23.01.12 – Parents In Touch reviews Numbers and Opposites
Numbers by PatrickGeorge
I love this innovative and unusual series from PatrickGeorge. Each double page spread is separated by an acetate sheet – turning the sheet completely transforms the picture, often in a very amusing fashion. They give endless scope for discussion. Numbers is bold and bright – the eye-catching illustrations will attract young children’s attention. Ten fat flies flying around are gradually reduced to one – I love the clever twist whereby you can work out just where each fly went! A lovely book.
Opposites by PatrickGeorge
Opposites is just the right topic for this book from PatrickGeorge. 11 pairs of opposites each with a clear, acetate sheet between them which you flip to see the opposite. An apparently simple concept which works remarkably well. I think my favourite has to be the the bus queue for first and last, closely followed by the parrot in (or out) of his cage.The bold uncluttered illustrations are ideal for young children, who will find hours of entertainment in this book.
28.11.11 – Sunday Telegraph reviews ‘Shapes’
“The simple device of an acetate page between each spread turns ‘Shapes’ (PatrickGeorge, £8.99) from a concept book for toddlers into something special. A semicircle that is a whale on one page flips over to become a railway tunnel, a green triangle becomes a tree that turns into a yellow pyramid. Hypnotically absorbing.”
Sunday Telegraph, 27 November 2011, ‘Books for Christmas: Children’
03.10.11 – TheBabyWebsite.com reviews ‘Shapes’ and ‘Colours’
Overall score: 
“A unique and interesting way of discovering colours”
I am the kind of mum who likes a bargain and where possible I will buy things second hand especially books. However there are a few books I buy new because they are such genuinely interesting books which really appeal to children that I want to add my number to sales figures. The Hungry Caterpillar and Each Peach Pear Plum are two that fall into this category and I feel this book should be included in that group too. I have a four year old daughter, a two year old son and an 11month old baby boy. All of them enjoyed going through this book for different reasons. The baby on discovering pretty colours and animals/objects, the toddler taking the next step onto naming those colours and objects, then my school age daughter taking it to another level by discussing how the colours apparently change and what happens when certain colours are mixed. Even I was sucked in on seeing it because it is a genuinely beautiful book, so bright and inviting and with a nice little surprise which in nearly 5yrs of mother hood I have never seen before.
I have already recommended this to my friends, or I should say it recommended itself as my toddler has been showing it to anyone who has entered my house.
Member review by Lemise – Busy mum of three under fives – review date 30th September 2011
Overall score:
“Gorgeous book”
From the minute we got the book my daughter has not put it down. It is beautifully done with bright colourful pictures that draw the child in (and the parents!!). Very cleverly designed with see through pages that change the pictures on the other pages. would recommend especially with Christmas coming up. Fantastic book.
Member review by Courteney – mum to 3 children with 4th on way – review date 29th September 2011
26.09.11 – Library Mice reviews ‘Colours’ and ‘Shapes’
I had really enjoyed Opposites (see my review here) which introduced me to PatrickGeorge’s beautifully designed books and their utterly original use of acetate paper to create visual tricks and effects. The following titles have just been released and are based on the same principle, making full use of the double page and using acetate paper to transform the illustrations.
Colours
Through the use of specifically coloured shapes on acetate paper, Colours not only introduce colours to young readers but also the notion of colour mixing. For example the use of a blue shape on the acetate in the double spread below not only allows to create a bear and a frog but also to alter the colours on the page – orange becomes brown, yellow becomes green:
There is a lot not only to see but to discuss with young readers, as one discovers how colours interact with one another. It is fascinating and will appeal well beyond the targeted age as a straight-forward introduction to colour mixing.
Shapes
Rather than be a series of unconnected double-spreads, Shapes offers a narrative, as we follow a gift (a red square) from the airport all the way to its recipient and the discovery of what is hiding inside. The use of shapes on acetate here facilitates, and is part of, the storytelling. For example in the double spread below, we can see the truck transporting the gift driving past a pyramid, created by a triangle on the acetate, which then turns into a tree as the landscape changes on the next page:
This works beautifully and the story really needs no words. If anything, it encourages further interaction with the artwork by allowing young audiences and adult readers to make up their own stories. Shapes will also be a real treat for little readers who are keen on transport vehicles as there is a whole selection in this book.
