Shelf Editions - Book Shop

answered some top Shelf questions from this excellent magazine on picture books, about our latest alphabet book in English ‘the Beauty of Letters’ @prestel_publishing elegantly illustrated with some illustrations from my work process (like my nightly notebook!) If you want to read the small print you’ll have to purchase the actual printed magazine @theshelf.review (featuring flocks of fantastic colleagues, as illustrated by the gorgeous green Rumplestitchking cover of @carsonellis (swipe to see)) My pleasure indeed:-) #interview #picture #book #picturebooks #picturebookillustration

If you have been here a while you may know that I adore wordless books and I also have a fascination with Leporello’s and have a growing collection of both. So when the two marry together it’s a big oooooooOOOOh from me. I thought I had actually told you about this particular wonder but it turns out I hadn’t so pull up a chair and I will tell you about it… The Fantastic Forest is a big concertina board book by @seba.ilabaca and it’s just a treasure of a book. Part book, part invitation to play and a door for your imagination to go wild. First published in Chile by @edicionesliebre as part of a series (I have the mountain one, but the ocean one still evades me. Do seek them all out!). The Fantastic Forest is now available in the UK via the wonderful @bookislanduk Last month I was invited by them to London to the @institutocervanteslondon to pop up for the launch of this book. It was such a great day, I also bought a selection of books translated from Spanish for the event too. Swipe to see a selection). I got to meet @seba.ilabaca , who is sweetest guy, warm and welcoming just like his book! I also got to have a nosy in his sketch book and see how the book came to be. There is something wonderful about being able to see a sketch book and it was gorgeous. ❤️ And we all got to create our very own concertina. Pure fun! The book is wordless and 3 metres long when extended, so you can immerse yourself with in it. What was truly great about the launch was to see how the kids interacted with the book, stretching it out, climbing in and using it as part of their world, both physically as a fort and within their invisible play. One side you will discover the secrets of the forest, its flora and fauna. The reverse side introduces you to the folks who live in harmony with the nature. There are flaps to lift to find creatures peeking through. It’s magical! Perfect to cuddle up and explore the illustrations but equally spread it out, grab some twigs and a blanket and make your very own fantastic forest. It’s a book, it’s playful and full of joyful details. We’ve got copies and if you order a copy with me I have stickers to go with it. Happy reading!

I am pleased to announce the wonderful @heytheredasha is coming all the way from Brooklyn to Shelf Editions this month! To celebrate her visit, not only will she be creating us a window but also we are going to put on a special evening to celebrate her and her work for @enchantedlion translation of Gianni Rodari’s The Adventures Of Cipollino. You can ask her questions, hear about her process and we will do some readings too. Plus we will have books you can buy and get signed. The Adventures of Cipollino came out for the first time in English last year and is a fantastic and timely read, it’s the story of a young onion who fights against the oppression and injustices of a tyrannical Prince Lemon for the fruit and vegetables of his town. If you have read it or want to know more come to our event, 27th May, 6-8pm, £5 a ticket, or £20 book & ticket. There will be drinks too. Find tickets online in our events section or buy them in store. (Please note this is for folks 16+) It’s going to be a lovely evening, hope you can make it. Happy Reading!

New arrivals that are becoming favourites on our shelves. What takes your fancy? Find them all and more online and in store. 📚

🌱 🐩 🐕 🐕‍🦺 🌳 New window is in… We’re barking our way to the park with this month’s window. Find our best in show, dog and park based titles in are spring green window. Who knew I had so many dog related books in stock?!?!? Come shop the window and everything else in stock and then stay for a drink from @lark_books_ and enjoy the sun outside whilst you admire our shop dogs, promise they won’t bite or bark. Happy reading everyone!

I am back! The shop is open. It chaos. I am chaos. If you are awaiting an email or order off me I will be getting back to you this week. I will be behind this mess for the foreseeable, I’ve lots of great books too, it’s not all chaos. Happy reading!

All the books and bits that came back with me. 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚 Underwhelmed and overwhelmed by it all. My late arrival meant I missed out on a few books I had my eyes on but never mind, I found a few others to fill that space. Thanks to @ketebepublishing and @lenajacobs_illustrations for the gifted books, most kind. Looking forward to tucking into them all. Plus a few little extras I came home with, and thanks @debbiebiboagency @mariannacoppo for the worm gifts! I am thrilled to be coming back as a glass of water in my next life. Normal service starts tomorrow.

Bologna was a crazy blur after my delayed start, but so grateful I made it. I missed a LOT but feel I made up for it quite quickly. Barely took any photos that aren’t books, and in the end turns out I only had one gelato! but here are just a few things from my two days. Now to unpack my books. … Thanks to @agakowalskastudio_lincoln and it was super lovely to see everyone including @ellamorella , @simonaciraolo @alexmaglalangbarrow @biamelo_illo and @heytheredasha . Sorry to all you lovely lot I missed, but thanks for your lovely messages. And wonderful to meet lots of new faces in real life, @mattforsythe , @thegoodshipillustration , @isabelle_arsenault , @suzannekaufman , @mariannacoppo , @debbiebiboagency , @dufffiction ❤️📚 till next year, Bologna, I LOVE you and I LOVE the picture book world.

What an unexpected weekend… Pina Bausch, pastries, dogs in the park, food, family, friends, art books, cat cuddles and a gelato with lots of blue sky too. ❤️ very thankful I was able to make the most of a crap situation and catch up with family and friends. As well as being able to stay in London, organise a new passport and flight. Noticing the small things this week, the privilege with in it all. Also learning what relaxing and rest really is. Feel quite reset in a weird way. Thankyou for all your lovely words, turns out I wasn’t the only one @iammichaelrosen also got caught out. Stupid Brexit - do you think David Cameron is taking invoices? Anyway if you are in Bologna see you later, save some books and gelato for me. ❤️📚

Dear Bologna friends If we had plans to meet up, due to some passport drama I won’t get to see you today, Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. I am really sorry. I have emailed anyone with appointments with me about rearranging. I will hopefully get to the fair Wednesday and Thursday - so if you see me out please take a leaflet - I would still like to bring some books home so need the space, 😅 and if you are there now, swipe to see all the ice cream places to try. It’s been a stressful crap day but in the grand scheme of things it’s ok. I need a nap. See you all Wednesday!

Very excited to say I now stock @lesgrandespersonnes titles… I love this publisher and have collected their titles for my own shelf when abroad over the year, so the chance to get them on the Shelf Editions shelf has been brewing for a longtime. It’s a small selection to start but I hope you find the joy in them as much as I do. Each title is a beauty in their own right, playing with form, colour, binding and more. Welcome to our Shelves! Find them in our Imported Editions collection, which also includes the wonderful Editions Du Livre and Grants Égle titles, hoping to grow this collection in the coming year. Happy Reading!

There is a lot of great new books online and in store, come in and explore what I’ve got! And swipe to see the stack I am still processing. Hoping there is a book for you somewhere in the store just for you, if you’re not sure just ask. Happy Reading!