I Want My Hat Back makes us happy!

I Want My Hat Back made The Guardian Happy List this week and we’re all so happy about it here at Walker HQ!

 “There’s a special kind of delight in reading a funny picture book with a kid, and this deliciously deadpan tale of a bear on the trail of his lost hat is irresistible. The witty dialogue and illustrations are full of hidden meaning, and the outrageous denouement always has us shrieking. A masterclass in comic timing.”  - The Guardian

What great news! Time to bring out the party hats!

Not only that, in a funny book article, Jenny Colgan had this to say about Jon Klassen’s quirky tale:

“I first came across Je Veux Mon Chapeau by Jon Klassen while living in France, and assumed it was French. Its graphic style and dark undertow seemed far more European than most anglophone books. It is Canadian, though, and for my money the funniest book ever written, and here is why: it is always funny, every single time you read it. And if you know any children at all, you will be reading it a lot.

It is funny in whatever language you read it (22 and counting) and to almost every child in the world. And like many parents and carers, I suspect, I hoard my children’s laughter like miser’s gold: one day, when I am old and drowsy, I want the memory of it ringing out to be all I hear.”  - The Guardian

So, if those reviews aren’t enough to convince you that I Want My Hat Back is a brilliantly witty must-have, watch this trailer and you’ll be sure to fall in love with the big bear and his quest to find his hat. 

I Want my Hat Back and the rest of Jon Klassen's hat trilogy are out now, and you can find them at your local bookshop.

Win an I Am Bear Goody Bag and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

This is Bear! He was bare. Now he's wearing ... purple hair? His favourite thing is playing tricks. He makes trouble just for kicks! Check out Bear before he's gone. Rhyme along - come on!

If there's trouble, one thing is certain: Bear was there. In (and out) of his outrageous purple outfit, Bear can do anything – steal honey from the bees, do magic tricks, steal doughnuts from a police officer, and annoy a certain pesky squirrel. This hilarious picture book debut of actor Ben Bailey Smith (aka rapper Doc Brown) and artist Sav Akyuz will be sure to keep your little mischief-makers in stitches.

WIN

Here at Walker HQ we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the launch of I Am Bear than by tucking into a cheeky box of delicious doughnuts (Bear's favourite!) - and we got some for you too! We have a Krispy Kreme gift card to give away with an I Am Bear goody bag, including a copy of the book, a poster, stickers and activities. Three runners up will get an I Am Bear poster. To enter, just email competitions@walker.co.uk with 'I Am Bear' in the subject line before 31st January 2017. Terms and conditions apply.


Join in the fun and download these free I Am Bear activity sheets and pick up a copy of I Am Bear at your local bookshop.

Check out the videos below to rap along with Bear and go behind the scenes with the makers, Ben and Sav!

"Fun, smart and different ... I love this bear." Ricky Gervais

"Pleasingly fresh, nicely anarchic." Daily Telegraph

"The perfect picture book to introduce your child to the magic of books and reading." Junior

New titles for the New Year

It’s the start of a brand new year, and here at Walker we have some beautifully brilliant brand new books to share with you. Check out our top picks below to discover an octopus who can play the ukulele, make friends with a frog and a beaver, go on an adventure to find gold, or just fall asleep with a stunning new bed time story...

Also and Octopus

Every story starts with nothing, so ... why not an octopus who wants to fly in a spaceship? 

From Benji Davies, comes a metafictive story about ... how to build a story! First, a story needs a character. So why not a ukulele-playing octopus? And since this is a story, the octopus has to want something – maybe it dreams of travelling to faraway galaxies in a purple spaceship. But every character needs an obstacle to overcome, and when the octopus sets out to build its own spaceship out of glue, umbrellas, glitter and waffles ... well, he doesn't have much luck. Could there be another character that could help? Debut author Maggie Tokuda-Hall sets up a funny, smart and warm-hearted story all about storytelling, then hands the baton to imaginative readers, who will be more than prepared to take it away.

