AVAILABLE NOW! ONCE UPON AN IF: THE STORYTHINKING HANDBOOK

Once Upon an If comprises a treasury of tales, old and new, to get young audiences thinking actively about the deeper issues within. Guidance notes, lesson plans and questions are included with every story, which have been tried and tested in the classroom inspiring children’s imaginations and developing critical engagement, speaking and listening skills. 
Written by Peter Worley and illustrated by Tamar Levi. 

Once upon an If was a finalist for the Education Resources Award, Educational Book of the Year 2014 and was awarded the Bronze Prize for Primary Teacher Update’s Annual Awards 2014. 

BUY
£17-18.99

You can buy this book directly from The Philosophy Foundation
Or on Amazon

MY AUTISM BOOK: A CHILD’S GUIDE TO THEIR AUTISM SPECTRUM DIAGNOSIS

My Autism Book is a carefully illustrated picture book that helps parents to explain an autism diagnosis to their child in a sensitive, positive and accurate way. When a child is diagnosed with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) parents often feel overwhelmed and uncertain about how to communicate the diagnosis to their child.

This book is designed to be read with the child as a simple introduction to their diagnosis. Written by a doctor and a children’s author, the book is tailored precisely to the needs and experiences of the child with ASD aged 5  and up. It explains what an autism diagnosis means and encourages an exploration of the child’s likely strengths and differences using clear language that speaks directly to the child. The colourful pictures throughout show how the world looks from the child’s perspective and the book ends with a summary checklist to encourage the child to record and discuss how autism affects them.

Concept, design and illustration by Tamar Levi. 
Co-authored by Dr. Gloria Dura-Vila and Tamar Levi.

£9.99
You can buy this book directly from Jessica Kingsley Publishing or Amazon.co.uk for deliveries within the UK. For global deliveries you can buy this book from Amazon.com. 

INFORMAL INTERVIEW: MY CONTINUOUS LINE DRAWING STYLE

What’s your main style?
I have two styles of drawing: in colour, I take a felt tip marker approach. In black and white, it’s pen and inking all the way.

No, not what tools, what style?
Well, I most enjoy drawing an entire portrait in one line. One single permanent pen and ink line. No pencils. No erasers. No mistakes. I just let go and allow the fluid motion of the ink to mirror the motion in the shape of the form.
Picasso made a series of single line drawings. Klee called drawing “taking a line for a walk.” Steinberg explored the properties of the single line too.

Are your single line drawings just like Picasso’s?
I’m not sure if Picasso did it this way, but I try not to look at the paper, almost entirely at the model or scene.
Do you know of any others who specialise this way?

No. I’ve never heard of it.
Well if you do, please let me know. I’m talking to curators about pulling together a small gallery of pieces that work within the method. Plus, I’m working really hard on trying to say no to illustration projects that want me to work in any other style. It’s hard to say no when you’re an early career illustrator, but it’s the core of my current pet project so I kind of want to make it my sole focus at the moment.

What’s the project?
I aim to illustrate my graphic novel, Delphi, entirely in one line. One pen and ink blind contour continuous single line that journeys through the whole book. If I can gather together my talented musician and animation friends I might just be able to make this thing an all singing all dancing kind of event.

How far along are you?
The graphic novel manuscript is researched, written and edited. The images and characterisation are developed and collated. The musicians and animators are on board. Final step: illustrate it. And I’m so excited! Looking back at old sketchbooks I’m realising now, it looks like it just might be my default illustration style. Do you know what I mean by that? Like, your default dance move. One motion that you use to connect to the scene around you. Then you build up from there. Maybe in comedy they’d be called one liners. Maybe in art my drawings should be called one liners too!


***
I thought I’d put this informal interview up on my blog to signpost my interest in the style to the wide world of webbers. I’m writing here in the hope the internet will help ask around to see if anyone else is working in this style.
So anyone out there drawing their own one liners please do send me jpegs of your work via the contact page on my website and I’ll put them up, credit the illustrator and link to their contact pages. Hopefully, if investment follows through, you’ll be on speed dial to hang your framed pieces somewhere pretty too. I admire every artist exercising this continuous line method. There’s something steadying about the confidence it takes. Something cathartic about both the continuity and the completed circle. I think the world would do well to have a lovely little gallery that takes them on a cathartic journey, in one line.

-T-

BOOK LAUNCH IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM

Lesson plan support and educational theory is explained throughout The If Odysseyby author Peter Worley as readers use stories from Homer’s Odyssey to stimulate philosophic dialogue in contemporary classrooms. This is the second book in The Philosophy Foundation‘s flagship series.
Using my undergrad philosophy background, my intimate knowledge of the original text, sourcing foundational designs on archaic pottery from the British Museum and basing characters on modern Greeks in my social circle, I got down and dirty with the grain quality of a variety of papers and the various depths of black inks for this project. Altogether, I put my classic pen and ink style to an accessible interpretation of the ancient Greeks and their epic adventures.
Not only was I honoured to be involved in this project but I got double honours by receiving a round of applause in the British Museum. A book launch in the British Museum? Being applauded? By publishing and educational professionals, academics, journalists, family and fine art curators? Couldn’t help but feel this little girl from Alaska has come a long way!
From tri-heritage roots through a labyrinthine professional route to a union based on creativity, philosophy and globalisation, one might call my journey a particularly modern odyssey. Thus I identified with this book and illustrated it with all my heart.
After a warm philosophic discussion session, Peter Worley revealed to the whole room that my partner was Odysseus (when you have a bearded Greek model to hand, you use what you’ve got at home).
We moved to the grandiose sandstone lounge and I revealed in a whisper to interested parties that our Greek friends provide the most entertaining models as they’re already named after ancient characters. For example, in this book Menelaos Prokos featured as Menelaos King of Sparta (Helen of Troy’s cuckolded husband). In the end, I embraced author Peter Worley. We were all delighted to accompany an ancient Odysseus to the modern bookshelf.

THE IF ODYSSEY BOOK – A PHILOSOPHICAL GREEK MYTH AND STORYTELLING FOR 8-16 YEAR OLDS

Using Homer’s epic tales as inspiration, this book offers lesson plans and storytelling tips to facilitate philosophical discussions with children aged 8-16. The If Odyssey draws out the philosophy that lies behind each story in Homer’s epic tale to introduce children not only to the exciting fables of Odysseus but also to that other great Ancient Greek tradition, philosophy. Explore with Odysseus the value of happiness, non-existent entities, moral dilemmas, the philosophy of prophecy and the nature of love among many other philosophical issues.

Online you’ll find maps of Odysseus’ journey, and the words of Tiresias that provide clues for the children as to Odysseus’ progress and an Ancient Greek language workshop with accompanying worksheets. You can use the ‘Storykit’ section, which provides hints and tips on storytelling skills to bring the tales of The Odyssey to life and stimulate independent, critical thinking with your children or class.

The If Odyssey was shortlisted for the Education Resources Award, Educational Book 2013 and was awarded the Bronze Prize in the Primary Teacher Update’s Annual Awards 2013.

Concept and content by Peter Worley. 
Cover by Tim Bradford. 
Content illustrated by Tamar Levi. 

You can read about how I researched the illustrations using Ancient Greek artefacts at the British Museum in my blog here. 
And you can buy the book here: 

BUY
£15.99
You can buy this book directly from The Philosophy Foundation 
Or on Amazon