Here’s the front cover of my first children’s picture book as author illustrator.
Monty Mole must overcome his fear and swallow his pride when some greedy birds invade Wobbly Toad’s garden in this cute tale of garden animal friends.
“Mole on Patrol is a lively story of fun and friendship set in a colourful vegetable patch. Chloe Applin has created four unforgettable characters that inhabit this charming world, Monty Mole, Wobbly Toad, Freda Frog, and their dog, Stephen. One day, a gang of greedy birds swoops in, and the garden friends world is turned upside down. With some quick thinking from Freda Frog, a solution appears. But this solution not only frightens the birds but Monty Mole, too! It takes a wheelbarrow of understanding to convince Monty that he is indeed still the best mole on patrol.” - Starfish Bay
Follow this link to read all about Mole on Patrol on Starfish Bay’s website.
Buy a copy from Waterstones
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A garden scene from Mole on Patrol
Monty the Mole is a character from my first children’s book ‘Mole on Patrol’ I’m delighted that it will be published by Starfish Bay on 1st June 2021 .
I first came up with the character in about 1993 when I was 5 years old and he has since resurfaced!
Here he is in cuddly 3D, made from a hand dyed, second hand cashmere jumper. I love creating characters in 3D from recycled fabrics and welcome bespoke commissions.
I have recently been working on commissions for private clients, publishers and fellow illustrators.
As well as my own characters, I make other illustrator’s characters come to life in 3D.
#TheLegendofKevin
I was commissioned by the Oxford University Press’ marketing team to produce three bespoke promotional toys for Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre’s roly poly flying pony, Kevin. Each Kevin toy was made from a combination of new and repurposed materials. I like to reuse and recycle high quality fabrics wherever possible.
Sarah (pictured below with Kevin) kindly interviewed me for her blog which you can read here.
Children’s writer Lauren St John commissioned me to create a 3D version of her character ‘Tiny’ the savannah wild cat. Tiny appears in Lauren’s book “Kat Wolfe Investigates” (Macmillan Children’s Books).
I used a vintage faux fur coat, a long discarded pink jumper, leather scraps, brown wool and airbrushed spot colour to create Tiny.
I was commissioned by Rob to make a 3D version of his cuddly, adventure seeking bird character Clive. Here I am with Clive by Rob’s work at his CSA CBI MA degree show in 2019.
I was commissioned to make a 3D version of Keith from Katie Brosnan’s picture book "Keith Amongst the Pigeons" (Child’s Play Int.) Here’s Katie (below) with Keith and a copy of her book.
Keith has a removable pigeon costume made from jersey, a pink feather bower and blue paint - just like the disguise he makes for himself in the book!
