News
20 May 2013
The Squirrel-Nut 04 - our Spring Newsletter is out now!
High Praise for Oxfordshire's Best Churches and finding inspiration for the Frog Band books. Take a look at http://www.firconebooks.com/Newsletter04.html
22 April 2013
We now have the final jacket design for Oxfordshire's Best Churches - what do you think?
15 March 2013
Oxfordshire's Best Churches now has a foreword - by Matthew Saunders, Secretary of the Ancient Monuments Society and Director of the Friends of Friendless Churches, here is an extract:
'... the most enticing of all combinations is authoritative, individual text interlaced with photography that saturates you in the colour and atmosphere of the given church. That is the Wheeler Way. A key model undoubtedly is (Sir) Simon Jenkins' guide, England's Thousand Best Churches. Richard Wheeler does for one county what Jenkins does for a nation. Everybody who loves Oxfordshire is in his debt.'
Read the foreword here.
9 March 2013
Just two of the six scatter proof sheets (990 x 710mm actual size) of Oxfordshire's Best Churches photos that are going off to the printer shortly. Could make great posters!
We have just received a pre-publication quote for our forthcoming 'Oxfordshire's Best Churches' from Sir SIMON JENKINS:
'The churches of Oxfordshire brought gloriously to life … a masterful survey'
What a great comment from the author of England's Thousand Best Churches!
19 November 2012
The Squirrel-Nut 03 - our Christmas Newsletter is out now!Meet us at Christmas gift fairs, an update on Oxfordshire's Best Churches and more reviews for our Frog Band books. Take a look at http://www.firconebooks.com/Newsletter03.html
16 June 2012
Guardian review
Brilliant review of The Frog Band and the Onion Seller on The Guardian by children's user Eva, 'I like about this book when Alphonse gets kicked out of the window and when he lands in the sea because these bits are really funny.'
Read the full review on the Guardian website
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/jun/16/review-frog-band-onion-seller-jim-smith?newsfeed=true
28 May 2012
The Squirrel-Nut 02 - our second Newsletter is now out!
In this issue of The Squirrel-Nut, we look at the hidden treasures of Oxfordshire's churches and report on reviews for our Frog Band books - including an endorsement in The Telegraph and a review of Alphonse and the Stonehenge Mystery in ANORAK Magazine by William, aged 6.
Take a look at http://www.firconebooks.com/Newsletter02_new.html
15 May 2012
Guardian review
The Frog Band and the Mystery of Lion Castle was reviewed by Emma and Christopher, aged 4, in The Guardian Children's Books online. 'What higher praise can we give this book than that it is in the 'read often' pile? Christopher loved the detailed pictures. We would read a page then talk about the picture. ... We will definitely be investing in more of this series.'
Read the full review on the Guardian website http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/may/13/the-frog-band-review
9 March 2012
Superb review from William (6 years old) in latest ANORAK MAGAZINE!
Alphonse and the Stonehenge Mystery is reviewed by William, 6, in the latest edition of ANORAK Magazine:'I really, really liked this book because the story was very exciting. I liked Alphonse because he was very adventurous. I would tell all my friends that they should read this book.'
- William, 6 years old.
Download a PDF of the review.
ANORAK MAGAZINE review
10 December 2011
Telegraph mention for Frog Band books!
The Frog Band Adventures featured in 'the best original works as well as outstanding retellings of classics in a great year for illustrated books' Take a look at http://tgr.ph/u6sjhO
1 November 2011
Squirrel-Nut 01 - first Newsletter of Fircone Books now out! Take look at http://www.firconebooks.com/Newsletter01.html
30 October 2011
Look inside the Frog Band books! Have a look at www.issuu.com/firconebooks Just click on the cover for the book you want to see then click on the arrows on the right of the page to flick through.
29 October 2011
Fircone Books has been shortlisted for Mr Site's Website of the Month!
Please vote for us at http://www.mrsite.co.uk/newsarchive/151/vote-for-your-favourite-website
1 October 2011
Opening day of 'Jim Smith's Frog Band Illustrations' exhibition at Salisbury Museum - lovely day out (the kids loved dressing up as characters from the books) and great book display!
5 July 2011
From doing sketches for extra rations from his WW2 Japanese guards, to illustrating children's books, Jim Smith was a unique artist and storyteller. A forthcoming exhibition of his artwork re-launches three of Jim's well-loved children's books for a new generation...
Download the press release (as a PDF): Jim Smith Rediscovered press release_5Jul11
7 June 2011
New cover designs for the Frog Band books! Now updated for 2011, the Frog Band stories have been upgraded from their original late-seventies design. What do you think?
25 March 2011
Just going through the Frog Band artwork scans. Reminded again what a great watercolourist Jim was.
16 March 2011
Writing paused on Oxfordshire's Best Churches as Richard is off to Chepstow With nearly 40 out of a possible 50 churches now written up, Richard is, for the time being, focusing his attention on writing a talk for The Chepstow Society.
9 March 2011
Frog Band artwork at the repro house for scanning! After 30 years out of print, production has started on re-publishing the Frog Band stories. Out of 93 pages of artwork, only 31 illustrations from the stories remain with Jim's family, the rest will need to be scanned from printed copies of the books.
7 March 2011
Fircone Books Awarded Enterprise Grant We have just received confirmation of our successful application for the South Northants Business Grant. This £500 start-up fund will help towards the artwork scanning and design of the Frog Band books.