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One of the World Book Day 2014 Authors After graduating with a first class degree in advertising, graphic design and illustration in 1997, Jim Smith was spotted by the owner of a small coffee shop chain and brought in to fill the walls of their flagship store with his paintings.
It was a three month contract; fourteen years later, Jim is head of design at Puccino's Worldwide Ltd, now an international coffee shop franchise with stores in the UK, Europe and Egypt.
In the meantime he's illustrated kids' food packaging for M&S, drawn cartoons on the sides of PJ smoothies, created in-store graphics for Orange phone stores, designed book covers and branded a New York based Iced Tea company.
In 2010, Jim launched the hugely successful Waldo Pancake range of stationery and gift products, now sold in the UK, Australia, Singapore, Europe and the US.
'I am not a Loser' by Barry Loser, the first of a series of children’s books 'spellchecked' by Jim, was published in 2012, having already sold rights to nine countries. The sequel, ‘I am Still Not a Loser’ was the winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2013 and declared the funniest book for children aged seven to fourteen.
When Melvin Pebbles moves to the town of Donut Island, he has no idea what’s in store: before he’s even unpacked his vast collection of toy bags (unopened, toys still inside to preserve the mystery), he’s been adopted into the Daily Donut Club by new friend, Rhubarb Plonsky, and by the end of the book, together with third Donut Club member Yoshi Fujikawa, will have foiled an alien invasion and bid to brainwash his new neighbours. As you’d expect from the creator of the inimitable Barry Loser series, this is a blissfully surreal mystery adventure, as weird as it is wonderful, and certain to have readers laughing out loud from beginning to end. Jim Smith’s illustrations are as playful as the plot, and make the whole package even more of a treat. Comic genius!
Everyone at Barry's school has gone football crazy, but Barry gets thrown out of the team (the Mogden Maniacs) for being completeerly rubbish. Then it turns out that his best friend Bunky is a super striker - so Barry becomes his manager. The cup final match is approaching and Bunky's getting carried away with his football fame - can Barry keep his head in the game? Join everyone's favourite Loser on his tenth hilarious adventure! Barry Loser: I am not a loser was selected as a Tom Fletcher Book Club 2017 title. Future Ratboy and the Invasion of the Nom Noms is shortlisted for the Lollies Award 2017.
This brand new series from Jim Smith, creator of the one and only Barry Loser, scores top marks for nutty – and non-stop – surreal humour, and for its fabulous black and white illustrations. Our hero is Brian Lampost, ordinary boy who through a freak accident involving a wheelie bin, a TV and a lightning storm, is zapped into the future as a sort of super-hero (he’s half boy, half rat, half TV) there to do battle with robot grannys amongst other adventures. Don’t whatever you do make this bedtime reading – it will provoke that uncontrollable hysterical giggling in kids that terrifies all adults, but that proviso aside, it’s an absolute winner. ~ Andrea Reece Stop press... Jim will be appearing at the Cheltenham Festival on Sunday 11th October. Click here to find out more. Further information from the Cheltenham Festival.
February 2015 Series of the Month - Barry Loser What to say about the Barry Loser series to recommend it to the uninitiated? Well, if burps, characters with smelly breath, bogey-eating schoolboys and poo jokes make you double up, then these books are absolutely for you. Barry Loser is a real winner as far as six to eight year olds are concerned, even the most reluctant of readers. Divided into short chapters and full of Jim Smith’s distinctive cartoon style illustrations the books are easy reads that deliver every time. In this new story Barry’s baby brother Desmond Loser the Second is making his life difficult, while outside the home Barry is set on getting his hands on a can of the new drink, Tears of Granny Laughter. Jim Smith writes juvenile farce par excellence – ‘salute the keelness!’ as Barry would say. ~ Andrea Reece Stop press... Jim will be appearing at the Cheltenham Festival on Sunday 11th October. Click here to find out more. Further information from the Cheltenham Festival.
