Dogs make some of the best picture book heroes and the bigger the dog, the more fun to be had! Magnus is as big as you can get – big enough to lap up a whole swimming pool in fact. He wants to be like other dogs, but the harder he tries, the more he realises he just doesn’t fit in. It’s all looking a bit sad until suddenly Magnus gets a chance to be a hero. This is a fun story, with an important message about having confidence and being happy in yourself and Claire Shorrock’s illustration style is fresh and very appealing. ~ Andrea Reece
Magnus is a BIG dog. In fact, he is a VERY BIG dog. Magnus is SO BIG that no one wants to play with him, and there's no room for him at home. But when Magnus spots danger, he knows just what to do to save the day. And because he is so very BIG, his simple plan works. Is Magnus a BIG hero now? This book, with its sweet and appealing illustrations and loveable "outsider" main character, will help young readers to understand the importance of determination and that everyone has their own exceptional qualities, no matter their differences.
Claire is a freelance artist with a BA in Illustration. She is a member of Drawn in Bristol, an illustration collective, and produces a lot of greetings cards for companies including James Ellis. She also works for Tigerprint, the well-known supplier of stationery and gift products, and a variety of magazines and publishers. She was highly commended in the Macmillan Prize with her picture book Magnus, which was displayed in the prize exhibition at Foyles Gallery in London.
