Now here’s another story for you, full of such fun and exciting stuff, you will surely love it... Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman are back! Hold on tight for a funny and quirky new story set in the same world as their celebrated classics, The Pencil and The Runaway Dinner. One morning, Banjo is helping his dad to wash the car. His little sister Elsie comes running up. "There's an egg in my egg cup!" she yells. "And a great big grey thing ... UNDER THE TABLE!" Brimming over with Allan Ahlberg's idiosyncratic voice, charm and character, and perfectly matched with Bruce Ingman's bold and playful illustrations, Under the Table is an irresistible read-aloud full of surprises ... oh, does Elsie discover such wonderful (and unexpected!) new friends in her lively and happy home!

'For millions of children, Dick Bruna's books are the first they will encounter. They don't know how lucky they are' Michael Bond This latest instalment in The Illustrators on Dutch artist Dick Bruna (1927-2017) takes readers behind the scenes of the creation of some of the world's most endearing children's characters. Offering a deeper appreciation of the artistry and skills behind the international icon Miffy, fellow illustrator Bruce Ingman also reveals Bruna's lesser-known work, including his striking book and poster designs. A glimpse into his studio in Utrecht reveals a man of many media, including drawing, painting, collage and photography. All the elements of Bruna's extensive body of work, spanning book covers, posters, stamps and merchandise, are given due significance in this illuminating study of his reputation and success. By the time of Bruna's retirement, Miffy had become an industry in her own right and Bruna an international star far beyond the sphere of children's books. Ingman shows us how the simple complexity of Bruna's work appeals to children, artists and designers alike, capturing the imagination across ages and artistic disciplines.

'Featuring loveable characters, daring deeds and exciting characters, this larger-than-life, laugh-out-loud picture book is perfect for imaginations and destined to be a repeat read at bedtime.' - SLOAN! Magazine Watch out! A Giant Baby has been spotted in the kingdom! Summon the special advisors. Send out the knights in shining armour. Let loose the monster-size bear! Can anyone defeat this Giant Baby and bring peace back to the kingdom? A hilarious celebration of playtime and imagination, sure to entertain young and old alike. Featuring loveable characters, daring deeds and exciting adventures, this larger-than-life, laugh-out-loud picture book is perfect for igniting giant imaginations and destined to be a repeat read at bedtime.

The acclaimed duo behind The Runaway Dinner and Previously imagine the comical world that comes to life when a pencil starts to draw… “A hilarious and utterly enchanting new classic� The Times A special fifteenth anniversary edition of a modern classic. The Pencil is a playful, witty, wonderfully quirky story about the power of imagination. Say hi to Banjo! Once a pencil draws him, there's no telling what will come next – a dog, a cat, a chase (of course), and a paintbrush to colour in an ever-expanding group of family and friends. But it's not long before the complaints begin – "This hat looks silly!" "My ears are too big!" – until the poor pencil has no choice but to draw … a rubber. Oh no! In the hands of Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman, can anything but havoc and hilarity ensue? With gorgeous golden foil on the cover and spine, this edition is one to share and treasure.

Now here’s another story for you, full of such fun and exciting stuff, you will surely love it... Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman are back! Hold on tight for a funny and quirky new story set in the same world as their celebrated classics, The Pencil and The Runaway Dinner. One morning, Banjo is helping his dad to wash the car. His little sister Elsie comes running up. "There's an egg in my egg cup!" she yells. "And a great big grey thing ... UNDER THE TABLE!" Brimming over with Allan Ahlberg's idiosyncratic voice, charm and character, and perfectly matched with Bruce Ingman's bold and playful illustrations, Under the Table is an irresistible read-aloud full of surprises ... oh, does Elsie discover such wonderful (and unexpected!) new friends in her lively and happy home!

Inspired by the life of the founder of the now famous Tate art galleries, Henry Tate is a sweet tale about one man's passion for making art available to as many people as possible. We follow the story of Henry Tate on his journey from green grocer to philanthropist who, before the turn of the twentieth century, made the pioneering move to share his entire collection of paintings with the British public. Incorporating illustrations of artworks from Tate's ever-evolving collection, award-winning illustrator and author Bruce Ingman brings to life one of Britain's lesser-known historical figures. The book is a delightful celebration of a legacy far greater than Henry Tate himself ever could have imagined.

