Arena Illustration

17/10/2025

🎃 New Blog Post Alert!🎃

This Halloween, the not-so-spooky fun continues in the sixth Emily Brown adventure from Cressida Cowell, with illustrator Neal Layton Illustrator / Author once again capturing all the warmth, humour, and heart of Emily and her loyal sidekick, Stanley in 'Emily Brown and the Not-Very-Spooky Halloween'.

Join them and meet the world’s least scary and very timid ghost as they learn that bravery comes in all shapes, sizes and levels of spookiness! 👻

Read and see more here: https://shorturl.at/f7dIs

Published by Hachette Children's

14/10/2025

We love books - they open up a world of possibilities. Reading is powerful.
https://link.thetimes.co.uk/join/74t/signup-get-britain-reading

We are supporting the Sunday Times Get Britain Reading campaign.

Books bring us joy. Yet Britain is facing a reading crisis. We are losing the habit of reading for pleasure.

How do we change that? If you don’t read regularly why not start by spending 10 minutes (or more!) a day reading to yourself or to someone else, just for the fun of it.

Enter your email address and take the campaign pledge to get a six-week newsletter from the Sunday Times to guide you with ideas, book recommendations and reading tips

Sign up at: https://link.thetimes.co.uk/join/74t/signup-get-britain-reading

14/10/2025

🎉 Huge congratulations to Adam Stower! 🎉

We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that Adam has won the prestigious 2025 German Children’s Book Prize (Der Deutsche Kinderbuchpreis) for his book 'Murray and Bun, Murray the Viking' (published in Germany as Muffin und Tört bei den Wikingern).

Adam described the event as a whirlwind experience and his utter disbelief and joy at winning the overall prize.

Massive thanks to everyone who played a part - Frank Woelffing (official photo), Zoe Tucker, Katharina Ebinger from Thienemann, and all the wonderful nominees and readers.

Let’s give it up for Adam! 👏 👏 Share the news, show some love, and take a look at the full story here: https://shorturl.at/JP772

Want a copy of Murray and Bun? Grab it here: https://shorturl.at/JTT8P

Catch Adam soon - he’s doing school visits, festival appearances and workshops including one at the Cartoon Museum later this month. Get more info in our news blog.

09/10/2025

🦇✨ NEW HALLOWEEN BOOK ALERT! ✨🦇
We’re absolutely thrilled to announce Kristyna Litten’s latest illustrated treasure: 'I’ll Love You Till the Bats Say Boo', written by Kathryn Cristaldi and published by HarperCollins NY.

This board book is a perfect blend of Halloween charm and boundless love, a lyrical lullaby with just enough spook to delight wee readers (and grown-ups too).

Expect cameos from beloved characters (yes, the Cows make a cheeky appearance) and the cozy, funny sweetness that fans of 'I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home' have come to adore.

Read more over in our latest news: https://shorturl.at/F7sKr

02/10/2025

Arena Illustration is thrilled to share that Puffin Books have acquired the rights to an amazing new series by Dotty Sutton!

"Moth the Veggie Vampire", the first in a four-book deal, arrives October 2026!

Set in the quirky Hawthorne Manor, a fifteen-and-a-half-star hotel run by vampires - meet Moth, a half-vampire who hates blood and can’t fly. He can come out in sunlight, which means it’s his job as Temporary Assistant Deputy Sub-Manager to run the hotel by day while the rest of the staff snooze in the creepy basement. A hilarious, heartwarming story perfect for young readers starting independent reading or sharing with an adult.

Publisher Ben Horslen says:
"From the moment I set eyes on Dotty’s artwork, I knew she was a huge talent, and when I saw her first sketch of Moth, I could tell he was a character with a story – one kids would love and root for. It’s been a delight to watch Dotty bring to life her anxious half-vampire, and prove that she’s a brilliant writer as well as a supremely gifted illustrator."

We’re delighted to celebrate Dotty’s debut as an author and very excited about the launch of this exciting new series! Well done Dotty!!

02/10/2025

👻 Straight from the graveyard… Adam Stower introduces Murray & Bun’s spookiest adventure yet!
Check out our latest blog post: https://shorturl.at/WK7Qe
Buy your copy of MURRAY THE GHOSTHUNTER here: https://shorturl.at/M4yMS

👻

02/10/2025

🎃 Who you gonna call this Halloween? Murray & Bun, of course!
Adam Stower’s mischievous pair return in a spooktacular illustrated adventure - Murry The Ghosthunter! Perfect for readers who love their scares with a side of laughs.

Catch the chills and chuckles on our latest blog: https://shorturl.at/WK7Qe

Published by HarperCollins Children's Books UK

26/09/2025

26/09/2025

25/09/2025

Steve May Illustrates Young Record Breaker for Guinness World Records 2026

We’re thrilled to announce that Steve May Illustration & Animation’s dynamic comic strip artwork is featured in the upcoming Guinness World Records 2026! Steve brings to life the inspiring story of Aneeshwa Kunchala, the youngest documentary presenter in the world, with his signature charm and energy.

Steve shared his excitement about the project, saying, “I got to draw lots of animals, I particularly like tigers and walruses.” He also expressed a playful wish: “I’d like to illustrate one of those ‘how many elephants can you fit in a double-decker bus’ kind of records!”

For more details and a peek at Steve’s illustrations, visit the full post here: https://shorturl.at/w4U1o