Stroud Bookshop Signing of 'The Disgusting Sandwich'

Hello Gloucestershire dwellers!
Why not pop to the Stroud Children's Bookshop, Swan Lane on Easter Saturday -30th March...I'll be there from 11:30- 1:30 so come and meet me to get a disgustingly lovely signed copy of The Disgusting Sandwich.
It's also a chance to come and sample the delights of the Farmers Market including my favourite Pippin's Doughnuts (Lemon Curd ones are the best!).

Hopefully see you there!

We Have Lift Off! Book Trailer

WE HAVE LIFT-OFF! from Sean Taylor on Vimeo. LOOK at this excellent new trailer for my new picture book with Sean Taylor. OUT NOW!

Happy World Squirrelly Book Day!

Today is a great day to snuggle down and read your favourite book or dress up as your favourite book character.

I was sent a wonderful photo by Karen Cowley whose children Sarah (6) and Connor (4) love reading Erroll. Together they made this fantastic Erroll squirrel costume so Sarah could dress up for World Book Day.

I've been informed that the acorn is made of paper mache and the tail is crocheted stuffed and covered in eyelash wool. I think I need a grown-up size outfit to wear too school visits...although I might be tempted to climb trees all day instead!

Celebrating the publication of The Disgusting Sandwich with a biscuit...

...A very special biscuit, thanks to those lovely folk at Scholastic.
Seems too lovely to eat! Much nicer than that disgusting sandwich!

Buy your copy at a bargain price through Scholastic Books here http://shop.scholastic.co.uk/products/88283

It really is a fun book, if I can say so myself!

A blurry new world!

Happy belated 2013 one and all.

I'm having a rare afternoon off from squeaky baby! I haven't blogged since October so I thought it was about time.

So here's a quick round up of what is happening in blurry baby Hannah Shaw world...

NEW BOOKS

The Disgusting Sandwich by Gareth Edwards and illustrated by myself is out on the 4th of March

I hope to be making some disgusting sandwiches somewhere with some disgusting (I mean lovely!) children and doing a signing to promote this very funny new book. Most likely this event will be in Gloucestershire and I will have to bring along my disgusting (I mean very cute!) baby with me.
I will update you on this...

We Have Lift Off by Sean Taylor and again, illustrated by myself, is out on the 1st of April (no, I'm not pulling your leg!)  Sean and his clever animator wife - Adriana have been working on a trailer to give you a taster of what our book is all about. I have been contributing chicken noises for the soundtrack!

I also am looking forward to promoting my first Fiction book: Stan Stinky. Watch this space for more sewer and rat based tidbits. Scholastic have been sending out yummy samplers to tempt you into reading the full story which will be available to buy on the 3rd of June.



EVENTS

I have a fantastic event organised in August based on all of my Frances Lincoln books, focusing on We Have Lift Off. It's in Ledbury at Eastnor Castle Children's Literature Festival on Tuesday the 13th. There will be rocket drawing fun for everyone.

For other events, I'm afraid I'm not taking bookings until after September as I am now on maternity leave.


AWARDS

It's wonderful when you get on a shortlist and this year I have two books on the fabulous Portsmouth Book Award shortlist. There is I don't believe it Archie on the fiction book list and Who Ate Auntie Iris on the picture book one! How lucky am I? I don't Beeelliieve it!


I've probably forgotten to blog about something really important (that's baby brain for you) but *I THINK* that is all for now!

Goo Goo gaa ga!

Creating street scenes at Octavia's Bookshop

Here's some pics of a crazy street scene from an event I did at Octavia's bookshop in Cirencester. Almost every child who came to the shop contributed something to the picture.

My favourite shop has to be the Sausage Dog Coat and Sock Shop! If only we had one of those locally...

I did a similar themed event at the American School in London, which went down a storm. They all did some beautiful drawings.

Bump!

Ok, so I'll own up! The reason I haven't been blogging as much as I should (and the reason I may not be blogging so much in the future) can be explained in this doodle:

Yup, I'm having a baby! It's due in December which means I am frantically trying to meet deadlines and get as much work done before I give birth.

I must admit I'm kind of terrified but also very excited. Don't worry I'm not planning to give up work all together, I just might be a little distracted for a while.

