling agents in the UK and USA numerous superb publishers globally, and my fellow creatives via social media who keep me smiling.
I may dwell in a rural woodshed but I’m never far from advice, support, love and humour to keep me motivated!
Many thanks to Julia for taking the time to join us. For those of us facing the challenge of writing picture books, this is just the inspiration we need!
Find Julia on twitter @julia_patton and see more of her work here.
Hello! I’m delighted to welcome the super-talented Julia Patton to my hellopipski blog. It will be fascinating to find out how an illustrator of picture books operates! Julia has illustrated many books such as Mind Boggling Numbers by Michael Rosen and Professor McQuark and the Oojamflip by Lou Treleaven, and she also writes and illustrates her own books such as Drat That Fat Cat and Unstoppable Max.
Hi Julia! Can you tell us how you got into illustration? I knew ever since I was very little that I wanted to draw. I spent every hour cutting and sticking inside my hand-made sketchbooks. This eventually lead me to choose my undergraduate subject in Textile Design which was very fine art-based. I then spent many years creating greeting cards and wrap for international stores.
My interest in children’s picture books was reignited when I began sourcing books for my own small boys. I fell in love with picture books and I knew it was time to go back to big school myself. I swiftly enrolled on the MA Illustration program at Edinburgh University and had my first picture book Unstoppable Max was published a year later.
How do you like your workspace organised?I work in a rural woodshed in the wilds of Northumberland which is terribly romantic and perfect for a creative mind; however it’s freezing! ‘Character building’ I’ve been told…. I’m a rather spoilt creative as I have two studios, one indoor and one in my woodshed. I mostly dwell inside the woodshed overlooking my vegetable garden. Inside I’ve got an enormous 6′ double-skinned, hand build desk (with a wide shelf in between where I have all my papers, and portfolios to hand).
From left to right is the ‘messy desk’ where I can gradually move along from the sticky, painting area, getting gradually to the dry media zone. I have children’s picture book reference library here and in my inside studio inside where I keep my digital suite.
I love to have all my pencils in colour order, everything neat and tidy until I’m painting then all the rules are broken. Mess rules. This is sometimes when the most loveliest accidents occur. I have an eclectic music collection playing from movie soundtracks to Yo Yo Ma to Radio 1. The closer the deadline the louder the music, it keeps me from getting distracted. I work everyday including weekends from 9-4 and then in the evenings late if I needed to as I have two ever hungry boys who need their Momma.
What’s your favourite medium to use? I work with traditional media and adore oil paint, watercolour and pencils which I work in collage and hand-printed text that I then scan into my computer to finish. I work with every genre of character if it be an anthropomorphic frog or space pirate princess.
My own childhood was heavily influenced by Richard Scarry because of all the funny details I could find, this was later replaced by Heath Robinson with his hypnotic contraptions and fabulous inventions. I adored, and still do, Dr. Seuss’s wonderful books. Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? is a favourite of mine. Now I read every picture book I can get my hands on. I’m initially attracted to the artwork but love deconstructing the narrative.
I am now mostly illustrating my own books that I’ve written, which is simply wonderful. As I’m writing the narrative and visuals unfold simultaneously, I struggle to get the pencil scribbled down quickly enough. I usually create a character and then give it a title and figure out what possible journey it/they could go on.
The most important issues to remember are the the story arc and being mindful of our splendid diversification. There are just some stories that need to be told.
I believe every child should be able to see themselves, identify with the themes and hear their voice within a picture book
What are you currently working on? I’m currently working on a story called Oh, Bartelby! which is a very humorous tale of one very long, clumsy sausage dog and his little friends who live in bookstore. No spoilers! Aesthetically it’s more hand-drawn book than my other work with a heartwarming message.
As I’m writing, the narrative and visuals unfold simultaneously, I struggle to get the pencil scribbled down quickly enough. I create a character and then give it a title and figure out what possible journey it/they could go on. I usually have about 5-10 stories ‘growing’ like baby seedlings inside my A-Z sketchbook, which is where my visuals and story ideas live. At any time I can get a call to meet with prospective publishers who’d like to work with me an I show them my A-Z and discuss which story they like the idea of, and we create that book together organically. The story arc and being mindful of our splendid diversification are super important. There are just some stories that need to be told.I believe every child should be able to see themselves, identify with the themes and hear their voice within a picture book. I’m an incredibly privileged creative because I’ve got a huge support system around me.
What’s the best thing about your job? I’m an incredibly privileged creative because I’ve got a huge support system around me: My darling agents in the UK and USA numerous superb publishers globally, and my fellow creatives via social media who keep me smiling.
I may dwell in a rural woodshed but I’m never far from advice, support, love and humour to keep me motivated!
Many thanks to Julia for taking the time to join us. For those of us facing the challenge of writing picture books, this is just the inspiration we need!
Find Julia on twitter @julia_patton and see more of her work here.
Albert Whitman interview in anticipation of DRAT THAT FAT CAT'S publishing date-16th October
I'm delighted to be able to share with you a lovely chat I had with one of my dearest publishers about the creative process of creating DRAT THAT FAT CAT.
BEFORE...
AND AFTER!
Q&A WITH JULIA PATTON October 13, 2016 Albert Whitman and Co. Children's literature, picture books, q&A
Cornelius was not expecting a cat to be left on his doorstep in Drat That Fat Cat! by author-illustrator Julia Patton.
We were lucky enough to sit down with Julia Patton to chat about Drat That Fat Cat!, her career trajectory, and the cat—and human—who inspired the story.
Q: How did you become a children’s book author and illustrator?
A: When I was very little my earliest memories were playing ‘Post Office’ underneath my Grandma’s kitchen table. I’d spend hours cutting and sticking making envelopes and stamps to post to my long suffering sister. I always knew my heart lay in being a creative so I followed this pathway through my undergraduate in Textile Design which was very fine art-based. I then spent many years creating greeting cards & wrap for international stores. My interest in children’s picture books was reignited when I began sourcing books for my own small boys. I fell in love with picture books and I knew it was time to go back to big school myself. I swiftly enrolled on the MA Illustration program at Edinburgh University and had my first picture book Unstoppable Max was published a year later.
Q: In Drat That Fat Cat! which came first: the text or the art?
