Book review for 'A World Full Of Wildlife and How You Can Protect It' written and illustrated by Neal Layton

HB ISBN: 978-1-5263-6323-7  

PB ISBN: 978-1-5263-6321-3  

E-book ISBN: 978-1-5263-6322-0  

Published by Wren & Rook      

Publishers website https://www.hachettechildrens.co.uk/    

Neil Layton’s Agent’s website https://www.arenaillustration.com/artists/neal-layton/ 

Pitch
How do you communicate complex ideas and inter-related biological systems to young children? How do you convert ideas into long lasting actions? Author and illustrator Neal Layton accomplishes all of this in his new picture book. He understands that children love nature, they want to engage with ecology and   

these passions can be harnessed for good. This book was inspired by Sir David Attenborough, who said: “No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced.” 

  

Review  

The first part of his story acts to raise awareness in the reader. We find out the common terms used to describe our wild world and where they need to be applied. I liked how we are shown Biodiversity, the Web of life and how important the smallest organisms are to these systems for them to work optimally. The second part provides us with the means to make a difference. The most important point is to show what nations are doing to change things, the fact there is a global effort to improve matters. The powerful are acting and you can help them is the clear message that we are left with.   

  

Layton’s illustrations are bold, sophisticated, loose, dynamic using bold colours and photo-collaged elements to good effect. He can transport us to a variety of locations and landscape types using humour and upbeat mark making. He can capture the essence of a creature without it having to be perfectly rendered. Things look a bit odd, but they are where they need to be 100%. His drawings aid his cause (I’d like to see his work on activity sheets as this I feel would add visual and creative energy to a set of instructions for children). The cover is dominated by a huge tree with the book title boldly displayed inside its corona. A young child sits next to an owl and a squirrel, they seem at peace. The back cover shows an urban scene which is an important factor as most human populations live in built-up areas. The end papers are striking in their depiction of a range of animal tracks that could disappear if we fail to act.   

  

The final two pages of the story invite children to take part in protecting wildlife in 5 steps and, they are introduced to other children who are making a difference. The Glossary is a fine addition as there are words in the text that will be new to many. The content is backed up by scientific research and data from those who understand the natural world. At no time do Layton’s words appear preachy or extreme in the face of this crisis. He has provided us with the tools for gentle activism and it is up to us to do the right thing?

Book Review for The Story Thief written and illustrated by Graham Carter

My review for Graham Carter's new picture book, 'The Story Thief' - hosted on the Association of illustrators review Blog here

Book Review for The day Fin Flooded the World written and illustrated by Adam Stower

My review for Adam Stower's new picture book, 'the day Fin Flooded the World' - hosted on the Arena Illustration website here. 

My A.O.I. Book Review can be found here.

This picture work is published by Andersen Press.

Adam Stower's work can be found here.

Otto Blotter Bird Spotter

Written & Illustrated by Graham Carter

 

ISBN: 978 178344 745 9

 

Published by Anderson Press

 

Reviewed by Karl Andy Foster

 

Publishers website https://www.andersenpress.co.uk

 

Graham Carter Website http://www.graham-carter.co.uk

 

Graham Carter’s Agent’s Website http://arenaillustration.com/portfolios/graham-carter

 

Pitch

Otto Blotter is a fearless explorer whose curiosity takes him far and wide. As for his family they are obsessed with bird watching and rarely leave their house that has been converted into an enormous Hide. They haven’t much time for our hero not when there are beautiful birds that need spotting. One day while out adventuring Otto makes a discovery that changes his life forever.

 

Review

Otto goes on an adventure that ranges across a fully formed environment habituated in places by mostly passive human characters, he is the exception. This highly detailed illustrated book alive with textures and vibrant imagery is from the hand of artist and printmaker Graham Carter. The main excitement comes from his spectacular bird illustrations. The vivid colour and dynamic shapes helps to drive the narrative and grabs our attention.

 

Otto discovers and ‘rescues’ a tiny bird that he secretly feeds and comforts. A bond builds between them but as time goes by the bird becomes enormous. Just when Otto thinks his secret is about to be revealed the bird decides to display its unusual and delightful powers.

