Catalogue update...nearly there!

 After a couple of years of neglect I'm now in the

process of updating and rejuvenating the full fat catalogue!

Rockpool Children's Books produces a new catalogue for

each new book fair, but in a more practical format, and
will continue to do so. But if you wish to see more
details about the books we've done, or about to do,
you can refer to, or download, the big catalogue
from our website or blog.
Here's the cover...the rest will follow in a week or so!

Elaine's Tulip

Elaine is born into a world
ruled by an all powerful dragon that subdues the population and
demands of it, riches mined from the Earth itself.
The dragon is empowered by these riches,
and as it's strength grows,
so the Earth is drained of much of it's life and colour!

Then one day, young Elaine finds something curious

in the dust of her back yard!

This fantastic picture book is currently being illustrated.
A labour of love, publication will occur
in the not too distant future.

I was delighted to be commissioned by Giovanna Mantegazza, from

La Coccinella, Italy, to write and 

illustrate two stories for their Libri Coi Buchi series.

La Coccinella publish fantastic books, and this series

is very long running. Only one book

got through though, as my other story was a little close

to one of the originals...these things happen.

'Mamma dove sei?' is a 12 spread board book, and La Coccinella 

use inventive and imaginative decreasing holes

as part of the story to entice the reader through the book.

'Mamma, dove sei?' or 'Where's my mummy',

accompany's our little fish through a fantastic array

of sea creatures, and holes, as he searches for his mum!

Rockpool Children's Books are looking to publish this
and one other in the UK, probably in 2013.

Robbie the Roach

Cockroaches were the topic
on Vic Minnets show on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire,

one day in May...

so I got a call from her producer Sarah, requesting a drawing.

The result, Robbie the Roach!

The Little Welsh Rugby Fan

Mae Gareth yn hoff iawn o rygbi a thîm Cymru, ond mae'n drist. 
Nid yw'n gallu mynd i wylio'r gemau oherwydd fod ei dad yn gweithio i ffwrdd. 
Yna, un dydd yn y parc ... 

Stori i blant 3-5 oed.

YLolfa, based in Talybont, Aberystwyth, are the excellent

Welsh publishers who published the Little Welsh Rugby Fan  
and from all accounts it's selling well!

Many thanks to Lefi Gruffudd for taking the book, and we

look forward to hopefully working with YLolfa on

other books in the future. 

If you need a very good publisher in Wales...

http://www.ylolfa.com/index.php

Maisey and the Pirates

Delighted to announce Rockpool Children's Books will be
publishing Sam Walshaw's fantastic Maisey and the pirates and
Maisey and the pirates - Ghost Ship in the autumn.
The books were bought by a South African publisher and
we're publishing with them. Also pleased to say that
Barnes and Noble also took Maisey and the pirates, so American
children will be enjoying the adventures of our merry band too!
Two more titles will follow,
Maisey and the pirates - Grandpa's Treasure
and Maisey and the pirates - and a title to be decided!

Bologna 2012

The Bologna Children's Book Fair 2012 was back in March,
and I'm pleased to say it turned out to be a very good one. 

Rockpool Children's Books increased it's sales into China,
through our agents Christiane Janssen and Daniel Doglioli! 

We're incredibly grateful to them for their

hard work and long may our association with them continue.

Our new series of Rockpool Board Books - 'I love my....' series
was well received, and may I take the opportunity 

to thank Phuong Thao and Michael Brand of Starprint, Vietnam,
for getting the books done in time for the fair. 

They were delivered to my hotel, I Portici, in good time for the opening day! 

On the UK Publishers Association stand again and I would like to thank Gloria
for making it such an enjoyable experience. 

One almost feels part of a family. Gloria organised the

PA dinner at a restaurant just off Piazza Maggiore, and it was a wonderful evening.

Booked my seat for next year already! Great to see Rosie Brooks and her dad Terry

on the stand again. She takes self promotion to a new level!

Very talented illustrator, and her book we're promoting, Vince the Vampire

has attracted a lot of interest. 

Great to see Sam Walshaw at the Bologna Children's Book Fair again,

and her fabulous books continue to sell, and attract much interest.

The two Lulubell books sold into China, as well as 

the fantastically colourful Minnie the Minnow and

Minnie the Minnow and Jasper the Jumping Jellyfish.

Two Chinese publishers are currently interested in the Little Fairies series.

Sam's work on the 'I love my...' series received a lot

of praise and this could be a series that will run and run.

It has endless possibilities, and we're looking for co edition partners so 

should you be interested please contact me through our website.