Shh! We Have a Plan

Four friends, three big and one little, are out for a walk. Suddenly, they spot it - a beautiful bird perched high in a tree! They simply MUST have it and - SHH! - they have a PLAN. So they tip-toe, tip-toe very slowly, nets poised - "Ready one ...ready two ...ready three ...GO!" But, at the turn of the page, we find a ridiculous bunch of very tangled characters and a blissfully oblivious bird, flying away. One hilarious foiled plan after another and it's clear that this goofy trio CANNOT catch that elusive birdie! But the littlest of this group, a quiet spectator up until now, knows that a bit of kindness and sweetness can go a lot further than any elaborate scam. Will his three friends follow his gentle lead or will they get themselves into even more trouble?

Wonderfully quirky, hilarious and utterly engaging. Junior
A delight ... a lovely book for reading aloud full of expression and fun. Daily Mail
Packed with atmosphere ... a journey which no reader is likely to forget. Independent on Sunday
Picture book perfection. Metro
Packed with humour and vivid imagery, this book is set to delight young children Independent on Sunday
Simple text and dynamic artwork combine in acomic story of hapless hunters and an elusive bird Irish Times
A fiesta for the eyes Irish Independent
Brilliant . . . a glorious work by a rising star Big Issue in Scotland
Brilliantly designed and full of humour and quirk Bookseller
With a minimalist test of just over a hundred words, aided by a judiciously selective use of colour, Haughton entertainingly relates (verbally and visually) the escapades of a group of hapless creatures intent on becoming bird-catchers. Collage and silhouette are employed effectively to enhance the comedy of a situation where, in spite of all the plans in the world, success in capturing the little coloured bird remains elusive. Children’s Books Ireland Recommended Read
Every art-room, every classroom, every home should have multiple copies. -- Leabhair Phaisti Eireann Inis
Chris Haughton is the master of understated ridiculous, and his newest, Shh! We Have a Plan, is no exception. -- The Bulletin The Bulletin
Also long listed for the Kate Greenaway medal, this is such a simple tale and yet so effective, largely due to the repetition of the refrains and the striking illustrations. -- Huffington Post Huffington Post
Chris Haughton is an Irish designer and illustrator and was named one of Booktrust’s Best New Illustrators in 2011. -- Mummy Pages Mummy Pages
Ingenious storytelling and the perfect way to encourage a lifetime of reading. -- Lancashire Evening Post Lancashire Evening Post
The limited colours, strange little characters and simple short text add to its appeal. South Wales Evening Post
“Deliciously funny. Instantly retellable.” Times Educational Supplement

Chris Haughton is an Irish designer and illustrator, named one of Booktrust's Best New Illustrators in 2011. His debut picture book, A Bit Lost, is published into 19 different languages around the world and has won nine awards in seven countries, including the Dutch Picture Book of the Year and CBI Book of the Year. His second title, Oh No, George! came out in March 2012 and was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award and the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. Chris was also listed in Time Magazine's DESIGN 100 for his work with the fair trade company People Tree and he co-founded NODE, a fair trade social business in 2012. He lives in East London. Visit his website at

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