Shapes and Colours might be suitable for 3+, but as with Opposites, their appeal goes way beyond that. Both my children are mesmerised by the visual tricks that the acetate paper facilitates. The combination of contemporary graphic design with child-friendly themes make these books particularly successful. They are beautiful enough that older children and adults will be find them attractive but the use of teddy bears, ice-cream and others will allow them to appeal to the targeted audience. Both books very much encourage interaction between adult and child and although many children will enjoy reading the books and experimenting with the acetate on their own, I think they also offer a great sharing experience.
I don’t think there is anything else quite like PatrickGeorge’s books. This is one independent publisher which will go a long way.
13.06.11 – Junior magazine – July 2011
On the flip side
Sometimes, altering one little detail is all it takes to make everything go topsy turvy. That’s the premise on which ‘Opposites’, created by design company PatrickGeorge (£5.99), works to ingenious effect. Each spread has a sheet of acetate with a design printed on it. Flip it one way and you get one idea, flip it another and you get the opposites. For example, for ‘sun’ there’s a pair relaxing in loungers under a shady parasol. Move the acetate sheet and that parasol transforms into an umbrella to keep off the rain. It’s a fun way to introduce your child to the popular concept of opposites – and the powers of visual trickery.
28.04.11 – Publishers Weekly (US edition) – April 4, 2011
A Filth of Starlings: A Compilation of Bird and Aquatic Animal Group Names
PatrickGeorge. PatrickGeorge (IPG/Trafalgar, dist.), $12.99 paper (48p) ISBN 978-0-9562558-1-5
Stylish, high-contrast digital graphics (mostly silhouettes) from a British design firm playfully portray collective nouns for various animals, while brief, lyrical passages describe each specimen’s physical characteristics and behaviors. ‘A fever of stingrays’ is sleekly envisioned as a white thermometer, in which a red ray’s tail becomes the rising mercury. On another spread, a whale’s tail becomes a professorial figure’s mustache (he wears a graduation cap and glasses) for a ‘school of whales,’ and a tessellated design suggestive of Escher allows a ‘descent’ of abstracted woodpeckers to become a staircase. It’s a thoughtful and well-executed project, and readers should find the ways in which the names mimic and relate to their subjects illuminating. Available simultaneously: A Drove of Bullocks. Ages 7–up. (May)
05.04.11 – The School Librarian, Spring 2011
Opposites by PatrickGeorge
This is a beautifully produced book, aimed at toddlers, and those just beginning their adventure with books. It comes from an imprint fast making a name for itself in the design and production of books for this age range. This one, a witty and challenging exploration of the concept of opposites, follows on the heels of the highly successful nursery rhymes from the same imprint.
At just a little over A5, this book is perfectly sized for small hands, and explores almost wordlessly, the concepts of opposites such as hot, cold, big, small, up, down, first, last etc. illustrated in large flat areas of colour, clear simple diagrammatic drawings with just one word in bold on each page, creates a vibrancy of design and colour which is most attractive.
To allow the reader to explore and interact with the ideas in the book, the authors use see through pages imprinted with objects such as a tear drop shape which, when flipped over the candle page, translates into a flame, or, flipped over the opposite tap page, translates into a drip of water, thus creating endless points for discussion and interaction. This is an inspiring book, imaginatively produced and developed to engage and enrich young minds, don’t miss it!
15.12.10 – PrintWeek December 2010: The Power of print
Push back the creative boundaries
Print may not have the ‘geek appeal’ of the latest digital multimedia toys, but from a creative point of view, the field has never been more exciting.
