We first met Emily Brown and her stoic sidekick Stanley in 2006 in That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown, written by best-selling author Cressida Cowell and award-winning illustrator Neal Layton. Since that day Emily and Stanley have become firm favourites with generations. Their enduring appeal have led them on numerous adventures since then, from encounters with mysterious THING monsters, to elephant emergencies, they even got to meet the real Father Christmas.
New titles in the series are always hotly anticipated and as the evenings draw in we now join Emily and Stanley on a comedic adventure in Emily Brown and the Not-very-spooky Halloween, which is out now published by Hachette Children’s Books,
Halloween has arrived! Emily Brown and Stanley are trying on their costumes when they hear a teeny-tiny “BOO!” from the cupboard under the sink . . . It’s a ghost! And not just any ghost: the sweetest one they’ve ever seen.
But this sweet little ghostie is sad that he’s Not-Very-Spooky, and he seems to be more frightened than frightening. Can Emily and Stanley help him to be brave and discover his spook?
Emily and Stanley have been stealing hearts for nearly two decades, and in this latest adventure, even the shyest ghost finds courage and friendship. This is possibly one of the most charming Halloween themed picture books you will ever find, the adorable scenarios the little ghost finds themselves in will have you chortling with laughter and we think this book will be enjoyed no matter what the festive season.
Neal is renowned for his accessible and appealing characterisations and Emily and Stanley certainly stand out from the crowd, perhaps one of the most successfully recognisable picture book brands currently in bookshops. Cleverly designed with appropriate colour theming and always prominently featuring the dynamic duo on the cover these beautiful gently funny picture books have a huge appeal across a broad market. Neal beautifully deploys a mix of collage and sketching techniques to create spreads which both feature familiar domestic scenarios, unusual situations, and most of all accentuate the story’s themes of friendship, adventure and humour.
You can find Neal in Instagram where he shares development sketches, event news, new publications and more, or visit his online portfolio here!
For more information about working with Neal or any of our fabulous artists please email info@arenaillustration.com
Keep updated with our latest artists' projects by signing up for our weekly newsletter.
