Sophie Corrigan is a freelance illustrator and author from Lancashire, UK. She has illustrated many diverse items from books to calendars to T-shirts and more! When not illustrating and maintaining her online art shops, Sophie spends the spare time she has going to shows, watching nature programs, eating vegetarian food, hanging out with her pet cockatiels, and occasionally crafting cute things from wool and clay.
'An attack of writer's block sends upset ursine William Shakesbear
out to seek inspiration from some strangely familiar friends.
Except for hirsute Yak Kerouac ('No time to talk, Will! I'm on my
way to EVERYWHERE!'), every animal tries to help--from Mole Dahl,
who suggests that 'a little magic can take you a long way,' to C.S.
Shrewish, who finds inspiration even in a box of Turkish delight.
Beatrix Trotter snorts that there's 'something delicious about
writing the first words of a story.' Edgar Talon Crow advises him
to seek it 'in the shadows.' 'Hold fast to your dreams, Will!'
purrs Langston Mews, sprawled out beside a (doubtless) deep river.
Big-eyed Loris Carroll invites him to a tea party with fluttery
Flyer Angelou and rotund T.S. Elephant. The puns don't stop there,
but the bearish bard's imagination remains unfired until at last he
lumbers back to his den to hibernate and 'perchance to dream.' And
indeed, the following spring he wakes up with an idea for a play
(tentatively?) titled 'A Winter-Long Dream' and closes with a
letter to readers asking what they will be reading or writing next.
In her cartoon illustrations, Corrigan sandwiches sweet views of
friendly critters in appropriate period dress between a blank
membership certificate in the Literary Critters Guild at the
beginning and a closing portrait gallery of the authors on whom the
characters were based. The play (on words) is definitely the thing!
(Picture book. 7-9)'
*Kirkus Reviews*
'This charming tribute to famous authors - referenced with equally
charming name puns - centers on William Shakesbear who is on a
quest to find a new writing topic. Decked out in an Elizabethan
ruff (neck collar) and fancy top, Shakesbear meanders through the
countryside to visit various members of his Literary Critters
Guild. Shakesbear's attire along with his quill and ink writing
materials gently cue readers about the norms of his era. This
artistic messaging told in appealing, semi-primitive, full-color
drawings continues through each stop Shakesbear makes. All
exchanges include cleverly inserted real-life author quotes from
Critters such as Crane Austen, Beatrix Trotter, a pig in a
cardigan; Yak Kerouac who's packed for travel; Edgar Talon Crow in
his shadowy treehouse; and C.S. Shrewis with his wardrobe of
fantastical ideas. Loris Carroll, Charles Chickens, Oscar Wild (a
fox), George Claw-well (a cat), T. S. Elephant, the Prawnte
Sisters, Flyer Angelou (a butterfly), William Wormsworth, Wagatha
Christie (a dog), Langston Mews (a cat), and Chiktor Hugo (a tiny
bird) all make appearances, too. Each exchange features art,
quotes, and puns that reference the real-life author's best-known
stories. By day's end, Shakesbear is replete with ideas and
exhausted. He dreams deeply and wildly through a long hibernation
and awakes ready to write his own play. The front and back matter
feature full-page letters from Shakesbear to new members of the
Literary Guild - the readers. These letters bookend the plot as
well as urge readers to become writers. And while the letters' puns
are not nearly as clever as those in the story, the sentiment
behind the invitation is sincere.'
*Children’s Literature*
A 2023 CBC Teacher Favorites Winner
*Children's Book Council*
2022 Northern Lights Book Award Winner, Author/Illustrator
Category
*Northern Lights Book Awards*
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