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Here are two little board books that I illustrated for 'Sleeping Bear Press'. I really do hope that there'll be more as I absolutely loved designing these two classic nursery songs. This blog post concerns a garden full of little creatures and a soggy spider...
Remember the old rhyme: Itsy Bitsy Spider climbed up the waterspout, or maybe you know it as Incy Wincy Spider, well, now it's one of 'Grandma's Nursery Rhymes' board books. You may not know about Grandma. She's rabbit in a straw hat. Here she is playing 'Old MacDonald' with all her farm friends:  I'll tell you about that book another time, but, back to to Itsy Bitsy the washed out spider. In this book Grandma Bunny is doing a spot of gardening. Her garden is full of all sorts of lovely flowers and lots of little creatures. It's up to the reader to find one dragonfly, two worms, three grasshoppers, four ladybugs, five snails, six caterpillars, seven butterflies and eight bees.  The story plays out... Itsy climbs up the inside of the downspout of the greenhouse. The heavens open and the rain pours down, washing poor Itsy out into a puddle. But Grandma Bunny is there to help! She's not the squeamish sort, she loves all the little creatures (even when they eat holes in her sunflowers), she especially loves the dear little spider. 
I found a rather lovely review...
5 out of 5 stars A delightfully adorable board-book that will be an instant classic in this house By Deb. HALL OF FAME - TOP 50 REVIEWER - VINE VOICE Format: Board book There's nothing quite like the unconditional love between a grandmother and grandchild. Mesh that with some old-fashioned nursery rhymes for the perfect opportunity for bonding. This is my first look at the "Grandma's Nursery Rhymes" series, but probably not the last. Not just anyone can combine a nursery rhyme with artwork to create an instant classic, but that's just what Petra Brown has done. I've met that itsy bitsy spider many times before, once in the lap of my own grandmother and many times with small children. The rhyme is certainly a memorable one and once the tummy is tickled and the song sung, it's never forgotten. "The itsy bitsy spider / climbed up the waterspout. / Down came the rain. / and washed the spider out." Some memories never die and this delightfully charming board-book will create them for yet another generation. I loved the Beatrice Potter-like bunny who just happens to meet that itsy bitsy spider in her garden. The spider is utterly adorable with his yellow and black stockinged feet, little feet that even have shoes. The full-page artwork will be appreciated by all and of course the board-book is perfect for little hands. In the back of the book is an activity that can be shared by Grandmas and grandchildren everywhere. Finding all the "creatures in the garden" adds just that much more fun to the book. from Amazon
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I have some rather cool news. After a lifetime of dreaming, I'm illustrating a book that I've written myself. Yes, me! So, 'written and illustrated by Petra Brown' is soon to be a reality, thanks to the wondrous, fantabulous 'Sleeping Bear Press'!
Thrilled, excited, vaulting over la lune! I've finished the text, I've finished the visuals, I'm working on the suggested amendments for the drawings, and very soon I'll be starting my favourite part... the colour work! |
Petra’s BlogA warm hello to whoever is reading this. Welcome to Petra's blog. I'm an illustrator and writer of children's books and keen amateur photographer. I enjoy living in North Wales with my wonderful partner and fellow adventurer, Iain. 
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Working as an artist and writer can be extremely challenging financially. If you like my work you can show support and help me to keep on creating children's books by buying my art. For signed originals or prints, cards... all kinds of merchandise. Check out my shop :o)
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