Picture books are such good fun and so is making them - but who knew there were so many things that could go wrong? This is the story of a picture book doomed from the very start. Allan has a good idea for book about a crocodile, but every time he sits down to write he's interrupted. The manuscript gets soaked in tea and nibbled by snails. And then when Bruce gets started on the pictures, he gets over-excited and draws a hippo not a crocodile. The publishers get over-excited too - they want a dinosaur and experiment with all kinds of different fonts. Allan and Bruce think they've straightened things out, but then when the book goes off to the printer - you guessed it - there's MORE trouble. Pages in French and Chinese get muddled with the English, and somehow Bruce's hippos and dinosaurs get mixed up with them too.

The creators of THE RUNAWAY DINNER and PREVIOUSLY team up to imagine the comical world that comes to life when a lonely pencil starts to draw.
"One day that little pencil made a move, shivered slightly, quivered somewhat . . . and began to draw."
Welcome back Banjo, the boy from THE RUNAWAY DINNER Once a pencil draws him, there's no telling what will come next -- a dog, a cat, a chase (of course), and a paintbrush to color in an ever-expanding group of family and friends. But it's not long before the complaints begin -- "This hat looks silly " "My ears are too big " -- until the poor pencil has no choice but to draw . . . an eraser. Oh no In the hands of Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman, can anything but havoc and hilarity ensue?

The creators of THE RUNAWAY DINNER and PREVIOUSLY team up to imagine the comical world that comes to life when a lonely pencil starts to draw.

"One day that little pencil made a move, shivered slightly, quivered somewhat . . . and began to draw."

Welcome back Banjo, the boy from THE RUNAWAY DINNER! Once a pencil draws him, there's no telling what will come next — a dog, a cat, a chase (of course), and a paintbrush to color in an ever-expanding group of family and friends. But it's not long before the complaints begin "This hat looks silly!" "My ears are too big!" — until the poor pencil has no choice but to draw . . . an eraser. Oh no! In the hands of Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman, can anything but havoc and hilarity ensue?

This is the story of Alison Hubble Who went to bed single . . . And woke up double! A tale of MATHEMATICAL MAYHEM from magnificent illustrator Bruce Ingman and master storyteller Allan Ahlberg! Alison Hubble is shocked when she wakes up to find a twin in the bed next to her. And she keeps doubling . . . and doubling . . . and doubling! A fantastically funny and completely clever new picture book from the critically-acclaimed pair behind The Pencil and The Runaway Dinner.

Talk about fast food! A hilarious, high-speed tale from the inimitable Allan Ahlberg - catch it if you can! The celebrated Allan Ahlberg is in his element in this fast-paced, funny story about what happens when dinner decides that it doesn't fancy being eaten. Just as hungry little boy Banjo is about to tuck into his sausage, it jumps right up off the plate and runs away! But the sausage - whose name is Melvin - isn't alone... He's followed by the fork, the knife, the table, the French fries and even the peas. And so the chase is on! Will Banjo ever catch up with his runaway dinner? And what (gulp) happens to Melvin if he does? Gloriously illustrated by the award-winning Bruce Ingman, this is a whacky, whimsical romp perfect for reading aloud.

The team behind THE RUNAWAY DINNER reverses direction in this clever pastiche of fairy tales in which everyone lives happily ever . . . before.
"Jack was running like mad in the dark woods with a hen under his arm.
Previously, he had stolen the hen and climbed down a beanstalk."
But do you know what was Jack doing before he climbed down the beanstalk?
Or what Jack and Jill were arguing about before they went up the hill? And what happened before that? Every story, every person, and every thing started somewhere, and now the inventive and whimsical Allan Ahlberg explores what all your favorite storybook characters were up to previously, aided by Bruce Ingman's energetic illustrations.

"From the Hardcover edition."