We can’t believe it, but it’s already time to explore our fifth and final book! And if that makes you anxious, don’t worry, because Geoffrey Gets the Jitters is a book which understands!
Written and illustrated by the incredible Nadia Shireen, and published by Puffin, Geoffrey Gets the Jitters is all about a little dog with a big problem with his worries. Please read on to find out more!
What is the book about?
Geoffrey's got the jitters! It started last night when he was thinking about school - a funny, wiggly feeling in his tummy that grew and grew. But when Geoffrey's tummy jitters started talking to him - that's when he knew they were out of control. Geoffrey had to do something...
Through a laugh-out-loud story and loveable character, Nadia Shireen shows how to understand and dispel anxieties, one jitter at a time.
What Our Judges Said:
'I really liked the practicality of this book – and it definitely puts the fun in feeling nervous’.
‘This is such a nice way of tackling this topic, and a very good way of explaining anxiety, with great humour and a really good use of absurdity.’
‘The animal characters lift the story outside of reality making this safe and accessible.'
'Loved the illustrations, and the random things, too!'
We were lucky enough that author & illustrator Nadia kindly answered some of our questions about Geoffrey - please read on to find out more about Nadia, and what she said! Thank you, Nadia!
About Nadia Shireen:
Nadia Shireen enjoyed making homemade magazines and comics as a child. She studied law at university and then worked in magazine journalism; it was during this time that she started to draw again. After a lifetime of doodling in the sidelines, Nadia decided to pay some attention to drawing and in 2007 was accepted onto an MA course in Children's Book Illustration at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. Her debut book Good Little Wolf received a mention in the Bologna Ragazzi Opera Prima Award and won the UKLA Book Award. Nadia has been shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. She lives in London.
Nadia’s Q&A:
What is the picture book that have you enjoyed reading with someone else most, and why?
I have wonderful memories of reading “Oh No, George!” by Chris Haughton to my now not-so-little-boy. It’s so simple and funny and I love how Chris packs is SO much tension and humour in such a stylish, elegant way. It’s genius!
What's your favourite thing about the character in your shortlisted book?
All my characters reflect a different part of me, and Geoffrey is no exception. I’ve always been a worrier, and as a child would get frequent “tummy aches” which were borne of anxiety. And like Geoffrey, I do enjoy wearing woolly hats.
Which picture book would you give as a gift to your main character, and why?
I think Geoffrey could do with having a laugh, so I’d give him a copy of A Duck Called Brian by Al Murphy, which is a very funny and weird little picture book.
Thank you so much, Nadia! Good luck to you, and all of our shortlist for next week’s big reveal!