Illustrator Mandy Sutcliffe was inspired to create the characters Belle & Boo during a university exchange trip to France. It was there that Mandy's love for illustrating children truly blossomed as she spent many hours in the Parisian parks drawing the beautiful French children. Belle is based on Mandy's own childhood – with her bobbed hair, bright eyes and wearing vintage clothing, she is insistently curious about the world around her. Boo is Belle's adorable bunny rabbit companion and confidant. What I love most about Belle & Boo is that they conjure up old childhood memories, a time when we were all innately curious about the world around us. In soft, muted colors Sutcliffe shows us a simpler time when our hearts were open to new adventure and our imaginations ran free.
