The Gruffalo Illustrator, Axel Scheffler, creates new pre-school characters Pip and Posy
10 March 2011: Best-selling and award-winning Axel Scheffler has joined forces with new children’s publisher Nosy Crow to create a series of picture books that deal with the dramas of toddler life. Axel became a father in his late forties and his illustrations for the Pip and Posy books are inspired by the everyday emotional ups and downs of his own three year old.
Pip and Posy are typical toddlers: they are best friends and they have fun, but sometimes, just like any other toddler, they get cross and sad. It takes friendship, sharing and understanding – and a cuddle – to make things better. Children and parents will recognise their own emotional roller-coasters in these stories. And, of course, every story ends happily.
In Pip and Posy: The Super Scooter, Posy snatches Pip’s scooter and tries to ride it, but she falls off and hurts her knee. Though Pip is very cross with her, he comes running to help her. Posy says sorry, and Pip forgives her before they go to the sandpit, where it’s nice and soft, to build a sandcastle together.
Pip comes to play at Posy’s house in Pip and Posy and the Little Puddle. They have such a lovely time after their mid-afternoon snack and drink that Pip forgets he needs to go to the loo, and soon there’s a little puddle on the floor. But everyone has accidents sometimes, so Posy mops it up, and lends him some clothes. The next time Pip needs a wee, he does it in the potty all by himself.
Kate Wilson, Managing Director of Nosy Crow, says:
“This is a series that deals with the emotional roller-coaster of pre-school life. Pip and Posy are loveable friends whose daily dramas little children can recognise and understand. In Axel’s hands they couldn’t be more appealing and expressive. Nosy Crow is incredibly proud to be working with an illustrator of such stature.”
Axel Scheffler, says:
“I’ve illustrated many picture books for older children, but it was a great new challenge to work on a series of simple books that really spoke to very young children and reflected their lives – I have a three-year-old myself. I very much enjoy working with Nosy Crow: what they are doing is brave and exciting and very child-focused. And, of course, I’ve known and worked with Nosy Crow’s Managing Director, Kate Wilson, for over twenty years.”
Series Details
Pip and Posy: The Super Scooter
Pip and Posy: The Little Puddle
Publication Date: April 2011
Price: £7.99
Extent: 32 pages
About Axel Scheffler: Axel was born in Hamburg, Germany. At school he was good at art, but didn’t think of a career in illustration until he won a cuddly purple cow in a drawing competition. He moved to England in 1982 to learn English and study illustration at the Bath Academy of Art and then set up home in London. In 1993 Kate Wilson, (now Managing Director of Nosy Crow) suggested him as the illustrator for Julia Donaldson’s first picture book text, A Squash and a Squeeze. This was the start of a hugely successful partnership. Axel’s books have been translated into 42 languages. Axel lives in London with his partner and young daughter.
About Nosy Crow: Nosy Crow is a London-based children’s book and app publisher founded in 2010 by veterans of the children’s book publishing industry. In 2011, Nosy Crow will publish 25 books for children and teenagers, as well as 5 apps designed for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
For more information or to interview Axel Scheffler, contact Kate Wilson
kate@nosycrow.com
phone: 07974 192 127