Quentin Blake

Welcome to the wonderful world of Patrick! For when he plays his violin, the most extraordinary things start to happen: fish can fly, and cows can dance and trees grow cakes instead of apples. There's fireworks and fun and colours everywhere, when Patrick performs his magical tunes...

While almost everybody knows Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeline, the fact that the illustrator published over forty other titles remains a well-kept secret. The first title in Thames & Hudson’s brand-new series, this book offers a visually rich insight into the life and work of this important artist and writer. Ludwig Bemelmans grew up under the Austro-Hungarian empire and emigrated to the United States in his late teens, just escaping the outbreak of the First World War. His illustrations for the Madeline books offer a classic vision of Paris that has created a lasting impression on millions of readers. And every illustrator would love to know how he conveyed all the emotions of a spirited little girl drawn with just a few lines and dots; how did he achieve such clarity in simplicity? Laurie Britton Newell’s illustrated essay gathers material from Bemelmans’ diverse oeuvre, from novels, autobiographical stories, humorous articles and comic strips to murals and menus for hotels and restaurants. The book makes accessible this mesmerizing material, which is otherwise lost to the public, and connects it to the artist’s intriguing life. An icon of a fascinating era, Bemelmans through his magical work gives us glimpses of a life that embodied both hard work and glamour, in Paris and New York.

A remarkable collaboration – that brings together giants of the picture book world – to create a funny, anarchic and utterly delightful picture book. A classic of the future. Hilda Snibbs takes her three mischievous little monkeys to stay with her Uncle Gilbert for Christmas. Among many amazing things, Uncle Gilbert’s prized possession is an ancient golden teapot, so the little monkeys must be very good. But what is supposed to be a traditional holiday is soon filled with chaos! Hilda begins to regret bringing the three little monkeys with her – until, one night, their antics come in very handy . . . Quentin Blake’s delightfully funny story is brought to life by Emma Chichester Clark’s beautiful mixed-media illustrations in this irresistible follow-up to Three Little Monkeys and Three Little Monkeys Ride Again.

Illustrated by one of the most popular artists working today. Quentin Blake's A Christmas Carol is a beautiful edition of the timeless Christmas classic. A great gift for the season of giving. The wonderful Quentin Blake turns his artistic talents to Dickens’ much-loved Christmas story. A beautiful edition of Dickens' timeless Christmas classic. A Christmas Carol is the book that defines the Christmas spirit. Ebenezer Scrooge, a mean-spirited miser, is visited by three ghosts one Christmas Eve. The ghosts show Scrooge the true value of Christmas: charity, good humour and love for his fellow man. Quentin Blake's colourful illustrations guide the reader through Scrooge's lively journey to find the meaning of Christmas. This unabridged edition contains a foreword by the illustrator and is the ultimate Christmas gift book.

A remarkable collaboration – that brings together giants of the picture book world – to create a funny, anarchic and utterly delightful picture book. A classic of the future. Hilda Snibbs is going on holiday to the Grand Hotel – and, of course, she is taking her three little monkeys, Tim and Sam and Lulu. But what starts out as a relaxing break soon begins to unravel in this fun-filled and mischievous tale! Quentin Blake’s delightfully funny story is brought to life by Emma Chichester Clark’s beautiful mixed-media illustration in this incredible follow-up to the magical Three Little Monkeys at Christmas. Over 40,000 copies have been sold across the Three Little Monkeys series!

A remarkable collaboration â?? that brings together giants of the picture book world â?? to create a funny, anarchic and utterly delightful picture book. A classic of the future.

Can you find the pointy end of a pencil? Then you can draw! Start with a Scribble will banish your inner critic and kick-start your inner genius, as you learn to capture the spirit of things with a little how-to and a lot of just-do. An artist-quality pen and two watercolor pencils (red and black) are included. Inside, you’ll find: Prompts to inspire you (e.g., “emotional rabbits”)Doodles to finish (“Mrs. Thudkins takes her floppaterasis for a walk”)Techniques to try (only when the mood strikes you), from shading to perspectiveAnd plenty of wide-open space to play around in. Sir Quentin’s sage advice appears throughout, from “it’s best to name your animal after you draw it” to “don’t worry too much yet about ankles.” The most important lesson? YOU are the only person qualified to express your unique you-ness. Publisher’s note:Start with a Scribble is an updated North American edition of Drawing for the Artistically Undiscovered (Klutz, 1999).

