Graffeg News September 2024

SEPTEMBER NEWS

Frog in a Fog

02 September 2024

A fun, rhyming picture book with an important environmental message

Paperback | 36 pages  

230 x 230mm | Ages 3-5 | £8.99

Frog in a Fog follows Frog as he continues to struggle to find somewhere to call home, but this time Frog is escaping from the many forms of pollution he encounters through his travels.


A funny and enjoyable rhyming picture book with an important message about keeping our waterways clean, Frog in a Fog is the second Frog adventure by author-illustrator pairing Marielle Bayliss and Mariela Malova, following on from Frog’s Bog.

Marielle Bayliss is a London-based author who has come to writing from a theatrical background. Marielle is also the author of Frog’s Bog and has a new series of children’s picture books on neurodiversity coming soon from Graffeg.

Albert and the Thief

10 September 2024

Albert meets a thief and teaches his friends about taking accountability in his latest adventure

Paperback | 36 pages 

230 x 230mm | £8.99

In the eighth instalment of the Albert the Tortoise series, Albert and friends realise that things have suspiciously been taken from the garden. When looking for the culprit, Albert meets an apologetic squirrel who confesses to stealing items from the back garden and even some from inside the house!. Albert comes up with a plan to help Squirrel mend his ways and return what is missing.

Perfect for use in Key Stage 1 classrooms, Albert and the Thief teaches children the importance of taking responsibility for their actions. In this story of mischief, Ian Brown uses gentle humour and charm to show children the benefits of friendship, teamwork, and forgiveness. 

Ian Brown is a London-based writer, TV producer and former Fleet Street journalist. He has written or produced for the likes of Pierce Brosnan, Harrison Ford, Simon Cowell, Tom Jones, George Lucas, Liam Neeson, Jason Statham, Martin Scorsese, and Bruce Forsyth, among many others. Ian is also the author of the Hugg ‘n’ Bugg picture book series.

Molly and the Pirate Cave

29 August 2024

Author Malachy Doyle’s near-death experience inspires new Molly picture book

Paperback | 36 pages 

230 x 230mm | £8.99

Following the author’s own near-death experience in Owey Island cave, west Donegal, Malachy Doyle’s popular picture book character Molly almost suffers the same fate in her island’s infamous ‘pirate cave’.

After hearing the sound of her lost dog, Molly heads into the pirate cave with her friend Bo but as the pair head deeper and deeper inside, the tide begins to rise. With some fast thinking from Bo and Molly, the pair scramble to safety and are rescued by the other islanders, along with Molly’s dog Gus.
This thrilling tale of adventure and community helps teach children about the dangers of caves and the tide written by someone who knows about these dangers first-hand.

In collaboration with Irish publisher
An tSnáthaid Mhór, Molly and the Pirate Cave will be released simultaneously in three languages: English, Irish and Welsh.

Malachy Doyle grew up by the sea in Northern Ireland, and after living in Wales for many years has returned to Ireland. He and his wife Liz bought an old farmhouse on a small island off the coast of Donegal, where they live with their dogs, Treacle and Clover.Malachy has had over a hundred and twenty books published, from pop-up books for toddlers to gritty teenage novels. Over the years he has won many prestigious book awards, and his work is available in around thirty languages. 

Jack Brock

19 September 2024

Famous miniature Shetland pony Jack Brock inspires new children’s book

Paperback | 36 pages 

230 x 230mm | £8.99

Inspired by the story of famous Norfolk-based miniature Shetland pony and dementia ambassador Jack Brock, debut author Ali Stearn has written and illustrated a new picture book demonstrating the positive impact Jack has had on his travels.Together, Ali and Jack go into care homes to support those living with dementia, and in addition the pair have raised over £25k for charity through sales of their Christmas cards and other fundraising efforts.
Their charity endeavours have resulted in national press coverage, including a Daily Mail feature, ITV news interview and most recently appearances on ITV’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh and BBC Morning Live. Jack also has a large following on social media, with over 23k followers.This new children’s book documents one of Jack’s visits into a care home, the laughter and joy he brings from the chaos he creates and the impact he has on one particular resident, Alma.

Ali Stearn 

Blue Heart

19 September 2024

A love letter to whales by Carnegie Medal shortlisted author Nicola Davies

Hardback | 56 pages 

210 x 210mm | £14.99

Following on from her Carnegie Medal and CLiPPA shortlisted poetry book Choose Love author and zoologist Nicola Davies has written and illustrated Blue Heart, a personal collection about whales.

Including a host of factual information and personal stories alongside Nicola’s powerful poetry and brilliant artwork, Blue Heart is a brilliant introduction to the wonderful world of whales for all ages.
The book includes a foreword by marine biologist, broadcaster and writer Dr Helen Scales and a moving introduction by Nicola herself underlining the importance of protecting whales and why they are so important to our ecosystem. Species included are: humpback whale, orca, blue whale and sperm whale.

A brilliant combination of creative writing alongside non-fiction text, Blue Heart is perfect for use in upper KS2 and KS3 classes as well as being an entertaining and informative read for any reader aged 12+.

Nicola Davies is the author of more than 80 books including picture books, non-fiction, fiction and poetry for children and adults. She has written widely on many subjects including environmental science, children’s rights, disability, grief and refugees. Recently, two of her titles, The Day War Came and The King of the Sky, were endorsed by Amnesty UK. Her poetry collection Choose Love has been shortlisted for Carnegie Medal for Writing 2024 and the CLiPPA 2023 among a host of other award short and longlistings. Nicola is based in St David’s, Pembrokeshire.

