This is a book review Bryn & I wrote for the Guardian Family Reviews

This is a skilfully constructed book in both its images & language. A building site full of diggers, cranes & bulldozers which ends in a row of newly built houses & families moving in.

Both Bryn and I love the 3D torn paper collages in this book. Bryn enjoyed spotting what the pictures were made up of and it inspired him too root through the paper recycling & create his own pictures.

Bryn was also fascinated with the array of construction vehicles in the book. Each double page spread is action packed as each vehicle contributes its own unique aspect to the building project.

A real treat of a book to read aloud with its rhyming and alliteration, this has been a big hit.

Bryn & I were London bound on Wednesday, playing ‘explorer adventurers’ as we headed towards the Southbank for the Imagine Children’s Festival.

Our first stop was the book shop to stock up on more picture books including Walk in London by Salvatore Rubbino who’s workshop we attended. Bryn has been fascinated by this book ever since we borrowed it from the library & often talks about creating his own map or insisting we have a day out in London to follow the same walk. In the workshop Bryn made a paper bridge to add with the other bridges over the material Thames on the floor. While I helped with the initial folding Bryn was happy cutting out different shaped arches, adding a bus, lorry & a traffic light. He enjoyed showing his work to the author who provided Bryn with more ideas of other things to draw.

Next up was Bruce Ingman who talked about his childhood & some of the books he’s collaborated on including a reading of the latest Hooray for Bread, which is such a lovely story. Bruce Ingman got the children to copy him as he drew a bicycle & encouraged them to invent their own character to ride the cycle. Bryn decided on a carrot which he named Plop Prip Patpis. Proud of his drawing he gamely went to show it to Bruce Ingman who kindly added a little sausage.

After lunch we explored the area walking to Jubilee Gardens to see the London Eye (which apparently was not as big as he thought it would be) & Big Ben. It’s was fantastic being able to show him these landmarks & share in his excitement at seeing some of the things he had read about in his book.

We headed back to the festival to see Chris Haughton, having bought along out copy of Oh George Bryn thought it would be nice for us to buy A Bit Lost for Freya, who likes to call all birds owls. Chris Haughton read both books & showed some of his earlier drafts for some of the spreads. Watching the author read the story out loud has given Bryn the confidence to read it to his little sister including all the actions. The day ended with drawing a picture of George chasing a fly and about to fall into a large hole, which according to Bryn leads to an underground city full of amazing cafes.

‘A Bit Lost’ has been an instant hit with both kids. I think the fact that Bryn chose it especially for Freya & now he sees how much she enjoys it makes it pretty special. It’s a sweet & funny tale of a lost Owl looking for his mum aided by the other animals in the wood. We read the story using the same actions as the author mimicking the pointy ears & big eyes. Both the children like to shout ‘No’ in a ‘don’t be silly’ kind of way as the squirrel presents the animals who he thinks might be the Owls mummy & then dissolve into giggles.

For me I love the illustrative style & gorgeous palette of colours so striking & sophisticated, a treat to look at & read aloud.

Bryn and I have been reading Lucky Wish Mouse Starting School and were fortunate enough to pose a few questions to its talented author and illustrator Clara Vulliamy, our review of this fab book is at the end of this post.

We discovered Clara’s books last year & we are very glad we did.

Bryn: Is one of the Tinies called Freya?
I would like the tiniest Tiny to be called Freya! In real life she would be a bit too small to go to school, but when I was writing the story I didn’t want to leave her at home…
She does look a bit tired by the end of the day, though – in fact here she is falling asleep during story time!

Bryn: Which is your favourite tiny?

I love them all – but the twins are extra funny, always getting up to something silly, so I think they are my favourite.

Bryn: When I grow up one day I’ll be an illustrator the next day a palaeontologist, do you like dinosaurs?

What an interesting life you will have! I really like the idea of doing TWO brilliant things, and maybe you could illustrate books about dinosaurs too?
Dinosaurs are amazing but quite frightening, especially velociraptors. I’m glad they are extinct, or I would be afraid to leave the house EVER.

What was the inspiration for the teapot house?

My daughter had a teapot dolls’ house (I blogged about it a while ago) without meaning to I must have adapted the idea. As the Tinies live on Sugar Lump Lane, it seemed the perfect thing!

We loved all the tiny details in this book, what is so appealing about miniatures?

Thank you, I’m so glad you enjoyed them! I’m a great believer in illustrations to be savoured and studied, and I’ve always loved the teeny tiny details: they hold a special kind of imaginative magic for children – and for me too.

What headlines would appear in the Teapot Times?

There’s been lots of coverage of the new Dolly Mixture seating area at the playground. Also, as a fairly liberal and progressive newspaper it’s supporting the legalise (tea)pot campaign.

Starting school has been a theme to a few of your books, what’s appealing about that stage?

I just keep coming back to it… for me that’s one of the very best things about picture books, as a sideways look at some of life’s big events. They have HUGE courage, these school-starters, and I admire them very much for it – as well as the people cheering them on from their Home Team!

We’ve enjoyed the crafty inspirations on your blog & the Martha Bunny club – do you feel it’s important to encourage the extension of stories beyond the pages of a book?

I’m thrilled at the thought of my books leading to arty-crafty activities for my young readers, so I just share the sorts of things I like to make and do myself. After all, the next generation of illustrators is out there somewhere!

You’ve written about your work process on you blog & created some fabulous mini books with Zoe over at Play by the Book, what are you 3 top tips for budding storytellers & illustrators?

1. Keep a notebook to hand at all times – to jot down ideas, things you see and hear…
2. Don’t worry about being original, because it’s all been done before – but not by you, that’s the main thing.
3. Above all write and draw to please yourself.

What sweet treats are currently taking residence on your cakes stand & are any providing inspiration for your new projects?

This week, for the book I am doing with my Mum called Dixie O’Day, I have been drawing ice cream sundaes in a 1950’s diner. I feel I must research this EXTENSIVELY.

Our review - Lucky Wish Mouse Starting School is bursting with beautiful joyous colours and cute little mice

Bryn & I read this the week before he started school and alongside the humour there was also the chance to explore a few common worries. The picture of 2 tinies amongst a sea of mice gave a real sense of perspective of how daunting this big step of starting school is while the opportunity to read aloud some of their worries, “we will get lost” “we wont know what to do”, was the perfect excuse to explore them further with Bryn.

Bryn loved the idea of the teapot house & was very excited about the ballon ride to school, I have to confess our walk to school was a little bit of a disappointment after that.

Throughout the book there was plenty of opportunity in this miniature world for spotting & then marvelling at the use of a pencil as a sign post or a tape dispenser as a slide. I particularly enjoyed the spread showing 10 tiny pencil cases, 10 apples and 10 school bags as it was fun choosing favourites. (mine was the one with the mouse face)

We’ve read this book a few times since Bryn started school & now like to spot similarities between his classroom & the tinies’, if only they too had giant balls of wool.