July 2016 Debut of the Month Perfection is in the eye of the beholder says this funny picture book, and we should be slower to write off things judged imperfect. There’s a frenzy of activity at Fuffley’s Toys in advance of Princess Flo’s visit; toys judged not to be perfect – a wonky donkey, an owl with a scowl – are sent for unstitching. With everyone working so hard mistakes are bound to happen, but it’s the little hippo accidentally given panda fur and mouse tail and whiskers that wins the princess’s heart. Jools Bentley imbues every character – speaking and non-speaking, toy and human – with huge personality and this is lots of fun. ~ Andrea Reece
Princess Flo has pocket money to spend, so she's off to Fluffley's Fine Toys, the best toy shop in town. There are cuddly teddies, cute kittens and perky penguins - all perfect for a royal princess! But to everyone's horror, Princess Flo spots a strange looking toy. It's part hippo, part panda and part mouse ...and a total and utter mistake! But luckily for all, this polite little princess sees something unique and special - the perfect toy. All he needs now is a name! An incredibly funny debut from the winner of the Macmillan Prize for Illustration 2013.
Jools Bentley, winner of the Macmillan Prize for illustration 2013, is a graduate of the prestigious Anglia Ruskin MA in Children's Illustration. Her background is art and drama, she has studied fine art, trained as an art teacher, ran a touring theatre company, created art and drama workshops for schools, she also teaches printmaking - and as if that wasn't enough, she has also been on TV and shared screen time with Brad Pitt in Interview With the Vampire (if you blink you will miss her). Working with children and having three of her own inspired Jools to write and illustrate this, her picture book debut. She lives by the sea in Broadstairs, Kent with her husband and three children.
