This Little Piggy Went Singing

At last my illustrations have been published in a brand new picture book and it's in the book shops now!.  This is a sequel to This Little Piggy Went Singing written by Margaret Wild.  The new book features the piggies getting ready for Christmas and excitedly enjoying the journey to the big day!

It is just the book to get you in the Christmas mood. The illustrations were great fun to do especially as they involved happy piglets in a festive spirit.  I love the sparkly glittery cover.

Thanks to Allen and Unwin, the publishers! 

Piggy Cover by Deborah Niland

Piggy shopping by Deborah Niland

Piggy playing flute by Deborah Niland

More Piggies

I've been hard at work illustrating a sequel to This Little Piggy Went Dancing!  The new picture book will be called This Little Piggy Went Singing and is again written by Margaret Wild. 

This time the piggies are preparing for Christmas and all the illustrations have a joyous happy vibe.  The book is planned for publication towards the end of this year.

Below is a sneak peek!

Looking for Santa

Baking gingerbread

Hanging Christmas stockings

Children's Book Week 2011

Now we're in the middle of Book Week and there are so many wonderful books to read!

Last Friday The Tall Man and the Twelve Babies written by my nephew, Tom, and his mother, Kilmeny and illustrated by me, was awarded a prize in the CBCA Awards for 2011.
All the books and award-winners can be found here.

Tom and I were thrilled to have received an award, and Kilmeny would have been as proud as Punch of her talented son.
Thank you to the publishers Allen & Unwin who believed in this funny story and were totally supportive.

I'd like to acknowledge the dedicated work from the members of the CBCA who have done a magnificent job in encouraging and extending the reading habits of children.  Also to our fantastic teachers/ librarians who promote reading and work tirelessly for good literacy standards.

Nicola from Swallowcliffe School in South Australia has sent me a photo of herself dressed up as a Book Week character.  She has chosen The Tall Man.  Doesn't she look fabulous!

Well done Nicola!  I'm sure the kids were delighted!

The Tall Man and the Twelve Babies Activity

Here is another fun activity for the Tall Man.
This one is word based.

Click on the image and print out.

See how many words you can find!

There are other Tall Man activities on this blog to try.  Have a look at more ideas shown in the entry on the 27 July 2011.

Activities for The Tall Man and the Twelve Babies

I do get many queries for activities relating to my books.  I thought I would design some printable activity sheets for children that might be fun!

The first one is making your very own Tall Man!

Tall Man Activity

Click on link above and print out instructions.
I'll add other activities as soon as I can.
Also suggestions are welcome!













Tall Man Activity No 2

Colouring-in page.
Click on the image below and print out.
Print it bigger if you like.
Colour all the babies in different colours.  See how unalike you can make them.
The tall man and the babies like to be bright and happy!

Tall Man Activity No 3

Another picture to colour.

The Tall Man is taking the Babies for a walk.

Remember to print in landscape format.

The Tall Man and the Twelve Babies

This book has received some lovely reviews so far and I get many emails from children and adults. 
They are always a delight to read.  Recently I was most impressed to view the following video on youtube.

Check out this great book trailer created by 11 year old Marcus!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQp9WXrJQFw

I would be happy to see other videos and creations based on my books from children of all ages.
I love to see original ideas from the kids.

 

Good News!

Wow!  I was so delighted to learn that two of my books have been shortlisted for this year's CBCA Children's Book of the Year Awards in Australia.
What a surprise!

The books shortlisted are:

•  It's Bedtime, William!  Published by Penguin Viking, 2010

•  The Tall Man and the Twelve Babies.  Published by Allen & Unwin, 2010            

 

William jumps for joy!

 The lion is laughing!

The babies are so happy!

We are all thrilled at this exciting news!

The Tall Man and the Twelve Babies

The Tall Man and the Twelve Babies is the title of a new children's book I have illustrated.  Published by Allen & Unwin, it will be out in the shops in November 2010.

And what a fun book it is!

Drawing and painting twelve babies on nearly every page of the book was a challenge. Throw into the mix, a Tall Man looking after a houseful of babies and coping with the cacophony of domestic life.

Waiting for breakfast

I've created the illustrations digitally, incorporating various patterns that are repeated throughout the book, on the babies' clothes and the backgrounds.  However with all my digital work, I aim to have the finished illustrations look as 'hand-done' as possible.

The wonderful story for this new book was written by my talented nephew, Tom Champion, and his mum, Kilmeny, my late sister. Together they have produced a sweet and funny tale which will be well-loved by babies and children and many, many tall people.

Look out for it this November!

Still waiting for breakfast

The Children's Book Council of Australia

The annual awards from The Children's Book Council of Australia have been announced!
There are many fine books which have earned a gong. One of my favourites this year, is Bear and Chook by the Sea.

It's published by Lothian Children's Books, Hachette, written by the award-winning Lisa Shanahan and illustrated by the very talented Emma Quay. This book is a sequel to the equally delightful Bear and Chook. 
Who could resist that lovable bear and rascally chook? Check out both!

Talking of poultry,  Mr Chicken Goes to Paris  was also a contender for an award but alas, didn't make it this year.  This fabulous picture-book about a feisty worldly chicken, is a definite award winner in my view.  Written and illustrated by the amazingly creative Leigh Hobbs and published by Allen and Unwin.

New book coming soon

I've been checking the proofs for a brand-new book which I've illustrated and will be published later this year. This is a fun book and as you can see, features babies galore. I'll reveal more in the coming months.