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Find out moreNick East enjoys illustrating children’s books and has recently written and illustrated his own young fiction series, titled Agent Weasel. Having collaborated with Tim Peake and Dermot O'Leary, Nick has become hugely successful and has been shortlisted for several prestigious awards.
Follow Nick on Instagram @nick.easty
June 2021 Non-Fiction Book of the Month | Andy Seed’s book puts us up close and personal with some of the amazing giants of the ocean. Using his special ‘tranimalator’ machine, which allows him to talk to animals and which works just as well underwater it seems, Andy dives into the sea and starts interviewing. Among those he questions are a bull shark, a blue whale, a giant squid and an anglerfish. He asks exactly the kind of questions kids would ask, and the answers are very revealing, full of information about where they live, what they eat, and what likes to eat them! Some of their answers are pretty funny – these creatures have a good sense of humour and like to tease Andy – but there are constant reminders too about the dangers they face from plastic pollution, fishing and global warming. With lively, appealing illustrations by Nick East, this is a quirky but really effective information book.
September 2020 Non-Fiction Book of the Month | This is a non-fiction book with a difference! Using his amazing ‘tranimalator’ machine, which, he tells us, translates animals’ sounds into words, author Andy Seed ‘interviews’ a horde or scary animals, including a tiger, a fierce honey badger and a snow leopard. He asks them some really interesting questions too and we learn all sorts of things – why humans are scared of wolves, how a massive animal like a giant anteater survives eating teeny little insects, what lionesses think of male lions (not much actually!). It’s quirky and lots of fun – some of these animal celebs have wicked senses of humour – but genuinely informative (I had no idea that jaguars eat caimans, or that giant armadillos build new dens every couple of days, or that sloths have mould growing on them!). It reminds us how many of these animals are threatened too and what we can do to help. The illustrations match the tone and it’s bright and engaging throughout. This is a book that children will be keen to share and to return to.
Toto is no ordinary cat, and she can't wait for you to join her on her SECOND ninja adventure! From one of the UK's best-loved broadcasters, purrfect for fans of The Aristocats, The Secret Life of Pets and Atticus Claw Breaks the Law. Toto, the amazing ninja cat, is back and cooler than ever! Toto is almost blind, but that doesn't stop her having brilliant adventures. Something CAT-ASTROPHIC has happened: ALL the cheese in the world has been stolen. Join Toto, her brother Silver and their best-friend Catface on a secret mission to save the day. Toto is going to need all her ninja skills to defeat the fur-midable cheese thief ... Ideal for reading aloud or for children to curl up with and read alone, the story features brilliant black and white illustrations throughout. With gentle themes of friendship, inclusivity and winning in the face of adversity, this is a hilarious must-read for all animal-loving kids! Dermot says: 'The idea for Toto first came to me when my wife and I rescued two stray cats from an olive grove in Italy. One of them, Toto, has been blind from birth, but we quickly realised she had ninja-like reactions. Like a lot of cat owners (or cat servants), we like to imagine our pets having secret lives when we're out or asleep. So before I knew it I was writing about Toto and her brother Silver's nocturnal adventures around London. I really hope that children who pick it up enjoy reading the adventures of our little Italian underdog (cat).' Have you read Toto's first adventure, The Great Snake Escape?
November 2017 Debut of the Month In a nutshell: the night-time escapades of a pair of adventurous cats Inspired by his own cats, one of which is almost totally blind, Dermot O’Leary has indulged in some ‘what if’ imagining and dreamed up a rather wonderful world of adventures for them. On their first night in London, Toto and Silver make friends with the gregarious Catface, who promises to show them the town. Riding round the city on the Animal Tube they have a brilliant time, ending up in London Zoo where they become involved in the attempt to recapture an escaped Boa Constrictor, at which point Toto’s ninja skills really come into their own. Young readers will lap up this lively, funny story and Toto and Silver – particularly as depicted in Nick East’s illustrations – are charismatic characters. ~ Andrea Reece Dermot says: 'The idea for Toto first came to me when my wife and I rescued two stray cats from an olive grove in Italy. One of them, Toto, has been blind from birth, but we quickly realised she had ninja-like reactions. Like a lot of cat owners (or cat servants), we like to imagine our pets having secret lives when we're out or asleep. So before I knew it I was writing about Toto and her brother Silver's nocturnal adventures around London. I really hope that children who pick it up enjoy reading the adventures of our little Italian underdog (cat).' For readers who like their heroes feline, Anne Fine’s Diary of a Killer Cat is clever and entertaining, Marilyn Edward’s White Chin gripping and realistic, and Paul Gallico’s Jennie a real classic.
