Confessions of a picture book writer

What is it about picture books that is so appealing?

Everyone likes pictures right?

I get people of all ages who are drawn to my picture books, many lament that their children have grown out of picture books and they no longer have anyone to buy them for...

So buy one for yourself...! I do, well, you know, from time to time. I used to call it market research - just to see what's out there. But in truth I am drawn to picture books, there it is I admit it: they're fun and colourful and their characters make me laugh - if they go so far as to make me laugh out loud in a bookshop then the odds are I'll buy that book.

My picture books - judge them by their covers, and if one grabs you - go and check it out in my online bookshop. 

 

   

Passionate about picture books

Picture books are fun - yes I could go into all sorts of theories about how they introduce the readers of the future to books, and paint the pictures in their imagination that will later paint themselves as they read... but when you read to little ones it should be fun!

Picture books have to appeal to different age groups - it's usually an adult who chooses the book. The Monster Under The Bed never fails to draw attention at book signings, everyone has a story to tell about the monster under their bed, it's a bit disappointing then, how many people shy away from buying the book for fear of scaring their children. Children enjoy a story that's a little bit scary, when read in a safe environment. It's exciting to not know what's happening, but then find out that all is well by the end of the book.

 

But I'm Not Sleepy is still my bestseller - it seems everyone can relate to this title, and everyone has a Lucy, but few will admit to having been one when they were little.

And of course there's the added attraction of the sheep - people love sheep! It started with little card pop-up pictures of sheep on my table at book signings, but now the sheep are in danger of taking over. Since the sheep took on knitted form they've become a real talking point and have been bought by all age groups...

 

Basil and The Flappy Thing often makes people chuckle, and every so often a like minded person picks it up and totally gets it - if you've ever trained a reluctant cat to use a cat flap, then you'll know what I mean... if not, then you should probably read the book to see what you're missing...!

  

Oh, and Basil has taken on knitted form too!