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!

Summer and Autumn events coming up!

Hello wonderful people,

I’d love to meet you at one of the following fun events coming up in the summer and autumn. Why not come and get a signed copy of School For Bandits or one of my many other books?
I may also be doing signings in and around the South West during the school holidays which I’ll announce on here…

Please note this list does not contain school visits, however if you are wishing to book a school visit, I am now fully booked until the end of November.

AUGUST

The Big Chill
Little Chill Children’s Area, Eastnor Castle
Saturday 6th August 2011 at 1pm
Click to find out more

Stroud Children’s Bookshop
Swan Lane, Stroud
Saturday 13th August 11:00- 12:30
This is a SIGNING event- Come and get a lovely signed copy of School For Bandits!

SEPTEMBER

Malmesbury Library
24th September 3pm-5pm
If you are aged between 4-11 you can take part in the Summer Reading Challenge
over the summer holidays. On the 24th of September I will presenting award certificates and medals and doing a talk about my work to parents and children who have participated in the challenge!
The Yellow Lighted bookshop will be selling books.

OCTOBER

Bath Kids Lit Fest
Central Library Bath
Saturday 1st October 2011 at 1pm
Exciting mask making School for Bandits event and story time.

The Children’s Bookshop – Muswell Hill
8th October 2011 11:30- 12:30pm
This is a SIGNING event- Come and get a lovely signed copy of School For Bandits. I’ll be doing some live drawing too so come along to suggest things for me to draw!
http://childrensbookshoplondon.com/

Portsmouth Bookfest
13th October 2011
(This is a schools only event, I look forward to meeting some enthusiastic young readers)
More info for schools

Southend Libraries Children’s Book Festival
19th October 2011
(Schools event only- Interested schools please contact Southend Libraries)

Word Up Festival- SPECIAL School for Bandits kids launch party
Monday 24th October 2011 (Half Term)
This event will be an extra special party event for School for Bandits at St Alleyn’s School, Dulwich, LONDON.
Timings and extra details to follow soon- don’t miss out. This event will be open to the public and ticketed.
Details at www.wordupfestival.co.uk

NOVEMBER

French Institute London – South Ken Kids Festival
17 Queensberry Place, London
Saturday 26th November
A day of events at the French Institute, including a drawing duel with Marc Boutavant.
You can download more info here

Read all about me

The lovely Zoe Toft of Playing by the book has done a 'Desert Island Discs' style interview with me. You can read all about it here on her wonderful website http://www.playingbythebook.net

Badger and Frog

They are fighting over a yukky disgusting sandwich!

PPPick-up a... no, not a penguin - A PUFFIN!!

Hi y'all!

Not only has School for Bandits been LAUNCHED in the good old U.S of A now but I have also done a special guide for the Puffin Post on how to draw a puffin!

Have a look here: Click on image to enlarge.

Ooh! Look at this! You can make a Ralph Raccoon Mask!

With the launch of School for Bandits fast approaching, I've designed a fab Raccoon mask for you to download and make- remember to print the full size version on CARD for best results. Please email me any photos if you make a mask, I'd love to see them.

This will also be available to download from my website.

How a drawing progresses FINAL IMAGE

And here it is! The Final image. Although, now I have everything on layers in photoshop so I can change anything within reason. I can also add text of the story too.

How a drawing progresses Stage 3

Almost there...

Now using a special bit of photoshop trickery (I basically treat photoshop like a screen printing process) I layer up and select textures and images and start to colour it, I overlay shadows too. It takes me a few days to get it right and I don't stop tweaking colours and textures until I'm completely happy with the way it looks.

How a drawing progresses Stage 2

This is where I have lots of fun creating textures, I also have chosen certain elements of the image which I want to stand out (like the hut and the fox characters in this one) I paint these using water colours.

How a drawing progresses Stage 1 (ish)

In the next few posts I'll be posting various stages of how I build up an image.

So this is stage 1, just the black and white line. Usually the characters would be on separate layers in photoshop so I can move them around. I've made a few mistakes when drawing this, so it's already been through one stage of editing. However, it will need more editing along the way.