Tim Peake’s voyage to the International Space Station has caught the imagination of children everywhere and this picture book is perfect for the very young. Two space mad little boys getting ready for bed are careful to say goodnight to their daddy, ‘a spaceman far away’. In their dreams they climb aboard a rocket and fly up to the ESA to join their daddy and the crew. Floating in the starry sky they can say goodnight to the planets and the shooting stars before a final orbit past the moon and home time. As ever in this deservedly popular series the rhyming text is perfect for bedtime reading while the pictures are particularly appealing. It also contains a letter to readers from Tim Peake, himself the father of two little boys, making it even more special. ~ Andrea Reece See below for a letter from astronaut Tim Peake.
How can Harry tame the monster who comes to scare him in the night? Luckily first Mum and then dad come up with a clever plan. Suddenly, the monster doesn’t seem so scary after all. With a strong domestic setting this is a reassuring story for all.
Toto is no ordinary cat, and she can't wait for you to join her on her FIFTH ninja adventure! From one of the UK's best-loved broadcasters. Toto's brothers, Silver and Socks, and their best friend Catface have just been made Deputy Ninja Cats! But while celebrating, they accidentally break a boat belonging to a very important cat and find themselves heading north to a bootcamp for naughty animals. Deep in the Scottish Highlands, they must climb mountains, paddle leaky canoes and prove that they can work as a team. But something isn't quite right at the bootcamp, and Toto's ninja senses are on high alert ... There is a local legend of a super-strong wildcat, destined to raise an army and take over all of Scotland. Toto knows she must find out more, but danger is lurking at every turn. Can she find the mysterious wildcat, before it's too late? Ideal for reading aloud or for children to curl up with and read alone, the story features brilliant black and white illustrations throughout. With themes of friendship, inclusivity and winning in the face of adversity, this is a hilarious must-read for all animal-loving kids! The hardback edition features paw-print endpapers and an inner-cover hidden beneath the jacket - making it a brilliant gift for young readers. From one of the UK's best-loved broadcasters, theToto series is purrfect for fans of The Aristocats, The Secret Life of Pets and Atticus Claw Breaks the Law. Dermot says: 'The idea for Toto first came to me when my wife and I rescued two stray cats from an olive grove in Italy. One of them, Toto, has been blind from birth, but we quickly realised she had ninja-like reactions. Like a lot of cat owners (or cat servants), we like to imagine our pets having secret lives when we're out or asleep. So before I knew it I was writing about Toto and her brother Silver's nocturnal adventures around London. I really hope that children who pick it up enjoy reading the adventures of our little Italian underdog (cat).' Toto's other adventures include: The Great Snake Escape, The Incredible Cheese Heist, The Superstar Catastrophe and The Mystery Jewel Thief
Toto is no ordinary cat, and she can't wait for you to join her on her FOURTH ninja adventure! From one of the UK's best-loved broadcasters, purrfect for fans of The Aristocats, The Secret Life of Pets and Atticus Claw Breaks the Law. Toto and her friends are due to be looking after the French ambassador on a day of sightseeing, finishing at the Tower of London to see the animal world's crown jewels: a sacred diamond cat collar. But when they arrive, the collar has disappeared - and what's worse, it looks like Toto is responsible! Toto is almost arrested, but she escapes to try and get to the bottom of the mystery and clear her name. She and her friends will have to follow some strange clues that will take them to a secret bookshop, Buckingham Palace and the rats' underground city in the sewers... Can they defeat an unexpected villain and bring the thief to justice? Ideal for reading aloud or for children to curl up with and read alone, the story features brilliant black and white illustrations throughout. With gentle themes of friendship, inclusivity and winning in the face of adversity, this is a hilarious must-read for all animal-loving kids! Dermot says: 'The idea for Toto first came to me when my wife and I rescued two stray cats from an olive grove in Italy. One of them, Toto, has been blind from birth, but we quickly realised she had ninja-like reactions. Like a lot of cat owners (or cat servants), we like to imagine our pets having secret lives when we're out or asleep. So before I knew it I was writing about Toto and her brother Silver's nocturnal adventures around London. I really hope that children who pick it up enjoy reading the adventures of our little Italian underdog (cat).' Have you read Toto's other adventures: The Great Snake Escape, The Incredible Cheese Heist and The Superstar Catastrophe?