Children’s books
Peter and Ann Scott, who work as PatrickGeorge, are a creative husband and wife team who publish their own children’s books from an office in Ramsgate, Kent. Past efforts include the self-published A drove of bullocks and A filth of starlings but it’s their fifth and latest title, Opposites, that has seen them put a different visual twist to the PatrickGeorge approach. The book contains 11 double-page spreads of simple opposites or contrasting ideas (for example up-down; big-small; girl-boy; land-sea) with a 0.12mm clear PVC acetate sheet between each spread with a simple graphic printed onto it. That graphic, flipped from left to right, reveals the opposite. For example, the cover shows a candle (hot) and a tap (cold), with a blue tear shaped drop printed on the acetate. When flipped to the left, the drop becomes a candle flame and, against a deep orange background, the drop turns a warm colour. Flipped to the right, against a white background, it becomes the drip of water from a tap. The pair printed 5,000 litho copies of the book in China through World Print.
10.10.10 – Review of Opposites by Nikki Gamble
PatrickGeorge are quickly establishing themselves as a publisher of innovative, stylish graphic books with high production values.
The latest title ‘Opposites’ makes excellent use of the double page spread and flip over acetate to delight readers with a clever take on the concept of ‘opposite’. A big ball larger than a child becomes a small ball held between thumb and forefinger; an arrow pointing to the left becomes an arrow pointing to the right; a hot flame on a candle becomes a cold drip from a blue tap.
As a concept book, I would perhaps question some of the concepts: is rain actually the opposite of sunshine? But the effects are so cleverly achieved that I was more intrigued by the visual playfulness, than concerned about the conceptual accuracy. In truth I would be most inclined to share this book with older readers(9+) with a view to talking about colour, design and typography.
It’s good to see novelty features adding value to the text: the use of acetate is particularly apposite to the subject of this book. Too often flaps, pop-ups and other novelties are used routinely and unimaginatively. I look forward to seeing what Patrick George produce next. I hope they will continue to surprise and delight by finding innovative ways of expressing their ideas.
Nikki Gamble, Write Away
16.07.10 – Review in The School Librarian – Summer 2010
Little Miss Muffet and Other Rhymes
This book is a real treat for us adults as well as children: it’s very attractive, but also interactive and entertaining to keep younger audiences interested, whilst at the same time providing a great, educational tool for teachers.
At the turn of each page, there is a modern, boldly designed and coloured take on a traditional nursery rhyme – from family favourites to first-timers – which will challenge, reward and even surprise children. These rhymes can be played on fingers and toes, sung out loud and looked at again and again.
Significantly, this delightful, wittily, sophisticated collection of graphics is a book for reading together with young children. Likewise it is designed to encourage conversation and visual interaction.
09.07.10 – Junior magazine August 2010 edition
Wise words
If you find yourself languishing in heavy traffic during your family’s summer getaway, your brood could do a lot worse than crib up on some of the more unusual names bestowed on the fair creatures of our planet, courtesy of the delightful book A drove of bullocks (PatrickGeorge, £9.99). Ever heard of a kaleidoscope of butterflies? How about the loveliness of ladybirds? Who knows, this could be the nugget that clinches it when your child is competing on a future edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? And how about creating some of your own monikers? A collection of talkative pensioners alighting from the coach at the services – a chattering, perhaps? And those pesky road cones barring your entry to the outer lane? Surely a battalion.
29.06.10 – INIS – the Children’s Books Ireland magazine – Summer 2010 edition
(Editor’s choice: ‘Reviews’ section ages 5 – 7)
A filth of starlings and A drove of bullocks are charming and informative picture books that introduce the reader to the weird and wonderful group names of animals, insects, birds and aquatic creatures. Everybody has heard of a school of whales but what about a dazzle of zebras or a quiver of cobras?
Each double-page spread illustrates a different animal group with a bold visual pun. A pride of lions is depicted with a yellow rosette that upon closer inspection forms the shape of a lion. These are picture books for a technologically savvy generation. A pod of dolphins is humorously depicted by dolphins listening to iPods.
For every graphic there is a complementary, unobtrusive, bite-size chunk of text providing information about the animal in question. The text gives a few interesting facts that spark curiosity without overwhelming detail. It also plays on the relationship between each animal and its collective noun, highlighting the animal’s personality or habits. In a ‘parliament of owls’ we are told that ‘calling and answering each other across the forest floor, the wise owls debate the issues of the night’.
