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Many years ago, Fred Blunt and I started knocking an idea about a cute little hippo around. Howie caught the eye of a wonderful animation studio called Cloth Cat in Cardiff, UK. Since then, they're worked tirelessly to bring Howie to life on the small screen. Dave Ingham wrote the scripts for his adventures and Brollyman created the whimsical music. So much talent has been poured into this project, it's been incredible to watch it take shape.
Howie is a little hippo with big feelings, and you can watch his mini adventures on YouTube. Way to go, Howie!  Can Baby say, “Mama”?
Might this be the day? Mama hopes it might be… “What can Baby say?” I am so delighted that BABY SAYS MAMA is finally publishing! We've taken our time to get it just right, and the result is so worth it. Walker Books have done an incredible job with this one. Mocculere's illustrations are so full of love and warmth and the design is gorgeous. I'm not sure how easy it will be to get hold of in Canada just yet; if you're in North America and hoping to buy a copy, you may have to source one from the UK. Here's the blurb... 'Baby and Mama are busy every day! Whether they’re saying hello to squirrels in the park or having lunch in the café, Baby has a lot of sounds to make – Ba! Om! Waa! But Baby hasn’t yet said that delicious, most-coveted word … the one word that every mother loves to hear: “Mama”. In this heartfelt picture book, Baby moves through the world, finding his way to “Mama” through his own exploration of the spoken word. With delightfully cosy illustrations by Mojca Novak, award-winning author Michelle Robinson paints a tender picture of daily life for a mother and baby.'  ‘The scariest pumpkin the world's ever seen, Grew here on my windowsill, last Halloween. It almost destroyed Trick-or-Treat as we know it. Kind of my fault, after all, I *did* grow it …’ Get ready for a Halloween treat: 'THE PUMPKIN WHO STOLE HALLOWEEN' publishes this week with Scholastic! It’s the latest and — I firmly believe — greatest picture book from me and my partner in mischief, Tom Knight.
Tom has outdone himself with hilarious, charming and super-detailed illustrations that I know will engage little and not-so-little readers alike. There’s a whole lot of story crammed into 32 colourful, fun-filled pages. I chortled heartily while writing this one. I hope it has the same effect on you! Happy pumpkin spice season, and go easy on the Extra Strength Plant Food... 🎃 You can find THE PUMPKIN WHO STOLE HALLOWEEN in your favourite bookstore, or in all the usual places online.
'The perfect potty-training book for little ones - |
 | Uh-oh! Kiwi needs a wee-wee, and he can't sop weeing everywhere wee-wees don't go: on the floor, in the swimming pool, and even on poor Penguin's lap! Oh, feathers. Will Kiwi ever learn to use the big-bird potty? A laugh-out-loud tale of one kiwi's journey to being a big bird who wees in the potty and not, well, anywhere and EVERYWHERE else! With hilarious illustrations and rollicking rhymes you can't help but sing along with, this is the perfect potty-training book for encouraging little ones. Buy it here. |
| I was fortunate enough to work with Tim Budgen a few years back on a very special project called Only One of Me. He's not only a very talented chap, but an extremely nice and kind-hearted one! I've been hoping to make more books with Tim ever since, and thanks to Scholastic, it's happening. THE SNAPPY SHARK will be available in August in the UK. I hope you'll enjoy meeting Mark the Shark and his underwater buddies as much as Tim and I enjoyed dreaming them up. You can pre-order now. Here's the blurb... |  |
'An exciting snappy series from award-winning duo Michelle Robinson and Tim Budgen.
When Mark the shark is playing with his friends, he loves to try his best.
But no matter how hard he tries, sometimes he loses at the games or colours outside of the lines.
And the more mistakes he makes, the more frustrated he gets until he...
SNAAAPS! But when there's a commotion in the ocean,
can Mark use his best talents to save the day?
The perfect picture book to help children to navigate their big emotions.
With a message about patience, friendship, and celebrating your strengths.
Bouncy, rhyming picture book text by Michelle Robinson, bestselling author of The Pumpkin Who Was Afraid of the Dark, Ten Fat Sausages, How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth and many more.
Bright and bold illustrations full of character by Tim Budgen,
illustrator of This is Me! and the Twenty at Bedtime series.'
| DADDY'S FOOTSTEPS is now available in paperback! It's illustrated by Paddy Donnelly and published by the very lovely people at Andersen Press. I'm so glad this gorgeous book is finding its way onto shelves and into hearts. It's very special to me; I wrote it when I moved to Canada and was feeling very blue about moving away from my dad. You'll be able to find it pretty much anywhere you can buy books -- including the UK's major supermarkets. You can order it online, too, at my Bookshop.org store. |  |
It's time for the follow-up to Daddy's Footsteps! Paddy Donnelly has done a gorgeous job on illustrating this cosy rhyming story. I have been working with the team at Andersen Press for many years now and it's always a total pleasure. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed coming up with it! Here's the blurb:-
Discover the power of a mother's love in this heartwarming and thrilling prehistoric adventure!
Mummy has always been there for her cub as a role model, a teacher and a guide, and she has promised that her love for him will last forever. But when the cub and his friends are caught in a flood, he learns how to stand on his own paws, and is inspired to make a very special promise of his own...
In this partner book to Daddy's Footsteps, four prehistoric friends find their way in the world with the help of their mums. An uplifting and heart-warming celebration of amazing mothers written in soft, poetic rhyme – perfect to share together.'
Discover the power of a mother's love in this heartwarming and thrilling prehistoric adventure!
Mummy has always been there for her cub as a role model, a teacher and a guide, and she has promised that her love for him will last forever. But when the cub and his friends are caught in a flood, he learns how to stand on his own paws, and is inspired to make a very special promise of his own...
In this partner book to Daddy's Footsteps, four prehistoric friends find their way in the world with the help of their mums. An uplifting and heart-warming celebration of amazing mothers written in soft, poetic rhyme – perfect to share together.'
Did you know I have my own YouTube channel where I share stories, events and creative challenges for home or the classroom? It's totally free to subscribe and watch. I don't post super often; I try and make content that is fun for children, and useful to parents, carers and teachers. Please give me a follow and, whenever I post a new video, you'll be the first to hear about it.
I just posted a new story video in time for Halloween. Reading WITCH IN TRAINING is a great springboard for fun activities, such as...
- Write a shopping list of magic potion ingredients.
- Make up a magical spell. Maybe you can make it rhyme?
- Mix your own 'potion' - pouring, mixing, stirring and sprinkling are all great ways to improve manual dexterity, which helps strengthen your pen control.
Thanks for watching. Have fun!
I just posted a new story video in time for Halloween. Reading WITCH IN TRAINING is a great springboard for fun activities, such as...
- Write a shopping list of magic potion ingredients.
- Make up a magical spell. Maybe you can make it rhyme?
- Mix your own 'potion' - pouring, mixing, stirring and sprinkling are all great ways to improve manual dexterity, which helps strengthen your pen control.
Thanks for watching. Have fun!
About Michelle
Michelle Robinson is a
British-born, Canada based, best-selling, major award-winning, sausage-outfit-wearing children's author!
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