Toto is no ordinary cat, and she can't wait for you to join her on her FOURTH ninja adventure! From one of the UK's best-loved broadcasters, purrfect for fans of The Aristocats, The Secret Life of Pets and Atticus Claw Breaks the Law. Toto and her friends are due to be looking after the French ambassador on a day of sightseeing, finishing at the Tower of London to see the animal world's crown jewels: a sacred diamond cat collar. But when they arrive, the collar has disappeared - and what's worse, it looks like Toto's boss Larry is responsible, with Toto as his accomplice! Toto is almost arrested, but she escapes to try and get to the bottom of the mystery and clear her name. She and her friends will have to follow some strange clues that will take them to a secret bookshop, Buckingham Palace and the rats' underground city in the sewers... Can they defeat an unexpected villain and bring the thief to justice? Ideal for reading aloud or for children to curl up with and read alone, the story features brilliant black and white illustrations throughout. With gentle themes of friendship, inclusivity and winning in the face of adversity, this is a hilarious must-read for all animal-loving kids! Dermot says: 'The idea for Toto first came to me when my wife and I rescued two stray cats from an olive grove in Italy. One of them, Toto, has been blind from birth, but we quickly realised she had ninja-like reactions. Like a lot of cat owners (or cat servants), we like to imagine our pets having secret lives when we're out or asleep. So before I knew it I was writing about Toto and her brother Silver's nocturnal adventures around London. I really hope that children who pick it up enjoy reading the adventures of our little Italian underdog (cat).' Have you read Toto's other adventures: The Great Snake Escape, The Incredible Cheese Heist and The Superstar Catastrophe?
A hilarious rhyming superhero counting book - perfect for fans of the Ten Littles series! Knock, knock! There's a superhero at the door! Pasta Man has run out of Pasta Power. . . Can our young hero help him to get his powers back and defeat evil Madame Chilli, who wants to rule the world with lashings of chilli sauce? With action-packed adventure and bright, detailed artwork, this is the ultimate fun-filled counting storybook! Also look out for: Knock Knock Dinosaur Knock Knock Pirate Knock Knock Alien
Toto is no ordinary cat, and she can't wait for you to join her on her THIRD ninja adventure! After months of keeping London safe from notorious animal bad guys, Toto the Ninja Cat is going on a well-earned holiday to the world's most famous music festival - Catstonbury! But a villain has a dastardly plan to hypnotise the crowd when a world-famous band is on stage, turning them into evil minions. How can Toto possibly prevent the catastrophe when everyone thinks the band is the cat's pyjamas? It will take all Toto's ninja skills - and some help from a friendly otter - to save the day... Ideal for reading aloud or for children to curl up with and read alone, the story features brilliant black and white illustrations throughout. With gentle themes of friendship, inclusivity and winning in the face of adversity, this is a hilarious must-read for all animal-loving kids! The hardback edition features paw-print endpapers and a superstar inner-cover hidden beneath the jacket - making it a brilliant gift for young readers. From one of the UK's best-loved broadcasters, theToto series is purrfect for fans of The Aristocats, The Secret Life of Pets and Atticus Claw Breaks the Law. Dermot says: 'The idea for Toto first came to me when my wife and I rescued two stray cats from an olive grove in Italy. One of them, Toto, has been blind from birth, but we quickly realised she had ninja-like reactions. Like a lot of cat owners (or cat servants), we like to imagine our pets having secret lives when we're out or asleep. So before I knew it I was writing about Toto and her brother Silver's nocturnal adventures around London. I really hope that children who pick it up enjoy reading the adventures of our little Italian underdog (cat).' Have you read Toto's other adventures: The Great Snake Escape and The Incredible Cheese Heist?
