Allen the Alien

Author: Stephanie Ward | Illustrator: Aleck Morton | Publisher: Yellow Brick Books/Riveted Press | ISBN: 9780648492511 | Publication Date: June 19, 2024 | Availability: Australia & New Zealand

Allen and Byte are Earth’s newest visitors and Earthlings seem very friendly…or do they? Earthlings are sure to love a supersonic horn and x-ray gun…right? Allen and Byte just want to play, but some Earthlings aren’t quite ready for visitors like them! 

Allen the Alien is a story about understanding and accepting differences. The simple text tells the story from Allen’s point of view, while the Illustrations reveal a completely different situation — the Earthlings are terrified of aliens! Readers will love the hilarious reactions of the Earthlings to Allen’s shenanigans, that are captured in the wonderfully quirky illustrations. With a unique artistic style and fantastic rhythm, Allen the Alien is a humorous and multi-layered read.

Reviews

This picture book stands out as unique for so many reasons. It has a cool edginess about it, yet maintains a wholesome, well-rounded story. Its protagonists reside in a far-off distant (and completely foreign) galaxy, yet its message feels so close to home. It shows us how we often ‘speak different languages’, yet it has a universal appeal. 
— Just Write for Kids

For every child who has arrived at a new school and feels the odd one out because they don’t know the local games or interests, for every newcomer who can’t speak the local language, for every ND child who doesn’t ‘read the room’ even whey they try so hard, Allen is going to be a hero. 
— Just So Stories

Kids will love this fun story, and readers of all ages will find something in the book that they can relate to or understand, making it a book that will be good to discuss many things about friendship and being different, and how the world responds to that.
— The Book Muse

Availability

Available on Amazon.com.au, Booktopia, Dymocks, Readings, Riveted Press and in quality bookstores across Australia and New Zealand.

For more information, find ALLEN THE ALIEN on Goodreads and Simon & Schuster Australia.

Trailer

Activities & Resources

About the Illustrator

Aleck Morton [almo], is a self-taught illustrator and film/tv editor. His style is a mix of biro doodles with photos of people, objects and paint textures that have been seen on tv [Kitty Flanagan’s Covid Nursery Rhymes, The Weekly], in comics [Dailies#1, Silent Army] and now a children’s book, [Allen the Alien, Stephanie Ward – Yellow Brick Books]. Whilst continuing to work in Film&TV [ Nanette, Queerstralia, Hard Quiz, Thank God You’re Here, Have You Been Paying Attention, Grand Designs] he doodles away creating characters for his books and looking for the next exciting illustration project to get stuck into.

About the Publisher

Riveted Press is the proud publisher of CBCA award-winning title Aster’s Good, Right Things by Kate Gordon, and has had titles longlisted and/or shortlisted in a variety of awards including The Tasmanian Literary Awards, The Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards, and the newly launched DANZ Awards (Diversity in Australia and New Zealand). You may know us by our original name, Yellow Brick Books. Riveted Press is represented in the Australian and New Zealand marketplace by Simon & Schuster. 

5 Minute Christmas Tales

Title: 5 Minute Christmas Tales  | Author: Stephanie Ward | Illustrator: Karen Saavedra | Genre: Children’s Short Story Collection | Publisher: Bookoli | ISBN: 9781802494891 | 
Release Date: August 2023

(From the publisher) The perfect length for bedtime, 5 Minute Christmas Tales is sure to get you and your little ones in the Christmas spirit. From the faraway, frosty North Pole to a cosy woodland feast, a world of festive friends and their adventures await. This beautifully illustrated collection of six Christmas tales is perfect for snuggly storytime fun.

• Gorgeous illustrations bring festive magic to each soft and gentle tale
• Perfect festive gift
• Six soft and gentle stories, each designed to be read aloud in five minutes

About the Publisher – Bookoli

A vibrant series of beautifully-illustrated books that takes young readers to faraway lands. Tacking a range of themes, such as friendship, love. loneliness and magic. Children can fire up their imagination and learn about emotions and feelings.

Hello Shark!

Title: Hello Shark! | Author: Stephanie Ward | Illustrator: Bethany Carr | Genre: Board Book | Publisher: Imagine That | ISBN: 9781801055598 | Release Date: March 6, 2023

With a hilarious rhyming story to read and cute kawaii-style illustrations to look at, there’s lots to make you smile and laugh in this funny story book about a playful shark. The cute illustrations are brought to life with the googley eyes at the back of the book. Just shake and roll the book to make the googley eyes on each shark picture wobble and move!

Shake, Roll & Giggle Books are perfect for children aged 0+ as a first book for early reading and playtime fun!

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Blackwell’s, Booktopia and quality bookstores worldwide.

About the Publisher – Imagine That

Independent publisher and packager Imagine That have been creating books that inspire children to read, learn, play and create for over twenty years. Publishing titles across the globe, in a variety of languages and formats, Imagine That is proud to work with some of the world’s most well-known brands and retailers to share books with families everywhere. Specialising in books suitable from birth and upwards, Imagine That books include tactile novelty books, innovative activity book formats and much-loved storybooks.

Clownfish Aren’t Funny! & Don’t Laugh Giraffe!

Title: Clownfish Aren’t Funny! & Don’t Laugh Giraffe!  | Author: Stephanie Ward | Illustrator: Carrie Hennon & Brad Hunt | Genre: Board Book | Publisher: Imagine That | Release Date: February 1, 2023

Clownfish Aren’t Funny! 

In this funny story about a clownfish making new friends, there’s an innovative silicone popper fidget toy for little hands to push, pop, and explore on each page as the rhyming story is read aloud. This tactile book offers a fun reading experience for young readers and aids development of concentration. The “Push and Pop” toy and funny illustrations in the book are perfect for sensory story time fun!

