1-From the Gruffalo to Scarecrows: The World of Axel Scheffler and Julia Donaldson
Artist Axel Scheffler and writer Julia Donaldson first teamed up in 1993, and since then they have published 12 books, including The Gruffalo (1999). This stunning BookBench, created by Axel Scheffler, celebrates their most lovable characters. The Gruffalo , one of the world’s bestloved monsters, is featured alongside characters from nine of their collective works: from their first book, A Squash and a Squeeze, to an exclusive first look at characters from their latest book The Scarecrows’ Wedding. The BookBench is inspired by a range of Scheffler/Donaldson characters, and was created by Axel Scheffler himself. Make sure you visit this very special BookBench and see if you can spot all the characters!
Axel Scheffler Axel Scheffler created the From the Gruffalo to Scarecrows: The World of Axel Scheffler and Julia Donaldson BookBench, bringing the pair’s beloved characters together for the first time.In the artist's words: “It is a pleasure to support the National Literacy Trust in this imaginative public celebration of storytelling in London. I hope many families enjoy the bench and that it sparks their interest in stories over the summer.” Julia Donaldson’s most popular characters from The Gruffalo to Stick Man have been brought together by illustrator Axel Scheffler in an astonishing never-before-seen combination. Scheffler has painted characters from nine of their collective works on the BookBench: from their first book, A Squash and a Squeeze,to an exclusive first look at characters from their latest book The Scarecrows’ Wedding. Axel Scheffler commented: “Painting the BookBench was an extraordinary experience – being one of the most unusual objects I have ever painted and the first time all these characters have appeared together. It is a pleasure to support The National Literacy Trust in this imaginative public celebration of storytelling in London. I hope many families enjoy the bench and that it sparks their interest in stories over the summer.” The beautiful BookBench can be found in More London, on the south bank of the River Thames, opposite the Tower of London and off Tooley Street. It forms part of the Books about Town Riverside Trail.
2- Clarice Bean
All Clarice Bean wants is a bit of peace and quiet. But that can be hard to find in a house where your little brother is being utterly annoying, your big brother is in the dark tunnel of adolescence and your grandad is pouring soup on his cornflakes. Clarice introduces us to her life and family in the original book that launched the hugely successful, critically-acclaimed Clarice Bean series, written and illustrated by Lauren Child. The Clarice Bean BookBench was designed by Lauren herself and brought to life by artist Jane Headford. Make sure to visit this popular character this summer – she won’t hang around for long!
Lauren Child (original illustrations) Created by Jane Headford Lauren Child is the author and illustrator behind the Clarice Bean series and the Charlie and Lola picture books. She won a Greenaway Medal for the first Charlie and Lola book, I Will Not Ever, NEVER Eat a Tomato. She designed a BookBench based on the Clarice Bean series, brought to life by Jane Headford. Jane Headford trained as a scenic artist in London, and paints sets, animatronics and murals for theatre, film and museums. She is now art director at Dartura in the Pennine town of Holmfirth and has created four BookBenches for Books about Town.
3- The Librarian
With over 80 million Discworld books in 37 languages, we hope that fans are impressed by our BookBench depicting the Librarian, a character who first appears in the debut novel, The Colour of Magic. The series is named after a flat disc balanced on the backs of four elephants which, in turn, stand on the back of a giant turtle, Great A'Tuin. This is the world in which the Librarian is turned into an orang-utan and chooses to remain so as he realises he prefers it to human form. As a further treat for Discworld fans, this BookBench has been created by Paul Kidby, who has designed the Discworld book covers since 2002.
Paul Kidby Self-taught artist Paul Kidby was born in West London in 1964. He left school at 17 and worked as a commercial artist before becoming a freelance illustrator in 1986. He is best known for being the ‘artist of choice’ for the award-winning writer Sir Terry Pratchett, and has designed the Discworld book jackets since 2002. He has created a BookBench based on his own Discworld illustrations.
4- Dr Seuss
Theodor Seuss Geisel, best known as the beloved Dr Seuss, was an American writer and cartoonist. He wrote 46 children’s books, including The Cat in the Hat (1957). The Cat shows up at the house of Sally and her brother one rainy day when their mother is away. Left alone, they think they're in for a dull day - until the Cat in the Hat steps in on the mat, bringing with him mayhem and madness! Geisel created the book in response to a debate in the United States about literacy in early childhood, so it is very fitting that it inspires a BookBench as part of our project to celebrate reading for pleasure and help us raise literacy levels in the UK.
Theodor Seuss Geisel (artwork) Created by Jane Headford Theodor Seuss Geisel was an American writer and illustrator. He wrote over 46 children’s books including the beloved The Cat in the Hat. He wrote books that make people think and imagine, so we hope the BookBench painted by Jane Headford does the same! Jane Headford trained as a scenic artist in London, and paints sets, animatronics and murals for theatre, film and museums. She is now art director at Dartura in the Pennine town of Holmfirth and has created four BookBenches for Books about Town.
5- Great Expectations
Great Expectations is a coming-of-age novel, and it is a classic work of Victorian literature. It depicts the growth and personal development of an orphan named Pip. The novel was first published in serial form in Dickens' weekly periodical All the Year Round, from 1 December 1860 to August 1861. Dickens spent most of his life in London, and his descriptions of 19th century London allow readers to experience the sights, smells and sounds of the old city. The Dickens BookBench marks this extraordinary contribution to our literary heritage.
Ivan Liotchev Ivan Liotchev created a BookBench based on Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. Ivan was born in Bulgaria and grew up in the USA. He is a fine artist and Director of the International Collaborative Drawing Project in Manchester. Ivan is an associate artist with Emergency Exit Arts, a London-based outdoor arts company who enhance places, enable people and astonish audiences.
