Frances McKay Illustration

Reading is an invitation to dream

A re-blog of a beautiful post from Playing by the Book by Zoe Toft.

In a little departure from the norm, today I’m not reviewing a book, but rather a film, Eleanor’s Secret, directed by Dominique Monfery.

The reason why I’ve wanted to share Eleanor’s Secret with you is because it is a celebration of the joy of reading and a tribute to the power and magic of stories.

Seven year old Nat cannot yet read and is terribly disappointed when he discovers he has inherited his Aunt’s library. Although he adored having stories read to him by his Aunt, when Nat himself opens a book he almost drowns in a jumble of letters. Understandably Nat wants nothing to do with what makes him feel so uncomfortable.

Undead Ed

Illustrator Nigel Baines

For me, illustration MAKES a good children’s book....whether it’s the cover that initially grabs someone’s attention or the interior drawings and sketches that keep the plot bouncing along with enough amusing or – in many cases – breathtaking additions to the text.

Illustrator Bob Lea. Represented by Artist Partners

I’ve been lucky enough to work with some of the most gifted illustrators in the field.Bob Lea brought the Illmoor Chronicles and Davey Swag to life with his vibrant portraits of my oddball characters, while James de la Rue managed to install SO much action into the Gladiator Boy books that the readers regularly told me they felt like they were ‘living’ inside the arena!

Spindlewood Tales UK Tour

 
Well, I’ve been on my travels again publicising SPINDLEWOOD TALES.

Pip and the Twilight Seekers is the second instalment in the series and so, assisted by Victoria Roberts from Publicity we took to the road in the Spindlewood Carriage and headed for our first stop.

Nokia Shorts 2011 - The Making of - Part 1

 

 

A little up date on Temujin Doran  being picked as one of the eight finalists for the Nokia Shorts 2011 with 'The Adventures of a Cardboard Box'! Here's Tem's 'The Making of - Part 1.

 

I'm 9 and I've Farted 46,021 Times!

 

My two latest books were published on 3rd June by Macmillan Children's Books and are pleasantly titled 'I'm 8 and I've Burped 40,908 times!: Terrific Trivia about kids your age' and 'I'm 9 and I've Farted 46,021 times!: Terrific Trivia about Kids Your Age' by Mitchell Symons.

Little Rex and the Big Roar

 

 
‘Little Rex and the Big Roar’ is now out!

 

The long awaited and eagerly anticipated sequel to the warmly received picture book ‘Little Rex’, is now out in all shrewd bookshops.

 

Mary had a Little Lamb

 
 
I was working as a teaching assistant in a reception class when the idea struck me to make this book. The kids I worked with were a real racial mix, so when we started looking at nursery rhymes the traditional characters didn't feel particularly representative. I started sketching the kids while they ran around like loons at playtime, and eventually came up with my Mary character.

Nokia Shorts 2011 - Finalist Temujin Doran

 

 

 

 

Many congratulations to Temujin Doran on being picked as one of the eight finalists for the Nokia Shorts 2011 with 'The Adventures of a Cardboard Box'! Over 600 talented filmmakers pitched to Nokia Shorts this year with ideas ranging from documentary, to comedy, to post-apocalyptic western.