A: Both are intrinsically linked, interwoven at every stage. When writing books I initially create the protagonist in my sketch book, secondly the other characters, and then I create a title, which just has to be a showstopper! Then the story arc grows from there. The funnier the better. I find humour and picture books perfect partners. I wrote Drat That Fat Cat! over five years ago and showed it to my editor and art director at The International Children’s Book Fair in Bologna last year. The silly end papers had us all howling with laughter. We worked together collaboratively to strengthen the story and its publication date is this October.
Q: Do you have a cat? What would you do if one was left on your doorstep?
A: I’ve had one very fat, stray cat arrive at my doorstep a few years ago, covered in fleas, wriggling with worms and creating the most horrid smells. We loved her. The idea of the highly contrasting Cornelius Van Ploof’s character in Drat That Fat Cat! comes from my beloved father. He loves order, with everything being very neat and tidy. I knew putting him and a flea-bitten, smelly cat together would drive him utterly bonkers! He’s yet to see the book. I may be in trouble!
Q: What is your favorite medium to work with?
A: With an undergraduate in textiles I’m instinctively drawn to creating beautiful aesthetics and tactile surfaces and with my new found love of illustration the two are now inseparable. I love collage and incorporate it into picture books whenever I can. I believe the multi-media approach to my illustrations make them easily identifiable from other’s work.
Q: What was the process of working with your editor and art director like?
A: Albert Whitman and I are on our third book together and Jordan Kost has been my art director on all of the projects. She is an incredibly talented creative to work with, professional, hard-working and we’ve developed a very close and hilarious friendship which moulds our books. She is the magical glue. I’d be lost without her encouragement, support and humour.
Q: Do you have a regular routine while creating a book?
A: The routine is work, work, work. Seven days a week, lots of late nights, until it’s finally done. The best books happen when you listen carefully taking everyone’s advice from art directors, editors and publishers. Then take a breath and begin the next project.
This quote is exactly how I feel: Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. —Confucius
Q: Are you working on any other projects?
A: I write continuously and have approximately 6-10 books in various states of completion that I visit and rework at different times. I have been very fortunate to have been commissioned three of my new titles recently that I’m going to be working on over the next year. It’s going to be a very busy but exciting time. I have also recently written a story called Charlie & Pip inspired by a non-verbal child we know as family friend. It’s a story about a child not engaging in the outside world or communicating with anyone, until she meets Pip. He becomes her voice, her emotional buffer, showing her how to interact with others. This is a book for anyone struggling to find their voice, whether it’s a language barrier, anxiety or self-confidence problems. I think it’s a special book with a story that needs to be told. I’m very proud of it.
I believe my responsibility and role as an author and illustrator is to illuminate words, suggest the magical and interpret the unspoken.
Q: What books did you like to read as a kid? What type of books do you like to read now?
A: I was obsessed with any book by Richard Scarry because of all the funny details I could find, this was later replaced by Heath Robinson with his hypnotic contraptions and fabulous inventions. I adored, and still do, Dr. Seuss’s wonderful books. Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? is a favourite of mine. Now I read every picture book I can get my hands on. I’m initially attracted to the artwork but love deconstructing the narrative. Some of my favourite illustrators include Quentin Blake, Barroux, Dan Santat, and Oliver Jeffers.
Q: Any last words?
A: I love my job.
Thanks, Julia! Fall in love with that fat cat, Drat, and check out the book on our website. Find out more about Julia on her website, and don’t forget to follow her on Twitter.
Cornelius was not expecting a cat to be left on his doorstep in Drat That Fat Cat! by author-illustrator Julia Patton.
We were lucky enough to sit down with Julia Patton to chat about Drat That Fat Cat!, her career trajectory, and the cat—and human—who inspired the story.
Q: How did you become a children’s book author and illustrator?
A: When I was very little my earliest memories were playing ‘Post Office’ underneath my Grandma’s kitchen table. I’d spend hours cutting and sticking making envelopes and stamps to post to my long suffering sister. I always knew my heart lay in being a creative so I followed this pathway through my undergraduate in Textile Design which was very fine art-based. I then spent many years creating greeting cards & wrap for international stores. My interest in children’s picture books was reignited when I began sourcing books for my own small boys. I fell in love with picture books and I knew it was time to go back to big school myself. I swiftly enrolled on the MA Illustration program at Edinburgh University and had my first picture book Unstoppable Max was published a year later.
Q: In Drat That Fat Cat! which came first: the text or the art?
A: Both are intrinsically linked, interwoven at every stage. When writing books I initially create the protagonist in my sketch book, secondly the other characters, and then I create a title, which just has to be a showstopper! Then the story arc grows from there. The funnier the better. I find humour and picture books perfect partners. I wrote Drat That Fat Cat! over five years ago and showed it to my editor and art director at The International Children’s Book Fair in Bologna last year. The silly end papers had us all howling with laughter. We worked together collaboratively to strengthen the story and its publication date is this October.
Q: Do you have a cat? What would you do if one was left on your doorstep?
A: I’ve had one very fat, stray cat arrive at my doorstep a few years ago, covered in fleas, wriggling with worms and creating the most horrid smells. We loved her. The idea of the highly contrasting Cornelius Van Ploof’s character in Drat That Fat Cat! comes from my beloved father. He loves order, with everything being very neat and tidy. I knew putting him and a flea-bitten, smelly cat together would drive him utterly bonkers! He’s yet to see the book. I may be in trouble!
Q: What is your favorite medium to work with?
A: With an undergraduate in textiles I’m instinctively drawn to creating beautiful aesthetics and tactile surfaces and with my new found love of illustration the two are now inseparable. I love collage and incorporate it into picture books whenever I can. I believe the multi-media approach to my illustrations make them easily identifiable from other’s work.
Q: What was the process of working with your editor and art director like?
A: Albert Whitman and I are on our third book together and Jordan Kost has been my art director on all of the projects. She is an incredibly talented creative to work with, professional, hard-working and we’ve developed a very close and hilarious friendship which moulds our books. She is the magical glue. I’d be lost without her encouragement, support and humour.
Q: Do you have a regular routine while creating a book?
