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Peter Taylor

@petertaylor.bsky.social

Author & illustrator of kids' & craft books; past SCBWI Coordinator & science & art teacher; calligrapher, photographer & artist's book maker. My agent for 10 years has retired...seeking new representation. www.writing-for-children.com

231 Followers  |  279 Following  |  121 Posts  |  Joined: 28.09.2023  |  1.7085

Latest posts by petertaylor.bsky.social on Bluesky

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My book on calligraphy for greetings cards and scrapbooking was 'banned' before it was published. Scrapbooking groups wouldn't let me joinβ€”they believed the book would encourage people to d-i-y, & they had members with shops that sold products like rubber stamps with lettering.

Now out of print.

06.10.2025 20:16 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The dark shading is the previous interpretation of the coast, with China extending below the equator, inhabited by Seres people.

The paler shading shows the new revised coastline with a little of Australia. I wonder who surveyed this #map, when (early 1700's?) and if anyone used it. Any ideas?

20.09.2025 00:07 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I hike for longer when boots are comfortable.

I can't get into a library book I've borrowed that has 16 words per line, tightly packed lines of small type, narrow margins, 42 lines per page, 20 line paragraphs... and it's on the History of the Book.

You'd think they'd have learned from history.

10.09.2025 20:57 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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It's time to query a picture book.

Does anyone else buy hand-puppets of the characters before the book deal? It may never become a book.

Hmm, I think kids need to make up their own key to the map, based on the illustrated the scenery in the story.

#PB #AmQuerying

10.09.2025 20:43 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Who broke Mrs. Moody's eggs? She’s so cross & cranky, the foxes are frightened & can only say β€˜Yelp, yelp!’. She’s so angry & agitated, the pigs are petrified...

I only created these pictures for fun, but a publisher has requested a dummy. Maybe, with help? Wish I'd practiced sketching animals.

07.09.2025 01:25 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I know how much your advice has benefitted many creators, but does it preclude you from considering the work for representation?

My agent for 10 years has retired...sigh! I hope you open to queries soon.

Best wishes,
Peter Taylor ...former science, art and occasional math teacher

07.09.2025 01:03 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Yes, you can read the whole 1873 newspaper if you have good eyesight or a hand lens.

Was it meant to be read, or was it just an advert for Dallastype printing process, patented by Duncan C. Dallas?

For my proposed Book of Small Things for kids 11+

#Vintage #Typography #Typesetting #Kidlit

21.08.2025 12:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Hoping that children will be encouraged to experiment and have fun with letters.

#WorldCalligraphyDay

14.08.2025 07:45 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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In WWII, my uncle helped pay for a temple elephant to take part in a parade in Arokonam #Arakkonam in India on August 5, 1944.

I wonder if the parade is still held... #WorldElephantDay

13.08.2025 12:06 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks so much! Let me know if there's ever a way I can help you, and if your 6th graders want ideas. Maybe I should start a YouTube channel on all kinds of creative possibilities, like easy artistic papermaking and...

I learnt to write Italic at school when I was 9 in the UK. It can be addictive πŸ˜€

08.08.2025 03:22 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Love this - thanks for posting Victoria!

07.08.2025 22:37 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Traditionally created art that's different, plus self-illustration with photography

My agent for 10 years has retired...seeking a new one.

#BP, #MG & #YA author + how-to for adults.

#kidlitpostcard #kidlitartpostcardday #kidlitartpostcard
#calligraphy

07.08.2025 21:28 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Going through my grandmother's #scrapbook album from about 1885.

Not what we would send as a New Year card...

#Vintage #Antique #Victoriana

#AmQuerying my idea and sample sections for a Giant Book of Small Things children's parents, grandparents and ancestors may have owned or used.

03.08.2025 02:42 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
THE GIANT BOOK OF SMALL THINGS: a self-illustrated #MG #YA compendium of tiny objects kids' parents, grandparents or ancestors may have owned or used. It includes world record holders for the smallest of their kind.  A 1994 Uzbekistan 1 tyin coin was worth $1/200,000, Β£1/303,000.

THE GIANT BOOK OF SMALL THINGS: a self-illustrated #MG #YA compendium of tiny objects kids' parents, grandparents or ancestors may have owned or used. It includes world record holders for the smallest of their kind. A 1994 Uzbekistan 1 tyin coin was worth $1/200,000, Β£1/303,000.

