Our Tower
Written by Joseph Coelho
- This book was nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration 2023
- Shortlisted for the English Association Picture Book Awards 2023
- Shortlisted for the Diverse Book Awards 2023
- Chosen for American Illustration 41 Exhibition
“Gorgeously illustrated by Richard Johnson, this picture book is a love letter to high-rise living and its connection to the ancient, natural world.”
― The Sunday Post
"Coelho drew upon his own experiences to tell this story about three children who leave their tower block and tumble into a strange world underneath a tree. There, a “tree-grown man” helps them understand the power of nature and, when they resurface, their tower block is transformed into a place of colour and light. Gorgeously illustrated by Johnson, this modern-day fable is a celebration of high-rise living..."
― The Bookseller
"The new children’s laureate has written a poem about living in a tower block and a magical journey into the forest to rediscover our connection to nature. Richard Johnson’s gentle illustrations capture the magic in this picture book for older children."
― The Sunday Times
"Fresh to the post of children’s laureate, Joseph Coelho is releasing Our Tower […] Coelho, who was inspired by his experience growing up in London, has said “I wanted to bring the magic of Narnia to the tower block” — which seems the perfect mission statement […] books can’t fill tummies but they can provide hope and escape"
― The Observer
“This glowing, poetic picture book from the new children’s laureate celebrates the joys of community in urban spaces while quietly affirming that the natural world belongs to everyone.”
― The Guardian
Our Tower
Written by Joseph Coelho
- This book was nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration 2023
- Shortlisted for the English Association Picture Book Awards 2023
- Shortlisted for the Diverse Book Awards 2023
- Chosen for American Illustration 41 Exhibition
“Gorgeously illustrated by Richard Johnson, this picture book is a love letter to high-rise living and its connection to the ancient, natural world.”
― The Sunday Post
"Coelho drew upon his own experiences to tell this story about three children who leave their tower block and tumble into a strange world underneath a tree. There, a “tree-grown man” helps them understand the power of nature and, when they resurface, their tower block is transformed into a place of colour and light. Gorgeously illustrated by Johnson, this modern-day fable is a celebration of high-rise living..."
― The Bookseller
"The new children’s laureate has written a poem about living in a tower block and a magical journey into the forest to rediscover our connection to nature. Richard Johnson’s gentle illustrations capture the magic in this picture book for older children."
― The Sunday Times
"Fresh to the post of children’s laureate, Joseph Coelho is releasing Our Tower […] Coelho, who was inspired by his experience growing up in London, has said “I wanted to bring the magic of Narnia to the tower block” — which seems the perfect mission statement […] books can’t fill tummies but they can provide hope and escape"
― The Observer
“This glowing, poetic picture book from the new children’s laureate celebrates the joys of community in urban spaces while quietly affirming that the natural world belongs to everyone.”
― The Guardian
Making: Our Tower
After speaking with Joseph about the adventures he had growing up in Roehampton, near Richmond Park, I did some visual research into the area, helped by Joseph sending me some photographs. I really wanted to try and create a visual adventure that would complement Joseph’s poem, blending the mundane, the dark and dangerous with the fantastic and celebratory. Visual research is really important to undertake in any project, especially for ‘Our Tower’, and my methods change from project to project. I think a lot of Joseph’s work is autobiographical, so it was important to me that I captured a sense of Joseph’s personal story in the imagery. Whilst some of the details were lost in the finished artwork—for commercial purposes—I hope the essence of some of that initial research influenced the entire project.
The book is slightly longer format so I wanted to expand my interests in sequential visual storytelling, using multiple panels and trying to blend the forms of children’s books and comics. I think I had the most fun developing the sections of the story where the images work in quick succession, layering and moving the children through the city environment and into the magic underworld. We were still in lockdown when I was designing the book, so it was easy to draw inspiration from the mood of the nation, those feelings of separation and being placed in boxes! For me this is the spirit of the book: breaking through those feelings of isolation, and celebrating our homes, families, and friends.
Arena Illustration have posted an article on the making of Our Tower here:
BirdSong
Written by Katya Balen
After a devastating car crash, Annie is unable to play her flute and retreats from the music she's always loved. She exists in a world of angry silence – furious with her mum and furious she can't seem to play her beloved flute any more.Then she meets Noah, who shows her the blackbirds' nest hidden in the scrubland near their flats. As their friendship grows, the blackbird's glorious song reignites Annie's passion for music. But when tragedy strikes again, will her fragile progress be put at risk?
