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Category: Featured illustrators

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The SEal ChildrenThe Seal Children by Jackie Morris has been republished in this captivating edition by Otter-Barry Books.

The water colours on every page are a joy in themselves and you can spend so much time just looking as they portray the story in picture.

The story is about a fisherman who falls in love with a Selkie – half woman, half seal – she gives him her seal skin as a sign of her love, and bears him two children, Ffion and Morlo, before returning to her own people. When a stranger comes to the village, telling of a land far away, the children remember their mother’s stories of the cities of gold and pearls beneath the waves….

This is a wonderful book from Jackie Morris. Presented in a beautiful new gift edition, this is a haunting story of love and freedom, for all ages.

'A lyrical story with beautifully painted watercolours' Books for keeps

A book for everyone to have, in the home to share, and to read alone, in schools for all sorts of projects in education and in the libraries. It is a book that definitely will not be staying long on the shelves but will be on the table, by the rug or in the fireside chair ready to be read time and time again.

Recommended for all ages and especially for me!!

Sue Martin Dolphin Booksellers and Books Go Walkabout

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Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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The Princess and the CastleAll Genevieve wanted was for her Dad, who she imagined to be a king in a castle, to be waiting for her as the princess. So, she wouldn't go to the beach with friends, " Princesses don't like beaches" she would say.

In fact she was afraid to go near the water, as her father was lost at sea.

This is a beautiful book, the illustrations are breathtaking and the story of restoration to friendship for a small child is perfect.

The Princess and the Castle is written and illustrated by Caroline Binch and is republished as a launch title for Otter-Barry Books. Caroline is the illustrator of Amazing Grace and won the Smarties prize for Hue Boy.

Otter-Barry Books is an exciting new children's imprint aiming to make a difference,push boundaries and publish books that children will love.

The Princess and the Castle is one of my favourite books and is definitely for reading alone or together at home or in school or the library.

Sue Martin Dolphin BookSellers and Books Go Walkabout


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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Immi
View, review or purchase this great book from Amazon.co.uk here...

A classic picture book, Immi is about friendship across cultures, reissued by popular demand and an Otter-Barry launch title for Spring 2016.

It is written and illustrated by Karin Littlewood in a beautiful style of painting which create a real atmosphere on the pages. Karin has illustrated over 40 childrens books and her work has been nominated three times for the Kate Greenaway Medal.

Immi lives in a land of ice and snow and one day when she is fishing she finds a wooden bird at the end of her fishing line. Every day after that, she discovers something new, until her igloo is the brightest in the land.

But where are these mysterious gifts coming from and who is sending them? One day she drops her small white bear pendant into the hole in the ice. Where does it go? It finds a home in a distant land.

'This is a book that will be with you forever, we recommend it for all ages of children and adults'.

Sue Martin               Dolphin BookSellers and Books Go Walkabout

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Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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I will not wear pink'Nothing or no-one will make me wear pink!' declares Plunkett the pig. A great fun read by the duo Dunbars, wonderful, uplifting and meaningful. A launch title for Otter-Barry Books and part of an excellent collection for Spring 2016.

Children have great determination and are not easily persuaded... I will not, I absolutely can not, you cannot make me and in fact I just won't!! Often used by young children on all sorts of occasions.

The story is based on an invitation to a party and Plunkett would love to go except the theme is Pink, Dream, Fancy, Frills and Thrills. Plunkett is not going to wear pink!! ' I will not wear pink.' he says. The solution in the end is charming, he doesn't actually wear pink but...

Beautiful illustrations from Polly Dunbar, who already has several bestselling picture books and the words words from Joyce Dunbar are delightful, fun and playful.

Recommended for all children... Oh, and for adults too who will relate to the scenario very well!

Sue Martin Dolphin BookSellers & Books Go Walkabout


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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Zim Zam ZoomZim, Zam,Zoom!

Zappy poems to read out loud, by James Carter and illustrated by Nicola Colton is published by Otter-Barry Books, the new children's publishers.

A brilliant introduction to poetry for young children, poems easily learnt and performed, great titles and include colours, animals, space, music and fairy tale fireworks.

James Carter is a prize winning poet, guitarist and educational writer, he gives poetry performances and workshops and is a great choice for schools on author in school.

Nicola Colton is an Irish illustrator with a playful, folktale art style and these are really good at making the poems come to life in the book.

Zim Zam Zoom! is one of the launch titles for Otter-Barry Books, an exciting new imprint aiming to make a difference, push boundaries and publish books that children will love.

Recommended for schools and libraries and for armchair moments!

Sue Martin Dolphin Booksellers and Books Go Walkabout


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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Kangaroo Kisses
View, review or buy this great book from Amazon.co.uk here...

Kangaroo Kisses by Nandana Dev Sen and illustrated by Pippa Curnick is an opening title for Otter-Barry Books, an exciting new imprint, being launched on June 8th in London.

Kangaroo Kisses is beautifully produced in hard back by Otter-Barry Books. It is a a book of adventures for bedtime as the toys become real wild animals.

'I'm learning to fly with the geese in the sky!' and the illustrations are engaging and fun for young children. From hippos to bears and at the end to Kangaroo... who is god with the kisses to send you to sleep.