 

The energy in this book shines out from the artwork as Carter uses every square centimetre of the pages to reveal new surprises and give the story depth. The digital paintings are quite dark with the colours being very sophisticated for the intended age group however the palette selection comes into its own once the bird’s final special power is on display.

 

The cover of this hardback book uses varnish and embossing to make a tactile statement. The bird at the centre of the cover is subtle and stylized into the shape of an arched window. A window that leads to indigo end papers that give us some clues as to what the story is about. The narrative gives me the sense that this is only the beginning. I would really like to see a series about the Blotter family and their unusual location.

19 August 2019

My AOI Book Review for Stagdale by Frances Castle

Stagdale

Written and illustrated by Frances Castle

Illustrator’s website https://www.francescastle.com

Last night I dreamed I went to Manderley again. This quote from Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca comes to my mind when I reflect on the structure that Frances Castle has constructed for her tale of things remembered past.

In the first part of Stagdale, nostalgia is as vivid as the swallows that dart about in the cauldron heat of the summer of 1975. The drawing style and character design of this credible world combines modulated lines with delicate textures and sumptuous colour with somber tones.

Kathy is uprooted from London by the acrimonious separation of her parents. She has arrived at the place where her mother’s ancestors come from so it’s part homecoming. The Brontésqueatmosphere that Castle conjures out of the hot summer night sky takes me back to the tales I read as a boy and how my imagination soared when I thought of the mysterious world just beyond in the shadows. 

Stagdale is the location deep in the Cumbrian National Park, a picture postcard, chocolate box English Village where all is not well. Castle employs a bright pastel palette for daytime and sultry inky one for night. Colour signifies much more than the passing of time in this story.

While her mother concentrates on making a home for them, Kathy tries to cope in these unfamiliar circumstances. She finds some comfort in her friendship with Joe but the Bloat family who live opposite are proof that she’ll need to keep her wits about her. Working with the familiar tropes that represent English rural life and the stereotypes real or imagined that make things tick Castle positions Kathy into a world where there is an ancient wrong that must be investigated.

The layers of the story are further enhanced by the surprising discovery that many years ago another unhappy child lived in the cottage. Max a boy from Germany has hidden something in the cottage that takes us from rolling English hills to the mechanised jackboot of history. All is certainly not well!

This A5 landscape format aids the sweeping scene depicted on the front and back of the book. The narrative is enhanced by the delicate end papers that contain subtle nods to the events within. Frances’ illustrations are a treat for the eyes and it’s the beautifully crafted details that make this an impressive piece of work. Of particular note for me is the spread showing the centre of the village, with its austere war memorial and ubiquitous shopping trolley half submerged in the river. The village is well maintained on one side but not the other why is this? Inside the Stagedale Stores with its supply of long ago sweets and the strange shadowy figure standing in the back. The Stagdale museum scene with its pitiful contents is still however pregnant with clues. The use of familiar tropes such as lightening and rain help us to appreciate the tension and eeriness of the place especially at night time.

If you were alive in 1970’s Britain the fashions, sweets for sale and the pace of village life will be familiar to you even if you never lived in a village. There is the power of the cultural collective conscience at work here, something that has been lost in modern times. I look forward to reading further chapters from this story to see if Kathy can make a success of her new life, whether she will discover more about Max the German boy and what actually did happen to the Stagdale Jewel!

Q&A for The Pirates! at Stratford Picturehouse

Friday 30 March 2012


Q&A for 'The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists' chaired by my good self went very well. Jonny Duddle answered many questions from the audience. The film was hilarious and very entertaining. 


Jonny was the Character Designer for the film working very closely with legendary Director Peter Lord. He spent four years working on this project for Aardman. Jonny also spoke about his work as an illustrator and author. 


I enjoyed the experience and would be happy to do this type of work again. Big thanks to Tamlyn Francis at Arena Illustration (Jonny's Agents) for asking me to chair the event.


Karl

Jonny Duddle wins top prize (represented by Arena Illustration)

Top prize winner author and illustrator Jonny Duddle with his excellent book 'The Pirates Next Door' at last nights Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2012 award ceremony. I'm looking forward to chairing the Q&A with him after tomorrow's showing of Aardman's film 'The Pirates - In An Adventure with Scientists' at the Stratford Picturehouse. Jonny's a busy and very talented man.


Karl