Neal Layton's live digital performance

For the final day of The Children’s Bookshow Digital Festival we ventured into the wonderful world of picture books. Writer and illustrator Neal Layton (and Dora the dog) joined us from his Portsmouth studio to share his methods, media and musical talents. We were treated to a behind-the-scenes mosey through Neal’s inspiration and creation of Stanley’s Stick, Neal's picture book with writer John Hegley. From a blank page, Stanley magically appeared before our eyes, with a pen line here, a cut out there, a splash of colour - voila! There he was. A reading of a Bookshow favourite, The Tree transported us to the woods with background birdsong and Neal’s evocative illustrations, maybe a drey to be found too? As always we found time for the best children’s questions and closed with a quick blast of Stanley’s stick saxophone.