A Secret Worth Sharing.

Hello! Here's a lovely little story for anyone feeling a bit down, a bit miserable because of the dark evenings, or generally not quite 100%.

Something to sweeten your day, sweeten your tea, sweeten the next few minutes!

Just before I start telling you all about this story I'm going to tell you about, it is going to be read by the actor Tristan Gemmill (who appears in the t.v. series Casualty), on CBeebies television programme at the bedtime hour tonight, 6.50 p.m. Exciting don't you think?!

And the story I want to tell you about is my latest book, just published. It's the fifth book in the series of mole books I've done, and it's a very, very sweet story.

These are the other books in the series. They all contain stories about mole conquering different situations, emotions, trials and tribulations, a bit like we all had to as children.

In this book mole finds a out about sharing, which has to be one of the biggest issues to deal with in any childs life, from sharing a toy, to sharing a parent with a sibling. Sharing is a BIG deal.

Sharing is a big deal in to adulthood too don't you think? So adults and children will relate to this story very easily.

Would you like me to take you through the book, in a brief kind of way, as though you were casting your eye over it in a book shop?

Here we go.

This is the front endpaper. I like to set the scene in the mole books with the front end paper, and finish off the story with an image on the back endpaper.

There's mole coming out of his hole.

It's such a beautiful day.

Can you hear the low buzz of insects in the summer sun? Can you feel the warmth of the sun?

Off mole sets, on his happy way.................

The heat! It's too much for a small mole, even an energetic small mole.

Who's THIS?!

Hellooooo ...........

Mole has met a rather sweet mouse, someone his own size, with the prettiest little smile.....................

Mouse is a great little home maker, which mole thinks is rather amazing.

You see that lovely soft moss she's got on the floor as a rug? I wouldn't mind curling up on that myself.

Her leafy bed is somewhere I'd like to hibernate myself.

And there's always flowers in mouse's house. Always.

Mouse is a bit special.

Mole thinks mouse is very special. They seem to have so much to talk about, so much in common. There's just one thing, mole has accidentally-on-purpose decided to keep mouse a secret from his pals. He wants her all to himself, and does not want to share her with his friends AT ALL.

His friends wonder what mole is up to, and are nice enough to go searching for him, isn't that nice of them?

But mole is nowhere to be found.

The next morning mole's friends return, and find mole!

Does mole tell his pals about mouse?

No. Mole somehow neglects to tell his friends about mouse.

So mole's friends get a bit of a surprise when they hear a sweet little mouse-like voice calling to mole.

Check out the guilty, and also slightly worried expression, on Mole's face.

Mole is very put out that mouse is so chatty and friendly with his friends.

Aaaawww mole!

Mouse assures him that he'll always be her special friend, but it's so much more fun to share.

Mouse is a secret worth sharing.......................

The end.

So there you go, a lovely bed time story, a very much shortened version by me, Jonathan Emmett's words make the story much more magical.

It's nice for me to go back to this book, as it's about a year between finishing a book, and it being published and appearing in book shops. I sort off forget about the books I illustrate when they're in no-mans land like that, finished, but not yet published.

I'd better go, because I want to catch it being read on CBeebies.

Vanessa xxx

P.S. You can buy this book on amazon here (U.K. Amazon), here (U.S. Amazon).

P.P.S. I just watched it on t.v. and not only is Tristam Gemmill rather delicious looking, but he read it really, really well. I was so exciting to see it being read, and see my pictures up on the television screen. I was watching it like it wasn't my book, and I was totally entranced! I've just got the link where you can watch it on iplayer for the next seven days, the link is here. Lovely! Have a wonderful weekend! Cheerio!

Comments

[poppy]

Just popped by to say "Wow! I just saw your pictures on CBeebies!" - and here you are posting about it. Such beautiful illustrations and a very sweet story - baby and I enjoyed it a lot!
xx

[Archie the wonder dog]

I just missed it on telly but it's already on the CBeebies iplayer...it was fabulous and I loved the close ups of your wonderful illustrations - well done!

[Planet Penny]

I'll have to see if I can catch it on iplayer, what a sweet story and your mole looks so cuddly!

[Terrie]

I saw it too! I didn't realise it was you until I popped on here. You're so talented! x

[Annie]

Vanessa, you super talented lady, thank you! I have had the most horrendous day, filled with unexpected disappointment and angst and heartache, and for the first time since breakfast I smiled reading this. It was just the tonic I needed. How could one not be cheered by a mole who drags daisy chains behind him.

[louise]

Wow, that's so weird! I've been following your blog for a while now as I love to crochet and knit. I've never really had a good look at your sidebar so had a real suprise today when I read your blog. I'm a teacher and last week I read 'Bringing Down The Moon' to the children I teach. It's such a beauiful book and I can't believe that you're the actual illustrator. Serendipity! Wow, how cool is that! :)!!!

[tinajo]

This is just wonderful - love it! :-)

[Em]

Just watched in on iplayer and it is wonderful, congratulations. I am going to play it to the children in my class next week. They will love it and we have been doing about friendship so it fits in perfectly.

