Author:Arthur Ransome
'Ahoy! Ahoy! Swallows! Ahoy!'
Have you ever sailed in a boat or built a camp? Have you caught trout and cooked it yourself? The four Swallows, John, Susan, Titty and Roger return to the lake full of such plans and they can't wait to meet up with Nancy and Peggy, the Amazon Pirates. When the Swallow is shipwrecked and the Amazon's fearsome Great-Aunt makes decides to make a visit their summer seems ruined. Then they discover a wonderful hidden valley and things take a turn for the better...
Couldn't recommend them highly enough
—— Test Match Special, BBC Radio 4Colorful, boldly imaginative, dynamic, quirky, and wonderfully child-appealing illustrations. . . . This book proclaims what children already know: Creativity and making art spark joy
—— Kirkus Reviews starred reviewThe overriding messages of The Artist are deployed with gentleness, simplicity and clarity: the need for artists and for art-making, alongside the need for self-belief and tenacity. The book’s optimistic ending, in particular, makes it perfect for bedtime reading and bedtime dreaming for little artists. It’s a useful reminder for grown-up artists too.
—— Art QuarterlyA little artist decides to inject color into her drab gray city. As she boldly paints the town red (and yellow and blue) she brings beauty and life to all who live there. This vivacious storybook is perfect for young children, graduates or anyone setting on their own path and in need of a little bravery or inspiration.
—— New York Post - The Best Books to Buy for ChristmasRealizing that making mistakes is part of the process could be a game-changer for the many kids who can't conquer their discouragement when their art falls short of their expectations
—— BooklistEven if readers don't need encouragement to unleash their own talents, they should be intrigued by this protagonist's arc toward artistic assurance
—— Publishers WeeklyThis book is perfect to read with children who have started drawing but sometimes feel disheartened when their drawing doesn't turn out exactly as they see it in their heads ... a stunningly beautiful book with a message for young and old - and it makes readers look anew and refreshed at the world. Ed Vere is one of the most talented children's books creators of our time and takes the care to make every word and every mark mean something, in or out of the lines
—— Booktrust