This is from a new book idea (see older blog posts for other image ideas from this book)

Next stage paint and textures... I'll be doing those next week so check my blog out again at the end of next week.

Hay Festival Pics

I was at Hay for the entire bank holiday weekend. It was great to see my sheep everywhere! Not only did I get to see meet some celebrity authors and illustrators but I also got to draw on the windows! Here are a few pics (mainly from the event I did with Sean Taylor) What FUN! - more to follow soon... PS HOW impressed was I with those 'glitter disco sheep' being made by the kids in my first event?- VERY!!

A cat too!

All these animals are from new cover artwork I'm working on for a pair of chapter books.

and... A German Shepherd

This one looks a bit like Loti my Mother in Law's dog- except Loti would be a big blur, as she can't stay still!

Rat

Bats in hats

Yup, the title says it all

Hay Festival Sheepy merchandise

Look at these lovely items that will be available for sale at Hay Festival this year! They are happily adorned with my sheep illustrations. (Apron, pencil case, cloth bag)

As well as these items, there will be t-shirts, mugs and notepads.

Watch Sleep Sheep Bedtime Story on iplayer

You can watch The Sleep Sheep being read by Liza Tarbuck here on iplayer:

Watch Now

Enjoy! I thought Liza did an excellent job reading, shame I can't bring her along to my events and just get her to read it instead!

Catch the Sleep Sheep on Cbeebies!

• The Sleep Sheep will be read on CBeebies Book at Bedtime by Liza Tarbuck, Wednesday 11th May between 6 & 7pm.

Don't miss it! I'll be uploading an iplayer link soon!

School for Bandits picture book preview (with sound)

For the more discerning viewer! This now comes with a soundtrack...

(I did the "Uh?" and the "Whee!" myself!)

School for Bandits preview NEW

This higher res version works lovely jubbly!

£5.99 for a paperback copy... go on, go on, go on!

My experimental animation for School for Bandits

This works better! Sorry no sound (don't know how to do that yet?!)

Casper Candlewacks arrives!

I thought you'd all like to know about this hilarious new book I've illustrated for the very talented Ivan Brett.

It's out TODAY, wayhey! I had lots of fun drawing silly pigeons.

Find out more at www.caspercandlewacks.com

Where to see me this Summer! Events and Festivals...

http://hannahshawillustrator.co.uk/?news/2011/04/23/festival-events-coming-up-where-to-meet-me-this-summer-.html

Happy Easter!

And what better way to celebrate, with a traditional picture of foxes flying! (not flying foxes, those are something different- although equally as lovely)

So try not to eat too much chocolate (who am I kidding?!) and keep your easter eggs in the fridge or they will melt in this unseasonably warm weather!

I ♥ Sheep!

This is a photo to prove that sheep and I go back a long way! I'm sure this mini sheep wasn't too happy about being hugged oh-so-tight but I was certainly loving it! My sheep inspired Hay festival illustrations will be coming out very soon in the Telegraph Hay Fever Guide.

Baa!

Next Event: Signing and Stories at Octavia's Bookshop Cirencester

http://www.octaviasbookshop.co.uk/

I'll be reading and signing all of my books here on Saturday the 9th of April from 10-12.

Come along and listen to stories and join in the fun.

Octavia's Bookshop is a BRAND NEW children's specialist bookshop at 24 Black Jack St, Cirencester.

Run by experienced and passionate bookseller Octavia, I highly recommend that you pop in for a browse- she has transformed the shop into a fantastic family friendly space! I loved the magical decor too!

Super Granny Fox!

Story & Drawing Workshop at By Local Shop, Cheltenham.

Saturday 12th March 2011
From 12.30 onwards.

I will be reading some of my stories, signing books and encouraging youngsters to get drawing!
This is a free event for kids aged 3 -11.
Hope to see you there…

Contact information

By Local, Unit 1A, The Regent Arcade, The high Street, Cheltenham
Email bylocal.gloucestershire@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 07539397360

Max and Molly's Guide to Trouble!

This fab book I've illustrated is first in the series of Max and Molly's Guide to Trouble by Dominic Barker. It has been nominated for Richard and Judy's Book Club- See here for more info