This is the 5th madcap book in the Barry Loser series, perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Mr Gum and Tom Gates. All of our Lovereading4kids reader review panel, made up of children love this series, and some said it is even better than its rivals! Be careful where you read this series for both the story and the illustrations will guarantee uncontrollable hysteria throughout.
The Barry Loser notebooks are perfect reads for the more reluctant 7+ reader with plenty of pictures & humour to keep reader interested. The second in this series, I am still not a Loser, deservedly won the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2013.
Barry Loser is back giving another hilarious glimpse into his busy life and, above all, into his ongoing campaign to prove that he is a really cool guy. It’s harder than ever for Barry to be cool when his mum becomes the new voice and face of the supermarket. But Barry is not one to give up easily and he’s certain that he is now over being a loser forever. Can this really be true? Jim Smith’s illustrations capture all the loser jokes brilliantly. The third book in this funny madcap must-read series for 7+ boys and girls. If you liked The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, you'll love this!
Winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2013 for the funniest book for children aged seven to fourteen. Barry Loser perfectly combines the random inner thoughts and outer goofiness of a schoolboy set on being the ‘keelest’ kid in school, but thwarted by friends, enemies and his gran. Full of crazy cartoons, chaotic situations and hare-brained schemes, this diary will make you laugh out loud, cringe and snigger, all at the same time!
Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2013 Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans will love how the ill-named Barry Loser copes with the ups and downs of school life. Told in words and pictures, Barry’s way of telling the story of how he survives in school and in life is a triumph of how a cool kid can outsmart the bullies. The Lovereading comment: This is a madcap must-read for 7+ boys. I Am Not A Loser is the first of three notebooks belonging to Barry Loser. Follow Barry as he tries throw off his loserness, take revenge on the terrible Fronkle-burping Darren Darrenofski and finally become a winner.
It's the new funniest mystery detective series ever, from the genius behind the bestselling Barry Loser books! Super Weird Mysteries is a hilarious new series, perfect for readers aged 7 and up, and fans of DogMan, Pamela Butchart and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Melvin, Rhubarb and Yoshi are on the hunt for a new mystery to write about in the Daily Donut newspaper, but little do they know, it's right under their nose ... there's something spooky in the sandwiches! Soon Rhubarb and co are sure there's a ghost in her dad's cool old retro lunchbox, but when no one believes them - and the whole town is in danger - it's up to the detective duo to investigate the haunted lunchboxes all on their own ... Things are about to get SUPER WEIRD ... again! Don't miss all the other brilliant books by Jim Smith! Barry Loser: I am not a loser Barry Loser: I am still not a loser (Winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize) Barry Loser: I am so over being a loser Barry Loser: I am sort of a loser Barry Loser and the holiday of doom Barry Loser and the crumpled carton Barry Loser hates half term! Barry Loser and the birthday billions Barry Loser: Worst school trip EVER Barry Loser is is the best at football NOT Barry Loser's book of keel stuff Barry Loser's christmas joke book! Future Ratboy and the Attack of the Killer Robot Grannies Future Ratboy and the Invasion of the Nom-Noms (Winner of the Scholastic Lollies Award) Future Ratboy and the Quest for the Missing Thingy Jim Smith is the keelest kids' book author in the whole wide world amen. He graduated from art school with first class honours (the best you can get) and is the author of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning and bestselling BARRY LOSER series and the Lollies Award-winning FUTURE RATBOY series.
When Melvin Pebbles moves to the town of Donut Island, he has no idea what’s in store: before he’s even unpacked his vast collection of toy bags (unopened, toys still inside to preserve the mystery), he’s been adopted into the Daily Donut Club by new friend, Rhubarb Plonsky, and by the end of the book, together with third Donut Club member Yoshi Fujikawa, will have foiled an alien invasion and bid to brainwash his new neighbours. As you’d expect from the creator of the inimitable Barry Loser series, this is a blissfully surreal mystery adventure, as weird as it is wonderful, and certain to have readers laughing out loud from beginning to end. Jim Smith’s illustrations are as playful as the plot, and make the whole package even more of a treat. Comic genius!
