Anticipated illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone - Bloomsbury Publishing

Today Bloomsbury Publishing releases four new images from the eagerly anticipated illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Scholastic in the US also revealed these images simultaneously.  

Illustrated by Jim Kay, Kate Greenaway Medal winner, the images show four major characters from the Harry Potter books – Rubeus Hagrid, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy and Ron Weasley – and are available for download HERE

“To be given the opportunity to design the characters, the clothing, the architecture and landscapes to possibly the most expansive fantasy world in children's literature, well let’s just say I'm extremely excited about it,” said Kay.   “The story is everything, and so I want to bring what I can to really show the depth of Rowling's stories, to their best.”

Published globally on 6th October 2015 this will be the first fully illustrated edition of J.K. Rowling’s original Harry Potter novel. The hardback edition will include ribbon marker, head and tail bands, illustrated endpapers and  artwork on every spread. Many of the original Harry Potter publishers around the globe will be joining the UK and the US in bringing this illustrated edition to life – and it is set to be the landmark publishing event of 2015.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: Illustrated edition will be published in hardback on 6^th October 2015  (256pp / ISBN9781408845646)

Review: Amelie and Nanette – Snowflakes and Fairy Wishes by Sophie Tilly

Amelie and Nanette – Snowflakes and Fairy Wishes

Author: Sophie Tilly

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Age group: 0-5 years

Pages: 32

Release date: 1^st October 2014

Amazon - TBD - Goodreads

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Amelie and Nanette are very excited! Christmas is coming, and they are busy making their fairy costumes for the party at school. There are cakes to bake and paper chains to make too. But on the day of the party, poor Nanette starts to shiver and sneeze – and has to stay at home! 

They are both very sad, but when Nanette gets better, a special fairy comes to visit, and Pilou the dog delivers a sack full of cards from her school friends! 

An enchanting festive story featuring two very special girls, who discover that the best gift of all is to have a friend to share Christmas with. - See more at: http://www.bloomsbury.com/au/amelie-and-nanette-snowflakes-and-fairy-wishes-9781408836644/#sthash.yuEv8snm.dpuf

Review: 5 out of 5 stars

Amelie and Nanette – Snowflakes and Fairy Wishes is such a beautifully illustrated and written book, I would happily give this book as a Christmas gift as it’s about Christmas and how two best friends celebrate and prepare for it together.

The messages within this book were delightful:

‘Because there is nothing nicer than having a best friend to share your secrets and adventures with… ‘{page 1}

It was sweet seeing these best friends super excited about Christmas and their preparations for their school party; Miss seven excitedly want to do the same thing closer to Christmas such as make paper chains and bake fairy cakes – unfortunately, with our climate making a snowman was off the list but the fun the friends shared was wonderful until one of them became sick but the kindness the other showed was a mark of their bond.

The text was easy to read and comprehend, this book was entertaining and easy for my daughter to read without guided help and as previously mentioned the illustrations were absolutely beautiful.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing Australia for the opportunity to read and review this title.

We are looking forward to reading more about Amelie and Nanette’s adventures.

About the author: Sophie started her working career as an in house writer for IPC Magazines then moved into the fashion sector before going freelance. She now works from her studio in North Wales where she lives with her husband and three children. Her successful series, Princess Evie's Magic Ponies, was published by Simon & Schuster. 
http://www.sophietilleydesigns.com/

Writes: Picture Books

Author of: Amelie and Nanette: Sparkly Shoes and Picnic Parties, Amelie and Nanette: Snowflakes and Fairy Wishes

Review: YIKES Santa-CLAWS by Pamela Butchart

YIKES Santa-CLAWS 

Author: Pamela Butchart 

Illustrated by: Sam Lloyd

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Amazon

Release date: 1^st November 2014

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

It was Christmas Eve and the dino-tots were tucked up in bed dreaming of Christmas magic . .

But where were the jolly jingle bells?
The hearty “Ho! Ho! Ho!”?
And who was this green scaly creature
stomping through the snow?

YIKES, It's Santa-CLAWS and he's causing chaos.
Can ANYONE stop him and save the day?
Find out in this crazy Christmas caper. - See more at: http://www.bloomsbury.com/au/yikes-santa-claws-9781408851364/#sthash.i9Rl9bP0.dpuf

Review: 3 ½ out of 5 stars

YIKES Santa-CLAWS was a fun, entertaining story that Master 9 thoroughly enjoyed reading out aloud to us. It came at the perfect time as Christmas is fast approaching!

The illustrations were wonderful and the story of an imposter Santa Claus covered in scales, opening kid’s presents & eating their Christmas food had the kids giggling.

Overall, YIKES Santa-CLAWS was written well and was easy for the kids to read and comprehend; it was a delightful story about a naughty dino who in the end righted his wrongs.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing Australia for the opportunity to read and review this title.

About the author: 

Pamela Butchart is an exciting young picture book author. Yikes, Stinkysaurus (9781408837061) is the first title in a brand new commercial picture book series for Bloomsbury. Pamela is a teacher of Philosophy and lives in Dundee.

Writes: Picture Books

Author of: Yikes, Stinkysaurus!, Yikes, Santa-CLAWS!, Never Tickle a Tiger, Yikes, Ticklysaurus!

Review: Dragon Jelly by Claire Freedman illustrated by Sue Hendra

Author: Claire Freedman

Illustrated by Sue Hendra

Age group: 0-5

Publisher: Bloomsbury Australia

Pages: 32

Amazon – TBD

Release date: 1^st October 2014

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

TA-DAH! It's DRAGON JELLY time,
A sizzling scrumptious treat.
It's red. It's wobbly. Best of all,
It's SCARY HOT to eat . . . !

Max is having a MONSTER party. They play all sorts of yucky games then cool down in a fruitbat drool paddling pool! Then it's tea-time, with termite tarts, ear-wig rolls and eyeball birthday cake. But the REAL treat is the red-hot dragon jelly!

Dragon Jelly is monstrously gloopy, gunky fun from the bestselling Claire Freedman and Sue Hendra. - See more at: Bloomsbury

Review: 5 out of 5 stars

The cover of Dragon Jelly is vibrant and exciting; Miss 7 loved the glittery swirls and was quite eager to get started on this book and was so engrossed that she didn’t want it to end.

Dragon Jelly is about Max and his monster party with games, entertainment, scary treats and more, it was a lot of fun looking at the wonderfully detailed illustrations and to see what a great time the monsters were having.

The illustrations by Sue Hendra are amazing and the friendship you can see the monsters sharing was really delightful, the party was a lot of fun, even the scary hot dragon jelly!

Miss 7 was able to read the text easily & we thoroughly enjoyed Claire Freedman’s engaging and creative storytelling.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia for providing us with a copy of Dragon Jelly to read and review.

  

About the author: Claire Freedman is the bestselling author of the Aliens Love Underpants series for Simon & Schuster, which has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide. Spider Sandwiches is Claire's first picture book for Bloomsbury. Claire lives in Essex.
www.clairefreedman.co.uk