Happily Ever Smarter Secret Sale

Axel Scheffler is an award winning, internationally acclaimed illustrator of some of the most well-loved children’s books such as The Gruffalo. His books have been published in many languages and he has exhibited all around the world.

Axel was inspired by the story of Preeti (pictured below), saying: “Preeti is the very first girl in her family to go to school and education is still new and fragile in her community. Covid is now threatening the chance for children in these remote villages to get even a primary education.

I hope that this collection of illustrations and the Secret Sale helps bring education to thousands more children who deserve a chance to learn and to grow.” Preeti

Debi Gliori, is a writer and illustrator of over 80 books, including the Mr Bear picture book series. Mr. Bear won the Red House Children’s Book Award in 1997. Gliori lives just outside Edinburgh, Scotland, with her five children.

Debi was inspired by the power of education to empower children to learn, grow and blossom into a more fruitful future.

Emma Chichester Clark is a British children’s book illustrator and author. She has published over 60 books and is best known for her series about a child’s toy called ‘Blue Kangaroo’. Her book Listen to this won the Mother Goose Award for best newcomer.

Emma was inspired by the story of 11-year-old Soneeya, who has never had the chance to go to school. Soneeya spends her days working in the fields surrounding her house. But Soneeya dreams of more; of going to school, of becoming a teacher someday.

Emily Gravett is an English author and illustrator of children’s picture books. She has won the Kate Greenaway medal, which recognises the year’s best-illustrated British children’s book, for both her debut book ‘Wolves’ and for the ‘Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears’.

Emily was inspired by the story of Preeti, who’s the first girl in her family to ever go to school. Her piece, entitled ‘Maths with a rooster’ mirrors a real photo of Preeti helping her younger sister with her maths homework.

Guy Parker-Rees is a British illustrator and author of children’s books. Giraffes Can’t Dance is his most successful picture book; an international bestseller which has sold over four million copies worldwide.

Guy was inspired by the story of Preeti, who’s the first girl in her family to ever go to school. Someday, she dreams of becoming a doctor – her teacher, Laxmi, says that she has an ‘intelligent mind’.

Jackie Morris is a British writer and illustrator. She won the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2019 for her illustration of The Lost Words, voted the most beautiful book of 2016 by UK booksellers. Jackie, whose illustration is entitled ‘Because education opens doors to dreams’ said:

“I was inspired by Heena’s story. She’s ten, but has never been to school, lives in a remote village in Nepal.

When I was a child I felt trapped in school, spent time drawing and dreaming, looking out of the window. Heena made me wonder what it might feel like to be trapped outside of school.

Education opens up so many choices for us all. There are so many things a child might become, so I’ve tried to list a few, from being a scientist, and artist to an architect. Or perhaps a teacher in her own community. Education enriches everyone. It gives us choices, new paths to follow, empowerment.”

Ohn Mar Win is an illustrator, designer, teacher and author with a career spanning 20 years. She moved to the UK when she was five and says one of the highlights of her career was working on a UNICEF project to combat childhood malnutrition in Myanmar, the country where she was born.

Ohn Mar Win says: “This is the piece I created based on an 11 year old girl called Soneeya (pictured below) who wishes she didn’t have to carry loads of grass every morning and would love to be at school instead of looking after the cattle all day.

She deserves a chance to become a teacher and help her village when she’s older.”

Bijay studies at a UWS school in rural Nepal. We asked him to draw his dream for the future, and he sketched a picture of himself as a Painter.

Nabin studies at a UWS school in rural Nepal. We asked her to draw her dream for the future, and she sketched a picture of herself as a Teacher – with, frankly, the best sound system we’ve ever seen in a classroom!

Bishal studies at a UWS school in rural Nepal. We asked him to draw his dream for the future, and he sketched a picture of himself as a Footballer.

Prasant studies at a UWS school in rural Nepal. We asked him to draw his dream for the future, and he sketched a picture of himself as the driver of a magical school bus… his teacher does say that Prasant is known for his imagination!

Gyan studies at a UWS school in rural Nepal. We asked him to draw his dream for the future, and he sketched a picture of himself as a Musician.