This month, on March 2, it was World Book Day, an annual event which puts the emphasis firmly on children’s books and the importance of reading. Celebrated in more than 100 countries across the globe, World Book Day gives educators and children the chance to really focus on books and reading. It aims to promote…
Reading and stories bring a world of colour to children’s lives.
This month, on March 2, it was World Book Day, an annual event which puts the emphasis firmly on children’s books and the importance of reading. Celebrated in more than 100 countries across the globe, World Book Day gives educators and children the chance to really focus on books and reading. It aims to promote…
Our groundbreaking signing books for children are set for launch…!!!
The countdown is on. In just a few days – on March 1st 2023 – our pioneering Signing Friends books that teach Makaton signing to children and their parents will hit the marketplace! We are so proud of this collaboration between ourselves and the fantastic team at Singing Hands, which was set up by mums…
C is for Collaboration: Introducing two amazing partners
Autumn may already be here, with the end of the year in sight, but there’s no stopping the team here at Happydesigner. Because we are on a roll – and we have some VERY exciting news to announce. For a long time now, our superstar illustrator Sarah-Leigh has wanted to find the perfect project to…
Words without images – like bangers without mash?
We all have children’s book illustrators who we particularly admire. Some may be childhood classics, or we may be drawn (pardon the pun) to illustrators of more modern children’s literature. Many are both author and illustrator, and there’s no finer example than Beatrix Potter, whose series of stories based on animals are so loved by…
From books to the biosphere: how we’re helping the planet.
At Happydesigner, we’re all about children’s book illustration. We eat, live and breathe books – well, we don’t eat them, but some of them smell really nice (especially when they are new!). But actually, this isn’t quite true; we’re not ‘all’ about children’s books. There’s a lot more to Happydesigner, and one of the most…
It’s spooky time! Get set for Hallowe’en
We love a good festival here at Happydesigner, and Hallowe’en is one GREAT festival. There is so much to enjoy about it – stuff for children to do, great food to eat, games to play, trick or treating (responsibly, of course). And, wow, there is so much orange around with all those pumpkins. If you…
Introducing… new children’s books from the pen of Happydesigner
As children’s book illustrators we like to think we know a thing or two about what makes a good book for youngsters. We’ve illustrated books for children of every age, from 0, to pre-school, to primary, to teens, and we have learnt a lot along the way, from working with many wonderful authors. So now…
Children’s Books with a purpose!
Writing a Children’s book? What’s the point… Children’s books have changed enormously over the past several decades. From Enid Blyton’s Famous Five (drinking lashings of ginger beer), to Harry Potter (quaffing lashings of butterbeer, come to think of it), children’s literature has gone through many iterations. Jacqueline Wilson’s Tracy Beaker lives in a children’s home…