The Puffin Blog

Links

Puffin UK

Terms

Remember that by posting a comment you are agreeing to the website Terms of Use If you consider any content on this site to be inappropriate, please report it to Penguin Books by emailing reportabuse@penguin.co.uk

Subscribe with RSS

You can keep up to date with the latest blog entries by subscribing to our RSS feed.

RSS icon Subscribe with RSS

July 02, 2009

We Make Stories

Here at Puffin HQ we want to help our authors reach as many readers as they possibly can. We do this in lots of ways, by designing covers, creating great big posters and adverts (and in some cases, movie-style trailers), making sure bookshops are filled with books and telling newspapers, magazines and websites about all the amazing new stories that our authors write.

Well now, we've gone one step further and created something special for all you young storytellers out there. This week we've launched a new website called We Make Stories where children (of all ages, though the site is aimed at 6-11 year olds) can create, print and share a variety of story forms. They can make pop-up stories, customise audiobooks, design their own comics (like the one below, but better), produce exciting treasure maps and develop a variety of entertaining adventures. There's one free tool to try out and the rest of the tools are available for a really small one-off fee.

We're already starting to see some great stories appearing in the gallery and can't wait to see what else gets uploaded once the summer holidays begin . . .

Jeremy Ettinghausen
Penguin Digital Publisher

Remember that by posting a comment you are agreeing to the website Terms of Use. If you consider any content on this site to be inappropriate, please report it to Penguin Books by emailing reportabuse@penguin.co.uk

Posted at 05:12 PM in We Make Stories | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 24, 2009

Dear Hound

It’s a shaggy dog story, this one.

Well, it’s about a shaggy dog. It’s not too long, though . . .

With a murmur and a wonder and a shuffle and a bustle, Puffins from all corners of our office were heading secretly towards the Puffin Room (that’s the centre of everything we do. It’s where Airman got his wings and Cathy Cassidy got her Angel Cake – and it’s decorated with all our biggest and brightest books).

'What’s this?' I thought. 'Something special?' My colleague in Editorial, Sarah Hughes, soon came round to let me know: something special indeed, it’s Jill Murphy, and she’s just brought in the illustrations for her new book, Dear Hound!

Dear Hound is the story of Alfie, a sweet, nervous deerhound puppy, who is separated from his owner and has to undergo all manner of trials as he tries to get back to him. It’s very heartwarming – in fact, it’s going to be the perfect book to curl up with when it comes out in October.

It was amazing to watch Jill lay out all the drawings on the table. The story came to life as she described each one, sometimes doing the voices of Alfie and his new friends – and enemies!

Puffins from design, editorial, rights, marketing and publicity flocked by to watch as she explained why Alfie was scruffy in one picture and not another, and of course the various earstyles of the common deerhound, which are incredibly cute!

Hannah Flynn
Puffin Marketing Assistant

Posted at 12:22 PM in Dear Hound | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 19, 2009

Commemorating Anne Frank

To commemorate what would have been Anne Frank's 80th birthday, we ran a competition with the Anne Frank Trust UK to write Anne a letter, telling her all about your world today compared to her life in the 1930s/1940s.

We received hundreds of letters from across the UK. Some of you wished you could have been friends with Anne. Most asked her the immediate questions: Were you afraid? Were you angry? Were you sad? Almost every letter spoke proudly of the amazing technological advances since Anne's time - and sadly of the fact that children are still trapped in war-torn areas across the world.

Here’s the winning letter:

Dear Anne,

My name is Michael, I am 10 years old and live with my Mum, and Dad, two sisters called Victoria and Rebekah and a little brother Christopher. Victoria is seven, Rebekah is five and Christopher is only three. Unfortunately we do not have any pets. Victoria would really like a puppy but Mum says we do not have room for a dog in this house. So we will have to wait until we have a bigger house.

I would like to have a bigger house so that I could have my own bedroom. At the moment I share with Victoria which is lots of fun but sometimes it would be great to be able to get away from everyone else and be on my own. I guess you would have liked to be able to be by yourself sometimes when you were hiding from the Germans. Were you very scared? I think that I would have been.