The eleventh book in this Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning series. Perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Man, Tom Gates and Pamela Butchart. As far back as Barry can remember, he's always wanted a sausage dog. They're like two of his favourite things (sausages and dogs) squidged together! Who cares if they bark the whole time, do poos everywhere, need three walks every day and stop you going to the cinema with your friends? Not Barry. Until he actukeely gets a real-life sausage dog, that is . . Join everyone's favourite Loser on his eleventh hilarious adventure. Don't miss all the other brilliant books by Jim Smith! Barry Loser: I am not a loser Barry Loser: I am still not a loser (Winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize) Barry Loser: I am so over being a loser Barry Loser: I am sort of a loser Barry Loser and the holiday of doom Barry Loser and the crumpled carton Barry Loser hates half term! Barry Loser and the birthday billions Barry Loser: Worst school trip EVER Barry Loser is is the best at football NOT Barry Loser's book of keel stuff Barry Loser's christmas joke book! Future Ratboy and the Attack of the Killer Robot Grannies Future Ratboy and the Invasion of the Nom-Noms (Winner of the Scholastic Lollies Award) Future Ratboy and the Quest for the Missing Thingy Jim Smith is the keelest kids' book author in the whole wide world amen. He graduated from art school with first class honours (the best you can get) and is the author of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning and bestselling BARRY LOSER series and the Lollies Award-winning FUTURE RATBOY series.
The ultimate companion to the brilliant Roald Dahl Funny Prize winning BARRY LOSER series. Perfect for readers aged 7+ years old and fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Man, Tom Gates and Pamela Butchart. Barry Loser's Book of Keel Stuff brings the Ultimate Book of Keelness into paperback - with brand new content including jokes, animal mash-ups and a 'Which Loser are you?' quiz. There are also the short stories 'Bunky is a Loser' and 'My Dad is a Loser', editions of the Daily Poo, a Q&A with Jim from his fans and pages of brand-new superkeel drawing guides and activities. Barry fans old and new will love Barry Loser's Book of Keel Stuff. Don't miss all Jim's other brilliant books! Barry Loser: I am not a loser - 9781405260312 Barry Loser: I am still not a loser (Winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize) - 9781405260329 Barry Loser: I am so over being a loser - 9781405260336 Barry Loser: I am sort of a loser - 9781405268011 Barry Loser and the holiday of doom - 9781405268028 Barry Loser and the crumpled carton - 9781405268035 Barry Loser hates half term! - 9781405269148 Barry Loser and the birthday billions - 9781405283977 Barry Loser: Worst school trip EVER - 9781405283991 Barry Loser is is the best at football NOT - 9781405287142 Future Ratboy and the Attack of the Killer Robot Grannies - 9781405269131 Future Ratboy and the Invasion of the Nom-Noms (Winner of the Scholastic Lollies Award) - 9781405269155 Future Ratboy and the Quest for the Missing Thingy - 9781405283984 Jim Smith is the keelest kids' book author in the whole wide world amen. He graduated from art school with first class honours (the best you can get) and is the author of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning and bestselling BARRY LOSER series and the Lollies Award-winning FUTURE RATBOY series.
';This is a ';PERFECT GAME' for the reader.' Lee Thomas, Former Major Leaguer and All Star, now Special Assistant to the General Manager of the Baltimore Orioles Jim Smith spent forty years on ballfields and courts all over the Mid-Atlantic. He called blocks and charges, balls and strikes, assigned hundreds of officials, and enhanced the stature of sports officiating wherever he worked. Here he shares his decades of blessings and bruises, both real and metaphoric, in a humorous, fast-paced record of his umpiring life. For those on the periphery of baseball and for those with plenty of dust on their own cleats, these stories will make readers laugh and rethink the umpire's role. Smith offers an inside look at the colorful characters that coach, umpire, and criticize in the world of baseball. Just sweep off the plate and find what's beneath.
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