Another busy, strange year. This is the only post I’ve made to my blog this year and it might well be the last. I tend to use my Instagram account for news these days. However, here’s a summary of what happened in 2022.
February:
The Naughtiest Unicorn On A Treasure Hunt came out – the TENTH book in the Naughtiest Unicorn series. It introduced the poo cart, a necessary piece of equipment when Dave the Unicorn’s around.
![](http://davidoconnell.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/NU10.jpg)
On the very same day, Grandpa Frank’s Great Big Bucket List by Jenny Pearson was published! I don’t think I’ve had two books that I’ve illustrated out on the same day.
Grandpa Frank was a lovely book to work on – very funny and full of heart. Jenny is a brilliant writer, and the book was deservedly The Sunday Times children’s book of the week. Here’s one of the illos – where Grandpa Frank and Frank Jr join a geriatric synchronised swimming squad!
![](http://davidoconnell.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GF1.jpg)
Also in February, the second book in Dr Ranj’s non-fiction series was published: Brain Power! It’s a really informative read, all about the brain’s workings and how we each use it in very different ways. As ever, it’s told in the good doctor’s warm, reassuring style.
![](http://davidoconnell.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Ranj-BP.jpg)
The previous book I illustrated for Dr Ranj – How to Grow Up – was nominated for the award for children’s non-fiction book of the year in the British Book Awards.
March:
March means World Book Day, and that means people dressing up as characters from your books. The Naughtiest Unicorn has been the inspiration for a number of excellent and inventive costumes over the years, and 2022 was no exception, including a reproduction of one of the book covers!
Somebody even made a fantastic Dave cake:
April:
The second book of The Smidgens series came out: The Smidgens Crash-Land. In this book Gafferty meets the fearsome Burrow clan, hidden under the 13th hole of the golf course! Plus the villainous Claudia Slymark returns … all drawn in Seb Burnett’s unmistakably brilliant style. Here’s my favourite illustration: how to make sticky shoes from jelly chunks. Handy for climbing walls!
![](http://davidoconnell.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/smidgens_CL.jpg)
June:
The big publishing parties returned after a break during the pandemic. I drew a portrait of myself at the biggest – the HarperCollins party at the V&A museum.
![](http://davidoconnell.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/socialisingillustrator.jpg)
Here are some snaps:
![](http://davidoconnell.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/HCparty1.jpg)
L-R: Paul Howard, Guy Parker-Rees, Jack Noel and Sarah Horne.
![](http://davidoconnell.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/HCparty2.jpg)
L-R: Sarah Horne, Leigh Hodgkinson and Sarah Massini.
![](http://davidoconnell.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/HCparty3.jpg)
August:
The Case of the Runaway Brain by Nick Sheridan was published. A clever and funny mystery with the bonus of added sausage dogs. A lot of fun for me to draw.
![](http://davidoconnell.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/RunawayBrain.png)
September:
My final book of the year was published! The eleventh Naughtiest Unicorn book – The Naughtiest Unicorn & the Firework Festival. This one had a firework night/Diwali theme, perfect for reading on dark autumnal evenings.
![](http://davidoconnell.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/NU11.jpg)
That’s six books published in one year – my best year to date!
2023 will be my tenth year as a published author/illustrator. As it begins I’m looking forward to a whole new set of challenges and perhaps some new directions too.