The country that I live in is called England, which is part of the United Kingdom. We are across the English channel from France and Spain. I think that because we are on an island it stopped the Germans from invading our country in the war. The Germans dropped lots of bombs on us in the war. We have been learning about the 2nd World War at school. A few weeks ago we made models of air raid shelters. This was fun but I would not have liked to go in one. My Grandad Terry told me more about the shelters and how he was evacuated during the war. Did you miss school when you were hiding? I guess no school was good, except that you could not go out and see your friends.

Do you know that the rationing has stopped now? We can eat lots more yummy things like chocolate and sweets, we are never hungry. We have lots of different fruits and vegetables, some from different countries and some we have grown at home. We can have as much sugar, butter, eggs and meat as we like. No one tells us how much we can eat and we can go to the supermarket as many times as we like. We don’t have to save up ration coupons for our clothes so we can buy new clothes when we need new ones.

We still live a lot like you did but at least Hitler’s dead. We have the right to say our opinions on things that the government says in the newspapers now. The government cannot take you away and lock you up or kill you because you don’t agree with what they say. Everyone no matter what religion, nationality or colour they are can live safely in this country. We are also free to visit different countries for holidays or we can go and live in a different country if we want to and would not be hurt because we are different. Well almost any country.

The electricity actually works most of the time. We can cook when we want and keep warm with the heating when it’s cold. At home we have television and computer games to play and we can watch or play whenever we want to.

Global warming is something we have today. Global warming is the world getting warmer because of too much gas being produced by humans. It’s good sometimes and other times it’s not because it kills animals and plants, that’s the bad thing. The good thing is that the sun can now power cars, vans, lorries, motor bikes, heaters and radiators.

I am glad that things have changed and that the war ended long before I was born.

Yours Sincerely,

Michael

The winner, Michael, aged 10, receives a set of Puffin WWII classics, a DVD of the powerful BBC mini series broadcast in January based on The Diary of a Young Girl and a signed copy of The Promise by Eva Schloss, step-daughter of Otto Frank. Ten runners-up receive the set of WWII books and DVDs.

Find out more about how you can get involved with marking the anniversary at the Anne Frank Trust’s website.
www.annefrank.org.uk/80

Posted at 12:00 AM in Anne Frank | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

June 16, 2009

Sizzlin' summer reads part four

Lastly, but most certainly not leastly, Daisy Mount, Publishing and Design Assistant and Hannah Flynn, Marketing Assistant, bring you Charlie Higson's brand new book (for older readers). It's the first in an edge-of-your-seat, terrifying new series and it's called The Enemy:

Hi, I’m Daisy and I’m The Enemy.

The reason both Hannah and I are writing about this book together is quite simple: We both felt so passionate about telling you all about it that we couldn’t decide on who would do it so we’re both here.

It’s just that good!

Firstly, I have a few words about the book from the author, Charlie Higson:

‘It’s kids versus adults. It’s Jack and the Beanstalk, hobbits versus orcs, Perseus versus the Gorgons, the monkeys versus The Twits. This is no ‘Famous Five Meet the Harmless Zombies’ outing. The kids are in very real danger, and the body count is high.’

When Charlie started writing this novel he sent it in to his editor, Amanda, in bits. He specifically requested that, at this early stage, she and our Director, Francesca, were the only people at the whole of Puffin HQ who were allowed to read it. The buzz in the office very quickly turned to how completely brilliant it was. It arrived piece by piece, always secretly to just Amanda and Francesca (Charlie didn’t write Young Bond for nothing!), and it was very hard not to linger around certain monitors, hoping for a glimpse of it on-screen. It seemed like it was all anyone could talk about; everyone was itching to read it – and the temptation to run off a sneaky copy was very high. I had what I can only describe as an agonising wait, for weeks, before I was allowed a precious print-out of the manuscript. Suffice to say, it was worth the wait!

Daisy Mount

Hi, I’m Hannah, and I’m The Enemy.

I’m the go-to girl for anything geeky in Puffin. I’m a big nerd at heart. I particularly love horror writing and films, which means I was exceedingly happy to be passed the manuscript for The Enemy.