In fact there's more than just babies to look forward to in 2013 and beyond.

I'll be promoting my new FICTION (Yes fiction!) book, written and illustrated entirely by me. I am working on the illustrations and final draft at the moment. It's all about a SEWER RAT called Stan Stinky (will be published by Scholastic) and I'm hoping it will be very funny, especially if you're 7-9 years old.

There will also be the final Harper Collins, Ivan Brett CASPER CANDLEWACKS book to look forward to as well as various exciting new fiction book projects I'm working on for Walker Books.

What else? Well I'll be illustrating another fab Frances Lincoln, SEAN TAYLOR picture book (this will be our 6th book together) because last month I finished the illustrations for our 5th book the very silly WE HAVE LIFT OFF! by Sean Taylor. Out in 2013!

So, although I may not be able to do so many events next year, I will definitely be in touch about new books and doing my best to keep calm and carry on!

If you want to come meet me and the bump, I'll be taking part in the following EVENTS this autumn:

SATURDAY 8th September 11am : Octavia's BOOKSHOP, Cirencester- Signing and activity morning.

WEDNESDAY 10th October 4 - 4:45pm: Cheltenham Literary Festival- School For Bandits Party!

WEDNESDAY 31st October 11:45 - 12:45: Newport Festival Big READ at the Newport Centre. This will be a front led session with Reading, drawing and games!

 ( ...and the last chance to meet me before I pop!)

It's Polly!

Barrington Stoke, who are publishing the two Julia Donaldson young reader books I've illustrated, have made a life size polly doll!
 

In the story THE SNAKE WHO CAME TO STAY, Polly opens a holiday home for pets, but she doesn't bet on losing one of the more slippery characters in her care!

Here's my drawing of Polly...

The Snake who came to Stay (Barrington Stoke -Little Gems) will be published in September 2012 and is perfect for children who have dyslexia or struggle with reading.

Double-Trouble Signing at Stroud Bookshop

Calling all Gloucestershire locals!

On the 21st of July at 11:30 (ooh that's NEXT Saturday!)

Myself and Sean Taylor will be signing our brand new picture book WHO ATE AUNTIE IRIS at the Stroud Children's Bookshop, 10, Union St, Stroud, Gloucestershire 01453 750055

Sean lives in Brazil most of the year so this is a once in a blue moon opportunity to meet the both of us together.

Come along, have a chat, buy a book! Looking forward to meeting you.

Who Ate Auntie Iris- Shortlisted for Junior Magazines Picture Book of 2012

The Junior Design Awards shortlisted Who Ate Auntie Iris for their best picture book 2012 category.
The winner was Press Here by Hervé Tullet
Still, fab to be shortlisted!


http://www.juniormagazine.co.uk/

Review by Catherine O'Dolan:
There's a miscellany of roguish tenants in the apartment block where Auntie Iris (a chincilla) resides with her family. On the first floor, there's a grumpy clans of grizzly bears; on the second floor, there's a toothsome crocodile, and on the third floor, a crew of drooling wolves who look intent on making mischief. With a bunch of neighbours like this, it's no wonder that Iris's young nephew is sent into something of a tizz when Iris disappears, and all that's left is her hat! But as he quizzes all the neighbours, they each plead ignorance of her whereabouts: the bears have been busily watching their favourite Porridge Chef on TV; the crocodile has been entertaining a coterie of pals in his new hot tub, and the wolves have been practising their yoga.

Turns out that Iris has actually been getting aquainted with her brand new neighbours, a burly family of lions – though she's not sure she should accept their invitation: “We'd very much like to ask you around, and have you all for a meal!”

Children will enjoy the playful portrayl of different animal stereotypes, as well as the fun double entendre in the lion's words, especially as Hannah Shaw's perfect illustrations give them a gleeful glint in their eyes!

Who Ate Auntie Iris? by Sean Taylor and Hannah Shaw (Frances Lincoln, £11.99).

Who Ate Auntie Iris? Come and find out!

Cheltenham types, Saturday the 7th of April from 10:30 onwards (until about 2ish) I'll be in Cheltenham Waterstones signing copies of Who Ate Auntie Iris?



