I have been working on middle-grade stuff and chapter books for the last few months. I have been tweaking and revising my picture books. But all the new ideas are still waiting for PiBoIdMo 2012 and I haven’t started a new project yet.

I have been reading a lot of chapter books too. Because I need to find out more about what’s out there, but also because I am on a course with Andy Stanton.

While I was away, look what has happened to the picture book world. Some delicious, funny, magical picture books are out just in time for half-term. What a treat! Hmm, they are not available on kindle. Do I dare buy more hardback Picture Books and find some space in my bookshelves?

I wish I was a little girl again and my father wins the lottery and buys every picture book I asked for. I wish I was the librarian in a fully funded council where every new picture book is welcomed with author visits, readings and celebrations. I wish I had a mansion with the biggest room dedicated for picture books.

But I am not all that. I am a writer and I wish I could write like this.

Here are some gems I found today

Jack and Nancy by Quentin Blake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and a fun book filled with poems that will inspire days out in the countryside, and a scrapbook at the same time.

Where The Wellies Take Me from the Morpugos