Rebecca Ashdown
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familyofbeasts.bsky.social
Rebecca Ashdown
@familyofbeasts.bsky.social
690 followers 62 following 21 posts
Award winning children's book illustrator & author. Seeks beauty in chaos. Represented by Millie van Grutten at RCW Literary Agency.
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familyofbeasts.bsky.social
I've just updated my Etsy shop with cards for the festive season! ➡️ www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
NEW! A Dorset trio featuring views of Colmer's Hill, a Frost Fair scene & a set of 10 semi-abstract Cotswold landscapes featuring places I love.

Do have a browse & share if you have a moment. Thank you!
November 17, 2025 at 6:48 PM
familyofbeasts.bsky.social
COMPETITION TIME for anyone who's purchased or pre-ordered a copy of The Hug Button! 🎉 @naomijones1.bsky.social To enter:

Email proof of purchase/pre-order of The Hug Button to tradepublicity.uk@oup.com
Use subject line 'The Hug Button Competition' in your email
T&Cs www.instagram.com/p/DLWtdxpuyPh
June 26, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
helendocherty.bsky.social
✨🐦 KERFUFFLE BIRD is out this week!!! 🐦✨
Illustrated by Gwen Millward @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

Huge thanks to Gerry Smith for the FAB Kerfuffle Bird song 🎵 & to @imogencarter.bsky.social @familyofbeasts.bsky.social @marcelafwrites.bsky.social for the reviews 💗💛💚

Available to pre-order now! 😍
June 2, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
kategettings.bsky.social
We have some at Oxford Children’s including Thunderboots by @naomijones1.bsky.social and @familyofbeasts.bsky.social (Dyslexia), Cloud Boy by Greg Stobbs (ADHD), Bear-Shaped by Dawn Coulter-Cruttenden (Autism), & How to Bath a Giraffe by Sarah Horne (boy with cochlear implant, incidental to story)
March 9, 2025 at 12:46 PM
familyofbeasts.bsky.social
I've got my box of tricks ready for #WorldBookDay to celebrate the WONDER OF BOOKS! Have a great World Book Day everyone @naomijones1.bsky.social @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social
March 6, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
sarahmcintyre.bsky.social
A handwritten letter on my illustration work desk to my local MP, Mel Stride, asking him to help UK children's book illustrators keep our copyright during the current AI policy consultation ✍️

@mrsteveantony.bsky.social
@alcs-uk.bsky.social
@societyofauthors.bsky.social
(Typed out in the alt text)
Dear Mr Stride, can you please help me and other UK children’s book illustrators? The governing is considering AI policy measures that would make us, as copyright holders, ‘opt out’ if we don’t want tech companies breaching our copyright to train their systems. The big companies then use our own art in competition against us. The UK ought to be proud of its children’s book tradition. Our artwork is exported all over the world, and by giving it away free, we’re ruining the industry. Children will be poorer: there’ll get dumbed-down, mechanical books that have no real person thinking hard about each aspect of them. My colleague Steve Antony described it: “It’s like allowing someone to break into my house and steal my belongings so that they can research, recycle and resell them, unless I stick a label on each and every one of my belongings that says ‘DO NOT STEAL’, even though the objects are clearly not theirs and clearly within someone else’s house. That house bring my copyright. It’s absolutely ridiculous, makes no sense, completely destroys existing copyright laws and insults every single one of us.” Please, could you stand up for us and out copyright? If you could mention our concerns to Feryal Clark, Minister for AI & Digital Governent, and to Chris Bryant, Minister for Creative Industry, Arts & Tourism, I’d greatly appreciate it. Warmest wishes, Sarah McIntyre, Illustrator & Author, Bovey Tracey
February 12, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
bookclubsinschools.bsky.social
Our new blog: https://buff.ly/4hkoCPx
📗 Thunderboots @naomijones1.bsky.social & @familyofbeasts.bsky.social
📘 The Last Boy @evemcdonnell.bsky.social @everywithwords.bsky.social
📙 Feather by Manon Steffan Ros, @fireflypress.bsky.social
📕 Darkly by Marisha Pessl, Walker Books
#ReadingForPleasure
Covers of Thunderboots, The Last Boy, Feather, and Darkly
February 5, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
naomijones1.bsky.social
It was so exciting to spot my new book illustrated by @familyofbeasts.bsky.social in the @the-bookseller.bsky.social Children’s guide.

The Hug Button publishes in July - not long to wait now! @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social
February 4, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
naomijones1.bsky.social
It was such a joy talking to my picture book making partner @familyofbeasts.bsky.social about creativity, her inspiration and the teaching work she does.

You can watch the whole chat over at Words and Pictures:

open.substack.com/pub/naomiand...

