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Tony Mitton has been writing since he was 9. He began writing specifically for children while working as a primary school and special needs teacher. He now works full-time as a writer and sometimes performs his poems in schools and libraries and other venues, mainly in the UK. His picture books include Down by the Cool of the Pool (with Guy Parker-Rees) and The Somethingosaur (with Russell Ayto).
He lives in a small house in the middle of Cambridge with his wife and two children, and a cat called Tiggy, who is definitely one of the family. Tony likes Cambridge but he and his wife often wish they'd settled somewhere where there are better places for walking, like cliffs and hills with good views of the landscape.
If ever there was a picture book to be enjoyed in the long winter nights, when there’s a crackle of frost in the air, it’s this one. Snow Ghost comes shimmering out of the air, she soars over hills and woods, darkening as evening draws in, searching for somewhere to settle. Nowhere seems to offer a welcome and she’s lonely and getting tired when on top of a hill she spots a small farm with two happy children in the garden. They all play together in the snow until night falls completely and as the children go in, Snow Ghost settles on the roof, home at last. Snow Ghost is a magical creation in Diana Mayo’s illustrations, floating across the pages almost not there, yet a tangible presence, and we look down with her on the valleys, fields and quiet little town below. The sense of stillness – then joy and hope – is perfectly captured in Tony Mitton’s text which is as graceful and airy as Snow Ghost herself. A perfect story for this time of year, a celebration of hope and belonging. You can find more wintry & festive stories in our Best Books for Kids this Christmas collection!
Shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2018 | The first novel by acclaimed poet Tony Mitton (winner of the CLPE Poetry Award - the only award for published poetry for children in the UK). Potter's Boy is a moving and beautiful story about finding your true path in life. The Branford Boase Judges said : ‘beautiful storytelling’; ‘a slow read for the modern child but one that will draw them in’; ‘uses a particularly rich vocabulary’; poignant and unusual’; ‘I learned something from it’.
Counting from one to ten is great fun with this jolly, carefully thought-out board book. There’s just one line of text on each page, short but interesting with some nicely onomatopoeic language (tractors chugging, fire trucks rumbling). This describes the scene and numbers the vehicles. Readers are also asked questions and given extra things to count and find, a good way to keep and hold their attention. The illustrations are bright and attractive, lots of fun to look at, and the machines each carry smiling animal characters – stories in waiting there. A round tab on each page reinforces number recognition and makes it easy for little hands to turn the pages. ~ Andrea Reece There's a companion title, Amazing Machines First Words too!
This large format board book with its clever round tabs is a great first book to share with pre-school age children. Ten spreads take us to various locations – city, farm, airport and more. In each picture there are bright objects to spot and name and particularly cheery animal characters going about their daily business, waiting at the bus stop, driving a combine harvester, checking in at the airport. Everything is clearly labelled and while there’s no narrative there’s lots of action and the opportunity to talk about what’s going on. Questions challenge the reader to find and count specific items. Vehicles and machines have a starring role in the illustrations too and this will particularly appeal to youngsters with a passion for modes of transport. There's a companion title, Amazing Machines First Numbers too!
A wonderful adventure for a bold little penguin is beautifully told in Tony Mitton’s elegant and witty rhyming text. Determined to explore the world around him, the little penguin sets off in to the icy and watery landscape. Meeting whales and sea lions is fun but soon the little penguin realises that what he most wants is to be back with his own family. Alison Brown’s illustrations make the frozen landscape of the Antarctic come alive.
Shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2018 | The first novel by acclaimed poet Tony Mitton (winner of the CLPE Poetry Award - the only award for published poetry for children in the UK). Potter's Boy is a moving and beautiful story about finding your true path in life. The Branford Boase Judges said : ‘beautiful storytelling’; ‘a slow read for the modern child but one that will draw them in’; ‘uses a particularly rich vocabulary’; poignant and unusual’; ‘I learned something from it’.
The ideal picture book series for fans of Top Gear - little or big!
Reviewed and selected by our poetry expert, Liam Parkin: As an experienced children’s poet, Tony Mitton’s new collection is a feast of diverse poems ready to absorb any imagination – ‘who knows what you’ll find?’ With beautiful rhymes and rhythms, Mitton’s collection brings forth humour and intellect that is entirely accessible to young readers. An excellent feature of this piece is the sound he creates; from the big red boots that squeak and toot, to the evil onomatopoeic will o’ the wisp. Yet the distinguishing feature of this collection is the use of legend and myth, ranging from ‘Death and the Knight’, the Chinese deity of compassion ‘Kwan Yin’ and ‘The White Horse of Uffington’. All who read this will be thoroughly entertained and learn something new with Mitton’s exquisite storytelling. If there is ever a poetry collection to read with your children, this is most certainly it.