A: The routine is work, work, work. Seven days a week, lots of late nights, until it’s finally done. The best books happen when you listen carefully taking everyone’s advice from art directors, editors and publishers. Then take a breath and begin the next project.
This quote is exactly how I feel: Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. —Confucius
Q: Are you working on any other projects?
A: I write continuously and have approximately 6-10 books in various states of completion that I visit and rework at different times. I have been very fortunate to have been commissioned three of my new titles recently that I’m going to be working on over the next year. It’s going to be a very busy but exciting time. I have also recently written a story called Charlie & Pip inspired by a non-verbal child we know as family friend. It’s a story about a child not engaging in the outside world or communicating with anyone, until she meets Pip. He becomes her voice, her emotional buffer, showing her how to interact with others. This is a book for anyone struggling to find their voice, whether it’s a language barrier, anxiety or self-confidence problems. I think it’s a special book with a story that needs to be told. I’m very proud of it.
I believe my responsibility and role as an author and illustrator is to illuminate words, suggest the magical and interpret the unspoken.
Q: What books did you like to read as a kid? What type of books do you like to read now?
A: I was obsessed with any book by Richard Scarry because of all the funny details I could find, this was later replaced by Heath Robinson with his hypnotic contraptions and fabulous inventions. I adored, and still do, Dr. Seuss’s wonderful books. Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? is a favourite of mine. Now I read every picture book I can get my hands on. I’m initially attracted to the artwork but love deconstructing the narrative. Some of my favourite illustrators include Quentin Blake, Barroux, Dan Santat, and Oliver Jeffers.
Q: Any last words?
A: I love my job.
Thanks, Julia! Fall in love with that fat cat, Drat, and check out the book on our website. Find out more about Julia on her website, and don’t forget to follow her on Twitter.
BOOKS, BOOKS and more books commissioned for 2017
I've been commissioned to create a book called SNAIL MAIL for USA Hachette, Running Press which i'm super excited to finally share. This is slated for Fall 2017.
I'm very proud to be able to announce that i've signed a two book deal with Jabberwocky Books of Sourcebooks with the talented Kelly Barrales-Saylor, whom i've worked on 3 previous titles with, in her former post at Albert Whitman & Co.
September News
I'm London bound for the next Storytime Sunday event at The Bright Emporium. Come along and say hi! It's going to be fun!
A Look Behind The Book with the Unstoppable Julia Patton!
Julia Patton is an award-winning author and illustrator with over 25 picture books and educational titles published internationally. Her energy knows no bounds, and her books totally capture her personality and her ability to appeal to children through comical illustration and a child’s eye view. Last year Julia illustrated the Children In Need picture book, working alongside the likes of Sir Paul McCartney and Kate Moss. Earlier this year, Julia published Unstoppable Max — a book about a little boy with boundless energy — something all parents can relate to! Julia will be our story time celebrity at The Bright Emporium next week, so I caught up with her to find out a little bit more… LM
When you were little, and grown ups would ask, what do you want to be when you grow up? What did you say? I actually really wanted to be a long-necked-quack when I was very small. Secretly I still do. Scribbling, cutting & sticking came later when I created a Post Office underneath my Grandma’s kitchen table. I’d spend hours making envelopes and stamps to post to my long suffering sister, who really just wanted to be left alone to read.
Was there someone who inspired you into your career choice? One birthday when I was still quite small, my dear aunt bought me a box filled with every kind of art material I could imagine, coloured paper, pencils, paints and brushes that I drooled over. It was magical, and so was she.
What were your favourite books as a child? I was obsessed by any book by Richard Scarry because of the funny details I could find, this was later replaced by Heath Robinson with his hypnotic contraptions. I adored and still do, Dr. Seuss’s wonderful books. Did I ever tell you how lucky you are? is a favourite of mine. My Mother read to us every night until we were really quite grown up. I think she enjoyed the ritual of bedtime stories too. Every kind of book we devoured together, picture books, Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven, encyclopaedias, poetry, National Geographic Atlases etc. until we we found our own pathway in books.
What made you decide on a career in children’s illustration?
I always knew my heart lay in being a creative so I followed this pathway through to my undergraduate in Textile Design which was very fine art based. I then spent many years creating greeting cards & wrap for Paperchase, M&S and other hight street stores. My interest in children’s picture books was re-ignited when I began sourcing books for my own small boys. I fell in love with Oliver Jeffers’ books initially, and my boys adore the scribbly lines of Korky Paul’s illustrations. When I realised that I was collecting picture books for my personal library, I knew it was time to go back to big school myself. I swiftly enrolled on the MA illustration program at Edinburgh University and had my first picture book published a year later.
Your style is so unique – it’s brilliantly funny and I love your use of texture and mixed media. How did you achieve your final style – and what is your technique (without giving away any secrets of course!) With an undergraduate in textiles I’m instinctively drawn to creating beautiful aesthetics and tactile surfaces and with my new found love of illustration the two are now inseparable. I LOVE collage and incorporate it into picture books whenever I can. I find humour and picture books are perfect partners too. I just love laughing and be able to create something which others find funny is such pleasure. If my boys find my illustration silly, and laugh out loud funny, i’ve done a good job.
How do you come up with your story ideas? I didn’t know I could write until I met Vivian French, a Scottish author. She taught me the basic principals, but more than that, inspired my imagination, encouraged my passion and told me I COULD. So I tried. I now write as much as I’m illustrating which is thrilling. I have published two of my own titles to date and have just recently been commissioned for three more. Exciting adventures ahead!
Is Max based on anyone you know?! Yes, and no. I believe every child is Unstoppable and filled with the wonderment, unrelenting energy and hypnotic enthusiasm for adventure in their everyday lives. I have two boys so I know through experience. Unstoppable Max was a collaborative project which was born organically with the wonder team at OUP Children. The wonderfully talented and funny Helen Mortimer was my partner in crime and together we crafted our little Max into the exhausting whirlwind he is today.
