A wonderful new review for Monkey Magic: The Curse of Mukada from Arthur and Sarah at the excellent Books Up North children's literature blog.

"It is a gripping, super and enchanting book for anyone
and everyone to read."

Here's an interview with Literary Titan, a book reviewer that has awarded a gold star award for Uncle Bill's Missing Tooth.  

LITERARY TITAN Uncle Bill’s Missing Tooth takes readers on a fun rhyming journey to find out how uncle Bill lost his tooth. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?

GRANT S. CLARK It literally came to me in the middle of the night! I suddenly woke up and the idea flashed into my mind, escaped through an ear but then luckily jumped back in. I thought it might be a sign I was about to lose a tooth, but fortunately I’ve managed to hold on to my entire set since then, despite a fondness for cake.

LITERARY TITAN I loved the art in the book. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Lizzie Nelson?

GRANT It was wonderful, even though we were on opposite sides of the world. Lizzie is in the U.S. and I lived in Singapore then London during the book’s creation. I say wonderful mostly because Lizzie is lovely, funny and smart (we’ve known each other since school days) and came up with all the good visual ideas! I’m proud to be part of a publication that includes probably the first ever illustration of a tooth that breaks wind.

LITERARY TITAN There were lots of humorous scenes in the book. What was your favorite scene from the book?

GRANT I enjoyed the idea of dastardly animal poachers getting their comeuppance. Instead of making off with an elephant’s giant tusk, they ended up with Bill’s piddly tooth. Lizzie’s beautiful safari illustrations were the icing on the cake. Did I mention that I like cake?

LITERARY TITAN What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

GRANT Lizzie and I are almost done on another fun rhyming story called The Extra-Gifted Mr Fripp about a teacher who shocks his class by revealing a sixth finger on one hand. It’s an amusing look at how we daftly judge people based on appearances, so has something of an important message. I read it at a kids’ book festival in India and lots of people asked for a copy, which was a good sign. It certainly has more of a message than Uncle Bill’s Missing Tooth, although I feel it’s important to remind people who have a gap in their gums that they can save the effort of picking up drinks by using a very long straw.

Interview was published here

Excited that Lizzie and I have been given a gold award by Literary Titan for Uncle Bill's Missing Tooth!

Thanks to #literarytitan https://wp.me/p3cyvH-8a4

Exciting to read these reviews of Uncle Bill's Missing Tooth!

"Lovely book with a simple rhyming pattern that young children will enjoy. Great illustrations that perfectly match the text. Great book for young ones!" Jen, U.K.



"My son loved reading this book! Beautiful illustrations on every page. Delights young readers and parents, too. Highly recommend." Stella, U.S.A.

"Loved this book! Original story, amusing illustrations. Not just for kids, it certainly made this toothless granny laugh." Mrs. H, UK

"Easy to read rhyming verse with amusing illustrations especially the farty tooth." Sar, U.K.

"What a joy to read! Written in rhyme this fantastic whimsical poem was a giggle a verse. With brilliant illustrations that simply add to the comical effect. Making the book a very entertaining read. We would highly recommend this book especially if you have a little one or even a big one who has lost a tooth." Lisa, U.K.

"What a fun book! My son loved it! Especially how the kids tried to guess about the tooth! Lovely illustration too." Hanaa, U.K.

See original reviews here.

Many thanks to George and Honey at Pipworth Community Primary School in Sheffield for the first kids' review of Uncle Bill's Missing Tooth.

"You should buy this book because it's really funny and you’ll have a fun time reading it to yourself and to your family."

Many thanks to Tana Ramsay for finding the time to read Uncle Bill's Missing Tooth with super-cute son Oscar.

"Lovely book. Oscar is quite fascinated and
we have really enjoyed reading it together!" Tana Ramsay

Uncle Bill's Missing Tooth is out now!

Grant S. Clark and Lizzie Nelson's fun new picture book - Uncle Bill's Missing Tooth - is now available to pre-order on Kindle.

The paperback and ebook will be out on 1st August.

"A really good book that will keep the children entertained."
Rugby legend Sir Bill Beaumont

Click here to pre-order on Kindle.

Only a few days left now. Win signed copies of the entire Monkey Magic series plus an advanced copy of Uncle Bill's Missing Teeth in a competition in the latest Nat Geo Kids magazine (also on the website)!

While you are there you could try winning a lookout tower (useful for monkeys to rest on) as well as tickets to the acclaimed Billionaire Boy show based on David Walliams' book.

Click on the photos above to get to the competition.

There's a new character in The Ghostly Thieves of New York called Inspector Bart Rose, the private detective with New York's biggest nose.

I liked the idea so much of someone using his super-sized schnozzle to solve crimes that I wrote a story/humorous verse about Inspector Rose called The Mystery of Windy Bay. Watch out for news about its release!