I'll be drawing lots of scary wild animals too, so come join me, get a signed copy and maybe even draw your own animal.

I'm looking forward to meeting you!

Happy Easter.

World Book Day Visits

I've been so busy I've hardly had time to update my blog, as well as the new books I'm working on I've been visiting schools for World Book Day. One of the schools I visited just happened to be my old school, Stroud Valley Primary. It's changed quite a bit since I went there (it used to be on two different sites) but all the staff are just as lovely and the children were really enjoyed drawing animal characters with me.

Here's some pics, by the talented photographer Simon Pizzey. Some of these appeared in the Gloucestershire Citizen a few weeks ago..now I'm off to visit another school!

All photos courtesy of Simon Pizzey, Gloucestershire Media.

Claws of CRIME!

Have you ever heard of a cat stealing a sword? 

Have you ever seen an old lady eating a jelly bean sandwich?

Have you ever had to find your kidnapped baby sister?

... With a egg boiling lie detector machine?

NO? Then you really ought to read the new Casper Candlewacks in the CLAWS of CRIME. 

Written by the sickeningly young and exceptionally talented Ivan Brett, it's the second in the series of Casper's hilarious adventures. 

It was out a few weeks ago but I've been busy finishing lots of exciting new projects that I haven't had a chance to rave about it. 

I will be uploading pics to my website next month. (You may have guessed that I did the illustrations)

In the meantime : Here's a nice review 

Jingle Jangle...

Hippy, Hoppy, Happy Holidays!

It's been a very busy year for me and I've been so frantic this month I've been rather slack with my blog. You'll be pleased to know that I haven't been sitting in the dark muttering "Bah Humbug!" and burning chesnuts or kicking snowmen. I've actually been beavering away at my latest picture book project. It's a hilarious badger themed caper called THE DISGUSTING SANDWICH and is written by the exceptionally talented Gareth Edwards -you may have seen that I gave a sneaky preview of it earlier in the year.

As I have simply been so blissfully unaware of the outside world for a few months, I completely forgot about sending cards ... so to cheer things up a bit I selected 3 of my favourite images from THE DISGUSTING SANDWICH that relate to Christmas day.  I'll be donating Christmas card and stamp money to the RSPCA and their Badger campaign.

GO Badgers! Go Santa! Merry Christmas one and all.

Oh and remember, one of my books would make a lovely christmas pressie!

CHRISTMAS is all about

*Sharing*

*Eating* (mmm Slugs)

and finally *Sleeping!*

Zzzz

Julia Donaldson book covers

I'm very lucky to be illustrating some books for none other than Children's Laureate Julia Donaldson. The books will be published by Barrington Stoke next year and will be perfect for dyslexic or reluctant readers. I'm really looking forward to illustrating the interiors soon but in the meantime, here are some covers to get excited about.

Happy Halloween!

Hello monsters and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Do you need a guide to learn how to be proper monsters?
Well I know of just the thing.

The Awfully Bad Guide to Monster Housekeeping is being launched at the Ministry of Stories this week!

I've illustrated to FOOD guide and I can safely say it's utterly revolting!

It's been written by school children and a poet Naomi Woddis and I've done some gruesome illustrations- see below.
It will be available to buy online or at Hoxton St Monster supplies.

All profits will go to the Ministry of Stories.

So get your grubby mitts on some copies as they will make a fab halloween pressies.

School for Bandits Events

I had a fab Saturday in Gloucestershire /Wiltshire with some keen young bandits... err readers! The morning was spent at the wonderful Yellow-Lighted Bookshop in Nailsworth- see the great window display pics. The shop looked like a glitter bomb had gone off after the mask and loot sack decorating workshop! Much fun was had by all.

In the afternoon I was in Malmesbury at the town hall, giving a talk and presenting certificates to those clever folk who had completed the library Summer Reading Challenge. Despite my rather poor attempt at drawing Ralph Racoon (Why is sketching on flip-charts so hard!?) I managed to sign lots of books and give out tonnes of chocolate coins. Thanks to librarian Carolyn Kennedy and her helpers for organising such a great event.

