Punk the Ladybird by Tom Reed is available now on loremnotipsum.com. One day Punk the Ladybird begins to grow his third spot. ‘Time to decide what you want to be when you grow up’, says his father. But feeling grown up and different, Punk decides he should look different too… A brush of paint and away go his round, black spots to be replaced by stars, skull heads and fluorescent swirls… And Punk finally discovers what he wants to be when he grows up. Discover Punk the Ladybird.
Tom Reed is an English artist living in Zurich (Switzerland). He began producing children’s books twelve years ago. His first book, ‘Freddy the Fly – Plan Bee’, began as a story about a friendly fly to solve his two year old son’s fear of flies. It did so. Having enjoyed the experience, Tom found he had other ideas and new stories have appeared regularly since. ‘Whilst they are children’s books, I hope they will be enjoyed by adults too,’ says Tom. ‘I try to make illustrated stories with a point to them. They are quite philosphical. They work as adventures children can enjoy, but adults may understand other things in them. Huck and Nell for instance, that came out last year, is about the habit of thinking the grass is always greener and that we often don’t appreciate what we have until it is gone. But a reader may just enjoy the adventure of two dogs that fall down the crack in the book… If I’m going to sit down and spend several months making a book, I need to enjoy it and have a laugh myself. So I guess I am trying to amuse myself, children and their parents (who might have to end up reading them aloud). I like the medium of children’s picture books. They generally rely on just one good idea. They are short but there is plenty of scope for dealing with quite complex and philosophical subject matter. It’s restrictions – no overt violence, universal themes etc. – help to that end.’
Details: Punk the Ladybird
Softback, 21 x 21 cm