A hilarious rhyming superhero counting book - perfect for fans of the Ten Littles series! Knock, knock! There's a superhero at the door! Pasta Man has run out of Pasta Power. . . Can our young hero help him to get his powers back and defeat evil Madame Chilli, who wants to rule the world with lashings of chilli sauce? With action-packed adventure and bright, detailed artwork, this is the ultimate fun-filled counting storybook! Also look out for: Knock Knock Dinosaur Knock Knock Pirate Knock Knock Alien
Toto is no ordinary cat, and she can't wait for you to join her on her THIRD ninja adventure! After months of keeping London safe from notorious animal bad guys, Toto the Ninja Cat is going on a well-earned holiday to the world's most famous music festival - Catstonbury! But a villain has a dastardly plan to hypnotise the crowd when a world-famous band is on stage, turning them into evil minions. How can Toto possibly prevent the catastrophe when everyone thinks the band is the cat's pyjamas? It will take all Toto's ninja skills - and some help from a friendly otter - to save the day... Ideal for reading aloud or for children to curl up with and read alone, the story features brilliant black and white illustrations throughout. With gentle themes of friendship, inclusivity and winning in the face of adversity, this is a hilarious must-read for all animal-loving kids! The hardback edition features paw-print endpapers and a superstar inner-cover hidden beneath the jacket - making it a brilliant gift for young readers. From one of the UK's best-loved broadcasters, theToto series is purrfect for fans of The Aristocats, The Secret Life of Pets and Atticus Claw Breaks the Law. Dermot says: 'The idea for Toto first came to me when my wife and I rescued two stray cats from an olive grove in Italy. One of them, Toto, has been blind from birth, but we quickly realised she had ninja-like reactions. Like a lot of cat owners (or cat servants), we like to imagine our pets having secret lives when we're out or asleep. So before I knew it I was writing about Toto and her brother Silver's nocturnal adventures around London. I really hope that children who pick it up enjoy reading the adventures of our little Italian underdog (cat).' Have you read Toto's other adventures: The Great Snake Escape and The Incredible Cheese Heist?
Meet Christopher Pumpkin - the Halloween pumpkin who doesn't want to be scary! A funny rhyming story from the authors of Supertato and the creators of Simon Sock. Christopher Pumpkin is delighted to be magicked to life by a witch - until he discovers she wants him and the other pumpkins to get her creepy castle ready for the spookiest party ever! Chris just can't bring himself to hang cobwebs and cook curried slugs - he's much more into bunting and fairy cakes! A delightful story about blazing your own trail, perfect for reading aloud! Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet's hilarious books have sold over 1 million copies!
Pages of alien counting chaos will have youngsters laughing ... and learning! The follow-up to the hilarious Knock Knock Dinosaur and Knock Knock Pirate - from award-winning author Caryl Hart, creator of How To Grow A Dinosaur, and bestselling illustrator Nick East. When some aliens blast her house off into space, it's up to this little girl to navigate among the stars. They need to find their home planet, but first they must avoid that black hole - eek! - and watch out for that space station! All without waking Gran . . . A hilarious way of introducing counting to young readers. And enjoy the other books in the series for more counting chaos - Knock Knock Pirate and Knock Knock Dinosaur! Caryl Hart has won the Stockport Children's Book Award, the Oldham Brilliant Books Award, the Rotherham Children's Book Award, and has been shortlisted for the Red House Children's Book Award. Follow Caryl at carylhart.com and @carylhart1 Find Nick at nickeastillustration.com
A laugh-out-loud tale celebrating difference, from the bestselling creators of Supertato. Now in a chunky board book, perfect for little hands to hold. Simon is an odd, stripey sock. He lives in the drawers with all the other socks. Every day two socks get picked to go on an adventure. The sparklies go to parties. The woolies go the park. The smarts go to school. Everyone has a pair... except Simon. Will he ever find his perfect match?