Working on THE GIANT BOOK OF SMALL THINGS: a self-illustrated #MG #YA compendium of tiny objects kids' parents, grandparents or ancestors may have owned or used, including world record holders for the smallest of their kind. #KidLit #NF #AmQuerying #Vintage Sample chapters & proposal completed.

31.07.2025 07:37 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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In about 1980, I was given these printsβ€”taken off the original #ThomasBewick woodblocks.

Can anyone please tell me if they were printed in a book, or books, and which one/ones (not Select Fables or History of Quadrupeds, I believe)?

Thank you!
#Illustration
@sandbish.bsky.social

29.07.2025 08:17 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Recorded family history is valued. Love my G-grandfather's diary of his wedding. Recorded anecdotes can later be used in stories, too.
My favorite activity for #schoolVisits:
Describe something funny a neighbor has done an add it inside a folding card of their house. We create a story streetscape.

28.07.2025 01:46 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The #vintage Marigold Painting Book by #KateGreenaway gives very sophisticated instructions for adding colour to the outlines provided.
#Illustration.
...cold colours which are to serve as shadows to warmer colours should be laid on first.

How many kids are taught that today in colouring books?

28.07.2025 01:30 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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From my British grandmother's #vintage #Antique #scrapbook album (1880/90s I think). At least the top half of the scrap matches #KateGreenaway's 'Under the Window' cover picture.

Did she design and sell the scraps herself or through her publisher, or...?

27.07.2025 22:12 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Hablot Knight Browne, Phiz, provided #illustration for several authors, usually did three watercolours a day & etched 1,603 plates for #Dickens. Some wore out and he redid them: spot the differences. As a commission he also painted watercolours of all the etchings for the Dickens' works.

20.07.2025 23:33 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Love this, and how his trees seem to take an active part in the story. I believe it would have been printed on a three colour press, and he developed and limited his watercolour palette to suit.

20.07.2025 11:52 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Help, please! When did adding a type letter & painting over it stop?

Is it 1470s Nicolas Jenson type as ascenders of 'd' extend below the baselineβ€”how long was his type used after he died? Johann Amerbach is supposed to have printed the first Roman faceβ€”whose type?

Thanks!
#typography #typesetting

14.07.2025 23:37 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Not sure of the age of these leaves I own - about 1600?

How did they manage to cut the punches so small...and the paper is incredibly thin!

#Typography #Typesetting

14.07.2025 21:53 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

Can't wait. This artwork and that on Greer's website is amazing!

27.06.2025 00:14 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Brilliant! Best wishes from Australia.

05.06.2025 13:08 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Encouraging children and adults to read, write, and be creative.

Seeking commissions and a new agent - my last one for 10 years has retired. Please investigate my www.writing-for-children.com website!

#kidLitARTpostcard #illustration

05.06.2025 12:47 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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TIP from my potential book on improving handwriting:

Sit on a wedge-shaped cushion, or raise the chair's rear legs to spread your weight over your thighs. It's no longer on the base of your spineβ€”far more comfortable ...for drawing and typing, too.

And a sloping board helps.

#writing #amquerying

04.06.2025 23:19 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Banknotes are easily hidden in a wallet, and potential subjects for my proposed GIANT BOOK OF SMALL THINGS.

Does anyone else have few trillion dollars in their wallet?.
(From Zimbabwe, 2007-8)

#KidLit #MG #AmQuerying

31.05.2025 06:08 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Brilliant - thanks!

21.05.2025 03:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Thanks, Sheri! No, I only want trad pub for my PB texts (one pub'd). I'm just not a 'traditional PB illustrator'β€”no people or animals. I do word art, photos, & illustrate my n-f crafts books (pub'd).
But if someone else draws the animal outlines, I'd offer cut & torn paper illos for my goose story.

20.05.2025 13:47 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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I write & illustrate non-fiction how-to (pub'd), & write picture book texts (pub'd). I don't illustrate PBs the traditional way...though I would like to calligraphically illustrate an alphabet book. I wonder, can I query agents who want author-illustrators?
#kidlit #amquerying #illustration

17.05.2025 23:47 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

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