What has been your favourite book so far (if there is a favourite)
I’ve just completed Drat That Fat Cat which is another rather funny book about a lonesome elderly gentleman who’s very set in his ways, and the last thing he needs is one fat cat disturbing his peace and quiet. Their ensuing chaos and ultimate compromise was sensational to illustrate. I have also recently written a story called Charlie & Pip inspired by a non-verbal child we know as family friend. It’s a story about a child not engaging in the outside world or communicating with anyone, until she meets Pip. He becomes her voice, her emotional buffer, showing her how to interact with others. This is a book for anyone struggling to find their voice, whether it’s a language barrier, anxiety or self confidence problems. I think it’s a special book with a story that needs to be told. I’m very proud of it.
I love my job. JP
Was there someone who inspired you into your career choice? One birthday when I was still quite small, my dear aunt bought me a box filled with every kind of art material I could imagine, coloured paper, pencils, paints and brushes that I drooled over. It was magical, and so was she.
What were your favourite books as a child? I was obsessed by any book by Richard Scarry because of the funny details I could find, this was later replaced by Heath Robinson with his hypnotic contraptions. I adored and still do, Dr. Seuss’s wonderful books. Did I ever tell you how lucky you are? is a favourite of mine. My Mother read to us every night until we were really quite grown up. I think she enjoyed the ritual of bedtime stories too. Every kind of book we devoured together, picture books, Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven, encyclopaedias, poetry, National Geographic Atlases etc. until we we found our own pathway in books.
What made you decide on a career in children’s illustration?
I always knew my heart lay in being a creative so I followed this pathway through to my undergraduate in Textile Design which was very fine art based. I then spent many years creating greeting cards & wrap for Paperchase, M&S and other hight street stores. My interest in children’s picture books was re-ignited when I began sourcing books for my own small boys. I fell in love with Oliver Jeffers’ books initially, and my boys adore the scribbly lines of Korky Paul’s illustrations. When I realised that I was collecting picture books for my personal library, I knew it was time to go back to big school myself. I swiftly enrolled on the MA illustration program at Edinburgh University and had my first picture book published a year later.
Your style is so unique – it’s brilliantly funny and I love your use of texture and mixed media. How did you achieve your final style – and what is your technique (without giving away any secrets of course!) With an undergraduate in textiles I’m instinctively drawn to creating beautiful aesthetics and tactile surfaces and with my new found love of illustration the two are now inseparable. I LOVE collage and incorporate it into picture books whenever I can. I find humour and picture books are perfect partners too. I just love laughing and be able to create something which others find funny is such pleasure. If my boys find my illustration silly, and laugh out loud funny, i’ve done a good job.
How do you come up with your story ideas? I didn’t know I could write until I met Vivian French, a Scottish author. She taught me the basic principals, but more than that, inspired my imagination, encouraged my passion and told me I COULD. So I tried. I now write as much as I’m illustrating which is thrilling. I have published two of my own titles to date and have just recently been commissioned for three more. Exciting adventures ahead!
Is Max based on anyone you know?! Yes, and no. I believe every child is Unstoppable and filled with the wonderment, unrelenting energy and hypnotic enthusiasm for adventure in their everyday lives. I have two boys so I know through experience. Unstoppable Max was a collaborative project which was born organically with the wonder team at OUP Children. The wonderfully talented and funny Helen Mortimer was my partner in crime and together we crafted our little Max into the exhausting whirlwind he is today.
What has been your favourite book so far (if there is a favourite)
I’ve just completed Drat That Fat Cat which is another rather funny book about a lonesome elderly gentleman who’s very set in his ways, and the last thing he needs is one fat cat disturbing his peace and quiet. Their ensuing chaos and ultimate compromise was sensational to illustrate. I have also recently written a story called Charlie & Pip inspired by a non-verbal child we know as family friend. It’s a story about a child not engaging in the outside world or communicating with anyone, until she meets Pip. He becomes her voice, her emotional buffer, showing her how to interact with others. This is a book for anyone struggling to find their voice, whether it’s a language barrier, anxiety or self confidence problems. I think it’s a special book with a story that needs to be told. I’m very proud of it.
I love my job. JP
A spread from Charlie & Pip
“Working with Julia is like working with your funniest childhood friend. She is wildly hilarious, warm, and kind. But she is also super hardworking and extremely professional— an agent’s dream! Julia wins people over at first with her personality, but then bowls them over with her talent. She’s got some amazing projects in the pipeline that I just can’t wait to see on shelves!” Alli Brydon, Managing Agent, Bright USA
SCBWI Featured Illustrator August: Julia Patton
I'm delighted to share that i've been selected by the SCBWI as their August FEATURED ILLUSTRATOR on their webpage WORDS & PICTURES. Read the whole interview and see the gallery pictures here.
My creative journey began as early as I can remember, creating a post-office under my Grandmother's table, making envelopes and drawing stamps that I 'posted' to my sister. My most precious gift was a box of glue, paintbrushes, paper and scissors given to me by a dear aunt many years ago. I have always loved cutting and sticking, scribbling and painting, as I still do today. As a child I was captivated by Richard Scarry, Dr. Seuss and illustrators such as Heath Robinson.
My undergraduate was at Manchester University studying textiles where I discovered my love for creating beautiful aesthetics. Afterwards I worked for Paperchase and Marks & Spencer for many years, creating greeting cards and wrap until I returned much later to education at Edinburgh University to study MA Illustration. This is where I learned that an image must be much more than just aesthetically beautiful, it must communicate the accompanying text.
Creating picture books is my passion. I'm a true workaholic. I'm in love with my job and I skip to my studio each morning, which is all of three paces away as my studio is a woodshed in my garden overlooking my vegetable patch. I'm lucky enough to be represented by a collection of dedicated Bright agents in London and USA who work tirelessly for me, sourcing international publishers and authors for me to collaborate with. They have seamlessly taken me from a fledgling graduate to an accomplished and globally published author/illustrator, holding my hand every step of the pathway.
A good illustrator can capture the imagination and hearts of the audience whilst visually interpreting the emotion of the characters and adventures they explore. I love the idea that nothing is impossible to render and breathe life into, which can be a quite overwhelming challenge sometimes. As illustrators we have many tangible tools of colour, tone, texture and composition at our disposal but also the responsibility to create a visual vocabulary which expresses those dramatic experiences that occur from physical and emotional journeys. With the help of the brilliant Vivian French and the encouragement from my agents, I now write my own stories. I am currently writing my fifth picture book and find that creating both the narrative and aesthetic makes me feel complete.
