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PUBLIshed work


A Roomful of Magic

RoomfullCover

There’s a mysterious doorway under your bed and you’re going to ignore it.  I don’t think so.  Before you can say “Captain Cook’ you’re climbing down a rickety ladder that stretches out into a thick mist.  Somewhere below, down, down, and further down still, is the rainforest that you’ve been to once before, what now seems like ages ago.  There’s magic, strange creatures with cunning and snares and heaps of surprises and maybe even a catastrophe waiting to happen… and you can’t wait.

Four kids and one sleep-over = a very strange, scary, magical experience.

A Roomful of Magic is the second spellbinding adventure set in the magical rainforest by the highly acclaimed and popular author, John Marsden (Pan Macmillan, Australia, 2004).

 

  • Published by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Limited.  2004
  • Text by John Marsden.
  • Illustrations by Mark Jackson and Heather Potter.
  • 64 page book.
  • 8 full-colour illustrations.
  • 29 B/W illustrations.
  • Cover illustration, front and back 8 B/W chapter headings.
  • Illustrations in pencil and gouache paint.

The Magic Rainforest

Rainforest cover

If the magic spring water is not found soon it will be too late and all you’ve got to help you is some very mysterious advice, so mysterious that you haven’t a clue what it means, and a friend.  Creeping Shadows, towering ancient, secretive trees, don’t scare you one bit, well maybe a bit, but you’re not going to let on about it.  You have to be watchful and wary at all times, because in a magical forest the creatures are never quite always as they first seem.

Australia Post commissioned author John Marsden, and the illustrating team of Mark Jackson and Heather Potter to create ‘The Magic Rainforest’, a new Australian fantasy which is a beautifully illustrated, 64 page book.  The book’s enchanting multi-generational story – with wonderful Australian characters and creatures – brings the story and the stamps to life.  The creatures featured on the stamps and the role they play in the story of ‘The Magic Rainforest’ make a perfectly delightful introduction to the magic of stamp collecting.

Australia Post.  2002

 

  • The Magic Rainforest.
  • Text by John Marsden.
  • Published by Australian Postal Corporation 2002.
  • 64 page book.
  • 8 full colour illustrations / 23 B/W illustrations.
  • Cover illustration (colour) front and back.
  • Illustrations in pencil and gouache paint.
  • Illustrations by Mark Jackson and Heather Potter

Australia Post ‘The Magic Rainforest’ stamps 2002

 

stampsheet

In a strange, magical forest, Sam and Naomi encounter six very unusual characters who each feature on the stamps for Australia Post’s ‘Stamp Collecting Month’ 2002.

Established in 1993, ‘Stamp Collecting Month’ aims to be fun and interesting to young and older children and is a way of encouraging stamp collecting as a hobby.  Parents and schools are involved in choosing appropriate themes and in 2002 it seemed like everyone was either reading J.K. Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter’ books or pondering and debating whether fantasy still had relevance in our busy, matter-of-fact lives.  Why had it disappeared and whey the overwhelming interest in its return?  Why this, and why that, and all the talking in between, led Australia Post to commission the author John Marsden to write ‘The Magic Rainforest’, where there dwells the most wonderful, curious and tricky characters.

Melbourne artists, Mark Jackson and Heather Potter, have cast their own magic in creating images of a bunyip, fairy, gnome, goblin, wizard and sprite, and the beautiful images will no doubt get the stamp of approval from children.  The stamps will help keep magic alive – at least for a while.

The Age.  September 26th 2002.

  • Artwork – Pencil and gouache paint.

Thumbelina

Thumbelina cover
The world’s bound to be a scary place to someone no bigger than an ordinary thumb.  You can be pushed around from pillar to post, and before you know it you’re saying “Yes Horace dear” to a great big irritable warty-faced toad.  When you take the advice of a white butterfly, you’ll find the help that you need from unexpected friends.

This is an intelligent retelling of Andersen’s story with fresh modern vocabulary and flowing style enriched by complex, finely detailed illustrations.  Old world images capture the innocent vulnerability of Thumbelina and celebrate the intricacies of life at the miniscule level.  Realistic cockroaches and appropriately ugly toads add tension to leaven any prettiness.  The traditional fairytale quality of the story is captured in the thistledown effect of the final illustrations, the elfin face of Thumbelina, and the soft, exquisite end papers.

Notable Australian Children’s Books.  2003
The Children’s Book Council of Australia

 

  • Published by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Limited.  2002.
  • Text by Anna Fienberg.
  • Illustrations by Mark Jackson and Heather Potter.
  • 32 page children’s picture book.
  • 32 colour illustrations, plus cover and end papers.
  • Illustrations in pencil and gouache paint.

Goodnight and Thanks for the Teeth

 

GoodnightCover

They’re strange little creatures alright.  As quick as a wink and always full of business, flying around on their trusty forceps in the dead of night forever and a day.  You think you can outsmart them?  Well here’s two words of warning before you try… ‘Elenor Grinner.’

This imaginative and funny picture book has everything you have ever wanted to know about tooth fairies.  In this wonderful fantasy world, tooth fairies know all about how teeth fall out, from crashing your bike, to eating sticky toffees.  But fairies don’t want adult’s teeth, only children’s fangs.

MW
Sun-Herald Sydney
3/10/99

 

Older children who have already profited by careful tooth care will love the humour and illustrations in this clever, innovative addition to children’s books.

Courier Mail (Brisbane)
27/11/99

 

  • Published by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Limited.  1999.
  • Text by Rob Alexander and John Marsden.
  • Illustrations by Mark Jackson and Heather Potter.
  • 32 page children’s picture book.
  • 42 colour illustrations plus cover and end papers.
  • Illustrations in pencil and gouache paint.

Verse Ahoy, Early Australian Nursery Rhymes

Heather Potter’s exquisite illustrations invite interpretation far in advance of their immediate value.

From – Rhymes for little republicans.  Roger Palmer.
Australian Book Review.  1993.

 

  • Published by Angus and Robertson.  Harper Collins Australia Pty Limited.  1993
  • Text compiled by Robert Holden.
  • Illustrations by Heather Potter.  Design by P Mark Jackson.
  • 32 page children’s picture book.
  • 10 colour illustrations, plus cover.
  • 5 B/W illustrations.
  • Illustrations in pencil, ink, black biro, gouache paint.

A book of Nonsense, by Edward Lear

In an inspired revival of the classic nonsense of Edward Lear, P Mark Jackson has taken some of the most enjoyable and witty limericks and created accompanying illustrations of stunning impact.  This is a book of timeless appeal and one that both adults and children will love for its humour and wonderful illustration.

DW.  1996.

 

  • Published by Dragon’s World Ltd, UK.  1996.
  • Design and illustrations by P Mark Jackson.
  • 32 page children’s picture book.
  • 13 colour illustrations, plus cover.
  • 3 B/W illustrations.
  • Illustrations in pencil, ink, gouache paint