Tuesday 25 August 2020

And 'IF I HAD A UNICORN' makes it onto WATERSTONES' TOP BOOK PICKS FOR AUGUST 2020!

Absolutely thrilled that Waterstones has got behind out new book!


WATERSTONES SAYS: 
"From the author and illustrator of If I Had a Dinosaur comes another spellbinding picture book that wonders what having a unicorn as a pet would be like. Thoroughly charming and truly magical, If I Had a Unicorn is a winning addition to a sparkling series."   

And what a fantastic review here...



 

On again tonight...it's David Schwimmer reading 'If I had a sleepy sloth' on CBeebies!

David Scwimmer is on CBeebies at 6.50 reading 'sleepy sloth' again TONIGHT!

But don't worry - you can catch it on BBC IPlayer for the next month...




 

Monday 24 August 2020

'SAMUEL DREW HASN'T A CLUE' GETS A TOP REVIEW!

From the prestigious, distinguished and highly-esteemed Kirkus Review.

It's really a cracker - the reviewer totally gets the book and picks up on all the small details that we've put in to be spotted - or not...


#kirkusreviews

#samueldrewhasntaclue

#tatepublishing




EXCITING NEW TITLE COMING IN 2021...

I'm extremely proud and excited to announce that I have been working on a book for Thames & Hudson with amazing new illustrator IAN MORRIS. Ian has just updated his new website (which is of course something I should be doing) so do please have a look at it HERE






Sunday 23 August 2020

And a NEW BOOK ALERT! IF I HAD A UNICORN has landed...

So very thrilled and delighted to announce the third book in our 'If I had a...' series is:
 'IF I HAD A UNICORN' 
A collaboration as usual, with the brilliant illustrator Alex Barrow, published by the wonderful Thames & Hudson.

Just imagine - what would you do if you had such a magical pet?

And guess what? You can watch me read the whole book here: MOON LANE TV














 

NOT ONE BUT TWO NEW POEMS FROM OKIDO MAGAZINE...

 Playing a bit of catch-up here...it's all been so peculiar what with the pandemic and all...


But here are my poems from the last couple of issues of Okido magazine.

Wonder Wanda - Superwormy is from issue 84, all about Recycling. Illustrated by the wonderful Maggie Li.

And check out the fan mail...how brilliant is this?

And The Sound of Summer is from issue 85, all about BIRDS, illustrated by brilliant Alex Barrow.

ENJOY!


#birds

#recycling

#worms

#okidomagazine

Thursday 4 June 2020

Gabby Dawnay - writing and artwork: IT'S ONLY MY FAVOURITE 'FRIEND' DAVID SCHWIMMER RE...

Gabby Dawnay - writing and artwork: IT'S ONLY MY FAVOURITE 'FRIEND' DAVID SCHWIMMER RE...: Be still my beating heart...  Click on the photo below to watch 'Ross' Read Sleepy sloth just about as brilliantly as is pos...Nope, it's 'no longer available' I'm afraid...not sure where you can watch it but if you find somewhere, let me know!


Wednesday 3 June 2020

IT'S ONLY MY FAVOURITE 'FRIEND' DAVID SCHWIMMER READING "IF I HAD A SLEEPY SLOTH" ON CBEEBIES 'BEDTIME STORIES' ...!!!!

Be still my beating heart... 


Click on the photo below to watch 'Ross' Read Sleepy sloth just about as brilliantly as is possible... 

David Schwimmer reads If I had a sleepy sloth on CBeebies Bedtime Stories...June 2020





Tuesday 14 April 2020

SHELLED BUGS & INSECTS SERIES

I knew I'd find a place for these bugs somewhere...watch this space!

Common Garden snail

Green grasshopper
Earwig

Jewell beetle
Ladybird


Capricorn beetle

Stag beetle (male)

Stinkbug

Woodlouse
Eco Kids planet  #ecokidsplanetmagazine #ecokidsplanet #ecokids #drawinginsects #naturedrawing

Wednesday 25 March 2020

LOTS MORE OKDIO POEMS ADDED TO THE POEMS, SONGS & STORIES PAGE...