6- How to Train Your Dragon
Read the books that inspired the How to Train Your Dragon films! Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was an awesome sword-fighter, a dragon-whisperer and the greatest Viking Hero who ever lived. But it wasn't always like that. In fact, in the beginning, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was the most put upon Viking you'd ever seen. Not loud enough to make himself heard at dinner with his father, Stoick the Vast; not hard enough to beat his chief rival, Snotlout, at Bashyball, the number one school sport and CERTAINLY not stupid enough to go into a cave full of dragons to find a pet... This BookBench was designed by the author, Cressida Cowell, who took inspiration from her childhood: “As a child I grew up in London and on a remote Scottish island where I was inspired to create my world of dragons and Vikings. Sit on this BookBench and imagine dragons wheeling above you in the skies.�
Cressida Cowell (original illustrations) Created by Gerard Strong Cressida Cowell is a British author best known for her How to Train Your Dragon series which has been adapted for screen by DreamWorks Animation. Cressida produced the design for the How to Train Your Dragon BookBench, which was then painted on by scenic artist Gerard Strong.
7- Please Look After This Bear. Thank You.
Do you know the story of London’s most iconic bear? Although Paddington now lives in London, England, he originally came from Darkest Peru where he was brought up by his Aunt Lucy. When Aunt Lucy went to live in the Home for Retired Bears in Lima, she decided to send him to live in England. Eventually, Paddington arrived at Paddington Station in London where he was found by Mr and Mrs Brown. He was sitting on a small suitcase with a label round his neck with the words “Please Look After This Bear. Thank You.” Unable to resist such a simple request, Mr and Mrs Brown took Paddington home to live with them and their two children, Jonathan and Judy and their housekeeper, Mrs Bird. The stories that followed about Paddington Bear and his adventures have delighted children for decades. Join him for a marmalade sandwich on this very special BookBench this summer!
Michelle Heron Michelle Heron brought the much loved bear to life with a BookBench based on A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond. In the artist's words: “I wanted to create a place where people can stop rushing about and sit down to eat their sandwiches with Paddington Bear and keep him company while they ponder their next adventure. With a movie on its way, Paddington needs all the rest he can get before things get busy!”
8- Shakespeare's London
How could we celebrate London's literary heritage without a Shakespeare bench? No matter what your favourite play is, this bench will draw you into Shakespeare's amazing world, from the magic of A Midsummer Night's Dream and the mayhem of Love's Labour's Lost, to the heart-wrenching romance of Romeo and Juliet and the hilarious comedy of Much Ado About Nothing. So dig out your favourite Shakespeare quotes and celebrate our greatest playwright.
Lucy Dalzell Lucy Dalzell is a freelance illustrator based in London. Her artwork is playful and mostly inspired by people, places and hidden stories, often with a focus on transitioning landscapes. She created a BookBench depicting Shakespeare's London.
9- Through the Looking Glass
Everyone knows the story of how Alice fell down a rabbit hole and discovered a strange world of wonder and adventure, where she encountered mad tea parties, cats that disappeared at will and the ill-tempered Queen of Hearts. The British classic written by Lewis Carroll nearly 150 years ago remains a favourite children’s story the world over. This summer you can discover Wonderland in a new way with a stunning BookBench based on the sequel, Through the Looking Glass. The iconic Through the Looking Glass BookBench has been designed by British cartoonist Ralph Steadman. Steadman is perhaps best known for his work with American author Hunter S. Thompson and
Fear and
Loathing in Las Vegas. He is renowned for social and political caricatures, cartoons and picture books.
Ralph Steadman Ralph Steadman is a British artist known for his work with American author Hunter S Thompson. He is renowned for his political and social caricatures and cartoons and picture books. He won a Francis Williams Book Illustration Award for his illustrations for Alice in Wonderland, and has created a BookBench based on Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll.In his own words: “I chose Alice because I had illustrated Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. I thought that the chessboard augmented the sense of space and perspective within the design and made the bench graphically appealing.”
10- War Horse
War Horse is the children’s novel by Michael Morpurgo. The story recounts the experiences of Joey, a horse purchased by the Army for service in France during World War I and the attempts of young Albert, his previous owner, to bring him safely home. It formed the basis of both an award-winning play (2007) and an acclaimed film (2011). 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of World War I and we are proud to include the War Horse BookBench in the centennial commemorations.
Rae Smith (original illustration) Created by Gerard Strong The Olivier and OBE award-winning British designer Rae Smith works regularly in a wide variety of styles and genres. Rae Smith’s theatre designs are frequently seen in Britain in the West End, at the National Theatre, the Royal Court, the Lyric Hammersmith, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Theatre de Complicité and in a variety of experimental theatre companies.Scenic artist Gerard Strong created the War Horse BookBench based on Rae Smith's original illustrations.
11- The World's Biggest Flipbook
Jeremy Banks or “Banx” was born in London in 1959. He has been a professional freelance cartoonist since 1980, and since 1989 has been pocket cartoonist for the Financial Times. In 2008 and 2012 was voted Pocket Cartoonist of the Year by the Cartoon Art Trust. Banx’ work has appeared in many publications, including Punch, Private Eye and the London Evening Standard. His books include: Cubes, The Many Deaths of Norman Spittal (which he also transformed into a series of animations with Bob Godfrey Films and Red Kite), Big Fat Sleepy Cat, and The Dewsburys. Jeremy Banx has created a special BookBench to celebrate reading for pleasure. Bring your favourite book – you’ll have company!
Jeremy Banx Jeremy Banx’s award-winning cartoonist’s gags appear daily in the Financial Times and he has worked for Private Eye, the New Statesman and Punch.In the artist's words: “Just flip the pages. The people will turn their pages and the pigeons will fly away.”