by Leigh Hobbs
I adored Old Tom’s relationship with Angela. It reminded me of my own relationship with my then seven-year-old son. For me, the stories of Old Tom and Angela have always been about a mother and a son and how they inhabit different worlds, can drive each other mad, yet share an unbreakable bond and will defend each other to the end.
My thanks go to my wonderful mentor, Julie Watts, the publisher at Penguin at the time, who gave Leigh and me the freedom to develop that first Old Tom book, saying to us,‘Now go into that room and make a book together.’
Over twenty years later, Old Tom is a favourite with my grandchildren, has eight books to his name, and stars in a successful TV series too. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing the enduring appeal of the first of Leigh’s brilliant creations.
ERICA WAGNER
A little bit about the author
Artist and author Leigh Hobbs works across a wide range of artistic mediums, but is best known for the children's books he writes and illustrates. These feature his characters Old Tom, Horrible Harriet, Fiona the Pig, the Freaks in 4F, Mr Badger and, of course, Mr Chicken.
Leigh’s book Mr Chicken Goes to Paris was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and is a very popular seller at the Louvre Museum Bookshop in Paris. It was also shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards, as was Horrible Harriet and Old Tom’s Holiday.
Leigh is often asked if any of his characters are based on him. He admits that there may well be a little of himself in each of them.
You can read more about Leigh at www.leighhobbs.com
Also by Leigh Hobbs
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