‘The moon drives everyone mad – you know that, well enough. But this is no lycanthropic or otherwise spooky metamorphosis: it’s far stranger than that…’ When Quentin Blake embarked on creating a set of new drawings on fantasies of travel, even he had not envisaged a series so sombre, so haunting, as Moonlight Travellers. These watercolour journeys through unknown landscapes capture, with unmatched skill, all the mystery and intrigue of the dead of night. A unique collaboration, this book brings Blake’s macabre wit into dialogue with the imaginative insight of Will Self. With characteristic sharpness, Self mingles fiction, fact and flights of memory to transport the reader on a radical tour of Blake’s mysterious lands. In Moonlight Travellers, two creative minds at the height of their powers connect word and image, darkness and light with our deepest sensibilities. In eight-wheeled contraptions and winged machines, they carry us on a trail of dreamlike journeys. After all, ‘there’s nothing more prosaic – at least, at this end of human history – than a car journey.’

THE FIVE OF US is a captivating tale of adventure, friendship and teamwork from one of Britain's best-loved illustrators. Angie, Ollie, Simona, Mario and Eric are five fantastic friends, each of whom has an unusual ability. Disaster strikes on a day out to the countryside but, working together and combining their individual powers, the Fantastic Five save the day. Teeming with Quentin Blake's characteristic sense of fun and his exuberant illustrations, THE FIVE OF US is also a powerful, though subtle, reminder that the world is a better place when we focus on what we can do, rather than on what we can't.

He and his followers amuse themselves by exploring his home and falling into adventures with its inhabitants, a collection of lunatics, dwarfs and ghosts. Uncle also frequently fights with the inhabitants of neighbouring Badfort, among them the repulsive Jellytussles (a quivering blob) and the cowardly Hitmouse.

'A is for Apples, some green and some red, B is for Breakfast we're having in bed.' With a simple rhyming text and characteristically brilliant illustrations from Quentin Blake, this wonderful "ABC" is an absolute must for young children just getting to grips with their alphabet.

Jack and Nancy live beside the sea, but the closest they get to the exotic lands and adventures that the sailors have is by listening to the stories they tell. But, after a WOOSHING, WONDERFUL WIND blows their umbrella away, the siblings are whisked to a far-away island. Can Jack and Nancy find their own adventure and, more importantly, find their way home again? Soon to be featured on BBC animated special, Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures.“A truly brilliant book - to be read time and again” - The Guardian

Angelica Sprocket lives next door. Her overcoat has pockets galore!And you'll never guess what's in them... Prepare to be surprised, thrilled and tickled pink by Angelica Sprocket's never-ending pockets, and the marvellous things she keeps in them!

'A match made in picture-book heaven' – The TimesThis brilliantly funny collaboration between two superstar creators about a tiny girl with superhuman strength has all the hallmarks of a future classic.Liliana wears her super power lightly, using it to help others in a crisis. A resilient child, she thinks nothing of singlehandedly rescuing a highland cow stuck in the mud, or of stopping an out-of-control steamroller in its tracks, or of throwing a beached whale back out to sea.With beautiful, detailed, humorous illustrations by the award-winning Emma Chichester Clark, Liliana the Strong is the perfect gift for any child who needs a little reminder that everything will be okay.

Count frogs and dogs, rats and cats, and more in this fun-filled numbers book, wonderfully illustrated by Quentin Blake. Join iconic illustrator Sir Quentin Blake for some counting fun in English and Spanish! Starting with one crow (un cuervo), count in English AND Spanish all the way up to ten frogs (diez ranas), watching as the pages fill up with unruly animals. But the fun doesn’t stop there… If you’re feeling brave enough, keep going to find one hundred wasps (cien avispas)! A great way for children to learn to count in English and Spanish, and a stunning book for Quentin Blake fans of all ages.