A Picture Book for kids that love Vehicles. Join a wacky animal crew for an action-packed tour of four amazing machines. Scoop and shovel with a dazzling digger, zoom to the moon in a roaring rocket and race to the rescue aboard a flashing fire engine. Last stop is a terrific train as it clickety-clacks down the track.
Touching and informative, Perky little Penguins takes us to an snowy ice-capped heaven with lots of waddling black and white friends to swim, dive, jump around and play with. The illustrations by Guy Parker-Rees can’t help but bring a smile while Tony Mitton’s narrative is entirely in verse, which makes the story almost singable!
Boogie along with the birds and beasts at monkey’s birthday. It’s a night of celebration; they’ll be dancing, dressing up, eating and drinking. An irresistible romp with dazzling illustrations on every page.
Tony Mitton is an award-winning poet and this delightful collection of poems has been universally admired by all areas of the media. We absolutely loved the collection too. A magical quality pervades each and every poem with a dash of humour and a gentle mesmerizing power completing the picture. Parents and children alike will find the collection utterly entrancing and irresistible and as one well known reviewer said there are shades of Kipling and Chaucer throughout.
A loud, brash and fun-filled picture book that will introduce the idea of outer space and alien life. Toddlers will have a ball with the crazy creatures from Planet Zum Zee; so much so they’ll ask for it to be read to them again and again and again.
Animals of all shapes and sizes abound in this much-loved, funny, alternative take on the story of Noah's Ark . . . Noah's amazing Rainbow Ark is busy and noisy, and it's not long before the animals begin to get cabin-fever. Clever old Noah hatches a plan for an incredible creature cabaret to get the Ark swinging again. But what amazing act will appear for the finale? Filled with exciting rhythm and rhyme by Tony Mitton, and bold, bright illustrations by Guy Parker-Rees - illustrator of the bestselling Giraffes Can't Dance. Come and join in the clap-along, dance-along fun!
If ever there was a picture book to be enjoyed in the long winter nights, when there’s a crackle of frost in the air, it’s this one. Snow Ghost comes shimmering out of the air, she soars over hills and woods, darkening as evening draws in, searching for somewhere to settle. Nowhere seems to offer a welcome and she’s lonely and getting tired when on top of a hill she spots a small farm with two happy children in the garden. They all play together in the snow until night falls completely and as the children go in, Snow Ghost settles on the roof, home at last. Snow Ghost is a magical creation in Diana Mayo’s illustrations, floating across the pages almost not there, yet a tangible presence, and we look down with her on the valleys, fields and quiet little town below. The sense of stillness – then joy and hope – is perfectly captured in Tony Mitton’s text which is as graceful and airy as Snow Ghost herself. A perfect story for this time of year, a celebration of hope and belonging. You can find more wintry & festive stories in our Best Books for Kids this Christmas collection!
A captivating, rhyming picture book retelling of Charles Dickens' classic tale about the true meaning of Christmas. Mean old Ebenezer Scrooge hates everything. Even Christmas! Until, one frosty Christmas Eve, Scrooge receives a visit from three ghostly spirits, who whisk him away on a magical journey through past, present and future... But can they melt his frozen heart before it's too late? Introduce even the youngest of children to this classic story and share in the true spirit of Christmas. Retold in rhyme, with atmospheric illustrations, this will make the perfect Christmas gift.
Shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2018 | The first novel by acclaimed poet Tony Mitton (winner of the CLPE Poetry Award - the only award for published poetry for children in the UK). Potter's Boy is a moving and beautiful story about finding your true path in life. The Branford Boase Judges said : ‘beautiful storytelling’; ‘a slow read for the modern child but one that will draw them in’; ‘uses a particularly rich vocabulary’; poignant and unusual’; ‘I learned something from it’.
In the frozen Antarctic, one curious little penguin decides to explore the ice and the snow and the sea. On his travels he sees two blue whales, a family of sea lions and a whole school of orca, but soon Penguin starts to miss his own family. Sometimes coming home is the best adventure of all. Told in rhyming couplets, this feel-good book is perfect for bedtimes and cuddle-up times. From bestselling author Tony Mitton, and beautifully illustrated by Alison Brown.
A brand-new storybook in the perennially popular Amazing Machines series from Tony Mitton and Ant Parker - over 1 million copies sold to date! Patrol the streets with some cool animal drivers in this cheerful picture book all about police cars. Lively wordplay, vibrant art, plus a visual dictionary, make this title a must-have for bookshelves everywhere. This book is filled with humorous rhyming text by the award-winning poet Tony Mitton, which perfectly complements Ant Parker's bold, bright illustrations. A picture dictionary identifying police car parts builds vocabulary and makes learning about police cars exciting and fun.
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