Don’t Laugh Giraffe!

In this wildly funny book about a grumpy giraffe, the popper fidget toy allows little hands to explore each page while listening to the story. Great for interactive reading fun, the bubble pattern on the giraffe’s silicone “Push and Pop” tummy can be pushed and popped again and again for hours of sensory play. Perfect for reducing stress and anxiety through quiet and focused play.

Availability

Both titles are soon to be available on Amazon.co.uk (ISBN: 9781801056533), Amazon.co.uk (ISBN: 9781801056540).

About the Publisher – Imagine That

Independent publisher and packager Imagine That have been creating books that inspire children to read, learn, play and create for over twenty years. Publishing titles across the globe, in a variety of languages and formats, Imagine That is proud to work with some of the world’s most well-known brands and retailers to share books with families everywhere. Specialising in books suitable from birth and upwards, Imagine That books include tactile novelty books, innovative activity book formats and much-loved storybooks.

Arabella and the Magic Pencil

Author: Stephanie Ward | Illustrator: Shaney Hyde | Publisher: EK Books | ISBN: 9781925820010 | Publication Date: September 2019 | Availability: Australia & New Zealand, UK & Ireland, US & Canada

Arabella is a beloved only child who has a picture perfect life until her brother, Avery, arrives. While she loves him, it’s sometimes hard to like him. She spends her days creating marvelous things with her magic pencil, and ignoring him. But when Avery spoils a perfectly proper tea party, Arabella erases him from her life. Oops! How can she get him back? 

“A magical story with luscious language, whimsical illustrations and strong emotional core that will surprise and delight young readers.” – Debra Tidball, award-winning author of The Scared Book and When I See Grandma

Book Details

Title: Arabella and the Magic Pencil
Author: Stephanie Ward
Illustrator: Shaney Hyde
Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 3
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: EK Books
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1925820017
ISBN-13: 978-1925820010

Reviews

“A truly delightful book and princesses aside this is for both boys and girls an important message about learning to appreciate the gifts we are given for free, learning to understand one another and learning to tolerate as well as love.  An important message, a funny story, a beautiful book.”

– Armadillo Magazine

“Arabella and the Magic Pencil is a charming story, which will appeal to any child coming to terms with a new sibling and to caregivers who are supporting changing family dynamics, as well as those who love fantasy and engaging, alliterative language.”

– Bookworm for Kids

“…this treasure targets family changes and Arabella’s frustration with her little brother Avery (mostly the mayhem he causes). Its figurative language (yay for alliteration!) and its dream-like illustrations will grab your learners and pull them in.”

– The Corner on Character

Accolades

• 2021 Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Recommended Reading List (Family Togetherness)
• 2020 NSW Premier’s Reading Booklist

Activities & Resources

Availability

Arabella and the Magic Pencil is carried at bookstores, libraries, museums and online retailers in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Libraries
Australia & New Zealand – Auckland Libraries, Bankstown City Library, Bayside Library Service, Bentleigh Library, Camden Council Library Service, Central Northern Regional Libraries, City Libraries Thuringowa, Frankston Public Library, Gold Coast Libraries, Geelong Regional Libraries, Hornsby Shire Library, Ipswich Library & Inform Service, Ku-ring-gai Library, Liverpool City Library, Maribyrnong Library Service, National Library of Australia, Northern Regional Library & Information Service – Moree Plains Community Library, Parramatta City Library, Randwick City Library, Richmond Tweed Regional Library, Ryde Library, State Library Of NSW, State Library of Victoria, State Library of Western Australia, Sutherland Shire Libraries, Western Riverina Community Library, Xavier College, Woollahra Libraries (Double Bay & Watsons Bay). UK – Keats Community Library, Primrose Hill Community Library. US – Fort Worth Library, Fort Worth, TX, Loudoun County Public Library, Leesburg, VA, Spokane Public Library (Downtown)

Online Retailers
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, The Book People, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org, EK Books, Foyle’s, Hive.co.uk, Indiebound.org, Oliver’s Bookshop

Etsy
Find Arabella and the Magic Pencil inspired toys, games, cards and artwork on Shaney Hyde’s Etsy Store, Hyde N Seek Designs.

About the Illustrator – Shaney Hyde

Shaney Hyde is an Early Childhood Teacher from Melbourne who runs art workshops for children and draws inspiration from her own playful childhood. Arabella and the Magic Pencil is the first book Shaney has illustrated, fulfilling a long-held dream.

About the Publisher – EK Books

EK Books is dedicated to producing quality children’s picture books that tell outstanding stories and which have meaningful ideas as their essence. EK Books was established in 2013 as an imprint of Exisle Publishing. EK Books publishes quality children’s picture books, distributing them to throughout Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Press Assets

Trailer for Arabella and the Magic Pencil

Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin

Author: Stephanie Ward | Illustrator: Vanessa Landin | Publisher: Forwards Press | ISBN: 9780989842310 | Publication Date: November 2014 | Availability: Amazon

YouTube Video of Marine Iguana from Oceana

Many of the unique animals in the Galapagos Islands are endangered. For more information about the Galapagos Islands and how you can help, visit the Galapagos Conservancy at http://www.galapagos.org.

About the Illustrator – Vanessa Landin

Vanessa is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Her creative work on Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin has brought the animal characters from both Ecuador and Antarctica to life in a distinctly modern, yet warm and thoughtful way. Her vast skills as an artist have contributed to many projects for PROECUADOR, POLIGRÁFICA C.A. and Enjoy Media Group. For more information and samples of Vanessa’s broad range of designs and illustrations, visit http://www.elance.com and view her portfolio of work.