Every year I visit the International Children's Book Fair in Bologna, Italy. This is an incredible opportunity to meet face-to-face with my international publishers, strengthening those all important relationships. It's a delight to finally meet in person the individual with whom you exchange countless emails at usually very unsociable hours. Attending the trade fair is important for me to see the world's finest publishing houses under one roof, identify emerging trends and see where my work fits into the market - also who's on my next wish-list to work with.
I'm currently occupied with exploring narratives that challenge traditional stereotypes and that highlight issues concerning the challenging environments and emotions that contemporary children must navigate. My aim is to produce beautiful picture books that appeal to the target market (parents) with narratives that may inspire and resonate with my intended audience (child).
ASK THE EXPERTS: Fat Fox publishing
I've been invited to talk and run tutorials at this upcoming event ASK THE EXPERTS by Fat Fox publishing in September. Hurry tickets are selling out fast. I'll be discussing publishing trends, offering portfolio advice and giving you a personalised game plan on how to become 'pitch ready' to catapult your career to the forefront of children's publishing.
WORKSPIRATION Interview
Workspiration have asked me to answer some questions about my inspirations and creative process. Here is the full interview.
Professor McQuark & The Oojamaflip
Professor McQuark & The Oojamaflip has been selected to be part of the Reading Agency's Summer Reading Challenge
DRAT THAT FAT CAT
DRAT THAT FAT CAT my second author illustrated title will be published on October 1st by Albert Whitman & Co. USA
This picture was taken by Anne my Bright USA agent. Published by Albert Whitman & Co. at BEA Chicago this month
Drat That fat Cat's first ever meeeoooouting! Sorry! DRAT THAT FAT CAT will be my 3rd Albert Whitman collaboration! See our previous books together here.
New adventures...
.
Other news involves UNSTOPPABLE MAX being sold in Australia, Korea, UAE and China which is really great news and thank you to Reading Zone for their lovely review too. Unstoppable Max and PROFESSOR Mc QUARK & THE OOJAMAFLIP are going to be appearing at numerous Waterstones book stores around the country over the next few months. More details to follow. All of my new books can be found here. Thankyou too, to Jo Clarke for her wonderful review of Professor McQuark!
Professor McQuark & The Oojamaflip has been selected to be part of the Reading Agency's Summer Reading Challenge! Yay...run to your local library!
Other news involves UNSTOPPABLE MAX being sold in Australia, Korea, UAE and China which is really great news and thank you to Reading Zone for their lovely review too. Unstoppable Max and PROFESSOR Mc QUARK & THE OOJAMAFLIP are going to be appearing at numerous Waterstones book stores around the country over the next few months. More details to follow. All of my new books can be found here. Thankyou too, to Jo Clarke for her wonderful review of Professor McQuark!
Professor McQuark & The Oojamaflip has been selected to be part of the Reading Agency's Summer Reading Challenge! Yay...run to your local library!
OOJAMAFLIPIN' NEWS
"An inspiration to all young inventors!" Great reviews for Professor McQuark & The Oojamaflip!
Professor McQuark & The Oojmamaflip: Published 28th January. Maverick Publishing.
Thank you very much for the kind words about this wonderful book written by Lou Treleaven. It's been great to work on and here are a few words from the Primary Times-thankyou Ethan. "Professor McQuark and the Oojamaflip grabs my attention straight way. I like the inventor on the front page. I like the inventor in the book because she is funny, she wears odd socks and only one shoe…I point this out to my mum on every page. The book is really colourful and the pictures are really good. I was a little disappointed that the book ended so quickly I wanted to read more. Mummy thinks the book is great for any child into wacky science and inventions"
Thank you to 'Over 40 and mum to one' for your lovely review too. "It’s been a great hit here. The story is told in rhyming text with wonderfully descriptive illustrations by Julia Patton"
Jill Bennet at Red Reading Hub has some delightful compliments too. "Great to see a female in the role of scientist cum inventor: the aptly named Professor McQuark should be an inspiration to all young inventors. Debut author Lou Treleaven’s sparky rhyming story is wackily illustrated by Julia Patton, whose scenes are full of zany details to pore over, and possibly provide some ideas to child inventors"
'Read It daddy' cheerful adds he loves the "Glorious rhymes, groovy illustrations. Every kid (and most adults too) secretly want to be inventors so this book has huge appeal. It's beautifully written with rhymes that trickle off the tongue like butter, and some suitably crazy illustrations in a science-mad style. Absolutely brill! We love our science geek characters, and Professor McQuark is glorious! More stories featuring this lovable scatterbrained genius? Yes please!"
Thankyou to Cheryl Pasquier better known as Madhouse Family Reviews for the wonderful review of Professor mcQuark "The book is written in rhyme, which is always great news for a story that will be read out loud at bedtime, and the hugely detailed illustrations had us smiling and pointing out all sorts of things as we read along. I thought it had a bit of a Cat In The Hat vibe going on, both in terms of the slick rhymes and the entertaining drawings. It's fun, it's quirky and it promotes science to girls. It also led on to lots of fun discussions and crafting sessions afterwards, deciding what crazy inventions we could think of and design - what more could you ask for in a picture book? star rating : 5/5"
Thankyou to www.thisdayilove.co.uk "...Professor McQuark and the Oojamaflip, is the girls favourite and one which has really inspired their imagination. As a result they have both been busy building Oojamaflips out of random boxes and materials they can find. I love books which inspire this amount of thinking in children and also ones which encourage them to be active or take an interest in a subject like science." Wonderful praise indeed!
