There's nothing more intriguing than a construction site. It's a mesmerizing combination of color and sound, action and excitement: from a wrecking ball smashing into old foundations, bulldozers clearing away the rubble, blocks of concrete achingly being lifted to waiting masons, to steel girders delicately being fitted into place. Paul Stickland has composed all these elements into a celebration of building. Seven high-activity spreads- each with generously sized, child-resistant self-activating pops and a brash, chant-aloud text -follow the process of construction, and culminate in a magnificent foldout scene of the finished project and cheering workers. More spectacular even than his phenomenally successful Dinosaur Stomp and Truck Jam, Big Dig is truly a job well done.
Paul Stickland is the author, illustrator and pop up engineer of many, many children's books, including Dinosaur Roar!, The Christmas Bear, Santa's Workshop, Big Dig, One Bear One Dog, Truck Jam, A Number of Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs Galore, Monkey Business, Ten Terrible Dinosaurs, Bears! and many, many more...
I am based in the ancient town of Sherborne, Dorset, in England.
I have six children, Rowan, Felix, Gus, Kit, Arthur and Tabitha.
For the past few years, despite a rigorous publishing schedule, I have spent as much time as I can out on the road, giving inspirational talks and fun drawing and pop-up workshops to children (and their parents!) in schools, libraries and literary festivals, from Edinburgh, Cheltenham and Glastonbury.
I have worked in the UK, Italy and America, in a great diversity of settings, the more challenging the better!
The visits start with the simplest of readings, through explanations of the process of creating and producing a children's book, to drawing workshops and hands on pop-up workshops. I am happy to work with all sizes of groups. I have found working with children with special needs to be particularly rewarding.
I am a passionate advocate for the world of children's books and as the years pass, I have become more and more drawn to working with and empowering young children to expand their creativity through this magical world.
If you are interested in contacting me, please do so via my website, http://www.paulstickland.co.uk
Do visit my websites, stores and blog:
http://www.paulstickland.co.uk
http://www.dinosaurstore.co.uk
http://www.wix.com/PaulStickland/Truck-Store
http://www.wix.com/PaulStickland/Christmas-Store
http://paulstickland.tumblr.com/
http://www.zazzle.com/paulstickland*
