Tag London landmarks

Welcome to London / Jane Foster’s London & Jane Foster’s New York

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Welcome to London
Marcos Farina
Button Books
London seems to be a very popular picture book destination at present and Marcos Farina’s quirky, retro style illustrations certainly make it look an exciting one.
Surrealism abounds right from the arrival at a station whose platform will be familiar to fans of Harry Potter. From then on it’s a case of spot the literary references; chortle at the crazy cast of characters or giggle over the multitude of other visual anomalies scattered throughout as we visit the various famous London landmarks and encounter the multitude of characters that make it such a dynamic and vibrant city.

If like me, you know London, you’ll likely never look at it in quite the same way again: you’ll always be on the lookout for a storybook character lurking somewhere, or an animal emerging from the next taxi that stops close by one of its famous stores.

Marcos Farina’s London encompasses parks, sporting venues, bridges,

palaces, galleries, shopping venues, iconic buildings and much more. His clear, graphic, design led illustrations make almost every page a potential poster for the city.

Jane Foster’s London
Jane Foster’s New York
Jane Foster
Templar Publishing
In bold bright colours, designer Jane Foster introduces the very youngest children to two of the world’s most popular tourist cities.
Set against vibrant, sometimes patterned backgrounds, she places famous landmarks, objects and occasional less likely images such as the red squirrel (I wish there were more of those in London), although New York includes a grey squirrel.

Her intricately patterned imagery is sure to engage both toddlers and adults as they enjoy such iconic London sights as the red bus, Big Ben, the London Eye and Tower Bridge but also fish and chips and a pair of wellington boots. New York boasts the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park as well as Broadway theatre and Staten Island ferry. Interestingly both cities have pigeons.
Foster’s characteristic eye-catching mix of strong colour, pattern and retro-styling do these famous cities proud.

I’ve signed the charter  

Love London

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L is for London
Paul Thurlby
Hodder Children’s Books
If you didn’t make it to London over half term, don’t worry. You can take a virtual trip courtesy of this fine alphabetic offering from Paul Thurlby. Delivered with tremendous panache, his instantly recognizable retro-modern style graces every page from its Abbey Road zebra crossing …

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to the (London) Zoo; it quite simply exudes style.
Must visit landmarks include the London Eye, the Globe theatre,  

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Tower Bridge, the Millennium Bridge …

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and Nelson’s Column. You can savour the produce on the stalls at Borough Market, enjoy at least one of the eight Royal Parks, or Kew Gardens …

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travel in a black Cab or board a London bus or the Uunderground.
And no trip to the capital city would be complete without spending time at the V&A museum, browsing in Foyles bookshop or, Harrods for the ultimate shopping experience. Other ‘must dos’ would be to see the Royal Guards in front of Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, the residence of the Prime Minister and the Olympic Park.
In June/July you can watch the tennis at Wimbledon or if it’s a Christmas visit there is day and night outdoor Ice skating at Somerset House.
Although you might have to Queue, the crown Jewels can be viewed at the Tower of London, which is guarded by those legendary Yeomen warders better known as ‘Beefeaters’.
Finally, if one has time, on the South Bank is the oXo Tower, further along from the Royal festival Hall.
Those heading out of London for an international destination might leave from St Pancras station …

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With a scattering of famous faces, a fox to spot at every landmark and fascinating facts as well, this is assuredly a buy to keep and buy to give book.

An altogether different look at our capital city comes in

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Mr Chicken Lands On London
Leigh Hobbs
Allen & Unwin
In his second adventure, the travelling Mr Chicken descends on London – literally, landing gently in the Thames with his waterproof camera safe and sound. He then hotfoots to his favourite hotel the Savoy, having pre-booked the River View Deluxe Room prior to his trip.
After a Thames view breakfast, it’s off to visit her Majesty the Queen for morning tea. This has to be a brief meeting for Mr Chicken has many other things on his itinerary: a climb up St Paul’s Cathedral, an exploration of the Tower of London, a brief column-sharing view of Trafalgar Square with Lord Nelson and a hasty tour of the National Gallery, all before lunch.
After which comes a bus-ride to the London Eye …

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a perch atop the fountain at Piccadilly Circus and an evening visit to the opera; all that before nine fifteen because at precisely that moment he is inside Big Ben itself. Then it’s back to his hotel – briefly – before a moonlit foray along the Thames. Phew! What a busy day; but next morning it’s farewell to London for Mr Chicken and off he flies in his trusty air-balloon. Whither next one wonders …
Told with a tongue-in-cheek text, there’s an abundance of visual humour in this frenetic madcap extravaganza.

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