Naomi and James love playing with words and pictures to create beautiful artwork and stories for all to enjoy. Here are some of the books they’ve made.
THE PERFECT FIT
No matter how hard she tries, Triangle doesn't roll like the circles, or stack like the squares...so she sets off to find friends that look exactly like her. But when she finds the other triangles, playtime isn't as fun. She misses the shapes that roll and stack; she misses being different. So she starts a new quest, one that gets all of the different shapes playing and having fun together!
"A triangle is trying to find her place in the world in this charming take on making friends and inclusion, which doubles up as a creative introduction to shapes and patterns. First from a debut husband-and-wife team."
Bookseller
"This is the ideal introduction to shapes, disguised as a touching story about belonging and cooperation."
The Daily Mail
"A deceptively simple story about geometric shapes with a lot of heart. Addressing complex themes in a fun and playful way."
Coralie Bickford-Smith
Shortlisted for the Klaus Flugge Award
Selected for the Scottish BookTrust BugBug Progamme in 2022
ONE MORE TRY
Circle loves the tower that the squares and hexagons have built and wants to make his own.
But circles, diamonds and triangles are pointier, rounder and much wobblier - making a tower is not as easy as it looks! The shapes try and try but their tower just keeps tumbling down. Can Circle persuade them to have just one more try?
"One More Try is a beautifully simple exploration of the art of never giving up and the benefits of a fresh perspective."
Joseph Coelho, Children’s Laureate
"My 5 year old and I loved it! Sweet, clever, and engaging."
Harriet Muncaster, Author and Illustrator of the Isadora Moon series
"A lovely (and very clever!) story about problem-solving, perseverance, and the magic of a gentle switch in perspective."
Rashmi Sirdeshpande, Author
"A delightfully playful book on problem-solving, perseverance and team work which will encourage young readers to think outside the box."
Steve Antony, Author and Illustrator
THE ODD FISH
A warm and funny eco-adventure with a clever message about looking after our blue planet, perfect for budding David Attenboroughs!
When Little Fish and her family encounter an odd new fish bobbing along on its own, they embark on an exciting journey to reunite it with its family.
But Odd Fish isn’t the only creature who needs Little Fish’s help. Turtle has a tummy ache and Octopus’s tentacles are tangled. Clever readers will spot the one thing that links them all . . . plastic.
Maybe Odd Fish doesn’t belong in the sea after all?
Eight million tonnes of plastic find their way into our oceans and rivers every year. That’s equal to dumping one rubbish truck every minute into the sea!
This urgent problem is highlighted for the youngest readers with gentle humour and engaging characters, and offers practical ways we we can all make a real difference to protect our oceans and the creatures that live in them, and opens up key discussions about the environment and the topical issues highlighted in David Attenborough's Blue Planet.
"We love it."
Steve Backshall, Naturalist Broadcaster and Author
"A sophisticated look at plastic pollution in a beautifully told and at times heartache-inducing story of one fish’s attempt to help “odd fish” find their family."
Joseph Coelho, Children’s Laureate
"The beautifully ocean toned images and clever page design are very engaging. The authors note with information about pollution and how you can help at home and at school makes this a very useful introductory text for environment topics."
LoveReading4Kids
"A lovely little book about plastic pollution for the smallest man in my life."
Sophie Hellyer
Waterstones Best Books of 2022
Chosen for the branding of the YLG conference in 2022
HOW TO CATCH A RAINBOW
Illustrated by Ana Gomez
Freya loves rainbows. She loves their bright colours and their curvy shape. More than anything, she wishes she has one of her very own. One that she can keep forever. So she decides to become a Rainbow Hunter!
She searches high and low, but no rainbows are to be found, so she decides to make her own, collecting items in every colour of the rainbow from the garden. But when things don't go quite to plan, Freya has to use her imagination and creativity to come up with a way to make her wish come true.
"A brilliant book with totally adorable illustrations by Ana Gomez. I've had way too much fun making rainbows after reading this clever tale."
Julie Sykes, Author of The Unicorn Academy
"Beautiful! I love Freya and her determination."
Anna Wilson, Author of The Wide, Wide Sea
"A gorgeous story of determination and imagination and a celebration of all the beautiful colours in our world."
Jodie Lancet-Grant, Children's Author
"A warm-hearted, multi-coloured celebration of imagination and adventure. Rainbow hunting will be your new favourite thing!"
Craig Barr-Green, Author of Gina Kaminski Saves The Wolf
Shortlisted for the Nottingham InspiRead Picture Book Award 2023
Shortlisted for the Leeds Book Awards in the Early Years Category 2023
Selected for the Scottish BookTrust BookBug pack in 2023
HOW TO MAKE A STORY
Illustrated by Ana Gomez
When Milo decides he's going to tell a story, it seems like a great idea. A story of his very own, made up by him! The only problem is that he's not sure how to start ... or what to put in the middle ... or how to end it.
With a little help from his family and a lot of real-life inspiration, Milo's story is soon off to a flying start. If only his little brother and sister weren't getting in the way. But then Milo learns the most important lesson of all about stories - that they are made to be shared.
"An inspiring story for anyone who wants to try their hand at writing a story themselves!"
Julia Eccleshare M.B.E., LoveReading4Kids
"It is the perfect story to use in literacy lessons for both EYFS and KS1."
Miss Dorrans, UK Primary School Teacher
"How to Make a Story is a really lovely way to help introduce little ones to story writing."
Catherine Emmett, Children's Author
"How to Make a Story is truly a joyful celebration of story making. Naomi Jones and Ana Gomez pull you into Milo's creative world of tigers and treasure, monsters and mayhem, and wrap you up in the sheer joy of making up stories. With a vibrant palette and a fun family of characters, this book is a visual and verbal treat."
Mo O'Hara, Actor, Storyteller, and Author
"Sweet illustrations and a love of sharing stories."
Gareth Peter, Children's Author (BBC Radio Nottingham)
THUNDERBOOTS
Illustrated by Rebecca Ashdown
Trixie is the smallest person in Primrose Tower, but also the loudest and the building's residents have given her an affectionate nickname: THUNDERBOOTS.
When it's time for Trixie to start school, she is very excited. Sometimes it's hard to concentrate in class, though. And it's really hard to read letters. Maybe what Trixie needs is a superpowered plan.
An empowering story about starting school with dyslexia that celebrates everyone's differences inspired by Naomi’s own diagnosis of dyslexia aged 21.
"This bright and joyful picture book draws awareness to both the difficulties and strengths of Dyslexia in a way that is authentic and empowering."
BookTrust
"Thunderboots demonstrates how the language that we use and the relationships we have are the magic keys to feeling confident about ourselves and our differences."
Leigh Hodgkinson, Author of Martha Maps It Out
"We really love this picture book!"
Inspire Education Library Service (ELS)
"Thunderboots is a joy! The perfect read for any dyslexic child who might find school a challenge and for any parent or carer who wants to guide them through it."
Jane Elson, Author of How To Fly with Broken Wings