Happy Birthday, Madame Chapeau

Andrea Beaty is the author of many beloved children’s books, including the bestselling Questioneers series (the latest of which is Aaron Slater and the Sneaky Snake), Happy Birthday, Madame Chapeau and One Girl. She lives just outside Chicago. David Roberts has illustrated many children’s books, including the bestselling Questioneers series. Look out for their new picture book Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year coming this autumn.

From a young age David had an interest in fashion and often made clothes for his sister's dolls and indeed his sister. So much so that he decided to study fashion design at college. Here he developed a particular interest in hats and made them for family and friends before taking a job with milliner Stephen jones in London. Eventually though he found his true calling of illustration but he always maintained an interest in fashion and it plays a big part of his illustrative style. He continues to make hats when time permits and so he was delighted to work on Madame Chapeau for Andrea Beaty. David was inspired by the creativity of Isabella Blow when creating the look for Madame Chapeau and the book features many of the extraordinary hats that she was photographed wearing. Hats designed by Philip Treacy, Stephen Jones and Elsa Schiaparelli all feature in the book along with some of David’s own designs and some classics like the famous Derby worn by Charlie Chaplin and the crumpled top hat worn by mime artist Marcel Marceau.