Professor McQuark & The OojamaflipNew interview by Lou Treleaven-author of 'Professor McQuark & The Oojamaflip' Published by Maverick Publishing . Julia is questioned on her professional practice, illustration influences and style...(Pre-order your copy here:)
Thank you very much for the kind words about this wonderful book written by Lou Treleaven. It's been great to work on and here are a few words from the Primary Times-thankyou Ethan. "Professor McQuark and the Oojamaflip grabs my attention straight way. I like the inventor on the front page. I like the inventor in the book because she is funny, she wears odd socks and only one shoe…I point this out to my mum on every page. The book is really colourful and the pictures are really good. I was a little disappointed that the book ended so quickly I wanted to read more. Mummy thinks the book is great for any child into wacky science and inventions"
Thank you to 'Over 40 and mum to one' for your lovely review too. "It’s been a great hit here. The story is told in rhyming text with wonderfully descriptive illustrations by Julia Patton"
Jill Bennet at Red Reading Hub has some delightful compliments too. "Great to see a female in the role of scientist cum inventor: the aptly named Professor McQuark should be an inspiration to all young inventors. Debut author Lou Treleaven’s sparky rhyming story is wackily illustrated by Julia Patton, whose scenes are full of zany details to pore over, and possibly provide some ideas to child inventors"
'Read It daddy' cheerful adds he loves the "Glorious rhymes, groovy illustrations. Every kid (and most adults too) secretly want to be inventors so this book has huge appeal. It's beautifully written with rhymes that trickle off the tongue like butter, and some suitably crazy illustrations in a science-mad style. Absolutely brill! We love our science geek characters, and Professor McQuark is glorious! More stories featuring this lovable scatterbrained genius? Yes please!"
Thankyou to Cheryl Pasquier better known as Madhouse Family Reviews for the wonderful review of Professor mcQuark "The book is written in rhyme, which is always great news for a story that will be read out loud at bedtime, and the hugely detailed illustrations had us smiling and pointing out all sorts of things as we read along. I thought it had a bit of a Cat In The Hat vibe going on, both in terms of the slick rhymes and the entertaining drawings. It's fun, it's quirky and it promotes science to girls. It also led on to lots of fun discussions and crafting sessions afterwards, deciding what crazy inventions we could think of and design - what more could you ask for in a picture book? star rating : 5/5"
Thankyou to www.thisdayilove.co.uk "...Professor McQuark and the Oojamaflip, is the girls favourite and one which has really inspired their imagination. As a result they have both been busy building Oojamaflips out of random boxes and materials they can find. I love books which inspire this amount of thinking in children and also ones which encourage them to be active or take an interest in a subject like science." Wonderful praise indeed!
Professor McQuark & The OojamaflipNew interview by Lou Treleaven-author of 'Professor McQuark & The Oojamaflip' Published by Maverick Publishing . Julia is questioned on her professional practice, illustration influences and style...(Pre-order your copy here:)
More news and more books!
I'm thrilled to have UNSTOPPABLE MAX reviewed in the Guardian newspaper, under the Family book reviews, as "The best books for younger children" Katherine and Magnus (4) "Opted for the sensible solution each time but did find the others very funny. The illustrations are lovely and give a great sense of a chaotic bedtime." Thank you to Emily Drabble for sharing the news on Twitter.
Thank you to the Lancashire Evening post for their kinds words. "Max is the madcap, high-energy creation of multi-talented picture book author and illustrator Julia Patton who has produced over 25 much-loved books and educational titles."
AWARD WINNING- MIND BOGGLING NUMBERS
I have new book to share called Mind Boggling Numbers written by the talented Michael Rosen and can be pre-order on Amazon.
Mind-Boggling Numbers
Michael J. Rosen, illus. by Julia Patton. Millbrook, $19.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4677-3489-9
Ms. Mary Math, “the go-to wiz for mind-boggling math questions,” answers questions related to volume, distance, weight, and other topics, framed as letters from curious kids. A Florida letter-writer, “Grounded in Groveland,” asks how long it would take to send a birthday card to everyone on the planet; the answer, after some quick multiplication, is 222 years. The off-kilter scenarios proposed, which are entertainingly captured in Patton’s quirky cartoon graphics, and the off-the-cuff tone Rosen adopts for the answers keep these unconventional story problems from ever feeling like homework. “That’s a sweet thought,” says Ms. Mary of the birthday card question. “One problem: your task’s impossible.” Ages 7–11. (Sept.) Publishing Weekly
Mind-Boggling Numbers
Michael J. Rosen, illus. by Julia Patton. Millbrook, $19.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4677-3489-9
Ms. Mary Math, “the go-to wiz for mind-boggling math questions,” answers questions related to volume, distance, weight, and other topics, framed as letters from curious kids. A Florida letter-writer, “Grounded in Groveland,” asks how long it would take to send a birthday card to everyone on the planet; the answer, after some quick multiplication, is 222 years. The off-kilter scenarios proposed, which are entertainingly captured in Patton’s quirky cartoon graphics, and the off-the-cuff tone Rosen adopts for the answers keep these unconventional story problems from ever feeling like homework. “That’s a sweet thought,” says Ms. Mary of the birthday card question. “One problem: your task’s impossible.” Ages 7–11. (Sept.) Publishing Weekly
Oxford University Press Spring launch Party for Unstoppable Max
UNSTOPPABLE MAX-it's arrivedNew postcards have arrived, books are being sent to reviewers everywhere and lovely, super-exciting messages are starting to arrive! Max will be pleased! You can get your copy here! Published by Oxford University Press. Drop me a line on Twitter is you want some postcards or hand-signed books sending to you or your school.
"Unstoppable Max" my debut author & illustrator title is being published on February 4th. I can't wait to share it with you. Published by Oxford University Press. Want to know more about how we created max? You can pre-order your copy here: Amazon.
"...Illustrated with non-stop energy by exciting new author/illustrator, Julia Patton" Foyles.
Many thanks to the journalist Imogen Russell Williams who's '...an arts journalist and critic, writing on trends in children’s and YA publishing for The Guardian and reviewing and writing round-ups for The Metro' She tweeted "Julia Patton's wickedly funny multiple-choice bedtime book instantly wins the Again! Again! prize here!"
Thank you to Rahava Raamat for the following review ...'It's time for Max to get ready for bed, but his imagination just gets in the way! A picture book introducing an irrepressible new character, which permits non-stop children to channel their silliness through Max. From the illustrator of the BBC Children In Need title "Fi-Rex!"
Would you like to see a sneaky-peaky of an animation of Unstoppable Max?
"Unstoppable Max" my debut author & illustrator title is being published on February 4th. I can't wait to share it with you. Published by Oxford University Press. Want to know more about how we created max? You can pre-order your copy here: Amazon.
"...Illustrated with non-stop energy by exciting new author/illustrator, Julia Patton" Foyles.