Savor the work of the well-loved and lauded illustrator Quentin Blake in this keepsake collection of fun, quirky drawings that will delight both longtime devotees and emerging young fans. A chef in mid-fall, balancing a towering, toppling cake. A bespectacled gentleman riding a multi-wheeled bike, with a man on his back juggling eggs. Known for their whimsy and wit and uncanny ability to convey worlds of expression with only the scantest of line, Quentin Blake's illustrations have long been linked to the work of storytellers such as Roald Dahl, but in this book they shine on their own. Originally self-published in a series of slim titles dubbed the QB Papers--collections of drawings, varied in tone and approach, evoking journeys both real and imaginary--the images in Quentin Blake's Fantastic Journeys fall under titles such as "Trip Hazards," "Feet in the Water," and "Ten Things You Cannot Really Manage Without." Curated both for maximum child-friendliness and for the shelves of art-book collectors, this beauty of a gift book is a sheer pleasure, guaranteed to invite many a revisit.

'A match made in picture-book heaven' – The TimesThis brilliantly funny collaboration between two superstar creators about a tiny girl with superhuman strength has all the hallmarks of a future classic.Liliana wears her super power lightly, using it to help others in a crisis. A resilient child, she thinks nothing of singlehandedly rescuing a highland cow stuck in the mud, or of stopping an out-of-control steamroller in its tracks, or of throwing a beached whale back out to sea.With beautiful, detailed, humorous illustrations by the award-winning Emma Chichester Clark, Liliana the Strong is the perfect gift for any child who needs a little reminder that everything will be okay.

An art book about art that has a purpose, focusing on work by Quentin Blake that has been commissioned for a particular place or for a particular use. Illustration is the most accessible visual artform and one that is used in all aspects of life; as Quentin Blake says, 'it is, if you like, a vernacular; it’s a language that everybody understands. They may look at it and not think that they’re looking at art, but it’s having the effect on them of art. It’s a language that everybody can read, so to speak.' The work here shows Quentin using this vernacular to great effect and for very different purposes. In 2007 when Elizabeth II was opening the new Eurostar at St Pancras, Quentin was asked to hide an unsightly building across the road. He drew a 2-colour illustration on his drawing board showing a cast of characters that you might meet on a London Street; this was then blown up large enough to wrap a five-storey building. Since then he has found other opportunities for site specific work. Here are beautiful drawings of new-borns, mothers and fathers in a maternity hospital in France. Some images were etched, larger than life-size, on the external glass of the building as well as used in corridors and delivery suites. Most recently Quentin has done a series of drawings of everyday life for the family rooms for prisons across the UK. And charities have benefited from Quentin’s enjoyment of drawing for a purpose; the Roald Dahl Marvellous Charity’s logo and cards; for Comic Relief’s two virtual pantomimes during lockdown, he drew the scene changes for Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast which were then auctioned; he created a rainbow for the NHS trust mug, and posters for Islington Libraries to encourage reading. All these and more are featured in this charming book, which opens with a foreword by Quentin Blake, and includes photographs of him at work.

In a new edition of Quentin Blake's classic, the UK's first Children's Laureate tells a droll tale about love between unconventional birds of a feather--and the unforeseen rewards of letting go. On her way to the village after a blustery storm, Angela Bowling stumbles upon a baby bird blown from his nest. "Oh goodness " she exclaims. She scoops him up and off to home they go. She names the bird Augustus, wraps him in shawls, takes him around in a stroller, and feeds him only the best: warm milk, creamed carrots, and chocolate eclairs. After all, Augustus is now her loveykins, isn't he? Under Angela's coddling, Augustus grows bigger and bigger, until at last he needs his own special garden shed. But after another fateful gale, Angela is in for a shock when she discovers her loveykins finally spreading his wings. Told in Quentin Blake's distinctive art style and quirky humor, this much-loved picture book--soon to be adapted for television by the BBC--is a charming lesson in how care, camaraderie, and letting go can help any creature, big or small, to soar.

A classic Quentin Blake picture book about an improbable friendship between an eccentric lady and a baby bird – who doesn’t stay a baby for long…When Angela Bowling finds a baby bird that has fallen out of his nest, she scoops the creature up and takes him home. From that day on, Angela lavishes all her nurturing care and attention on the bird. Nothing is too good for her Loveykins. But with all the food and care, Loveykins soon grows too big for his basket and his pushchair, and one fateful night the storm rages through the great woods again and he takes to the skies. A charming and funny story about loving and letting go.