When Charlie started talking about this idea, he said he didn’t want to pull any punches – in fact, he said he wanted to give children everywhere nightmares – that’s what I really love about this book. It’s utterly horrible and completely compelling. The instinct that sits us down in front of Evil Dead and makes us both scream and laugh is the same instinct that will keep you reading The Enemy.

Nobody is safe. You find yourself trying not to form allegiances in case your favourite character dies, and yet you can’t help feeling for all the characters – who are very real, and who talk a kind of slang that is bare cool.

In fact, this whole book is bare cool. And it will give you nightmares this September.

Hannah Flynn

Posted at 12:31 PM in The Enemy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 15, 2009

Sizzlin' summer reads part three

Today's post kicks off with Tania Vian-Smith, Puffin Publicity Manager, introducing you to a certain Trixie Twinkle Toes Trot-a-Lot Delight . . .

Who wants to be a poodle I don’t is the latest, chicest, funniest and most stylish picture from the inimitable Lauren Child.

It tells the story of Trixie Twinkle Toes Trot-a-lot Delight who lives in the lap of luxury. She has a maid to plump her cushions, a cook to prepare her nibbles and a butler to carry her over the puddles. But Trixie Twinkle Toes is not happy, she doesn’t want to be pampered, she longs instead to be a dazzling, dangerous, daring dog.

This charming story is both a reminder to us all about the importance of being true to yourself and a warning to all those who might be considering popping a poncho on their pooch!

Created using Lauren’s trademark collage-style illustration this deliciously stylish treat is set to be the most fashionable addition to any discerning library.

Who wants to be a poodle I don’t is published on 3rd September 2009.

Tania Vian-Smith

And now Rebecca Oku, Editorial Assistant, Picture Book and Characters, brings you the latest adventures of Princess Smartypants - she's busy breaking all the rules (the princess that is, not Rebecca):

This is the third book in the Princess Smartypants series by Babette Cole.
Babette is one of Puffin’s most successful author/illustrators and has written many many books. She has even worked in TV on Bagpuss and Learn with Mother with the late Oliver Postgate. But more importantly she is the author of some of my most favourite picture books such asThe Trouble with Gran and Prince Cinders.

Now for those of you that don’t know, the first book in the series, Princess Smartypants, was published in 1986. Babette has described it as a feminist fairytale, and of course, Smartypants refuses just to marry a prince and live happily ever after. And, as Babette often tells her readers, the whole thing is based on her own life!

At the start of Princess Smartypants Breaks the Rules!, the princess is quite happy mucking out the horses. Of course, the Queen doesn’t think this is a suitable job for a princess and she packs Smartypants off to finishing school. Madame Twinklebotham’s Academy is supposed to teach Smartypants how to be more ladylike (and if we’re being very honest, more attractive to young princes).

As you can imagine this doesn’t go down very well with Smartypants. At first she joins in the lessons - HAIR & MAKE UP, FASHION SENSE & DEPORTMENT, SPINNING YOUR HAIR, WAVING WANDS - but she’s not very good at them at all. Well not in the way her teacher would like. Finally Smartypants decides enough’s enough and she teaches her fellow princesses some lessons of her own!

I won’t spoil the ending for you but I will say that this is Babette’s most outrageous book yet. It’s witty, anarchic and very silly, so in my opinion it’s a perfect picture book. It publishes in August this year, leaving just enough time for little princesses all around the UK to learn her most useful lessons before returning to school in September!

Rebecca Oku

It's now time for Janice Thompson, Senior Editor (Puffin Characters), to take you off into the jungle:

I absolutely love this book. The illustrations are hugely appealing, the design is beautiful and it’s perfect bedtime reading if there’s a toddler in the house. What could be more soothing at the end of a busy day full of emotional highs and lows than listening to a gentle counting rhyme and looking at pictures of adorable animal babies?

There’s a lovely familiarity to the rhythm of the text, too, with echoes of that old favourite, Over in the Meadow. Let me give you a taste . . .

It was sunset in the jungle, and the sky was streaked with red. The animals were calling, it was nearly time for bed . . .

It was bedtime in the jungle and the day was almost done. A rhino lay down close to her baby one.

