Have you heard of an auction house called Twistie’s? Does it sound strangely familiar?
The name features, rather mischievously
perhaps, in a new series of children's books written and
illustrated by Madeleine Hall, who happens to be from the Old
Master paintings department of the very real Sotheby's.
She grew up in Buckinghamshire in the
company of her favourite bear, Burlington, and he has been reborn
in the form of the "dapper little resident of No1 Piccadilly".
Burlington Visits
Twistie's and Burlington Goes to the Bank of
England are now available from selected retailers such as
Daunt Books, Hatchards, Belgravia Books, Foyles and Sotheby's
itself in New Bond Street.
Burlington's Highland
Adventures,Burlington Meets the Queen and a series box
set follow in October.
Above: Madeleine Hall with her
children's books. Picture © Madeleine Hall 2012
Sotheby's Henry Wyndham will be auctioning a
number of limited edition illustrations during the Burlington Bear
launch at the New Bond Street premises in September, with all
auction proceeds going towards Kids Company, which supports
vulnerable inner-city children.
The books are aimed at four to
eight-year-olds and Madeleine said: "As a child, my parents often
read a bedtime story to me, and it is with this in mind that I
created Burlington. I was passionate about discovering a way to
bring parents and children together as readers, where parents are
engaged in drawing out their children's vocabulary and awakening
their curiosity for language."
So what about the Twistie's adventure? Well,
when Burlington spies an advert for an auction of Bear Miniature
Portraits at Twistie's he summons his trusty friend Marmaduke and
rushes off to the sale, where things get out of hand and... you
will have to buy the book to find out the rest.
The books cost £5.99 each and the box set will be £24.99.
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