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A new record! 12 new picture books hit our shelves in 2023
21st December 2023
2023 has been a big year for Living Paintings. We’ve doubled the number of blind and visually impaired children using our service – and more children means we need more books. A busy 2024 lies ahead!
Luckily, we’ve made an incredible start, publishing a record number of new accessible picture books that blind and visually impaired children can explore through touch and sound in 2023.
Publishing Manager, Liz Davies, says:
“The fact we’ve been able to publish this many books in a year is a testament to the hard work of our incredible volunteer production team and the amazing relationships we have built over three decades with the children’s publishing industry, authors and illustrators. Having their support in adapting their work for blind children means we’re able to bring our members the world’s best-loved books of the moment – so no blind child needs to miss out on the stories, characters and settings captivating their sighted peers.”
Take a look at our 2023 arrivals below. Remember, our postal library of Touch to See books for blind and visually impaired children is totally free – so if you’re not already a member, join today!
Sharing a Shell
Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks
Sharing a Shell is a charming underwater tale of friendship and fun from the picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks, creators of What the Ladybird Heard. With brilliant rhythmic verse, bright and distinctive illustrations, this is a firm favourite with children and parents alike.
Coming to England
Floella Benjamin and Diane Ewen
Coming to England is the inspiring true story of Baroness Floella Benjamin: from Trinidad, to London as part of the Windrush generation, to the House of Lords. This powerful story shows little people how courage and determination can always overcome adversity. With an audio guide by the amazing Lenora Crichlow.
Clean up!
Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola
An incredible story that helps youngsters learn more about the environment and the impact of plastic pollution on our beaches and marine wildlife.
When Rocket goes on holiday to visit her grandparents, she’s shocked by the pollution that’s spoiling their island home and putting the local sea life at risk. Read by presenter and artist Josie D’Arby.
Ruby’s Worry
Tom Percival
Ruby loves being Ruby. Until, one day, she finds a worry. At first it’s not such a big worry, and that’s all right, but then it starts to grow. It gets bigger and bigger every day and it makes Ruby sad. How can Ruby get rid of it and feel like herself again?
From Tom Percival’s bestselling Big Bright Feelings series, this is the perfect book for discussing childhood worries and anxieties, no matter how big or small they may be.
Ready Steady Mo!
Sir Mo Farah and Kes Gray
From Olympic gold medal winner Mo Farah and bestselling author of Oi Frog!, Kes Gray, comes a fun and action-packed picture book that will get kids reading, and moving too! Follow Mo on his madcap adventures as his running skills go from strength to strength.
This comes with a special audio guide by Sir Mo Farah himself and CBeebies’ Ben Cajee.
Look Up!
Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola
This joyous, life-affirming picture book introduces the lovable Rocket, a space-obsessed girl who wants everybody to be as excited as her about an impending meteor shower.
Bursting with energy and passion about space and the natural world, this heart-warming picture book will reignite your desire to turn off those screens and switch on to the outside world.
With an audio guide by BAFTA winning actress, Naomi Ackie.
Dance with Oti: The Bird Jive
Oti Mabuse and Samara Hardy
Written by Strictly Come Dancing superstar Oti Mabuse, this debut picture book will make you want to get up and dance, dance, dance! Join Oti in her dance studio, meet her class and learn The Bird Jive in ten easy steps!
An incredible picture book to help kids get moving and unleash their creativity! We were honoured to have Oti Mabuse provide the audio guide for her book!
The Burpee Bears
Joe Wicks and Paul Howard
Meet the Burpee Bears in this glorious picture book created by ‘the Nation’s Favourite PE Teacher’, Joe Wicks!
For this bear family, every day is a new day: a day for adventure and discovery. True to Joe’s ethos, each book will feature a fun and positive story. With added exercises –including burpees – and recipes, this book is perfect for families to share and enjoy together!
Little People Big Dreams: David Attenborough
Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Mikyo Noh
In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of David Attenborough, the inspiring broadcaster and conservationist.
Time to Move South for Winter
Clare Helen Welsh and Jenny Lovlie
A breathtaking picture book about incredible animal migrations, illustrated by the winner of the 2019 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, Jenny Løvlie.
A beautiful, lyrical and reassuring bedtime story, perfect for young animal lovers, with a map and double-page spread of non-fiction facts at the end.
Read by wildlife presenter, Megan McCubbin.
First Day at Bug School
Sam Lloyd
A reassuring story to soothe anxiety about starting school. Welcome to Bug School! Don’t be nervous on your first day – it’s lots of fun. Learn to creep with the spiders, sing with the crickets, count spots with the ladybirds and hop, skip and jump in P.E. with the fleas! A rhythmic, bright celebration of school, starring some very cute bugs indeed!
Superhero Like You
Dr Ranj Singh and Liam Darcy
A celebration of incredible key-workers by Dr Ranj Singh, an NHS paediatrician and BAFTA-award-winning TV presenter (including CBeebies series Get Well Soon). The audio guide is read by Dr Ranj Singh. This uplifting picture book celebrates key-workers, and shows little readers that we all have the potential within us to be superheroes.
With an audio guide by Dr Ranj himself!