There's A Bug On My Arm That Won't Let Go is GO…

A new picture book is now in production for publication in 2017. If you like cats you may like this book. If you are a bird, you will hate it. If you like Christmas Beetles (like I do,) you will like to hang about long enough to find what happens to a bug in new and unfamiliar surroundings.

The book is set in a garden, overseen by a black cat and a bird in a tree. It's also set in Sentinel Book and Bold. You'll find a bathtub in the backyard and a garden hose with a life of its own. 

“A weed is simply a plant whose virtues we haven’t yet discovered”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The UK jacket.

The UK jacket.

Garden cuttings.

Garden cuttings.

If you look hard enough you'll find a stink bug.

If you look hard enough you'll find a stink bug.

NEW Sherlock Holmes Adventures…

I just received my copies of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (Alma Books, 2016). This edition in the Children's Classics Series from Alma includes a section of notes and extra material at the end. Look for the engineer's thumb which was left on the window sill of the country house.

The illustrations were made in ink and kraft paper.

Marshall Armstrong is the line leader…

Thank you to The Second Grade class at The Diamond Path Elementary School in Minnesota for writing and illustrating their own story about Elizabeth Bell, the new girl in Marshall Armstrong is New To Our School.

Not only are the drawings fantastic, but the story is very clever and takes up where I left off. They even introduce us to their teachers at school.

Perhaps my favourite part is when Marshall Armstrong is declared Line Leader.

Thanks again Grade Two for taking time to make the book, and to send me my own copy for my bookshelf.

marshall armstrong minnesota
marshall armstrong minnesota
marshall armstrong minnesota

NEW Ruby Redfort book published…

Ruby Redfort: Blink and You Die is Lauren Child's ultimate title in the schoolgirl secret agent series. Two hardback editions have been published in the UK, one with a lenticular panel that makes Ruby's eyes blink when you wobble the book. The other edition is without the lenticular panel but the eyes follow you about the room (probably a library) even if you don't wobble anything. 

Lauren has included some beautiful sketches of how she sees some of her characters and you'll find them at the end of the book.

Marcus du Sautoy has contributed the codes as in previous titles in the series.

The Twinford city maps are illustrated by map designer Emily Faccini and are a sight to be seen. 

[ A note on the lenticular edition: The lenticular panel uses three images, or three stages of the animation. The three images are sliced into tiny slivers then rearranged. Then a lens is glued to the top so that when you look at the lens from two directions you see one or another image. In reality you just need to tilt your head, or manipulate the book so the lens moves. ]

nb: forgive the dumb quote mark in the title card.

New Sherlock Holmes paperback…

A new paperback edition of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle will be published by Alma Books in their Children's Classics series. I did the cover and an illustration for each chapter. Here are a few pictures…

adventures sherlock holmes david mackintosh
sherlock holmes by david mackintosh
sherlock holmes mackintosh

Take Flight…

Nadia Wheatley's text and Armin Greder's illustrations has won the CBCA Picture Book of the Year 2016. Another beauty, with a timeless message. Chiaroscuro never looked so good, and it's set in Frutiger, of course. The link from Armin's name will take you to a good interview about his approach to illustrating. 

I Live In The Town…

See some drawing of the highest speed: reckless lines, shaky shades and pointless pointillism in this video rehearsal for a new picture book.

I refilled the ink in my pen more than twice and the soundtrack was recorded walking through London, Copenhagen, Sydney, Dublin, Belfast, New York and Mount Nebo.

Ruby Redfort, where are you?

Lauren Child's latest in the Ruby Redfort secret agent thriller series is on press. The sixth book, it's longer and answers a lot of questions brought up throughout the series. There's 560 pages of words, and they're all good ones. GO LC.