Between now and the winner announcement on 25th May we will be looking at each of our fabulous shortlisted books and their authors and illustrators in turn (although in no particular order).
Our fifth shortlisted story is I Am A Tiger by Karl Newson and Ross Collins (Macmillan Children’s Books).
Please see below for everything and anything you might want to know about this fantastic story and its creators - and as a real treat, at the end is a link to a Roar-some reading by the authors, as well as some excellent answers to our very nosy Q&A! We are also in awe of the amazing #OBP20 drawing from Ross as above - a huge thank you from us!
What’s the Story?
A witty and clever story about a little mouse with very big ideas – she believes she is a tiger!
She manages to convince a raccoon, a fox, a snake and a bird that she is a tiger, and that they are not what they think they are! But when a real tiger turns up, can the persuasive little rodent manage to persuade the tiger that he is a mouse!
With vibrant artwork by award-winning illustrator Ross Collins, and delightful characters created by rising star Karl Newson, I am a Tiger is a story that will amuse and entertain everyone, from the smallest mouse to the biggest tiger. This story has already won the Leicester Our Best Picture Book Award, and the West Sussex Picture Book Award - will it be third time lucky with us?
What the Judges said:
‘This book made me laugh and laugh. I adored the swagger and confidence of the irrepressible mouse, and the glorious theme of not letting others tell you who or what you are. A surprising and unexpected story - I loved it.’ – Francesca Simon
About the Author and Illustrator:
Karl Newson is a children’s book writer and illustrator, living in London who grew up in Norfolk. He enjoys writing stories on a variety of topics, from quiet bedtime reads, to wild, imaginative, wondrous tales. The sometimes writer of short poems, Karl enjoys reading adventure stories, watching science fiction films, and listening to music from the 1960s. He loves to gaze at the stars and wonder why… and always gets his best ideas just before bed. Karl is the author of Here Comes the Sun, Fum, Little Grey's Birthday Surprise and A Bear is a Bear. I am a Tiger is one of three picture books he has with Macmillan, who have teamed him with award-winning illustrator Ross Collins. http://karlnewson.com/about
Ross Collins was born in Glasgow, Scotland. Growing up he was particularly fond of drawing the bionic man and precariously swinging backwards on chairs. He went on to study illustration at the Glasgow School of Art, graduating in 1994 and in the same year he won the Macmillan Children’s Book Prize for The Sea Hole. Since then he has gone on to illustrate over 100 books and has written several too. His picture book The Elephantom was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal and has now been staged at London's Royal National Theatre by the creative team behind Warhorse and in 2016 This Zoo is Not for You won the inaugural Amnesty CILIP Honour. When Ross is not creating children’s books he enjoys working on character development for animation studios such as Laika and Disney. He lives with his partner Jacqui, his young son, and his dog Hugo, in Scotland.
Author and Illustrator Q & A:
What was your own favourite picture book as a child?
Karl: I can only remember one picture book: Panda and the Snow by Oda Taro. I don't remember much about it other than the cover, sadly, but it's stuck with me all these years and always forms the answer to this question! It's my picture book go-to of my yesterdays :)
Ross: Too many to count but I did love Sendak’s creatures in Where the Wild Things Are and was quite obsessed with pouring over Richard Scarry’s amazing townscapes.
What do you think the best thing is about picture books?
Karl: EVERYTHING about picture books is the best thing! The words and the pictures working together to create something so short and yet so full of story is nothing short of magic. There is always more than meets the eye and always something to take away with you. For me, as a writer, the best thing is seeing my words brought to life by an illustrator when I get to see the characters for the first time. And then, when the book is published and out in the wilds of a bookshop, the best thing is seeing it being enjoyed by someone else. To know that little idea I had isn't mine anymore - it belongs to everyone who wants it, is wonderful. There's something amazing in that, I think.
Ross: Simply getting kids interested in reading, stories, drawing, imagination, quiet time with someone they love, words, pictures – how long have you got?
What is your favourite thing about illustrating?
Ross: It’s either when very occasionally I make myself laugh with something I’ve drawn or more often when I just slightly change the way a character is standing or looking and it alters the whole tone of the piece – it’s amazing what you can do with a little line.
What is your favourite thing about writing for children?
Karl: My favourite thing about writing is that I can make up the rules to my stories! There's no right or wrong, so if I want to say 'my best friend is a blue polar bear called Victor who lives under my bed and only eats biscuits' then that's what it'll be. I like having fun, and breaking the rules. Stories can be anything we can think of. It's brilliant!
Tell us the best thing about this book.
Karl: For me, the best thing about this book is the character of Mouse. Not just the way she handles a situation, but in that to me 'Mouse' is a she, but to Ross, Mouse is a he, and to readers Mouse can be anything they want him/her/them to be. Just as in the book, Mouse says "I am a tiger!" this story is about being who you want to be, and making it fit for you.
Ross: It’s Karl’s funny writing. The second I heard the voice of the mouse in my head I thought – I want to illustrate this hilarious annoying rodent.
What was your inspiration for the story?
Karl: The idea for it came when I thought about how silly it could be for something to confidently declare it was something else - something that it clearly wasn't! I started small, with a mouse, and I knew that for it to work Mouse had to believe she was something much bigger and louder in colour and voice and character... and a tiger seemed to tick all those boxes. I knew there'd be some other animals disputing Mouse's claim, and I knew at some point a tiger would have to turn up, and that mouse would handle each of these scenarios with simple but effective and convincing (or not!) responses that always meant 'I said I am, so I am, and that's that'. I knew it had to end on a new direction that meant it's OK to change your mind... It was such a simple idea that fell into my notebook and pretty much wrote itself. I think Mouse wrote it, really.
What are you writing/drawing next?
Karl: I'm currently working on a ship-shaped chapter book idea (and a couple more ideas for Mouse to explore!)
Ross: I’m currently drawing Sherlock Holmes – as a Penguin. People pay me to do this you know…
OBP – like everything else - is slightly altered due to the lockdown. We’ve been enjoying seeing all the wonderful and inventive things that authors and illustrators have provided for children at home. What has yours been?
Karl: I've really enjoyed watching author and illustrator videos. It's something I hope sticks around in the long run. I've made my own book club, too - The Mudwaffler Club! We read stories and make things and have lots of fun. It's been nice to try something different and escape my desk for a while.
Ross: I produced a little piece on social distancing and the NHS with my characters from There’s a Bear on My Chair. I wanted to do something to thank all the amazing teachers, librarians and carers out there who have asked to read my books to their kids while at home.
And finally, what book would you recommend to read to entertain young children during the lockdown?
Karl: I'm going to be greedy and suggest two! A picture book: This Book Can Read Your Mind by Susannah Lloyd and Jacob Grant is fantastic fun and will have you full of giggles. And a chapter book: The Dragon in the Library (and its sequel) by Louie Stowell (illustrated by Davide Ortu) is wildly imaginative and takes you away on a magic adventure.
Ross: There’s a book by Tony Fucile called Let’s Do Nothing which is a really funny look at imagination and the inability of kids to sit still for five minutes. I think it might speak well to the times we are currently in!
Thanks so much, Karl and Ross!
To watch Karl and Ross read I Am A Tiger please follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwL8rVi3LXM&feature=youtu.be