“ [...] guaranteed to inspire readers to tell tales of their own.” – The Bookseller

Frog and Beaver

A charming ecological fable of community and friendship from award-winning author-illustrator Simon James.

Frog and his friends all live happily together on the river. At least they do until Beaver comes along. Beaver is determined to build the biggest and best dam that anyone has ever seen, but it's so big that it stops all the water and Frog and his friends are forced to move. Frog tries to warn Beaver that his dam is too big, but inconsiderate Beaver just won't listen

How to Find Gold

An uplifting celebration of friendship and a powerful depiction of imaginative play, this is the tale of two thrill-seeking friends on a mission … a mission to find gold.

 From the award-winning picture book creator of There are Cats in This Book comes a story of imaginative play and of two friends, Anna and Crocodile, who are on the hunt for gold. But finding gold isn’t easy. Oh no! It’s dangerous and difficult and requires planning.  What will the two friends discover? Teeming with adventurous spirit and boasting wonderfully funny dialogue, this story introduces two unforgettable characters in a gorgeous, classic new art style from Viviane Schwarz.

“utterly charming […] one of the most innovative and creative picture-book makers we have. Anna and Crocodile are on the hunt for gold and we follow their progress through eyecatching illustrations and wonderfully funny dialogue.” – Chris Riddell in The Guardian

This is the Kiss

A charming and lyrical picture book that celebrates the timeless bond between parent and child.

You've had a fun day and you're ready for bed. This is the wave that led to the smile, that led to the giggle and the kiss goodnight. A delightful story from Claire Harcup with beautiful illustrations by Gabriel Alborozo, perfect for sharing at bedtime.

“Cosy, gentle bedtime tale with a Guess How Much I Love You appeal.” – The Bookseller

Pick up copies of all these books at your local bookshop.

Book of the month: Also an Octopus

Even the most totally awesome  story starts with a little bit of nothing, so ... why not an octopus who wants to fly in a spaceship? This tentacle-tastic new picture book from Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Benji Davies, the illustrator of The Storm Whale and Grandad's Island, will have your imaginations soaring!

Also an Octopus is a story about ... how to build a story! First, a story needs a character. So why not a ukulele-playing octopus? And since this is a story, the octopus has to want something – maybe it dreams of travelling to faraway galaxies in a purple spaceship. But every character needs an obstacle to overcome, and when the octopus sets out to build its own spaceship out of glue, umbrellas, glitter and waffles ... well, he doesn't have much luck. Could there be another character that could help? This funny, smart and warm-hearted story is all about storytelling, perfect for imaginative little readers, who love to make up stories of all of their own.

WIN an Octopus Ukulele!

Join Octopus on a stupendous ukulele-playing adventure of your own by wrapping your tentacles around an Octopus ukulele! We’ve teamed up with our friends at Octopus Ukulele to offer your little sea urchins some very special prizes, including an Octopus Ukulele! Octopus Ukuleles are the best beginner instruments around and come in lots of different colours (you’ll be pleased to hear that these ukes are not constructed out of waffles - they’ve been designed by proper ukulele scientists!) Mind you, our tentacled friend must have been involved somehow, as some of the Octopus ukuleles are made from glitter!

One lucky winner will win their very own Octopus Ukulele plus a signed copy of the Also an Octopus, a poster and a limited edition print, and five runners up will get a copy of the book and a poster. To enter, just answer this question:

In Also and Octopus, what does Octopus want to build?

a) A spaceship

b) A ukulele

c) A waffle maker

Email your answer along with your name and address to competitions@walker.co.uk with ‘Octopus Ukulele' in the subject line for your chance to win. Competition closes on 31st January 2017. Terms and conditions apply.

Also an Octopus is out now in hardback and paperback, you can pick up a copy at your local bookshop. Join in the fun and download our free Also an Octopus activity sheets!