James, Simon
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BIOGRAPHY
Simon James grew up in Bristol and Exeter and was influenced from an early age by his father's interest in cartoonists. His favourites were Ronald Searle and Gerard Hoffnung. He studied graphic design and art history at college. "Whilst working with words and images together I developed a greater understanding of the techniques used in creating picture books." Simon's first book, The Day Jake Vacuumed, was first published in 1989 and two more books about Jake soon followed. His first title for Walker Books, My Friend Whale, was the first of several concerned with a child's relationship with the natural world - Dear Greenpeace, Sally and the Limpet, The Wild Woods and The Birdwatchers have established Simon as one of the coutry's leading author/illustrators. Leon and Bob won the Smarties Book Prize Silver Award and was the New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year. Days Like This, a collection of small poems, was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal.
Baby Brains was the 0 - 5 category winner and the overall winner of the 2005 Red House Children's Book Award. It also won the Stockport Libraries Children's Award 2005 and the Norfolk Libraries Children's Book Award 2005. There are now three titles featuring the baby genius, the last one, Baby Brains and Robo Mum, published in 2007.
2003 saw the publication of Little One Step, a new departure for Simon in that all the characters are animals. Simon continues to be a much sought-after speaker in schools and at festivals and conferences both in the UK and in the USA.
Further information about Simon can be found on his website, Simon James
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ILLUSTRATIONS
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|  | The world's brainiest baby is back – with some amazing, time-saving inventions – in the follow-up to the award-winning Baby Brains!
Everyone knows that Baby Brains is the smartest baby in the whole world. He's certainly clever enough to see how tired his Mum and Dad seem to be at the end of the day, after doing the housework and looking after him. Then Baby Brains has an idea – a robot that can cook, clean and do the laundry ... RoboMum! The invention is a smashing success, until RoboMum takes on a few too many duties and the family gets a bit more help than they bargained for!
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|  | A heartwarming story about a little girl who learns an important environmental lesson.
When Sally pulls a limpet off a rock at the beach, it sticks to her finger – and nothing she, her family or her friends do can unstick it. Sally's teacher says that limpets live on the same rock for twenty years. So will Sally ever get the limpet off her finger?
The book shown is the UK paperback reissue published 2008 by Walker Books Ltd.
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|  | A heartwarming tale with an important ecological message about respecting an animal's natural habitat.
Grandad and Jess are walking together in the woods when they see a squirrel pass by. Jess wants to take it home with her as a pet, but Grandad says that you can't tame a squirrel. As Jess follows the creature deeper into the woods, she discovers more natural wonders and comes to understand that her grandad is right – the squirrel's proper home is the wild woods.
The book shown is the UK paperback reissue published 2008 by Walker Books Ltd.
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|  | A touching urban tale about a boy and his imaginary friend, from a multi-award-winning picture-book creator.
Bob is Leon's best friend. He shares Leon's room. Everywhere Leon goes, Bob goes too. Then one day a boy moves in next door. But when Leon goes to ask his new neighbour to go to the park with him, he discovers Bob has gone...
This cover shows the new UK paperback cover published in 2008 by Walker Books Ltd.
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|  | Little One Step, written and illustrated by Simon James and first published 2003 by Walker Books Ltd.
"Any adult feeling overwhelmed by the Herculean trails of a family Christmas should turn to Little One Step. This is a deceptively simple book with wonderful illustrations and a hopeful message." The Daily Mail
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|  | The Birdwatchers, written and illustrated by Simon James. First published 2002 by Walker Books.
"When I go birdwatching, things happen," Grandad says. Sometimes, he says, the birds draw him while he's drawing them. Sometimes, he says, the birds help him find their names in his bird book. "Birds are amazing," says Grandad. But Jess isn't sure. So one day she goes birdwatching with Grandad to see for herself!
"A warm book, with soft, sketch-like illustrations that celebrates the close family relationship." Junior
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|  | Days Like This, a collection of small poems selected and illustrated by Simon James. First published 1999 by Walker Books Ltd.
"It was a real treat to come across Days Like This...the gorgeous full colour illustrations on every page make it as much a picture book as a poetry book." The Guardian
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|  | Baby Brains, written and illustrated by Simon James and first published in 2004 by Walker Books Ltd.
Meet the extraordinary Baby Brains He reads the paper, mends the car and works as a doctor at the hospital. He's so clever that some scientists ask him to go on their next space mission. And that's when Baby Brains shows that in one way at least he's like every other baby in the world: he wants his mummy!
Baby Brains was the winner of the 0 - 5 category and the overall winner of the prestigious Red House Children's Book Award, 2005 as voted for by 25,000 children!
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Miscellaneous Artwork
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
You can now easily buy or find out more about some of Simon's books by clicking on those that are highlighted. You will be taken directly to the publisher's website but can return quickly by clicking on "Back" My Friend Whale, published by Walker Books, 1990 Dear Greenpeace, published by Walker Books, 1991 Sally and the Limpet, published by Walker Books, 1991 The Wild Woods, published by Walker Books, 1993 Leon and Bob, published by Walker Books, 1997 Days Like This, published by Walker Books, 1999 The Birdwatchers, published by Walker Books, 2001 The Day Jake Vacuumed, reissued by Walker Books, 2002 Jake and the Babysitter, reissued by Walker Books, 2002 Jake and His Cousin Sydney, reissued by Walker Books, 2002 Little One Step, published by Walker Books, 2003 Baby Brains, published by Walker Books 2004 Baby Brains Superstar, published by Walker Books 2005 Baby Brains and RoboMum, published by Walker Books 2007
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. Alternative artwork from <i>Days Like This</i>, first published 1999 by Walker Books. <br>315mm x 440mm. Watercolour, signed and mounted £650'))
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