Great for young children, a debut children's book for Nandana Dev Sen who is an award winning actor, writer and child-rights activist. Visit her website to see her amazing work. I was inwardly most impressed by Princess Jasmine in Disneyland!

Pippa Curnick is a freelance designer and illustrator, and winner of the Seven Stories Illustration Competition, 2013.

Looking forward to being at the launch of Otter-Barry Books, a great start and future ahead.

Sue Martin Books Go Walkabout Dolphin BookSellers Blog

Twitter @booksgowalk


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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Mr Badger
View, review or purchase from Amazon.co.uk here...

Mr Badger is always on hand to cope with many surprises at the Boubles Grand Hotel.

My favourite story is Mr Badger and the Missing Ape, Algernon who is usually kept stuffed in a glass case in the lobby. But Lady Celia's granddaughter is not happy with this gorilla and wants it sent away.

As she usually gets just whatever she wants the alarming disappearance one morning gives Mr Badger quite a task, but solve it, he does.

There are four stories in the one book, which is full of brilliant sketches and the characters really come to life.

Mr Badger is written by Leigh Hobbs, who has an amazing talent for writing and tfor illustrating too. He has a great website for a whole range of his books.

This year he has been appointed as the Australian Children's Laureate and there are whole host of great activities for children all over the world as well as Australia.

Mr Badger is published by Allen and Unwin, Australia but can be purchased on-line in the UK, from Amazon.co.uk, here.

A great book and we recommend for children 7+, especially for those who still get a lot from the images through each chapter.

Sue Martin Books Go Walkabout and Dolphin Book Blog


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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The Anti Princess Club 1
Review and purchase this book on Amazon.co.uk

The Anti Princess Club is a series of books which follows four best friends; Emily, Martin, Bella, Singh, Grace Bennett and Chloe Karalis and they are just 'sick' of being treated like damsels in distress.

They are a thoroughly good read and the style and illustrations by Sarah Davis fit the whole scene in the books. They are published by Allen and Unwin and are a first time series from Australian author Samantha Turnbull.

They read as a book which is really for children of that age, when they know what they want, but just can't seem to stop adults and others treating them in a stereotyped way. It gives also a real sense of meaning to some of the trials and problems around making friends, families, teamwork and courage of your own convictions.

We also love the notes for teachers which are available on-line and free to use alongside the books, they cover a wealth of learning opportunities.

The Anti Princess Club 2jpg

 

 

Recommended by Dolphin Book Blog for ages 7+

Sue Martin

Books Go Walkabout & Dolphin Booksellers

 

 

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Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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Hiccups
Review or buy this book from Amazon.co.uk...

A delightful first book from Holly Sterling, she has previously illustrated the Everybody Feels... series published also by Frances Lincoln.

Hiccups is newly published this month so watch out for it on line and in the bookshops, or you can buy direct through this picture link

Holly has a great way to show feelings in the characters and this story which follow Oscar the puppy's problem with hiccups that just won't go away, that is until Ruby dresses up as a cat. This is so scary that even the brave Oscar is scared!

Holly is an author/illustrator to watch, she has already won a number of awards, and was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal 2016.

Read an interview with Holly on Quarto Kids Blog, and on Holly's blogspot you can read about some interesting work with Michael Rosen.

We recommend Hiccups for all young children and for reading with parents too, you never know it may just be a long lasting cure for hiccups itself.

Sue Martin Dolphin BookBlog

dolphinlogo2012imageright3.jpg


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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The story had me hooked from the beginning, it's an amazing story of freedom from slavery set in Alabama in May 1850.

Oh FreedomDue for release in June 2016 by Darf publishers, wrtitten by Francesco D'Adamo and translated by Sian Williams.

Captain Archer and his intimidating guards with their fierce dogs, protect the land and prevent the slaves from leaving. Tommy is part of a family of slaves and meets Peg Leg Joe, who turned out not to be the devil but a spirit in disguise who was to lead Tommy and his family away from slavery and into the promised land of freedom, Canada.

' Are you a Devil?' he asked....

The man squatted on his heels, 'No', he replied. 'Are you?'

'No way!' exclaimed Tommy.

'Well then,'said Peg Leg Joe,'we can trust each other.'

Tommy had to admit that was reasonable.

Now the boy could see the man properly, and stared at the wooden leg sticking out of his right trouser leg. So it was not a cloven hoof.P.3

They travel along the legendary Underground Railroads, which stretched for miles across the country's vastness,the network famously facilitated more than 100,000 slaves to a new life. For Tommy the journey is far from easy and he takes on responsibilities ahead of his years. He later becomes a guide along the routes, moving silently and bringing to freedom many people.

Tommy also learns to read and at one stage discovers a poster advertising a 'Sale of Slaves'. Knowing that he could read he discovers a truth...

'His heart beat very fast. He was unlocking a secret, and would find something that the others, his father,mother,sisters could never know. But he would! Confusedly,he understood that doing this made him strong. p.103'.

A powerful book and has lots of links with current refugee movements.

This is a young adult book and recommended for age 10 years and beyond

Sue Martin dolphinlogo2012imageright3

Books Go Walkabout and Dolphin Booksellers.BGW logoJS


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.