A rhyming pirate counting book with a difference - the follow up to the hilarious Knock Knock Dinosaur - from award-winning author Caryl Hart, creator of How to Grow a Dinosaur, and bestselling illustrator Nick East. A visit from a pirate might sound like fun . . . but when the Captain's whole crew turn up too - causing mayhem and chaos - it's time for this little girl to panic. What is Dad going to say when he gets home?! Caryl Hart has won the Stockport Children's Book Award, the Oldham Brilliant Books Award, the Rotherham Children's Book Award, and has been shortlisted for the Red House Children's Book Award. Follow Caryl at carylhart.com and @carylhart1 Find Nick at nickeastillustration.com
A wonderful new character from the bestselling creators of Barry the Fish with Fingers and the illustrator of Goodnight Digger. Simon is an odd, stripey sock. He lives in the drawers with all the other socks. Every day two socks get picked to go on an adventure. The sparklies go to parties. The woolies go the park. The smarts go to school. Everyone has a pair... except Simon. Will he ever find his perfect match? A hilarious story celebrating friendship and difference from an exciting new picture book partnership. Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet's hilarious books have sold over 1 million copies!
A wonderful new character from the bestselling creators of Barry the Fish with Fingers and the illustrator of Goodnight Digger. Simon is an odd, stripey sock. He lives in the drawers with all the other socks. Every day two socks get picked to go on an adventure. The sparklies go to parties. The woolies go the park. The smarts go to school. Everyone has a pair... except Simon. Will he ever find his perfect match? An hilarious story celebrating friendship and difference from an exciting new picture book partnership. Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet's hilarious books have sold over 1 million copies!
A fantastic rhyming picture book story from Roald Dahl Prize award-winning Amy Sparkes and the illustrator behind the hugely successful Goodnight series for children, including Goodnight Tractor and Goodnight Spaceman. Ellie Pengelly is fed up and bored, until she gets a pair of MAGICAL new wellies! When Ellie goes out to explore in her new wellies she jumps into a puddle but ... something jumps out! When the strange Flibberty-Gibberty starts juggling with jam, guzzling and gobbling food and squeezling toothpaste he makes quite a mess! Will Ellie manage to clean up all the mess before mum gets home? Action-packed storytelling is perfectly paired with Nick East's high-energy illustrations in this fantastic picture book that fizzes and whizzes with fun! Children will love the Flibberty-Gibberty - a wonderful character who is similar to Dr Seuss's Cat in the Hat and the Psammead from Five Children and It - and the rollicking, rhyming text is perfect for reading aloud and ideal for children 3 years of age and up. Amy Sparkes is a talented storyteller and is the author of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize nominated Do Not Enter the Monster Zoo. She lives in Devon with her husband and five young children. Amy enjoys having adventures and writing stories about other people having adventures. She is a passionate supporter of baby charities and 5% of author royalties from Ellie's Magic Wellies is being donated to baby charity ICP Support. Nick East has worked as a museum designer for many years but his love of children's books has always been a huge part of his life. He illustrated The New Royal Baby, The Mouse Who Sailed the Seas, and Do Not Wash This Bear for Egmont, and has also worked with publishers including Little Tiger Press, Puffin, Penguin and QED. He loves using his drawings to communicate his ideas and passions and has always used them to tell stories. He lives near York with his wife and children.
Inspired by ESA astronaut Tim Peake and his sons, and featuring an introduction from Tim, this is the perfect bedtime book! Two space-mad little boys get ready for bed and say goodnight to their toy rockets, launch pads and planet mobiles, before being whisked away into space on an adventure beyond their wildest dreams . . . Tim Peake is the first official British ESA astronaut. He left Earth on 15th December 2015 to begin a six month long mission aboard the International Space Station. His time in space has been watched by millions and he is inspiring a new generation of explorers, adventurers and questioners.