“Sleep,” said her mother. “I’ll sleep,” said the one. And they slept in the jungle, as the day was almost done.

And so it goes. As the sun sinks lower in the sky, and the moon rises and the stars come out, animal babies are quietened down and soothed to sleep – 2 baby monkeys, 3 leopard cubs, 4 wolf puppies all the way up to 10 baby elephants slumbering sweetly on a glorious gatefold spread! By which time, (hopefully) your little one is sweetly slumbering too.

I also love this book because it was such a joy to work on, and the author to work with. There were quite a few challenges too. For one thing, we absolutely couldn’t leave out tigers, so this immediately placed it in an Indian jungle because there are no tigers in Africa. Once this was established, we had to be sure only to include animals that would be found in an Indian jungle. Research came up with some surprises – wild pigs? I had no idea! The next challenge was keeping the size of the various animal broods realistic – it was easy for the 1s, 2s and 3s but then it became harder. AND we wanted to end with elephants!

But we got there in the end and it’s being published in July. So treat yourself and your animal baby - snuggle up together and share this gorgeous book.

Janice Thompson

Posted at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 11, 2009

Sizzlin' summer reads part two

Following on from Monday's blog, Holly Gallagher, Puffin Sales Assistant, proudly presents some peas for you to sample . . .

I love peas - I'd eat them all the time if I could - so it kind of puzzles me that a lot of people don't like them, in fact they HATE them!

My own nephew refuses to eat them, even when I try and conceal them in bolognese sauce he still spits them out all over me, which can get very messy as I'm sure you can imagine! So, next time I visit him I'm going to come armed with this . . .

In Puffin's new picture book Peas! (out in July), we meet Pete and Penelope and we follow them on their journey from field to plate.

We see how the farmer plants little pea seeds and after some rain and some sun, little peas grow. They're picked and packed and taken to the pea factory where they're packaged up and maybe even frozen and they end up in supermarkets where mums and dads the world over buy them.

Eventually they end up on the plates of two very ungrateful children who - yup you guessed it - hate peas!

They try them however, and they soon learn that peas aren't that bad after all - the moral of this story is . . . give peas a chance!

Holly Gallagher

And now, from tiny little green vegetables to tiny little white creatures who go by the name of MOOMIN!

Hopefully you’re familiar with the Moomins from their books or the telly, but if not, I’m not going to introduce them, I’d like to share this message from Moominmama that appears on the cover of this delightful hardback, Finn Family Moomintroll, which we’re re-issuing this August:

Dear Child - is it really possible you haven’t met any Moomintrolls? Or not even know what a troll is? They are small and shy and hairy and there are lots and lots of them in the Finnish forests. The greatest difference between them and us is that a Moomintroll is smooth - and likes sunshine.

I do hope you are going to like us!

Ps please excuse my English you see Moomins only go to school as long as it amuses them

This book is the story of Moomintroll and a big hat – a magical hobgoblin hat, no less. It’s perfect to share and with this irresistible cover it’s an ideal gift for children - and this hardback is in fact just the beginning of an amazing new range of Moomin publishing coming in 2010 – which is when the Moomins celebrate their 65th anniversary. 65 years – they’re ageing well, aren’t they?

Sarah Kettle
Puffin Creative Executive

Posted at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 08, 2009

Some sizzlin' hot summer reads . . .

Over the next week a variety of Puffins (or, to use a technical term, a puffinry of Puffins) are going to take to the stage, so to speak, and tell you about their hot picks for you to discover this summer. Without further ado, here is Louise Heskett, Puffin Marketing Officer, to talk to you about Chris Bradford's Young Samurai series. Hiiiiiiiii-ya!

I’m here to talk about Young Samurai: The Way of the Sword, which is publishing in July. I’ll be honest with you and start with a confession. Up until a year ago, I knew nothing about martial arts. Zippo. Zilch. Nada. If it was a choice between a Jackie Chan movie or Enchanted, I’d opt for pretty dresses and Prince Charmings every time.

So, why am I now talking to you about a book that is all about martial arts action, black-belt ninjas, deadly combat and a brand-new hero, Jack Fletcher? Well, it all began with a sword. A really, really sharp one. And a very eager debut author, Chris Bradford, who was holding said sword whilst having a marketing brainstorm.

Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior, the first in the series, floored me from the first. Think Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon meets Young Bond. Set in early 17th century Japan, our hero Jack Fletcher is shipwrecked off the coast, his father and the rest of his crew slaughtered by ninja pirates. Taken in by a legendary Samurai warrior, Jack’s only hope is to train to become a Samurai, whilst winning the respect of those bullies that are making his life hell.

But I digress, I’m actually here to talk about Young Samurai: The Way of the Sword, the second in the Young Samurai series. Picking up in Jack’s second year of samurai training school, not only is Jack struggling in training but his old bullies are rearing their ugly heads and ninjas aren’t far behind. In short, poor old Jack is having rather a hard time. And that’s before he accepts a fight to the death with an experienced Samurai warrior. What really sets this series apart from other action adventures is the vivid detail of Japanese life, the culture, the rituals, the people and the landscape. Chris has re-envisaged 17th century Japan and captured what it meant to be a Samurai. He also shows a real sensitivity of touch in conveying Jack’s struggle to be accepted by the bullies.

I began by saying I didn’t know a jot about martial arts a year ago. Well, since then, I have interviewed the British Olympic Judo team and I have gone to the international trade fair for martial arts. I have stopped short of high-kicking anyone, no matter the temptation on the tube, but I have gone to a ‘Warrior workout’ class at my gym (please note only the once as I couldn’t sit down for days). Would I still choose Enchanted over Jackie Chan? Honestly, probably yes. But would I choose Young Samurai over Young Indiana? A resounding YES.

Louise Heskett

Next up is Shannon Park, Executive Editor, who brings you a fabulously imagined new world from debut talent David Whitley:

The Midnight Charter is a captivating debut from an exceptional new author, David Whitley. In 2005 he was part of the winning Corpus Christi team on University Challenge and now his debut novel will be published this August in 18 countries and 12 languages around the world.

Based on his love of Philip Pullman, Jonathan Swift and the Age of Enlightenment David has conceived the city of Agora. There is no money in Agora but everything is ‘for sale’ in the sense that it can be traded – even children are considered possessions until their twelfth birthday.

Taking us through life in a world like this are our two twelve-year-old friends, Mark and Lily, both of whom are coming of age in this strange city and –as we discover – bound together by the prophecies of the mysterious Midnight Charter document.

Mark uses the politics and games of Agora to his advantage, rising to the top of society but, in the process, jeopardising his own values and beliefs. Lily, on the other hand, disrupts the natural flow of the system by setting up a charitable almshouse, offering shelter and food to those most in need without asking for anything in return. But the concept of charity is not welcome in a city like Agora and at this point the novel takes a decidedly dark turn.

There are some brilliantly imagined concepts in this book. When I say everything is for sale I mean everything. Emotions can be extracted and sold, and as the wealthy become addicted to vials of ‘excitement’ or ‘happiness’ to perk up their dinner parties, the desperate donors of the emotions are left empty and plagued by nightmares.

Filled with power struggles, morality and corruption, this novel is part murder mystery, part conspiracy thriller and part pure fantasy, as Mark and Lily struggle to uncover their destiny within Agora.

It’s the perfect read for both boys and girls of 11+, and I would recommend it to the more confident, bookish reader as it’s very much an ideas book underneath a gripping story.

Puffin is publishing in August and we hope to follow up with the sequel in 2010.

Shannon Park

Posted at 03:50 PM in Summer reads 09 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 05, 2009

Hay fever

There are five things I love more than anything in the world.

1) Puffins (obviously)
2) Books
3) Music
4) Cakes

And, more than anything, I love:

5) FESTIVALS!!!!!!

Mud, wellies, tents, polka dot pac-a-macs – I actually can’t get enough! And last week, I was very excited to be going back to one of my favourite festivals of all, the Hay Literature Festival. Now the Hay Literature Festival isn’t a normal festival with sweaty rock bands. Nor is it a festival which has anything to do with bales of hay. It’s a big 9-day festival in a little town called Hay-on-Wye which is all about . . . BOOKS!