Many thanks to the journalist Imogen Russell Williams who's '...an arts journalist and critic, writing on trends in children’s and YA publishing for The Guardian and reviewing and writing round-ups for The Metro' She tweeted "Julia Patton's wickedly funny multiple-choice bedtime book instantly wins the Again! Again! prize here!"
Thank you to Rahava Raamat for the following review ...'It's time for Max to get ready for bed, but his imagination just gets in the way! A picture book introducing an irrepressible new character, which permits non-stop children to channel their silliness through Max. From the illustrator of the BBC Children In Need title "Fi-Rex!"
Would you like to see a sneaky-peaky of an animation of Unstoppable Max?
Oxford University Press Spring picture book party Foyles, London. UNSTOPPABLE MAX was launched to a room of press an industry leaders and innovators. Myself Steve Anthony, Richard Byrne, Rebecca Ashdown & Korky Paul.
My Really, Really, Really Big Bag of Books is full of exciting stories about really cool characters and their funny adventures. The Book People. Unstoppable Max has been chosen to be included in a 10 book story bag put together from Oxford University Press for the Book People. Called my 'Really, Really, Really Big Bag of Books' Great news! Check out this picture...
GREAT NEWS!
GREAT NEWS and thank you to hive.co.uk They have called me a"Rising star's debut author in 2016"
Albert Whitman & Co.
Do check out the fabulous titles i've illustrated for Albert Whitman & Co PB &J Hooray! and From Apple trees to Cider please- they are super fun.
The Curious Tale Of Fi-Rex
For the first time, some of the most famous names in music, sport and showbiz have got together to write a one-of-a-kind story for BBC’s Children in Need. THE LITERARY PROJECT IS SET TO PULL IN MILLIONS FOR THE ANNUAL CHARITY FEST THANKS TO SOME TOP CELEBRITY BACKING
Joined-up effort: Children in Need’s Fi-Rex was penned by stars including Denise Van Outen, Kylie and Paul McCartneyIt is a children’s book written by the stars and set to make thousands for charity.
For the first time, some of the most famous names in music, sport and showbiz have got together to write a one-of-a-kind story for BBC’s Children in Need.
Right direction: The 1D boys appear in the book as a boyband called Pond DirectionThe Curious Tale of Fi-Rex, the adorable story of a little girl who is half-human half-dinosaur, has been penned by 25 celebrities including One Direction, Sir Paul McCartney, Denise van Outen, Coleen and Wayne Rooney, Rod Stewart, Penny Lancaster and Kylie Minogue.
Speaking about her involvement, Denise said: “I was filming EastEnders at the time and would write some of the page in between scenes on the set of Albert Square.
Art for charity: Children in Need’s Fi-Rex is set to make thousands for the charity “It was quite funny coming up with this cute little half-girl half-dinosaur tale whilst Phil Mitchell was rehearsing in the background.”
On Sir Paul’s page he resurrects the famous Frog Chorus characters from his 1983 hit We All Stand Together, while the 1D boys appear as a frog band – called Pond Direction.
Home bird: Children in Need’s Fi-Rex pages by Denise Van Outen
Kids’ writing: Denise van Outen says she was working with EastEnders when she wrote her pages
Each celeb was asked to write one page but they were only allowed to see the last line of the previous page.
Denise explains: “I was told who the main character was and I was shown the last sentence of Wayne and Coleen Rooney’s part of the story, and I had to carry it on in my style.”
On her page, Fi-Rex rips open an envelope and is presented with a piece of golden paper with a riddle written on it. Denise added: “The idea of reading my daughter Betsy a story at night that I wrote part of is very special. I was excited to be involved.
Spinning around: Kylie Minogue’s pages featuring Fi-Rex
Kylie talented: The Aussie’s contribution to the charity tome“I am having my part of the story which has been illustrated so beautifully framed and put up in Betsy’s room.”
Other stars involved in the project include Jamie Oliver and Tom Daley.
Bringing the wacky yarn to life is renowned artist Julia Patton.
Frog Chorus: Paul McCartney brings back his much-loved musical animals for his pages
Legendary artist: Paul McCartney’s talented in the art and music departmentsThousands of pounds were raised in a Bonhams auction of the stars’ pages this week at The Library, London, and now people can bid for signed copies themselves at fi-rex.auctionlots.co.uk.
The online auction boasts the remaining eight signed pages, including by Take That, and will run until Children in Need night, November 13 and details can be found here
The Curious Tale of Fi-Rex is available to buy in hardback (£12.99) and paperback (£7.99) from WHSmith and Tesco. To order the paperback for the discounted price of £5.99 with free P&P call the Mirror Bookshop on 0843 060 0022 or write to Curious Tales of Fi-Rex Offer, Mirror Bookshop, PO Box 60, Helston TR13 0TP
Celebrity Launch of BBC Children In Need book. The Curious Tale Of Fi Rex October 1st Bonham's London. An animated Fi-Rex has been unveiled.
A life-sized Fi-Rex has been commissioned for the launch! London Book Fair, Olympia, April 2015
Launch of The Curious Tale Of Fi-Rex commissioned by Fat Fox Books
Joined-up effort: Children in Need’s Fi-Rex was penned by stars including Denise Van Outen, Kylie and Paul McCartneyIt is a children’s book written by the stars and set to make thousands for charity.
For the first time, some of the most famous names in music, sport and showbiz have got together to write a one-of-a-kind story for BBC’s Children in Need.
Right direction: The 1D boys appear in the book as a boyband called Pond DirectionThe Curious Tale of Fi-Rex, the adorable story of a little girl who is half-human half-dinosaur, has been penned by 25 celebrities including One Direction, Sir Paul McCartney, Denise van Outen, Coleen and Wayne Rooney, Rod Stewart, Penny Lancaster and Kylie Minogue.
Speaking about her involvement, Denise said: “I was filming EastEnders at the time and would write some of the page in between scenes on the set of Albert Square.
Art for charity: Children in Need’s Fi-Rex is set to make thousands for the charity “It was quite funny coming up with this cute little half-girl half-dinosaur tale whilst Phil Mitchell was rehearsing in the background.”
On Sir Paul’s page he resurrects the famous Frog Chorus characters from his 1983 hit We All Stand Together, while the 1D boys appear as a frog band – called Pond Direction.
