Monster Slayer

Brian Patten is an award-winning author from Liverpool who has written over 50 poetry books for adults and children since he was first published in 1967. He is famous, too, for his stories of the totally embarrassing Impossible Parents. In 2002, Brian was honoured with the Freedom of the City of Liverpool.||Chris Riddell is an award-winning artist, illustrator, and occasional writer of children’s books. His own fiction, namely the Ottoline and Goth Girl series, were a great success, with Chris winning three Nestlé Smarties Book prizes. Chris was appointed the UK Children’s Laureate in 2015, a role which he used to promote the joy of drawing, doodling and telling stories. Chris has also collaborated with a many prominent authors including Paul Stewart on the best-selling fantasy series, The Edge Chronicles; and former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen on A Great Big Cuddle: Poems for the Very Young. Chris lives in Brighton and works as a political cartoonist for The Observer.

"Excellent retelling of one of the oldest horror stories … from Brian Patten, Chris Riddell and the brilliant Barrington Stoke." – Dan Smith"A great little book, beautifully designed and an absolute pleasure to read time and time again" – The Letterpress Project"Enticing … brilliantly done, [Brian Patten] has managed to condense it down into readable language while retaining the gore and thrill of the original poem" – Teen Librarian"Should engage the most reluctant of reader, making the oft-studied text more accessible and certainly more vivid … The design … is a thing of beauty, simplicity and space … As a package, it's essential for any young person studying the original text" – My Book Corner, Blog"I’ve rarely seen my son so excited to finish a bedtime story. We think adventure-loving kids everywhere will enjoy this thrilling, easy-to-read retelling of the legendary Beowulf story" – Wellies on the School Run, Blog"With a dazzling cover, Riddell’s spectacular and atmospheric black-and-white illustrations, and Patten’s highly accessible and exciting retelling, this is an inspirational introduction to one of the world’s most famous poems" – Lancashire Evening Post