As Inspector Bart Rose put it:

"There’s few walks of life
Where a large hooter’s useful.
In my line of work
It’s completely essential.
 
I investigate smells,
I’m the man they send for
When a difficult case
Hangs on an odour.

See, singers need deep lungs,
Surgeons a cool hand;
To do what I do
Takes a beak like a toucan."
 

There's a new entry in the top 50 bestsellers for children's chapter books on Amazon! Can you guess what's No. 1 and No. 2?

In the first part of the Monkey Magic series, Romy discovers that she has a  mysterious power -- and that she alone can help bring an end to generations of suffering for the orangutans of Mukada. 

Congratulations to the winners of the draw for the newly released
The Ghostly Thieves of New York! All from the U.K., they were:

 Alex in Cheltenham
Nicky in Hoddesdon
Jenny in Ribbleton
Hana in Kingston
Michelle in Dronfield

There's another competition to win the entire series in National Geographic Kids magazine at the end of May. Details coming...

Talking of the entire series, U.K. readers can get the three books together half-price for a limited time — all signed by the author Grant S. Clark!

​Click here for details.

To celebrate the release of the third part of the Monkey Magic series, here's a deal for U.K. readers: buy all three paperbacks for just £10 (half the price on Amazon) plus postage -- and the author will sign them!
Click on this link for the deal.  

Part III of the Monkey Magic series is out in Europe and the U.S.!
"A magical story" - Siona Mitra, Expat Living Magazine

Click here to buy ​the ebook or paperback on Amazon.

In the immortal words of Pink Floyd:
"Hey teacher, read them kids a poem!"
Or a book.

Monkey Magic has been read all over the world in classrooms to entertain children, and to shine a light on some of the challenges facing the planet. Some schools added The Curse of Mukada to their curriculum and one even put on a play based on the book.

Maybe it's one for your classroom?
​

​“Cleverly woven with delicious subplots, Monkey Magic is also strewn with environmental references and information that are played upon in a subtle but vital way. I’ve always loved an engaging story that also teaches – parents, teachers and librarians will be similarly enthralled, for this very reason – but I’m also happy to say that kids won’t become bogged down in a plot full of preaching. The messages are well done, the plot is well-crafted and the storyline is full of enough action, adventure, magic, baddies and goodies to make it a real page-turner.” 
TANIA McCARTNEY, Kids Book Review

 "Highly recommended as a story telling resource for primary aged children - one which takes them on an adventure to the jungles of Borneo to meet the orangutans and also one that inspires thought regarding the current conservation issues of illegal logging in Indonesia and protection of the jungles and the orangutans natural habitat."
JULIE NEWNHAM, Australian author and teacher 

This could be a first: a book with a farting tooth. This wonderful illustration by Lizzie Nelson for Uncle Bill's Missing Tooth is a blast.
But hold your breath: this bedtime read will not be
released until the summer!

The most important reviews for children's books are - surprise surprise - from kids.

Sounds obvious, but the need to get a book "noticed" means children's authors understandably obsess about what non-kids think.

That's why I included reader reviews on this website. (Send your review in and we'll add it!) Here's a sample that made us smile:

It's very cool to be keeping company with "Hop, Bunny!"
and "Sam the Speedy Sloth!" 

Are orangutans from Brighton and Hove
or from Sumatra and Borneo?
Test your knowledge in this quiz!

Yes, they are all in the same city. But they are also key locations in the latest Monkey Magic book: The Ghostly Thieves of New York. I took the top-left picture in snowy Manhattan while doing research for the book. 

More details on how to buy the book at Amazon here. 

The Ghostly Thieves of New York will be released in the U.S. and Europe on 1st May. A review by Siona Mitra for Expat Living magazine:

"This is the marvellous third book in the Monkey Magic series. It is a magical story. A series of unexpected twists and turns keeps the reader fully engaged. This book also brings a great environmental message about conservation. It is a special treat for all young animal lovers. I strongly recommend this book to students aged eight to 13." 

Pre-order a copy at Amazon here or scroll down
​for information about how to join the draw for a free signed copy.

If you have any questions, send them via the contacts page. Here's one from Lucy Goodman in Sydney, Australia: What was your best and worst book reading?

The worst was probably when I set a record (I believe) for the fewest books sold at a book reading. It was in Singapore and only a handful of people showed up and nobody bought a book.

The only person interested won the book I was giving away as a prize! So I ended up with sales of negative one books - a record perhaps?

Another time I was talking to a big group in a big book shop and somebody walked in front of me and asked me where the toilets were! 

My best experience was addressing many hundreds of kids at a brilliant book festival in New Delhi called Bookeroo. There were authors and children everywhere united by their love of books.