Welcome to the wonderful world of Brian Wildsmith


Answer the call of the wild with Brian Wildsmith’s
Animal Kingdom
Paws, Claws, Tails & Roars

A stunningly beautiful gift book from one of the world’s best illustrators
presented with a foreword from shining star of children’s literature, Michael Rosen.
96 Pages - Hardback with gold page edges - Dimensions: 305x204mm

Published: 7th September 2023
£20,00

PAWS CLAWS TAILS & ROARS IS AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE IN ALL GOOD BOOKSHOPS

"Wildsmith's signature vivid colour palette springs off the pages; each textured brushstroke and paint splatter is faithfully reproduced... every spread is a tour de force. This book is bound to bring the mastery of Brian Wildsmith to a new generation of aspiring artists and animal lovers alike." - Emilly Sutton, Artist and Illustrator

 
 

PAWS, CLAWS TAILS & ROARS - REVIEWS:

"There is a glory in the mess and splash of paint, of brush marks and scratches, dabbings and accidental splatterings. There is sensuous pleasure too in the quality of the design and structure of the book - glorious gold edged pages and a fine textured cover. The images presented for us here are still as startling as the glimpse of a tiger in the trees, or a kingfisher swooping along a river. I am so happy that another generation of children gets to immerse themselves in this joyful work!"
Jane Ray, Author and Illustrator of The Story Collector series

"This book is a call for us all to whoop and howl for the wild... His art is joyous, bursting with skilful spontaneity, expressive vibrant colour, texture and pattern, and layered with sensitivity, soul and love."
Cathy Fisher, Illustrator of The Panda's Child

"What a joy to see Brian Wildsmith's colourful, expressive and painterly illustrations brought together in Paws, Claws, Tails and Roars."
Jonathan Emmerson, Illustrator of Above Below and Long Ago

"Beautiful in all particulars, and just as relevant as The Lost Words - It deserves to be as widely celebrated! What a gorgeous tribute to Brian."
James Mayhew, Author and Illustrator of the Katie series and the Ella Bella series

“A big roar for Brian Wildsmith and Oxford University Press! In a world where so much seems disposable, fleeting and transient it is a wonderful bear witness to the decades of ongoing association between these two great names.
Paws Claws Tails and Roars is a glorious book – a celebration of the late Brian Wildsmith, whose contribution to modern book illustration, indeed art as a whole, is as forceful now as it was during his lifetime. Brian broke the mould, and this beautifully produced book by OUP, with artwork digitally re-mastered by his son Simon, is a testament to his talent.
Simple, elegant with humour and sophistication, Paws Claws Tails and Roars celebrates our fragile natural world on land, sea and air. The thoughtful and pertinent introduction by former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen leads us into a sumptuous banquet of colour and design; leafing through its pages to espy skulks of Foxes, parties of Jays and flotillas of Swordfish!
This magnificent large-format full-colour edition introduces this world-famous artist to yet another generation; it is an absolute feast. If Brian were here now he would be thrilled, and I am sure he looks down on this latest publication with a warm smile and a chuckle of his trade-mark Yorkshire humour.
I count myself blessed to have known him, and am delighted to see his name spring out from the shelves of our bookshops once again.”
John Huddy, ILeopard Creative Arts Consultancy

"Exuberant colour, layers of texture and pattern, along with an abundance of energy leaps off the page in this wondrous collection"
Jo Empson, Author and Illustrator of Rabbityness