Gertrude

Ever met a celebrity lion? What about a body building gorilla, fashion designing lizard or a troupe of freedom fighting acrobatic rats?

Neither had little Gertrude sparrow until her world was turned up side down.

Come on a wild, action-packed ride as Gertrude sets off on a perilous journey to find the things that matter most: family, good friends and a place where you truly belong.

I have always loved children’s books, both for their stories and their art.

Each elevates the other and there are some examples that are truly sublime (see the work of Kit Williams, Tove Jansson, Shaun Tan or Maurice Sendak for starters).

After a certain age, pictures disappear from children’s books and children’s exposure to visual art becomes narrowed because of it.

I wanted to keep the art in a longer form children’s book and with this in mind I started work on Gertrude. Everything I do starts with story, but it was equally important to create artwork that was as bold, impactful and engaging as the story.

The book was designed by award-winning graphic designer Sean Hogan of Trampoline Design, whose masterful typography added another dimension to the words and art.

We love this book and we hope you do too.

Gertrude is a book for kids aged 8 and up.