With a recording of the story read by ESA astronaut Tim Peake, from the International Space Station! Inspired by Tim and his sons, and featuring an introduction from the astronaut, this is the perfect bedtime book, and the first bedtime story ever to be recorded in space! Two space-mad little boys get ready for bed and say goodnight to their toy rockets, launch pads and planet mobiles, before being whisked away into space on an adventure beyond their wildest dreams . . . Tim Peake is the first official British ESA astronaut. He left Earth on 15th December 2015 to begin a six month long mission aboard the International Space Station. His time in space has been watched by millions and he is inspiring a new generation of explorers, adventurers and questioners. Goodnight Spaceman is the sixth book in Michelle Robinson and Nick East's beloved series. Look out for Goodnight Digger, Goodnight Tractor, Goodnight Princess, Goodnight Pirate and Goodnight Santa too!
A little boy says goodnight to all his toys, but who is the favourite? Why, it's Tractor of course! With a rhyming text, atmospheric illustrations and plenty of animal sounds to join in with, Goodnight Tractor will help your little darlings go to bed and stay there. This beloved and popular book is now reissued in a sturdy board-book format.
When an acorn drops on Chicken Licken's head, he thinks the sky is falling and dashes off to tell the King. But instead he finds Foxy Loxy . . . Is Chicken Licken about to become Chicken Lunch? My First Fairytales are a magical introduction to the well-loved stories that are a key part of every childhood. With fresh and fun illustrations, these simple re-tellings of classic fairy tales make a perfect read for young and old alike!
Goodnight Santa is a fabulously festive bedtime story from Michelle Robinson and Nick East It's Christmas Eve, and time to go to sleep. But while children all over the world snuggle up and close their eyes Santa is getting everything ready for his busiest night of the year. With a lyrical rhyme and adorable illustrations, this festive book is the perfect bedtime story. Michelle Robinson has always wanted to be an author like her hero Roald Dahl, but all they had in common was the same birthday and a love of chocolate. Now at last, Michelle is a real author too. She lives in Frome, Somerset with her husband, son and daughter. Visit her at www.michellerobinson.co.uk. Nick East has been working as a museum designer for the past 16 years but has always been a storyteller, whether as a child, filling sketchbooks with quirky characters, or as a designer displaying a collection of ancient artifacts. Nick lives near York with his wife and two children and, when he isn't drawing, he is out riding bikes and spending time with his family. Look out for the other Goodnight books: Goodnight Digger, Goodnight Tractor, Goodnight Princess, Goodnight Pirate
A warm and funny story by Sue Mongredien (author of The Secret Mermaid and Kitten Club) and illustrated by the wonderful Nick East (Who's For Dinner and Goodnight Digger), Harry and the Monster is the perfect bedtime book to help children with fear or anxiety about night terrors, night-time monsters or things lurking under the bed! One night, a monster stomps into Harry's dreams. The next day, Harry is scared to go to sleep. If he comes back, just imagine him with pink pants on his head, suggests Mum. He won't be scary then! Can Mum's clever plan possibly work?
It's City Fox's first time in the country and he's super-duper hungry! Who's for dinner? he growls, licking his lips. Scared out of their wits, the farm animals come up with a wild and crazy plan to fool him. But can they outfox that City Fox? A hilarious book about a very hungry and ruthless fox by the amazing Claire Freedman, author of Alien's Love Underpants! Illustrated by Nick East, the fantastic, energetic illustrations and crazy tale of farm animal antics will have children laughing-out-loud!
A little boy says goodnight to all his toys, but who is the favourite? Why, it's Tractor of course! With a rhyming text, atmospheric illustrations and plenty of animal sounds to join in with, Goodnight Tractor will help your little darlings go to bed and stay there.
Goodnight fire truck, Goodnight train. Goodnight bus and even bigger... Best of all, say goodnight digger! A little boy says goodnight to all his toys, but who is the favourite? Why, it's Digger of course! With a rhyming text and atmospheric illustrations, Goodnight Digger will help your little darlings go to bed and stay there. Recommended as a BookTrust pick for young children, Goodnight Digger is the first book in Michelle Robinson and Nick East's beloved series. Look out for Goodnight Tractor, Goodnight Pirate, Goodnight Santa, Goodnight Princess and Goodnight Spaceman, too!
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