A few new additions...and some personal faves 
THE LIBRARY poem for Okido 76, illustrated by the incredible Ian Morris
The moth and the moon poem for Okido 73, illustrated by the amazing Alex Barrow

Where's Young Habitat? poem for Okido 67, illustrated by the dazzling Daisy Hirst


To keep your little ones entertained, I've just added the above plus MORE of the LATEST OKIDO POEMS to my  'POEMS, SONGS & STORIES FOR KIDS' page... alternatively, just click HERE


Monday 23 March 2020

CHECK OUT MY NEW BLOG PAGE FOR FREE STAY-AT-HOME ACTIVITIES...


ACTIVITY SHEETS & MASKS - PRINT OUT & PLAY!
JUST CLICK HERE






AND THE WINNER IS...A SONG FOR BEAR!

Thrilled to announce that A SONG FOR BEAR has won the MADE FOR MUMS silver award in the 'Best Baby & Toddler Book' catagory 2020!


(Although we reckon this book is suitable for ages 2-7!)





To celebrate, you can download and print out BEAR & OWL MASKS for your little ones HERE

Wednesday 4 March 2020

A cracking review from the beautiful blog 'Bellis Does Books'...

I noticed this review on TWITTER and I'm slightly embarassed to admit it almost brought a tear to my eye... !

Making a picture-book is a  l o n g process and a real labour of love (at its quickest, it takes about a year from idea to book launch). But it's also an enormous amount of fun. And I'm incredibly lucky to work with a wonderful illustrator called Alex Barrow and a terrific team of talented and creative editors at Tate publishing and Thames & Hudson.

If I had a sleepy sloth (published by Thames & Hudson) is the 10th title we've completed since our first book A Possum's Tail (published by Tate) in 2014.

It's the second in a series that began with If I had a dinosaur in 2017, and later this year comes, If I had a unicorn, followed by If I had an octopus at the beginning of 2021... Every book we work on has its own story (no pun intended) and when we get positive feedback from children (the intended 'audience') or grown-ups (the indirect but somewhat important reader 'audience' of picture-books) it is HUGELY satisfying and heartening.

This week is Book Week and we are visiting a different school every day to deliver reading, drawing and storytelling sessions or assemblies based around several of our titles. It had already been massively rewarding to see how children respond to the books first hand, but it has been hugely validating to read a review like this, which has noticed so many little details.

Thank you Peapod x












You can read the full review here: BELLISDOESBOOKS









#thamesandhudson
#ifihadasleepysloth
#twitter
#bookreviews

BACKGROUND information...

My first picture book - called A Possum's Tail - is a collaboration with brilliant illustrator Alex Barrow and came out 6th February 2014. A second book called London Calls! is a whistle-stop tour of London, led by a Pearly grandma and her granddaughter. London Calls! came out on 4th September 2014 and is my second book with Alex Barrow. A Possum's Tail was nominated for the 2015 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal.
Both books are by Tate Publishing.

Please see my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE or CURRICULUM VITAE for more details & updates.

As well as writing children's books, for children's television and two award-winning children's magazines, I do both private and commercial art commissions, a selection of which you can see here.

The children's shoes are part of an ongoing series of "first shoes", including several cards commissioned by the Almanac Gallery.

Hand-drawn, bespoke invitations, announcements, portraits and menus, such as the examples here are also available upon request..

Any enquiries please email: gabbydawnay@gmail.com

OKIDO MAGAZINE AND TV

I've been a regular contributor to children's art and science magazine OKIDO since 2007. HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY (WOW) beautiful Okido!

An Okido animated kids tv show, based on characters from the magazine is currently in production with Doodle/Squintopera http://www.doodle-productions.com. The original adaptation of the show (co-created/adapted by myself, producer Ceri Barnes and Doodle Productions) was acquired by CBeebies. 52 x 11 minute episodes will be coming to a screen near you soon in 2015.......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............................
MESSY GOES TO OKIDO Series ONE & TWO is now available to stream on Netflix & most episodes are available to watch on YouTube. Series THREE is currently in production.

CBeebies

CBeebies
OKIDO

Cartoon Forum 2011 Okido booklet

Cartoon Forum 2011 Okido booklet
Okido Cartoon Forum 2011

Happy Birthday OKIDO!

Happy Birthday OKIDO!
Okido was 5 years old this issue...the wonderful art and science magazine for kids I've been lucky enough to have worked on for the past - 8 - years now