Varmints Softback

Reviews / Votes

"But of all the Christmas goodies it is Varmints, by Helen Ward and Marc Craste, that has really stolen my heart. Another book that is difficult to do justice to, it's a haunting tale of how a world can be overwhelmed and how hope can grow again. Ward's wistful text is brought to life by Craste's epic and involving artwork, and the result is exquisite." -- Becky Stradwick * The Bookseller * "Concise text and epic images come together in this atmospheric tale. The Varmints build where once was grass, and before they realise what they've done there is nothing but a huge dark city with no peace and quiet." * Publishing News * Varmints will be popping up everywhere children's book shops, book shops for adults, comic book shops, design shops and who knows where else, when the tie-in animation by the brilliant StudioAKA gets going next year. With an eye toward both Helen Ward's and Marc Craste's previous work, this books makes perfect sense. Just like Ward's book 'Wonderful Life' this book features a shy-looking, lonely, unidentified space rodent who truly appreciates the beauty of plant life. And like Craste's Bafta-winning animation 'Jo Jo in the Stars' this book has the same eerie, luminous look, featuring small, simply shaped characters who are cowed by an oppressive urban environment. In both Jo Jo and Varmints, the characters manage to rise, quite literally, above the industrial mess.

This is Craste's first picture book. Craste (or perhaps the designer Mike Jolley) reminds the reader of his film connection by three transparent overlays with section numbers, spaced throughout the book, quotations from the visual numerical countdown before a screening. While Craste created the artwork digitally, he fills it with scanned texture, mottled lighting and lovely handwritten lettering. The paper's texture can't be overrated, without it, some of the pictures would appear garish but with its soft, matte finish, it lends the pictures almost a dusty, foggy look, which greatly intensifies the otherworldly atmosphere. Just as the story expresses a yearning for tranquillity, the book leaves large visual and textual gaps for the imagination and goes at a quiet, restrained pace. The colours look rich by being limited and subdued. The delicacy of his plants recalls Ward's own illustrative attention to botanical texture.

The main varmint character seems destined to become a soft toy, this reviewer wants to be queuing up for the first one, and wonders if the ears will stick up or hang down. * www.writeaway.org.uk * "a new children's book called Varmints introduces the idea of pollution and environmental issues in a tale of ecological doom. The story revolves around creatures called Varmints, which are described as small, soulful creatures that look on as nature is tarnished by industrial progress, and all peace and quiet is lost - something which we can all relate to. Written by Helen Ward, the book is lyrical, at times poetic and occasionally quite dark and intense. Accompanying the words are some incredible images by film maker Marc Craste, that match the text beautifully. The book will also be turned into a short film next year, and if the animation lives up to the promise of the drawings in this book, then it will be one to look out for." * Creative Review *