Rikin Parekh
Rikin has a foundation degree from Camberwell College of Arts and a degree in illustration from the University of Westminster. After graduating, he worked as a production illustrator/creature designer, freelancing in the film industry, mainly working with monsters. He is a proud member of SCBWI-UK and has 300+ Spider-Man comics to his name. When Rikin isn’t drawing you’ll find him listening to the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, munching away at pizza whilst watching a movie, trying to talk to the birds and stray cats in his garden — or working at a primary school as a Year 6 learning support assistant.
His illustrations are predominately geared towards children from ages three up. The themes of his work revolve around friendships and dreams; he feels it’s very important for children to understand that dreams are something that can become a reality, no matter how big or small. Rikin lives in Wembley, London.
Books
Iguana Boy Saves the World with a Triple Cheese Pizza
Author: James Bishop
Illustrator: Rikin Parekh
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
Interest age: 7-9
Reading age: 7+
Dylan Spencer has a rubbish superpower: he can talk to iguanas. But when all the rest of the world’s superheroes are kidnapped, he is the only one left to save the planet. A hilarious and heartwarming book, packed full of brilliant, comic-strip illustrations.
Iguana Boy vs the 30 Second Thief
Author: James Bishop Illustrator: Rikin Parekh
Publisher: Hodder
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 7+
Iguana Boy has started at Superhero HQ, and his first mission is to escape the Cats in Trees department. Just like the first Iguana Boy book, this is zany, funny and warm – like the X-Men if Spike Milligan had invented their superpowers.
The Worst Class in the World Dares You!
Author: Joanna Nadin Illustrator: Rikin Parekh
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Interest age: 7-10
Reading age: 7+
This is the third book in a hilarious series about the disorderly pupils of Class 4B, labelled 'the worst class in the world' by their brusque headteacher. With two side-splittingly funny short stories, it will delight mischievous children and strike fear into all teachers.