Posts | the-sapling

Picture Book Design, the Unsung Hero

Picture Book Design, the Unsung Hero

Our editor, Jane Arthur, looks into what goes into designing a picture book, and talks with the illustrator and designer of the new release from Huia Publishers, The Bomb|Te Pohū, written by Sacha Cotter. Two editions, two cover designs: The Bomb and Te Pohū Usually, the cover of a picture book boasts two names: that of the author and the illustrator. Because a picture book is made up of two things – the words and the pictures. Right? Well, not entirely. There’s a third eleme

Gavin Bishop's Voyages of Discovery

Gavin Bishop's Voyages of Discovery

We get two legends together for this extraordinary interview about an extraordinary book, Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story. Donovan Bixley interviews Gavin Bishop. Rain is hammering the roof of my studio in Taupō, so my ears are squinting to hear Gavin Bishop’s sonorous voice coming down the line, from his studio in Christchurch. We yabber away for an hour, me highly excitable and never finishing my sentences, and Gavin deep and thoughtful, with his wacky humour bubbling just

Across the Ditch: Freya Blackwood Chases Rabbits

Across the Ditch: Freya Blackwood Chases Rabbits

Children's book designer Vida Kelly has worked with Freya Blackwood at various times throughout Freya's career as an illustrator. This wonderful interview is part of our 'Across the Ditch' series. Freya Blackwood, photo copyright Seth Buchanan Freya Blackwood is a multi award-winning children’s author and illustrator. Her first picture book Two Summers won at the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) in 2003 and she has gone from strength to strength ever since, creatin