the Italian opera. He loved to sing and dance. He hugged our legs like velcro whenever we did the tango. His other hobbies were bushwalking, eating (especially lamb cutlets), being a blanket on our laps, running after rabbits (which he never caught) and tug of war. You can see him here in the photos!
âOh, and he liked reading. Figaro was my most loyal fan â he loved my books so much that he ate them. This book makes me happy every time I open it. So thank you Stephen Michael King and Sue Flockhart at Allen & Unwin for creating a most beautiful Figaro.
âIt was so much fun to write about dear Fig and his best friend, Rumba, that now I canât stop. Maybe Iâll cook up another storybook about Figaro and Rumba and those very Cool Cats from Cuba â¦â
About the Illustrator
Stephen Michael King loves to draw and dream. His creative meanderings have led him to illustrate over fifty books, including award-winning titles such as The Pocket Dogs by Margaret Wild, Where does Thursday go? by Janeen Brian, and Perry Angelâs Suitcase by Glenda Millard.
Stephen writes, illustrates and often designs as well. Books where heâs worn both hats as author and illustrator, and occasionally a third hat as designer, include The Man Who Loved Boxes , Henry and Amy , Mutt Dog! , You , Never Ever Before and A Bear and a Tree .
He says, âCreating books is a similar process to building a sculpture. I can start with a small idea and construct and subtract until Iâm satisfied. Each book has hundreds of possibilities. I love seeing where a small idea can take me, but also smile when I land at a surprise destination.â
Stephen is published throughout the world, and his titles Milli, Jack and the Dancing Cat and Leaf were chosen as White Ravens, outstanding childrenâs books selected by the International Youth Library.
When Stephen was introduced to Figaro and Rumba, he said, âA dog and cat from Cuba sounded like a cool book to illustrate. I love dogs, cats, music and the messy artiness of Cuba. It was easy to say Yes.â
When heâs not drawing and dreaming you can find him spending his days in a mud-brick house on a coastal island, hanging out with his family, their two crazy dogs, Milli and Rosie, and his sonâs much-loved and noisy rainbow lorikeet Garra.
Visit Stephen Michael King at smkbooks.com.au
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