[Carol]

Just enjoyed my bedtime story, thank you Vanessa, that was lovely, what beautiful illustrations. Great message for the little (and not so little) ones.
Carol xx

[julie]

oh, oh oh, does excited happy dance. So thrilled to see another Mole book and your illustrations look even more adorable in this one than ever. Definitely going to be an extra present under the tree now for Butterfly (although she already has Bringing Down the Moon on Santa's sleigh as we gave our other version away to a friend who stayed and loved it too much to leave it behind). Have a lovely weekend, you've just made mine very happy (because I'll be the one reading it, and I love those stories) :)

[Meredith]

Vanessa, thanks so much for sharing this wonderful book with us. Yo are so talented and the pictures are just perfect. You can see every emotion on Mole and all his friends. Loved it. Congrats on a wonderful job.
Meredith

[Teresa Kasner]

Vanessa.. how wonderful that you had a new book published and that it was shown on the telly! You must be so proud! As a fellow artist, I am loving your painting. Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving such sweet comments!
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*M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
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((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[The Muse of The Day]

What a perfect match - the story and the illustrations. In our busy, hectic lives there is always more room for sweetness. Your illustrations show kindness on their faces and what I believe to be the opposite of kindness on the little mole's face - fear, rather than meanness. When I was little I thought the opposite of kindness was being mean (didn't everybody think that?). Now that I am older, I wonder if the real opposite of kindness is fear because when people react out of fear they can appear mean to others. A sweet, simple little story ... has left me with even more to think about. Your illustrations are spot on. Congratulations. Carolina

[lori]

oh vanessa, i am in love with this book and your gorgeous illustrations! how sweet of you to take us through it, a true treat. i am just a little disappointed that i can't watch it read, it seems the tv link plays only to the uk.
oh well...
i've enjoyed the sharing you've done here, so thank you so very much. and CONGRATULATIONS!! xo lori

[Helen]

Wonderful, Vanessa! A lovely book, and how lovely for it to be featured on CBeebies...I hope to catch up and see it too. This is another book for me to acquire and read to my grandbabies! Well done on creating something so sweet and charming.
Helen x

[Jenni at Baa-me Kniits]

Oh dear I can't get to watch it over here in Oz. The illustrations are gorgeous Vanessa and I have to admit to being a secret mole fan, my boys loved those books when they were little. A beautiful story about a touchy subject for littlies...well done to you both :-)

[Jenni at Baa-me Kniits]

Oh dear I can't get to watch it over here in Oz. The illustrations are gorgeous Vanessa and I have to admit to being a secret mole fan, my boys loved those books when they were little. A beautiful story about a touchy subject for littlies...well done to you both :-)

[Siobhan]

Hello Vanessa. I've just watched your lovely little story on CBeebies! It was truly lovely, well done. I'm glad they shared the authorship - quite right too. A picture book IS the pictures.

I thought it was beautifully read and I thought it was really sweet. There is definitely an appropriate message there too. Mind you, I think little mouse is so sweet I would want to keep her secret too! I think I would carry her around in my pocket. I love that she is a little brown mouse too. I think she would be wouldn't she? More the field mouse variety than the little grey mouse that makes us squeal. (Although actually I think they are sweet too - just not in my house!) I love her little fluffy white tummy! The illustrations are a delight. I love all their little faces and characterisations. You manage to put body language into them too, all the little nuances are there. Very charming.

I was wondering if you always wanted to be an illustrator? I always loved pictures in books - even the little line drawings in older children's books. I still remember Eileen Soper from Enid Blyton books. You will have hoards of adults in the future feeling all nostalgic when ever anyone mentions little mole. Bedtime stories create a great deal of happiness and comfort for children. It's a wonderful thing to be such a big part of that.

I really enjoyed your rendition of the story too. You have a way with words as well as pictures you know!

[Donna Flower]

Wow, what an achievement Vanessa. We have so many of your wonderfully illustrated books and Lizzy enjoys them so much (as do I). This is a must buy for us, thank you for sharing clever lady x

[simone]

You are so hugely talented Vanessa. I bought my son 'bringing down the moon' when he was small and remember reading it to him at bedtime. He is 13 now!!! x

[sew]

Well done indeed - you must be soooooo proud! I've just watched it via the link and ordered the book for my granddaughter - your Bunny Girl looks lovely on her bedroom wall too.
Congratulations!
Sue
xx

[Bonnie]

Thanks so much for sharing this!

[mlle paradis]

sorry we couldn't see it in the states! i'm sure it's lovely. congratulations! what an inspiration you are! hope you're having a lovely chrimbley season.

[Alessandra]

No IPlayer here in Indonesia...sob!sob!But I can still send you my congrats!!!
love,xxx Alessandra

[Karoline]

Yay a new Mole book! I look forward to sharing it with my children

[Liz]

Been following your blog for a few months (love it!) and hadn't realised it was you who illustrated one of our household's favourite books, 'Bringing Down the Moon'. Thank you for those charming pictures. They have given my three girls much pleasure over the years. Will have to seek out the other mole books now I know there's more.