The vocabulary is often quite sophisticated, however, and words like ‘ubiquitous’ and ‘ostentatious’ may be challenging for some readers. These books are attractive and cleverly presented and there is a lot of fun and discussion to be had trying to interpret the pictures.
Emily McClave
26.03.10 – Design Week preview of What’s in a name?
Name check
Fri, 26 Mar 2010 | By Anna Richardson
Oh, the joy of simple graphic representations. When they involve an effortless play on words, quirky typography and a dollop of humour, they are pure pleasure.
Next month, design consultancy PatrickGeorge is publishing What’s in a name?, a collection of graphic interpretations of 100 boys’ and 100 girls’ names.
From Aaron to Will and Angie to Wendy, the names get an illustrative treatment by PatrickGeorge founder Peter Scott. They are revealed in a realignment of their letters, visually represented or just implied – making some enjoyably obvious and others tantalisingly obscure.
“One day I downloaded a list of names and took it from there,” says Scott. “I would work my way methodically down the list looking at the letters rather than the name itself. I wanted to keep it light and would sketch out the first thing that came into my head.” Some of the finished graphics were done in minutes, he explains, while others “kept me occupied for hours”.
19.03.10 – The Prep School magazine
PatrickGeorge have managed the tricky feat of combining a useful addition to the classroom with some sharp wit and excellent illustrations. A filth of starlings and A drove of bullocks are two visually arresting volumes compiling collective nouns for birds and fish and animals…
11.03.10 – The United Kingdom Literary Association newsletter
We had another mention in the UK Literacy Association Spring newsletter for A drove of bullocks and A filth of starlings. In the section entitled ‘Books to support writing’ they say:
“Here are just a few of the many books – new and old – that provide support and ideas for writing for teachers and children….for example you will probably all have Exciting Writing by Jacqueline Harriet and the two wonderful word books ‘A filth of starlings’ and ‘A drove of bullocks’.”
11.03.10 – Books For Keeps reviews Little Miss Muffet and other rhymes
Divergent, playful, innovative, quirky, expansive, are just a handful of the many adjectives that spring to mind after a first perusal of this deceptively simple book of rhymes. Small in format it may be but each of the twenty or so offerings – an eclectic mix of traditional nursery rhymes including ‘Humpty Dumpty’, ‘Little Miss Muffet’ and ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’, oddities such as ‘Daisy Daisy’, ‘Old Mr Match’ and the infant child-devouring ‘Grizzly Bear’ presented on that small screen, enlarge our perspective of the rhyme obliging the reader to look at it in an entirely new way. Thus “Humpty Dumpty’ is presented merely as T U M P H Y while ‘Pease Pudding’ is three white circles containing red matter, blue matter, and green matter with a spoon strategically angled on the third to become part of the text of the last line.
A fascinating book for all ages especially those with an interest in design and graphics.
08.03.10 – KK Outlet
“Just like my first Star Trek film, I couldn’t take my eyes off this book (A filth of starlings). Designed and created by PatrickGeorge this book not only teaches you about animal group names, it also has some beautiful design ideas in every page.”
By Blake Waters, copywriter, KK Outlet.
KK Outlet is a multifunctional office combining a communications agency with a shop and gallery space. It was set up in 2007 by the Amsterdam based communications agency KesselsKramer.
05.11.09 – The Times
Amanda Craig reviews two children’s books with magical illustrations
A filth of starlings and A drove of bullocks are compilations of animal group names, brilliantly exploited by PatrickGeorge. If you think that these are too sophisticated for a child of 6+, think again. From a parliament of owls, whose eyes are made up of two Big Ben clock faces, to a pod of dolphins (listening to iPods), a school of whales (a schoolmasterly face with a whale’s tail forming moustache and tie), these are stylish, witty visual puns. They are books to read and explain, but the elegance with which each picture is drawn would work on T-shirts or calendars.