Bath Book Blog CHAPTER FIVE on September 16th

This is a post that is also available to view on my website here

If you need to catch up, you can always go back and see what has happened so far:
You’ll find Chapter 1 HERE, Chapter 2 HERE, Chapter 3 HERE and Chapter 4 HERE.

CHAPTER FIVE

Poor Scribble was propelled backwards by the vile stink with such force that he fell into a pile of rotten seaweed festering in the corner. Not wishing to annoy Moby Doris any further, he quickly grabbed his (now rather slimy) notebook and drew a diagram which looked a bit like this:

He tore out the page and whilst trying not to get too close, nervously presented it to Doris. “What is this!?” she spat, squinting at what Scribble had drawn. Scribble held his breath.

“NEPTUNE’S BEASTLY BOTTOM! I don’t believe it!” Moby Doris yelled, screwing up Scribble’s diagram and lobbing it at Mr Catch’s head. “The milky-way has a lot to answer for! That blasted sun of ours did the very same thing, fell right out of the sky, the sea turned hotter than a microwaved pasty! It happened ever such a long time ago when I was a young, beautiful mer-girl…” Her face softened as a wistful smile replaced her angry scowl “Oh yes, I was very beautiful you know, all the sailors loved me, many a man would drown trying to woo me…”

“Ah hem” coughed Mr Catch turning prawn-pink once more. Doris fixed Mr Catch with a beady glare that could have wilted a sea cabbage “Don’t you start…” she growled. … Err… Ms Moby… Scribble interjected, writing frantically You said the sun fell out the sky and into the sea, how on earth did they manage to get it out? “THAT is a VERY good question” exclaimed Doris, scratching her barnacles. “Let me dredge my memory, as you can imagine it’s rather watery” She fell silent and in the minutes that followed Scribble could hear an erie creaking sound echoing around the town. It was like a rusty ship’s hulk slowly sinking but he knew it wasn’t a ship at all, it was the moon.

“AH HA! I’ve got it!” Doris leapt out of her chair, her shells, hooks and weights clattering. Throwing off her old blanket, she waddled over to a cupboard and pulled out a small dusty wooden chest. Then Scribble and Mr Catch watched in horror as Doris took out her teeth, reached inside her mouth and after some rooting around… produced a shining silver key.

Doris shoved the chest and key into Scribble’s arms and pushed him and Mr Catch outside.“You’ll find the answer in that chest! Now LEAVE me alone!” she muttered before slamming the door and leaving distinct waft of raw sewage and fish guts in her wake.

——-

Oooh Errr… the next installment will be found HERE on 18 September by Carly Bennett of Writing From the Tub

Monsters!

I've recently been drawing some funny monsters for a very special monster project organised by the Ministry of Stories. More news to follow on this soon but in the meantime- have a peek at this!

Bath Festival Big Blog Story

Watch out for my contribution next week... here is the press release:

The Bath Festival of Children’s Literature is launching a unique collaborative storytelling event on Thursday 8 September featuring well known authors and bloggers. There are 20 collaborators in the project including authors Marcus Sedgewick, John Boyne and Annabel Pitcher who will be appearing in the Bath Festival of Children’s Literature Festival, 23 September- 2 October. The story will be written in real-time with readers following the trail as it moves from blog to blog, with an addition to the story being posted at each stop.

The story will run from 8 September – 16 October with the first installment being posted on the Bath Festival of Children’s Literature blog http://bathkidslitfest.wordpress.com/ where readers can click through to the next installment. Every other day a new piece of the story will be posted and as it is being written in real-time it has the potential to touch on any genre imaginable.

Big Blog Story Schedule

8 September Bath Festival of Children’s Literature

10 September Robin Etherington

12 September Annabel Pitcher

14 September Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

16 September Hannah Shaw

18 September Writing From the Tub

20 September Lauren Kate

22 September Marcus Sedgewick

24 September Alan Gibbons

26 September John Boyne

28 September Catherine Bruton

30 September Achuka

2 October Samantha Mackintosh

4 October An Awfully Big Blog Adventure

6 October Kate Maryon                                     

8 October Barry Hutchinson

10 October My Favourite Books

12 October Joanna Nadin

14 October LA Weatherly

16 October Bath Festival of Children’s Literature

The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop - NEW kids event, Nailsworth