Picture books, grown-up books, gritty teen books, travel books, quiz books, survival books, big books, small books – every kind of book imaginable! And people travel from miles around to come to Hay-on-Wye and meet the authors of all these fabulous books, including Puffin authors!

David Gilman was there, talking about his new book Blood Sun and leading a survival quiz to see who in the audience could survive in the desert, mountains or jungle (can you?). Leo Hickman was there talking about the planet, jellyfish and all things green. Fantastic author/illustrator Ed Vere read us the story of Mr Big, the piano-playing gorilla and then taught us how to draw a Mr Big of our own.

And then there were doughnuts and jam and all things krazy! Yes, it could only be the arrival of Jeremy Strong, popping by Hay as part of his Big Jam Explosion tour. Jeremy was so popular, he had to be moved to a bigger venue, which was the same venue as Jaqueline Wilson, Desmond Tutu and the Archbishop of Canterbury!

Jeremy spoke to over 900 people - and then of course he had to sign books for 900 people too!

It was a VERY big queue, and a VERY sore hand!

By the end of the week, authors, children and Puffins alike had all had lots of fun, and we were all very sad to leave Hay-on-Wye and go back to our homes. But not for long – the Edinburgh Book Festival is coming in August and it’s safe to say, I cannot wait!

Sophie Stott
Puffin Publicity

Posted at 06:11 AM in Hay Festival 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 02, 2009

Love, Aubrey

Now, as Editorial Director for Picture books, I am in the very lucky position of having "small" manuscripts to read. 800 words maybe. 1200 on a really tough day. I don't even need a Sony Reader, sigh. I can just stuff a few pages in my bag and that's it.

But, every now and again, I need more. Something a bit more meaty, something that feels like a 'grown-up' book. And what better place to look than Fiction Puffin Loves? It's a gem-like list full of the kind of books that you want to tell all your friends about. Or your mum, sister, or even just the person next to you on the bus. There are stellar authors like Meg Rosoff, Eoin Colfer and Jill Murphy, plus loads of fresh new talent, all writing brilliant books, stories that just inch their way into your life and then stay with you forever.

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur is my latest find. I started it in bed, read until midnight (OK, that's not too hideous but remember I have a three-year-old), and then dived straight back into it on the train the next morning. And THEN when I got to work, seriously toyed with the idea of skipping meetings. I haven’t wanted to play hooky for a book for a long time, but this one would just not let me go. You see, Love, Aubrey is that rare thing, the great literary read. A story of heartache and grief, loss and redemption, it’s all about a young girl who finds herself alone. But there’s nothing of the misery memoir about this. The language is unsentimental and powerful and you have to remind yourself that this is, in fact, a debut novel. With the help of her grandmother and the letters she writes, Aubrey gradually pieces her life together and you find yourself marvelling at the grace and tenderness with which her story is told.

Just make sure that you have time to read it in one sitting. Have some tissues handy too.

And then pass it on to someone else.

Louise Bolongaro
Editorial Director - Picture Book Boutique

Posted at 02:03 PM in Love, Aubrey | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 25, 2009

A Young Bond adventure of my own? Yes please . . .

Think Bond, think adventure, glamour and probably a Caribbean island or two. That’s no coincidence since Ian Fleming, who wrote the original James Bond books, did a lot of his writing in Jamaica in his home called Goldeneye.

And to celebrate Young Bond: By Royal Command being published in paperback on May 28th, we have teamed up with Absolute Radio and Beaches Luxury Included® Resorts to give away an incredible family holiday in Jamaica. With everything included!

At Beaches, Mums and Dads can relax whilst the kids can have the time of their lives! For all the Young Bonds out there, your adventure is just beginning: speed down the rides at the water park or get gaming at the Xbox® Game Garage. There's also a Scratch DJ Academy and nightclub for teens and tweens!

Listen to Absolute at 105.8FM or online from 10am on Saturday 30th May for your chance to win!! I can’t enter as Puffin employees aren’t allowed – but maybe my good friend Emily Fox could have a go . . .

Emily Cox
Puffin Marketing Manager

Posted at 09:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)