04.11.09 – Christmas supplement to Carousel guide to children’s books, Autumn 2009
There is a wonderful, uninhibited, colourful approach to these compilations of collective nouns. Full of charm and wit, the lively pictures are fun for all the family and immensely stimulating for young artists. The text is informative and accessible – some of the group names are very well known, but I’m certain you will enjoy the more fanciful ones. Challenge your Christmas Party guests to identify the illustrations!
02.11.09 – The United Kingdom Literary Association newsletter
This year’s UKLA International Conference theme was ‘Making Connections: Building literate communities in and beyond the classroom’. Our books, which were for sale at the conference bookshop, inspired the following review in the current UKLA newsletter.
“For children (and all teachers of literacy and/art) there were two beautifully produced books about words, images and colours which defy description. A filth of starlings and A drove of bullocks (both published by PatrickGeorge) are well worth seeking out. They could inspire magical language or art work with youngsters as well as being absorbing to read alone or – better still – alongside a friend to share thoughts about each page.”
30.10.09 – Derek Birdsall RDI
“Following in the tradition of Lionni, Rand and Chermayeff, these books (A drove of bullocks and A filth of starlings) are finally designed for today’s younger generation and not least some adults.”
21.10.09 – Wendy Cooling MBE
“Collective nouns have always been slightly crazy but two great new books, A filth of starlings and A drove of bullocks take it all a step further. These splendidly designed books are for art departments as well as English departments and should be in every school – yes, secondary too. The stunningly original graphics illustrate collective nouns old and new – I love ‘A flamboyance of flamingos’ and ‘An implausibility of gnus’ and, and… How rare it is to find books that are a joy to browse through, that can be looked at again and again – and if learning there must be, are great for growing vocabulary and creative thinking.”
Wendy is a children’s book author and founder of Bookstart, a national programme which gives free books to every child in the UK. She is also winner of the Eleanor Farjeon award, given in recognition of an individual’s contribution to the world of children’s books. In addition to being an author, editor, and reviewer, Wendy Cooling is a well-known consultant in the field of children’s literacy, and she often appears as a guest on radio and television programmes to discuss children’s literature.
01.09.09 – The School Librarian, Autumn 2009
Far too often my phone rings and a voice says ‘I’ve written a book for children and…’ and… and I know it is privately published, or vanity-publisher produced, effort which more often than not is poorly edited, not at all attractively set out and of far less value to the world than in the author’s own estimation. But very occasionally what arrives can be an absolute gem. These two books (A drove of bullocks and A filth of starlings) are wonderful, fresh looking with exemplary design, layout and print and with stunning quality colours. And yes they are ‘privately’ conceived, created and produced, by a husband and wife team with their own group-of-two name of PatrickGeorge. Within both books each double-page spread is devoted to a collective noun for a group of creatures and all are accurate and true however unlikely some might appear at first. Each has a graphic representation of the collective phrase and each of these is brilliant, bold, delightful, clever, funny and very, very witty. Each has a short paragraph of explanation and enlargement on the lower left-hand of the pages with a silhouette of the animal featured. The overall effect is visually highly attractive and so almost impossible to convey in a verbal descriptive piece, hence the illustration to accompany this review.
The few words are very well phrased so that, for example, ‘A litter of kittens’ has these cosy, soft pets ‘purring, kneading and trusting’ with, of course, the middle one of these three, the paw/claw settling movement, pronounced as needing when read aloud. Whilst I could think of so many uses with these books in both primary and secondary schools the main focus has to be on sheer enjoyment, they are such fun! The pair of them make for a real duo of delights, and to cap it all I understand that currently school or school library direct sales are at a cost of £6.99 each. Irresistible – put them near the top of any acquisitions shortlist – buy them.
01.07.09 – Chris Brown, Winner of the Eleanor Farjeon Award for 2008
“Your two books (A drove of bullocks and A filth of starlings) are stunning, gorgeous, and tremendously appealing…the quality of the design and the colour printing is superb. The words for each ‘entry’ are so unusually precise and yet brilliantly expansive in effect. And the whole thing is so witty.”