In the studio with Helen Oxenbury

Last month, we had the privilege of being invited to the studio of much loved author and illustrator Helen Oxenbury. Helen made us feel at home at once, welcoming us with tea and biscuits and showing us around the place where she illustrated the beautiful books that so many of us grew up with. We admired everything from the well-used drawing desk scattered with paintbrushes, to Helen's beautiful collection of paintings and cosy seating area set around a crackling fire...



We decided that the experience was too good not to share, so we decided to capture it all for you to see! Take a look at this video and step behind the scenes with Helen - see original artwork from classics from We're Going on a Bear Hunt to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and discover the inspiration behind Helen's beautiful picture books...

Not my hat!

Two months ago, to celebrate the launch of the quirky new picture book by Jon Klassen This Is Not My Hat, we sent 100 sparkly blue bowler hats around the country and we waited to see where they would end up...

We asked anyone who came across a hat to tweet us their pictures using
the hashtag #notmyhat, and here are just a few of the photos that came back...

It was certainly a close call, but in the end we decided to take our hats off to Topping & Company bookshop, who featured the hat in their shop and shared it with their customers. We'd also like to give a huge congratulations to The Lamb Bookshop who won our This Is Not My Hat window display competition with their hat-tastic window, complete with paper seaweed and lots of hats...

 

Thank you to everyone who sent us their lovely hat pictures! If you still haven't read Jon Klassen's deadpan tale, take a look at the trailer here and get 25% off This Is Not My Hat this Christmas on the Walker website.