@oxfordchildrens.bsky.social
Words and Pictures with Rebecca Ashdown
Award winning artist, author, tutor and creative soul
open.substack.com
January 24, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
helendocherty.bsky.social
Join me and Daniela Sosa on 29th Jan at the wonderful @alligatorsmouth.bsky.social for a celebration of our new book 💗All The Ways I Love You💗 and the chance to buy a signed & dedicated copy for the little ones in your life! 💗

@scholastic.bsky.social #booklaunch #picturebook #love
Book launch invitation for All The Ways I Love You by Helen Docherty and Daniela Sosa - 29th Jan, 6 - 8 pm, The Alligator's Mouth, Richmond
January 16, 2025 at 12:33 PM
familyofbeasts.bsky.social
I'm a little bit obsessed with these trees and the way they grow in the winter months. They possess character and life. Potential of what's to come, despite the harsh chop.

#trees #canal #pollard #stroudcanal #stroud #a3 #sketch
January 13, 2025 at 12:01 PM
familyofbeasts.bsky.social
Sunrise 🧡💙💜
January 10, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
jo-clarke.bsky.social
It's 3 weeks until ##LibbyandtheEgyptianEscapade illustrated by @beckamoor.bsky.social publishes. Thanks to Helen Peters for this fabulous endorsement
Signed & dedicated copies available exclusively via @rshipbshop.bsky.social
#TheTravellingSchoolMysteries
rocketshipbookshop.co.uk/product/libb...
December 26, 2024 at 11:18 AM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
landofspike.bsky.social
Festive greetings fellow travellers 🌲
#merrychristmas #happyholidays #blueskychristmas
A Christmas tree model made out of a variety of green resin shapes and copper wire
December 23, 2024 at 7:11 PM
familyofbeasts.bsky.social
Here's to longer days ☀️
December 24, 2024 at 8:15 AM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
naomijones1.bsky.social
The schools events I did with @familyofbeasts.bsky.social at Derby Book Festival really made an impact on me.

This is why...

naomijones.substack.com/p/all-storie...
All stories matter
Why we need diverse voices
naomijones.substack.com
December 5, 2024 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
josephfasano.bsky.social
I will never, ever get over this.
December 3, 2024 at 5:49 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
naomijones1.bsky.social
I'm offering 3 hours of free picture book mentoring for a UK based writer whose voice is underrepresented in children's publishing.

Please help me spread the word by sharing this post.

Full details of how to apply are here:

naomiandjamesjones.substack.com/p/free-pictu...
Free picture book mentoring
For an underrepresented writer
naomiandjamesjones.substack.com
December 3, 2024 at 3:59 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
helendocherty.bsky.social
Being kept waiting - often for months - for contracts and payments to come through is incredibly stressful, especially when you're supporting a family 😟 I'm sure many other #writers, #illustrators, #artists and #creatives feel the same way. But what can we do about it? #selfemployed #stress
December 3, 2024 at 6:54 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
helendocherty.bsky.social
My next #picturebook, All the Ways I Love You ❤️ (beautifully illustrated by Daniela Sosa) is coming out Jan 2025 🎉
We're hoping to hold an evening book launch 📚 🍷
#London people, who'd like to join us? Any #teachers or #librarians? All welcome! 🥰
Thanks for your support & for spreading the word! ❤️
December 2, 2024 at 4:50 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
brizidamagro.bsky.social
Hello there #kidlitartpostcard day!
I am Children’s Book Illustrator.
This illustration from Let Me Call You Sweetheart written by Mary Lee Donovan and published by @greenwillowbooks
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#kidlit #kidlitart #childrensbooks #writershouse #childrenillustration #childrensbookillustration
September 5, 2024 at 8:29 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
helendocherty.bsky.social
I'm so proud to have had FOUR picture books published in 2024! 📚 🥰 Illustrated by four equally amazing #illustrators: #DavidRoberts, @brizidamagro.bsky.social, @thomasdocherty.bsky.social & @stevenlenton.bsky.social ✨✨✨✨
These would all make great #Christmas #gifts, just saying 😉💖 #picturebooks
Me with my four picture books published in 2024: Superwolf, The Green-Fingered Witch, Someone Just Like You (paperback edition) and All The Things We Carry
November 28, 2024 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
isabelashdown.com
If you’re a developing writer you might like my newsletter and free ‘Getting Published’ guide full of generous tips from some awesome publishing insiders. Pls share with any interested bods! isabelashdown.eo.page/get-writing #AmWriting #BookSky
Get Writing and Get Published
Free guide Getting Published 10 Top Insider Tips
isabelashdown.eo.page
November 27, 2024 at 3:34 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
mini3grey.bsky.social
Looking for bargain stocking fillers or small odd things or original art or prints? I have a shop on Etsy. Have a look here: etsy.com/uk/shop/Mini...
November 27, 2024 at 4:31 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Ashdown
naomijones1.bsky.social
I had so much fun at the Derby Book Festival last weekend with @familyofbeasts.bsky.social We did a family event on Sunday followed by a day of school events on Monday where we met 300 kids!
November 21, 2024 at 11:13 AM