Home bird: Children in Need’s Fi-Rex pages by Denise Van Outen
Kids’ writing: Denise van Outen says she was working with EastEnders when she wrote her pages
Each celeb was asked to write one page but they were only allowed to see the last line of the previous page.
Denise explains: “I was told who the main character was and I was shown the last sentence of Wayne and Coleen Rooney’s part of the story, and I had to carry it on in my style.”
On her page, Fi-Rex rips open an envelope and is presented with a piece of golden paper with a riddle written on it. Denise added: “The idea of reading my daughter Betsy a story at night that I wrote part of is very special. I was excited to be involved.
Spinning around: Kylie Minogue’s pages featuring Fi-Rex
Kylie talented: The Aussie’s contribution to the charity tome“I am having my part of the story which has been illustrated so beautifully framed and put up in Betsy’s room.”
Other stars involved in the project include Jamie Oliver and Tom Daley.
Bringing the wacky yarn to life is renowned artist Julia Patton.
Frog Chorus: Paul McCartney brings back his much-loved musical animals for his pages
Legendary artist: Paul McCartney’s talented in the art and music departmentsThousands of pounds were raised in a Bonhams auction of the stars’ pages this week at The Library, London, and now people can bid for signed copies themselves at fi-rex.auctionlots.co.uk.
The online auction boasts the remaining eight signed pages, including by Take That, and will run until Children in Need night, November 13 and details can be found here
The Curious Tale of Fi-Rex is available to buy in hardback (£12.99) and paperback (£7.99) from WHSmith and Tesco. To order the paperback for the discounted price of £5.99 with free P&P call the Mirror Bookshop on 0843 060 0022 or write to Curious Tales of Fi-Rex Offer, Mirror Bookshop, PO Box 60, Helston TR13 0TP
Celebrity Launch of BBC Children In Need book. The Curious Tale Of Fi Rex October 1st Bonham's London. An animated Fi-Rex has been unveiled.
A life-sized Fi-Rex has been commissioned for the launch! London Book Fair, Olympia, April 2015
Launch of The Curious Tale Of Fi-Rex commissioned by Fat Fox Books
Mail Sunday official best books! Buy Fi-Rex http://www.whsmith.co.uk/search/go?w=the%20curious%20tale%20of%20fi%20rex December 6th 2015
More frog hopping news about Fi Rex In the Daily Mirror. May 22nd 2015
Festive fun & frolics at the London Christmas Ideal Home Show at Olympia on the 26th November 2015. Seen here swapping books with the quite brilliant and utterly charming Steve Anthony.
BBC Children In Need launch & auction of The Curious Tale Of Fi-Rex
October 1st was the official launch and auction of the book at the superb venue Library St.Martins lane London. Attended by industry leaders and celebrities organised by the incredible talent of Holly Millbank of Fat Fox publishers. I was introduced to the heads of Tesco, Waterstones & WHSmith, a rare treat and we heard the pre-order numbers of the books are just enormous to raise money for this incredible cause. Read here for all the news from the Mirror and Mail who covered the launch in both their weekend newspapers. The launch was covered by the BBC on You Tube video and can be seen here and the release of The Curious Tale Of Fi-Rex animation is BRILLIANT and can be seen here. The live auction for the last few pages can be found here: Very exciting news!
This week the press have been covering The Curious Tale Of Fi-Rex in numerous publications- Now magazine, Metro newspaper, Wet Paint News in NY, BBC The One Show- Tom Daley takes about the book. Amazon named us the No.1 Best Seller! The Mirror newspaper & The Mail , have covered some very unfortunate news...heartbreaking. Fi-rex received some lovely reviews by various bloggers too, thankyou Picture Book Blogger. So great to have coverage from Marie Claire, Vogue and Woman's Own magazine
After filming with the BBC in Waterstones Newcastle, it was a quick dash to a book signing at the Piccadilly branch of Waterstones
in London.
Fi-Rex hitting the news again mentioned on radio 1 by DJ Nick Grimshaw ( Listen at 03:09:13) and featured in Vogue magazine too!
October 1st was the official launch and auction of the book at the superb venue Library St.Martins lane London. Attended by industry leaders and celebrities organised by the incredible talent of Holly Millbank of Fat Fox publishers. I was introduced to the heads of Tesco, Waterstones & WHSmith, a rare treat and we heard the pre-order numbers of the books are just enormous to raise money for this incredible cause. Read here for all the news from the Mirror and Mail who covered the launch in both their weekend newspapers. The launch was covered by the BBC on You Tube video and can be seen here and the release of The Curious Tale Of Fi-Rex animation is BRILLIANT and can be seen here. The live auction for the last few pages can be found here: Very exciting news!
This week the press have been covering The Curious Tale Of Fi-Rex in numerous publications- Now magazine, Metro newspaper, Wet Paint News in NY, BBC The One Show- Tom Daley takes about the book. Amazon named us the No.1 Best Seller! The Mirror newspaper & The Mail , have covered some very unfortunate news...heartbreaking. Fi-rex received some lovely reviews by various bloggers too, thankyou Picture Book Blogger. So great to have coverage from Marie Claire, Vogue and Woman's Own magazine
After filming with the BBC in Waterstones Newcastle, it was a quick dash to a book signing at the Piccadilly branch of Waterstones
in London.
Fi-Rex hitting the news again mentioned on radio 1 by DJ Nick Grimshaw ( Listen at 03:09:13) and featured in Vogue magazine too!
Commission & Greeting Card News
Here is a sneaky-peak of a private commission for the Senior Editor of Harper's Bazar -Middle East. Master fox was given his own custom designed luggage labels , postcards and wall art. Cute!
After working with Paperchase and other hight street outlets for many years, here is another collaboration with Tigerprint for M&S. New Greeting Cards Range published by Jodds
'Well Said' range designed and illustrated by Julia Patton. Deeply embossed cards- mini-sized range available. 120 x 166mm.
For more information contact Hannah at Bright Art Licensing.
'Well Said' range designed and illustrated by Julia Patton. Deeply embossed cards- mini-sized range available. 120 x 166mm.
For more information contact Hannah at Bright Art Licensing.