The Thing at 52
Written by Ross Montgomery
Frances Lincoln
"A gentle picture book in soft focus and glowing colours about a child who befriends and loses a lonely creature in her neighbourhood. A compassionate and inspiring story."
― The Sunday Times
"A truly beautiful book that will cause many an insightful conversation between a young child and their parent, or teacher, when read together."
― The Independent Children's Book of the Week
“A young girl befriends a monster in this poignant exploration of loneliness which is stunningly illustrated by Richard Johnson.”
― The Bookseller
“Each page is stunningly illustrated and so pleasing to the eye, which everyone will enjoy.”
― The Herald
"The Thing at 52 is a beautifully illustrated book and a very simple but meaningful story covering issues such as loneliness, befriending, loss, kindness, acceptance, friendship. The book I am sure would be enjoyed by young children, and also a starting point to look at some of the important issues mentioned and discuss these topics with them. Some of these conversations are not always easy to introduce and the book and its outstanding illustrations are a delight and a good way of raising these subjects."
― SupportLine
Making: The Thing at 52
The Thing was created by combining the power of a gorilla with the timidness of a guinea pig, the courage of a lion and the softness of a rabbit.
Nightjar
Written by Katya Balen
When Noah’s dad visits from New York, he and Noah come across an injured nightjar during a walk in the countryside. Noah is determined to save the bird, but his dad believes they should leave it alone to let nature take its course. As father and son argue, it becomes clear that Noah is angry about more than just the bird. He feels abandoned and misunderstood by his dad, who has moved to the US and started a new family there that doesn’t seem to have room for Noah. Can they find a way to build a new relationship and rediscover the common ground between them?
Once Upon a Snowstorm
This book was shorlisted for the World Illustration Awards 2018, Professional Children's Books Category.
Merit Winner for the 3x3 International Picture Book Show No.15, Published Children's Books Category.
"Invokes both the intimate and the epic...and a world in which the landscapes of reality and those of a child's imagination collide... this is a book that reminds us we don’t always needs words."
―Olivia Lomenech Gill, illustrator of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
"Stunning . . . the dreamlike illustrations swept me up and took me on quite an incredible, visually enchanting journey. All in one sweep, this beautiful wordless story broke my heart. An incredibly stunning book."
―David Litchfield, author and illustrator of The Bear and the Piano
"Captivating and atmospheric, with a pitch-perfect use of color."
―Levi Pinfold, author and illustrator of Black Dog
"It's beautiful. I love the details in the snow flakes . . . and the funny close ups of the animals faces. Such a warm story, frosted with magic."
―Polly Dunbar, illustrator of Penguin
"Enchanted."
―Sarah McIntyre, author and illustrator.
"Richard's illustrations are very gentle and soft, beautiful images of forest and winter landscapes . . ."
―Tomislav Tomic, author and illustrator.
"A magical beutifully illustrated story that reminded me of Raymond Briggs' The Snowman, one of my all time favourites."
―David Tazzyman, author and illustrator.
"It's outstanding."
―New Statesman
"Enchanting"
―Guardian - BOOKS OF THE YEAR
"Stunning, wordless picture book that has a dream like quality and a captivating message...the frosty fantasy will make you yearn for an open fire and mugs of hot chocolate."
―Daily Mail - BOOKS OF THE YEAR
"Beautifully illustrated and entirely wordless, inviting more storytelling from the reader every time"
―Evening Standard
"The perfect book for cosy autumn and winter nights"
―Scottish BookTrust
"A magical winter tale of friendship and discovery"
―Carousel Magazine
"A dreamy visual narrative to brighten winter evenings"
―Kirkus
Once Upon a Snowstorm
Published by Faber & Faber
1st November 2018
This book was shorlisted for the World Illustration Awards 2018, Professional Children's Books Category.
Merit Winner for the 3x3 International Picture Book Show No.15, Published Children's Books Category.
"Invokes both the intimate and the epic...and a world in which the landscapes of reality and those of a child's imagination collide... this is a book that reminds us we don’t always needs words."
―Olivia Lomenech Gill, illustrator of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
"Stunning . . . the dreamlike illustrations swept me up and took me on quite an incredible, visually enchanting journey. All in one sweep, this beautiful wordless story broke my heart. An incredibly stunning book."