Why not bring your kids along for a great fun packed SCHOOL for BANDITS morning. There will be all sorts of crafty activities!
For more details contact: The Yellow-Lighted Nailsworth direct on 01453 832555

Zambuko Community Library Project

I recently donated some of my books to a library project in Zimbabwe called the Zambuko Library Project. Friends of mine volunteered out there for a week and took quite a few of my books along! The aim of the project is to provide an educational resource for local villages in a rural area where there are virtually no books in the primary schools. Obviously it would be great if children could have books in their own language and work is being done to transcribe and photocopy books into Shona the local language. For the time being donations of books in English are appreciated. Primary schools in Bristol are linked with the primary schools in Zimbabwe and have also donated money and books to the project.

When my friends returned last week they showed me some really lovely photos of children with my books - these really made my day.

Badgers

Have you had your badger fix today? No? Here are some sketches to cheer you up.

The evil duke of Phartasia

I'm in the process of illustrating a very funny book for Walker, it's all about playing musical instruments using farts, yes farts or 'pharts!'. There's a taking parrot, a load of spoilt children and evil duke with a very long moustache (pictured). Of course there is a hero too, his name is Bruno and he becomes an expert at playing a 'Phartlehorn'. All will be revealed soon but in the meantime here's a little illustration to keep you from exploding with suspense! Parp!

Big Chill and Bandit masks

Just back from The Big Chill where I had a very fun event in the rainbow tent(Little Chill area). My School for Bandits game went down a treat and I was mobbed at the end for chocolate coins!

The mask making session was also very successful too and you can see some pics here- glittery raccoons and a boy who did a lovely drawing for me.

Here's a photo of a butterfly installation which was amazing when you walked underneath it.

Official SCHOOL FOR BANDITS publication day UK!

It's finally here! Get out your stripy tales and masks and go to your nearest bookshop and ask very politely for a copy of School for Bandits, the finest raccoon picture book they have. If they don't have it, please insist they get it in stock as soon as possible!

And remember niceness is most definitely allowed, I'd LOVE to hear your comments and feedback and see any drawings from children and adults alike.

If you can't make it out you can always order your copy here (it's only £5.99 Paperback and suitable for ages 4+)

Oh and please remember to rate it online from whatever bookstore you buy from.

I don't believe it Archie!

For those discerning readers who love a classy hardback (yes they are lovely aren't they!)

'I don't believe it Archie' is out tomorrow. Andrew Norriss has written lots of books for children and this is one of his funniest! I've been busy illustrating it and I hope you'll love my characters.

Archie is a normal boy but very strange things keep happening to him EVERY DAY! Who else gets trapped by a live leopard, caught up in a robbery or mistaken as a kidnapped child every time they step out the house? Archie does!

Want to read more? Buy the book today here.

Published by David Fickling Books

Max and Molly's Guide to Trouble - How to be a genius!

The 4th of August is a big day for me as three of my books are being published.

Here is 'Max and Molly's Guide to Trouble - How to be a genius!' It's the second book in the series and is another crazy/ funny Max and Molly tale by Dominic Barker. This one involves a ill-fated bike ride, mending a puncture with Mud and a dog chase! Oh yes, it's action packed and you'll spot my illustrations throughout...

So buy your copy here as soon as possible

for ages 7+ published by Orchard books. PAPERBACK

The School for Bandits Game!

Well, haven't I been inventive this week!?

I'm preparing to promote School for Bandits at events (only a few days to go until it's published!) and I've come up with an extra fun game to play.

Here is the School for Bandits HELP GET RALPH TO SCHOOL Game, it will be printed on A1 to take to events.

I will read the story then quiz the audience about the book using a special set of questions I've carefully chosen. As the audience gets questions right, I will move a Ralph counter along the board towards school. I will also put chocolate coins

into this very authentic looking loot sack.

When all the questions are answered and Ralph finally gets to school, all the audience will share their chocolate coin winnings from the sack- as well as getting a Ralph Raccoon mask to make! Does this sound like fun? Well if it does, then why not attend one of my many events coming up and you could get to PLAY the game!

A pig

He's planning to build a rocket don't you know!