This month, on March 2, it was World Book Day, an annual event which puts the emphasis firmly on children’s books and the importance of reading. Celebrated in more than 100 countries across the globe, World Book Day gives educators and children the chance to really focus on books and reading. It aims to promote…
Our groundbreaking signing books for children are set for launch…!!!
The countdown is on. In just a few days – on March 1st 2023 – our pioneering Signing Friends books that teach Makaton signing to children and their parents will hit the marketplace! We are so proud of this collaboration between ourselves and the fantastic team at Singing Hands, which was set up by mums…
C is for Collaboration: Introducing two amazing partners
Autumn may already be here, with the end of the year in sight, but there’s no stopping the team here at Happydesigner. Because we are on a roll – and we have some VERY exciting news to announce. For a long time now, our superstar illustrator Sarah-Leigh has wanted to find the perfect project to…
Hats off for Roald Dahl Story Day!
There are lots of things happening in September – it’s the start of autumn, children go back to school, and there is an equinox. But, for the busy team here at Happydesigner, there’s something even more exciting taking place: Roald Dahl Story Day! Organised by Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, the idea is that school pupils…
Words without images – like bangers without mash?
We all have children’s book illustrators who we particularly admire. Some may be childhood classics, or we may be drawn (pardon the pun) to illustrators of more modern children’s literature. Many are both author and illustrator, and there’s no finer example than Beatrix Potter, whose series of stories based on animals are so loved by…
Our really colourful blog – all about colour
Have you ever thought about how important colour is? Colour is everywhere, we use colour in everything, and colours have different means. If you were hanging out the bunting for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations or dressing up for the occasion, you’ll no doubt have opted for red, white and blue, to match the Union…
From books to the biosphere: how we’re helping the planet.
At Happydesigner, we’re all about children’s book illustration. We eat, live and breathe books – well, we don’t eat them, but some of them smell really nice (especially when they are new!). But actually, this isn’t quite true; we’re not ‘all’ about children’s books. There’s a lot more to Happydesigner, and one of the most…
It’s beginning to look a lot like… there aren’t enough books!
There are many reports in the media these days about shortages: not enough loo rolls during the pandemic (due to hoarding), empty supermarket shelves because of a lack of delivery drivers, and too few workers to fill an abundance of job vacancies. But one report that caught our eye at Happydesigner was this: a shortage…
Want to write a novel? There’s never a better time
Did you know, we are in the middle of National Novel Writing Month? And did you also know there are three other awareness days and weeks related to literature during November? We’re not quite sure why November has been selected as the month to start putting pen to paper, or for dusting off the diary,…