Bucked in the Yarn

19 September 2024

Explore the rich history of sailmaking in the Coker villages of Somerset and how ‘Coker Canvas’ became an international brand of sailcloth

Hardback | 128 pages 

210 x 210mm | £25.0

From humble beginnings in the small Somerset settlement of East Coker, an international brand of sailing cloth was born, the Coker Canvas. A born and bred East Coker resident, Terry Stevens, tells the fascinating story of how the Coker Canvas was made, how it became a global sailing phenomenon and the impact this has had on the villagers and still has to this day.
It was so highly regarded that it became the quality standard for the British Navy and for yachts taking part in the early years of the America’s Cup.

This engaging and often thought-provoking book tells this story, written in a lively, accessible style and enlivened by quotations from contemporary sources, poetry, and the memories of ordinary Coker people.

Professor Terry Stevens is a multi-award winning, international, tourism consultant. He has now worked on a wide range of tourism projects in more than 50 countries around the world. In 2019 he received LUXLife accolade as the best tourism destination expert in the world. He has written extensively on all aspects to tourism and is the author of Landscape Wales and Wish You Were Here published by Graffeg.

Two New Titles for the Quick Reads Series

24 September 2024

Award-winning author Nicola Davies and naturalist Hugh Warwick have written new Graffeg titles for the Quick Reads series

Paperback | 198 x 130mm
| £1.00

In these two new additions to the Quick Reads scheme, Five Nights Out by ecologist Hugh Warwick and Piebald by Nicola Davies, Hugh takes a fact-filled, fun and informative  journey through  interactions with some of our favourite nocturnal creatures, including hedgehogs, bats, badgers, owls and more. 

Piebald by Nicola Davies is a gripping crime novella which follows teenager Moxie attempting to care for her mum and little brother, only for her when her estranged Da, Dylan, to re-enter their lives, bringing the shady character Sunny Spells back to town with him.
Hugh Warwick is an ecologist and writer. In April 2014 Reaktion Books published his illustrated monograph on the iconography of the hedgehog and his later book Linescapes (2017) investigates the impact that the lines we make have on the capacity of wildlife to thrive. Hugh is also the author of several of Graffeg’s Nature Book series, including The Hedgehog Book, The Beaver Book and The Water Vole Book. In addition to writing, Hugh has also engaged in public speaking, from primary schools to postgraduate research groups via the WI and Wildlife Trusts.

Quick Reads provide a route into reading that prioritises great story telling and adult-focused content while ensuring the books are written in an accessible and easy to read style. The books are written by some of the most popular authors in the UK

Nicola Davies is the author of more than 80 books including picture books, non-fiction, fiction and poetry for children and adults. She has written widely on many subjects including environmental science, children’s rights, disability, grief and refugees. Recently, two of her titles, The Day War Came and The King of the Sky, were endorsed by Amnesty UK. Her poetry collection Choose Love has been shortlisted for Carnegie Medal for Writing 2024 and the CLiPPA 2023 among a host of other award short and longlistings. Nicola is based in St David’s, Pembrokeshire.

EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER

David Griffiths: Portraits
Book Launch

Albany Gallery
74b Albany Road

Cardiff

CF24 3RS

2:00pm, 07 September 2024


Come and celebrate the launch of this new book by one of Wales's most celebrated artists with David Griffiths at Cardiff's Albany Gallery.

Frog in a Fog at
Waterstones Epsom

Waterstones Epsom

50 High Street

Epsom

KT19 8AJ

2.00pm, 14 September 2024


Join author Marielle Bayliss and illustrator Mariela Malova for a free afternoon of fun, including a frog based warm-up, a reading by the author and sketch tutorials with the illustrator.

David Moore at
Chiswick Book Festival

St Nicholas' Church
London
W4 2PH

7.30pm, 18 September 2024


David Moore talks to Torin Douglas about his beautifully illustrated book Ray Howard-Jones: My Hand is the Voice of the Sea, exploring the life and legacy of the artist.

Jack Brock
Book Launch

Waterstones Norwich

Castle Street

Norwich
NR2 1PB

7.00pm, 19 September 2024


Join author Ali Stearn to celebrate the launch of her first picture book, Jack Brock, at the Waterstones store in Norwich.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Catch up on recent releases and news in last month's August News.
Below are a selection of stories you may have missed.

Jack Brock Author
Ali Stearn Featured in Country Life

Author and illustrator Ali Stearn, whose first children's picture book, Jack Brock, will be published on 19 September 2024, has been featured in a profile by Country Life. Together the pair have raised thousands for  dementia charities. 

Bucked in the Yarn
Launched in Barcelona

Bucked in the Yarn, Terry Stevens' fascinating account of the remarkable maritime heritage of three small Somerset villages who created a new global standard of sailcloth, Coker Canvas, was launched at sailmaker Ramsey & Lapthorn's Barcelona Loft on 29 August. 

ABC of Opera at the
National Eisteddfod 2024

Author Mark Llewellyn Evans led a fun and fascinating interactive workshop packed full of adventure, stories and music at this year's Eisteddfod on 04 August.

Sue Kent Appeared at
Shrewsbury Flower Show

Sue Kent, author of the accessible, perennial gardening notebook Garden Notes, was one of the celebrity gardeners at this year's Shrewsbury Flower Show over 9-10 August.

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