David Litchfield
David first started to draw when he was very young, taking inspiration from his greatest companions: books and comics. His first endeavours into illustration were the Star Wars and Indiana Jones 'mash up' comics he created for his older brother and sister as a child. David's ideas all start in his sketchbook, and usually with a doodle. That's how his first picture book The Bear and The Piano came about. It went on to win 'Best illustrated book' at the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2016. As well as creating wonderful children's books, he also spends one day a week lecturing students in illustration, graphic design and animation. David's work has appeared across a range of different media, magazines, newspapers, books and on t-shirts.
Books
Grandad’s Secret Giant
Author: David Litchfield
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Interest age: 4-5
Although the Secret Giant is rarely seen, grandad is convinced he exists. Maybe he's lonely, and just needs a friend? There's a mysterious luminosity to the illustrations of this magical story about accepting people who are different.
Kid Christmas (of the Claus Brothers Toy Shop)
Author: David Litchfield
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+
A heartfelt retelling of the Father Christmas legend. In this festive picture book, young apprentice toy-maker Nicky Claus sets out to deliver a special toy to every child so that they can feel happy, at least for one day…
Lights on Cotton Rock
Author: David Litchfield
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Interest age: 8-12
Reading age: 6+
Late one night, Heather sneaks out of her house, into the woods and down to Cotton Rock. She loves the idea of going into space and visiting the stars, but most of all she wants to meet an alien. Sitting on the rock and signalling into the sky with her torch, her dream comes true when a friendly alien arrives in its multicoloured spaceship. But they soon hav…
Peace on Earth
Author: Smriti Halls Illustrator: David Litchfield
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 4-5
Peace on earth – what a wonderful idea that would be! The idea of a sparkling, joyful world is a beautiful one. Yet, sometimes, we can hurt each other, and feel the fires of rage burn deep within us. At times like that, it’s hard to find a sense of peace.
Planet Awesome!
Author: Stacy McAnulty
Illustrator: David Litchfield
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Interest age: 4-8
Reading age: 7+
A humorous, fabulously entertaining and lavishly illustrated introduction to astronomy, geology, natural history and ecology from the point of view of planet Earth herself.
The Bear and the Piano
Author: David Litchfield
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Interest age: 5-8
Reading age: 5+
A bear's piano playing makes him a huge star, but he misses the friends and family he has left behind. A moving tale of exploration and belonging from an exciting debut author-illustrator.
The Building Boy
Author: Ross Montgomery
Illustrator: David Litchfield
Publisher: Faber & Faber
The boy loves his grandmother dearly. Best of all, he loves the stories about her life as a prize-winning architect. One day, she promises she'll build him an extraordinary house. Now his grandmother's gone, and he's heartbroken. But in her garden there are bricks and girder and he begins to build….
When I Was a Child
Author: Andy Stanton & David Litchfield
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 6+
A Grandma talks to her granddaughter about all the magic she has seen in the world, in this picture book that brings the soft, bright nostalgia of childhood alive and captures those "when I was your age" conversations beautifully.