Liz Pichon

Liz Pichon is a British author and illustrator who has achieved significant recognition in children's literature. Her career began as an art director at Jive Records before transitioning to creating children's books, bringing her artistic and storytelling talents together. The Tom Gates series, launched in 2011, represents Pichon's most significant work and has sold over 16.5 million copies worldwide. The series, which combines humor with realistic childhood experiences, has been translated into 44 languages and includes 23 books along with additional special editions and activity books. Pichon has expanded her portfolio with other successful works including Shoe Wars and the graphic novel series Meet The Mubbles. She has also undertaken unique creative projects, such as designing the "Kids' Tapestry" to commemorate the Battle of Hastings' 950th anniversary. Being dyslexic herself, Pichon's work often incorporates engaging visual elements and accessible storytelling approaches. Her contributions to children's literature have earned multiple awards and recognition in the publishing industry.

Readers praise Pichon's Tom Gates series for making reading accessible and enjoyable for reluctant readers, particularly boys aged 7-12. Parents frequently mention their children reading these books multiple times and asking for more in the series. Liked: - Engaging doodle-style illustrations that break up text - Relatable school and family situations - Humor that appeals to target age group - Dyslexia-friendly formatting and fonts - Character development throughout series Disliked: - Some parents feel the books are too simplistic - Later books in series become repetitive - Occasional complaints about bathroom humor - Some teachers prefer more challenging literature Ratings across platforms: Amazon: 4.7/5 (averaged across series) Goodreads: 4.3/5 average Common Sense Media: 4/5 parent rating Reader quote: "My son went from hating reading to devouring these books. The mix of drawings and text makes them less intimidating." Criticism quote: "While entertaining, they don't challenge readers to expand vocabulary or tackle complex themes."

My Big Brother, Boris - A picture book following a young child's perspective on living with their older brother Boris and his various amusing behaviors and habits.

Tom Gates Series - A collection of illustrated diary-style books chronicling the daily adventures, mishaps, and observations of schoolboy Tom Gates through his doodles and notes.

Shoe Wars - A standalone novel about the Ruby family's involvement in the competitive world of shoe manufacturing, featuring magical footwear and family rivalry.

Meet The Mubbles - A graphic novel series depicting the everyday life and adventures of an unusual family called the Mubbles.

Jeff Kinney creates illustrated diary-style books following middle school student Greg Heffley in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. The books combine handwritten text with simple drawings to tell stories of everyday school and family life.

Rachel Renée Russell writes the Dork Diaries series featuring middle school student Nikki Maxwell's illustrated journal entries. The books use a similar format mixing text and drawings to chronicle school drama and friendship challenges.

Lincoln Peirce authors the Big Nate series about a sixth-grade student's adventures, incorporating comic strips and illustrations throughout the narrative. The books feature humorous school situations and showcase Nate's cartoon drawings within the story.

David Walliams writes children's novels that mix everyday situations with outlandish humor and include illustrations by Tony Ross. His books feature young protagonists dealing with family, school, and social situations while incorporating visual elements.

Dav Pilkey creates the Dog Man and Captain Underpants series using comic-style illustrations and irreverent humor. The books feature hand-drawn artwork and incorporate visual storytelling techniques that appeal to reluctant readers.