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How to draw Timmy Failure with Stephan Pastis

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Stephan Pastis’ Timmy Failure series is one of my absolute favourites!  I’ve read them to my sons and they love them and they’re always a hit when I booktalk them.  The books are hilarious, from the clueless Timmy and his weird and wonderful friends, to the fantastic illustrations that add so much humour.  You can read my review of Mistakes Were Made and  Now Look What You’ve Done, here on my blog.

Check out these cool videos of Stephan Pastis showing us how to draw Timmy Failure and some of the other characters from the series:

Jez Alborough reads Nat the Cat’s Sunny Smile

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Jez Alborough is the creator of some wonderful picture books, including the classic Duck in the Truck.  I am a huge fan of his books, with their bouncy, rhyming text and bright, cheery illustrations.  Nat the Cat’s Sunny Smile is his latest book and the first in a fantastic new series.  I’ve been following the creation of Nat the Cat through Jez’s Facebook page.  It’s really interesting to see the steps of putting a picture book together and the different stages of the illustrations.

Nat the Cat’s Sunny Smile is available now in NZ from Random House.

Watch the video below to see and hear Jez reading Nat the Cat’s Sunny Smile and singing the song from the book.

 

Department 19: If you go down to the woods…

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Tom Percival is the brilliant artist that creates the amazing Skulduggery Pleasant covers.  He’s also an animator, and an author and illustrator of his own picture books.  Tom created this very cool video to promote Will Hill’s Department 19 series.

The latest book in Will Hill’s Department 19 series, Department 19: Battle Lines is out now.  Department 19 is one of my favourite series and I can’t wait to sink my teeth in to this latest book.  Keep an eye on the blog for my review and your chance to win a copy.

Tina Matthews reads A Great Cake

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Tina Matthews is a finalist in the 2013 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards with her book, A Great Cake.  I’m a huge fan of Tina’s books, which she both writes and illustrates.  This video is Tina reading her wonderful book, and she tells me that there will be more videos to follow of her other books.

It’s Not a Monster, It’s Me by Raymond McGrath

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I love this video so much that I have to share it with everyone!  Raymond McGrath made it (with the help of his very talented friends) to promote his picture book, It’s Not a Monster, It’s Me! published by Penguin New Zealand.  I’ve seen this book in the library and not even realised it was created by a New Zealand author/illustrator.

Check out It’s Not a Monster, It’s Me! by Raymond McGrath in your library or bookshop now.  It’s a great book to read and share for New Zealand Book Month.

Jeremy Corbett reads The Brain Sucker

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NZ comedian and presenter of 7 Days, Jeremy Corbett reads the prologue to Glenn Wood’s fantastic new book, The Brain Sucker.  It’s one of the coolest books I’ve read lately and you can read my review here.

Tomorrow I’ll have 5 signed copies of The Brain Sucker up for grabs, so make sure you pop back and enter the draw.