―David Litchfield, author and illustrator of The Bear and the Piano
"Captivating and atmospheric, with a pitch-perfect use of color."
―Levi Pinfold, author and illustrator of Black Dog
"It's beautiful. I love the details in the snow flakes . . . and the funny close ups of the animals faces. Such a warm story, frosted with magic."
―Polly Dunbar, illustrator of Penguin
"Enchanted."
―Sarah McIntyre, author and illustrator.
"Richard's illustrations are very gentle and soft, beautiful images of forest and winter landscapes . . ."
―Tomislav Tomic, author and illustrator.
"A magical beutifully illustrated story that reminded me of Raymond Briggs' The Snowman, one of my all time favourites."
―David Tazzyman, author and illustrator.
Making: Once Upon a Snowstorm
Initially, I had been inspired to create imagery set in a snowy mountain landscape. Doodling in my skecthbook, I drew a boy and his father and began to explore their relationship set against this wintery backdrop. I had certain visual ideas for sections of the story which unfolded as I made connections between the landscape and the boy's imagination, slowly a clear narrative developed.
I quickly decided to remove any words from the book and concentrated on trying to tell the story purely through imagery, developing the characters and sequencing the sections together. Some of the photographs posted here document my sketchbook development. They show how I evolved my initial ideas into more detailed roughs, a working storyboard and mock-up dummy books, which allowed me to physically test the pacing and flow of the imagery as a whole.
As I developed the narrative a number of other themes started to become important to me, such as animal rights and the loss of a parent. The silent picture-book format also encourages a more personal interpretation of its story, perhaps determined by discussions between parent and child. It is my hope that children will enjoy the story as a magical winter adventure, a tale of friendship and discovery.
Wind in the Willows
Written by Kenneth Grahame.
Association of Illustrators: Gold Award Winner, Images 36: Children's Books.
My ambition was to try to capture some of the atmosphere, humour and the sense of place in Grahame's world, combining a partly realistic and partly stylised body of work. I tried to visualise moments of quiet tension and dramatic action from the story.This was one of my favourite scenes to illustrate, as Moley ventures deeper into the Wild Wood.
Animal Stories for Bedtime
Usborne Children's Books
Illustrations for a 96 page Children's Book including, 'The Elephant’s Nose', 'The Musicians of Bremen' and 'The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse'. Each story had a full page plate artwork and a number of smaller vignettes.
Pinocchio
Templar Publishing
Pop-Up Children's Book designs fro Pinocchio, written by Carlo Collodi and reworked by Anita Ganeri.
I really enjoyed the challenge of designing illustrations, incorporating the paper engineering and mechanics of the book. These books were a lot of fun to work on!
Nursery Rhymes
Illustrations created for a collection of classic Nursery Rhymes including, 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf!' and 'The Gingerbreadman'. The book contains double page spread and vignette designs.
Illustrated Nursery Tales
The publication contains twelve well-known tales including, 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf!' and 'The Gingerbreadman'. 'The Princess and the Pea' and 'Jack and the Beanstalk', as well as lesser-known stories such as 'Hywel and the Mermaid'.
Children Playing in the Snow
Illustration created for a Children's Magazine, published by Cricket Media.
Animal Alphabet
Usborne Publishing
An Animal Alphabet, a light hearted Chidren's Picturebook. Its feeding time at the zoo, follow the animal antics of these crazy creatures and spot things beginning with...
The Night Before Christmas
Published by Random House
32 page Picture Book illustrating Clement Clarke Moore’s Poem.
My Grandpa's Amazing Inventions
Templar Publishing
28 page Children's Picture Book. Written and illustarted, the story follows a child and her Grandfather on an adventure of imagination as they decide upon what would be the perfect invention.
The Bible
Published by The Bible Society.
From left to right, plate artwork examples from 'Moses and the Red Sea', 'Queen Esther' and 'Jonah and the Whale'.
The Nativity, The Story of Baby Jesus
Published by Random House
Written by May Eliot, 32 Page Picture book.
The Sandifoot-folk
A narrative developed from my sketchbook drawings, inspired by the Major Arcana or 'life lessons'.
Aesop's Fables
Published by Kingfisher Books
Written by Saviour Pirotta. The book includes eight stories from Aesop's fables including 'The Lion and the Mouse', 'The Frogs Who Wanted to be King' and 'The Jay and the Peacocks'.