The Underwater Fancy-Dress Parade

Davina Bell (illus. Allison Colpoys)

‘This gorgeous picture book doesn't whack you over the head with its exploration of social anxiety, but considers a sensitive boy's feelings with empathy and subtlety … The theme is beautifully explored and Allison Colpoys' illustrations perfectly capture his vulnerability’

Alexa Dretzke, Readings

‘This beautifully packaged book, embossed with shimmering detail and pops of colour will undoubtedly resonate with any of us who have ever been the tiniest bit scared about anything!’

Picture Books Blogger

View all reviews

‘Delightful … a beautiful object to hold in your hands and enjoy.’

Magpie That

‘This book will help articulate “that feeling” for many young children, offering them comfort and relief when they need it most.’

Early Years Educator

‘A simple palette makes for a stunning visual effect in this gentle story of one little boy's anxiety. Beautiful illustrations and a clear and sensitive text keep the message simple … A useful book for children who suffer with anxiety or shyness, but the gorgeous style will appeal to those with artistic eyes too.’

Booktrust's March 2015 'Books We Like'

‘In her gorgeous retro style illustrations executed with limited colour, Allison Colpoys conveys Alfie's fearfulness beautifully and the tale is sympathetically and convincingly told … a demonstration of both the artist's and author's understanding of how young children try to cope with shyness/introversion.’

Red Reading Hub

‘A completely charming, beautifully illustrated picture book about fitting in.’

A Case for Books

‘Beguiling and breath-taking The Underwater Fancy-Dress Parade by Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys deserves a place on everyone's bookshelf … A story which will strike a tear-jerking chord with anyone who has ever been a little bit worried about anything. Beautifully designed this book with its carefully curated pallet and glimmering embellishments is a complete treasure.’

The Book Sniffer

‘Immensely identifiable … A touching and reassuring book which understands the way children think, normalising shyness and showing how it can be overcome with a little bit of time, understanding and encouragement … A very beautiful book … Required reading for children prone to shyness.’

Junior Magazine 'April Book Club'

‘Davina Bell approaches the sensitive issue of anxiety in children with subtlety, her words matched by the elegance of Allison Colpoys’ soft palette of grey, blue, white and peach’

Thuy On, Books & Publishing

‘[A] gorgeous book … discusses anxiety without either demonising it or fixing it with a magic wand … sweet and tender and shiny … And any book with a penguin driving a bus is A-ok with me.’

Melbourne with the Rocket

‘A stunning, nature-inspired picture book on the dilemma of shyness.’

Smallish Magazine

‘Davina Bell and Allison Colpoy's beautifully designed picture book captures perfectly how it feels to be small and shy in a big brave world … Anyone who knows or has been a shy child will empathise with Alfie's plight, and Bell's descriptions of his anxiety are realistic yet simple … Exquisite … A must-read.’

Inis Magazine

‘Charming tale for any child who's less than confident about new things.’

Gurgle Magazine

‘A gorgeous book, perfect for parents with a shy or sensitive child.’

The Gingerbread House (blog)

‘Beautifully-written and sensitive, there's not a scrap of schmaltz in this book about the anxiety that plagues some children … The tenderness in this story is divinely balanced with gentle pops of fluorescent colour on soft grey pages … A considered, charming and important book for anyone struggling with throwing themselves into the vast ocean of modern day society.’

Kid’s Book Review

The day before the underwater fancy-dress parade, Alfie got that feeling ...

Sometimes it’s hard to be brave. Sometimes you get that feeling. Sometimes you’re just not ready … until, one day, you are.

From a dynamic new picture-book partnership comes the story of Alfie and a big octopus wearing a tiny hat and the things you can only whisper to the cowboys on your wallpaper.

Alexa Dretzke, Readings

‘This beautifully packaged book, embossed with shimmering detail and pops of colour will undoubtedly resonate with any of us who have ever been the tiniest bit scared about anything!’

Picture Books Blogger

View all reviews

‘Delightful … a beautiful object to hold in your hands and enjoy.’

Magpie That

‘This book will help articulate “that feeling” for many young children, offering them comfort and relief when they need it most.’

Early Years Educator

Booktrust's March 2015 'Books We Like'

Red Reading Hub

‘A completely charming, beautifully illustrated picture book about fitting in.’

A Case for Books

The Book Sniffer

Junior Magazine 'April Book Club'

‘Davina Bell approaches the sensitive issue of anxiety in children with subtlety, her words matched by the elegance of Allison Colpoys’ soft palette of grey, blue, white and peach’

Thuy On, Books & Publishing

‘[A] gorgeous book … discusses anxiety without either demonising it or fixing it with a magic wand … sweet and tender and shiny … And any book with a penguin driving a bus is A-ok with me.’

Melbourne with the Rocket

‘A stunning, nature-inspired picture book on the dilemma of shyness.’

Smallish Magazine

Inis Magazine

‘Charming tale for any child who's less than confident about new things.’

Gurgle Magazine

‘A gorgeous book, perfect for parents with a shy or sensitive child.’

The Gingerbread House (blog)

Details

Format:Paperback

Size:

Extent:32pp

ISBN (13):9781925321272

RRP:$16.99

Pub date:24 Feb 2016

Rights Held: World

Rights Sold: France (Sarbacane), Italy (Mondadori), China (Qingdao Publishing House), Bulgaria (Millenium), Spain (Norma), North America (Abrams)

High-res cover:Download Image

AWARDS

2016 Australian Book Design Association Awards, Best Designed Children's Illustrated Book - Winner 2016 Australian Book Designers Association, Designers' Choice Children's/YA Cover of the Year - Winner 2016 Australian Book Industry Awards, Small Publishers’ Children’s Book of the Year - Winner 2016 Children's Book Council of Australia, The Crichton Award for Children's Book Illustration - Winner

CATEGORIES / tags

AUTHOR

Davina Bell

Davina Bell is an award-winning author of books for young readers of many ages. She writes picture books (including Under the Love Umbrella and All the Ways To Be Smart), as well as junior fiction, middle-grade fiction, and YA. Davina lives in Melbourne, where she works as a children’s book publisher. She talks to kids and adults around the country about the enchanting world of books and ideas.

ILLUSTRATOR

Allison Colpoys

Allison Colpoys is an award-winning designer and illustrator based in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia. Allison is represented by the Jacky Winter Group for illustration.