Mr Timble and hes friends gathered in Mr Timbles house

Behind the scenes of Mr Timble

August 31, 2025

When I began working on Mr. Timble and the Missing Book, I had a very clear picture in my mind of how I wanted the story to look and feel. I wrote out detailed descriptions for each scene and sent them to Julia, my illustrator. From there, Julia would sketch the first ideas, and then we worked together through several rounds of changes. Each step brought the artwork closer to what I had imagined until it finally felt just right.

At first, the book was planned to be 8.5 x 8.5 inches, but as the story grew and the illustrations developed, I decided to change the size to 8.5 x 10.98 inches. This gave the artwork more room to breathe, and made the whole story much more visual, something especially important for the child who is listening and following along with the story.

This back-and-forth process was one of the most exciting parts of creating the book. Watching Mr. Timble step out from a pencil sketch into a fully coloured, lively character made the story feel truly alive.

The pictures you see here are a shortened version to show part of that journey:

Behind the Scenes - Page 1

Illustration of a mouse in a suit by a fireplace with a lamp on a table.

Illustration of a mouse in a cozy room with a fireplace, chair, and small table.

Behind the Scenes - Page 2

For this illustration, I wanted to show Mavis the Mouse in her quiet and cozy space - settled into her big chair with a blanket, a warm drink, and a stack of books by her side. I gave Julia the description, and she brought it to life with the first sketch: Mavis reading by the window with books piled high and a steaming cup nearby.

From there, we worked on adding color, texture, and warmth. Julia chose patterns for the chair, a soft blue for the rug, and gentle light from the window. These small touches gave the picture a sense of calm, showing Mavis enjoying one of her favorite pastimes before the mystery begins.

It was important to me that children listening to the story could see the comfort of Mavis’s world - something they could almost step into themselves.

Illustration of a mouse reading a book in an armchair with books and a teacup around.

Illustration of a mouse reading a book in a cozy living room.

Behind the Scenes - Page 3

For this page, I pictured Mavis the Mouse tucked away in a quiet corner of the library - completely absorbed in her book. I described to Julia how I wanted the shelves overflowing with books, the wooden floorboards, and Mavis perched on a chair with her nose buried deep in the pages.

In the first sketch, Mavis was drawn wearing pants, but I asked for a change - I wanted her to be in a skirt instead, since that felt more true to her character and kept her look consistent with the earlier illustration on page 2. Julia made that adjustment, and from there we refined the scene further by adding details like the round window, the patterned wallpaper, and the title of the book - The Art of Kiting.

When the color was layered in, the warm browns of the bookshelves and the soft green rug made the scene feel welcoming, as if the library itself was a character in the story.

This illustration shows Mavis’s love for reading and curiosity - a part of her personality that helps the child listening to the story understand who she is and why she becomes important in the mystery.

Illustration of a mouse reading a book in a library. Illustration of a teddy bear reading a book in a room with bookshelves.

Behind the Scenes - Page 4

For this illustration, I imagined Mavis the Mouse fast asleep, dreaming happily about flying her kite. I described to Julia how I wanted the dream to float above her head like a thought bubble, with little Mavis running across the grass, holding onto the string as the kite soared.

The first sketch captured the setup well - Mavis in bed with her glasses on the table beside her and a book resting nearby. From there we added more detail in the colours and patterns: the quilt with its bold triangles, the soft blue pillow, and the red kite shining brightly in her dream.

I wanted this page to feel warm and gentle - a moment of peace that shows Mavis’s playful side and gives children listening to the story a glimpse into her world when she’s at rest.

Illustration of a child flying a kite with a sleeping child underneath, on a beige background.

Behind the Scenes - Page 5

For this page, I wanted to show Mavis the Mouse heading off to the library - a place full of discovery and imagination. I envisioned a big tree trunk as the library, with doors and windows built into it, making it feel both special and a little magical.

In the first sketch the idea was there, but as we refined it I asked for little details to bring the scene to life - a notice board outside, bright red mushrooms by the roots, and Mavis hurrying forward in her red jacket and skirt. When the colours were added, the library truly became a centrepiece of the story, standing tall and welcoming with its wide blue doors.

This illustration is one I especially love, because it shows Mavis in motion - full of purpose - and it gives children listening to the story a sense of excitement as she goes inside to begin her adventure.

Behind the Scenes - Page 6

For this page, I pictured Mavis the Mouse sitting on a park bench, deep in thought. In the first sketch, Julia placed her bag on the bench beside her, but I wanted the picture to show her thinking about the bag instead. So we changed it into a thought bubble floating above her head, making it clear that it was on her mind rather than right there with her.

Another change was Mavis’s outfit - in the early sketch she was in trousers, but I asked for her skirt to be added instead, to keep her look consistent with the other pages. Julia also added in the little ladybird at the bottom corner, a tiny detail that makes the whole scene feel more alive.

With the colours in place - the fresh green trees, the soft blue sky, and the splash of red in Mavis’s jacket - the illustration became a calm and thoughtful moment. It helps children listening to the story understand that Mavis is worried about something important, and it gently draws them further into the mystery.

Behind the Scenes - Page 7

This was the moment I wanted to show Mavis the Mouse turning up at Mr. Timble’s door - a big tree with a sign on the side that originally read “Mr. Timble the Detective Mouse.” We decided to simplify it to just “Mr. Timble”, which felt cleaner and worked better for the scene. I pictured Mavis knocking eagerly while Mr. Timble popped his head around the door in surprise.

In the early sketches, Mavis was drawn with a backpack, but I felt it was unnecessary here, and without it the focus shifts more onto her action of knocking. I also asked that she be drawn in her skirt again, to keep her look consistent throughout the book.

Julia added lovely touches such as the curved chimney with smoke puffing out and the little mailbox by the grass. Once the colours were added, the deep brown of the tree trunk contrasted warmly with Mavis’s bright red jacket, giving the whole scene a homely and welcoming feeling.

This illustration marks the first meeting of Mavis and Mr. Timble in the story - a turning point that invites the child listening to wonder what will happen next.

Illustration of a mouse with a backpack knocking on a door in a treehouse.

Illustration of a mouse painting a treehouse door with a heart on a postcard.

Behind the Scenes - Page 8

This page shows the first proper conversation between Mavis the Mouse and Mr. Timble inside his home. I wanted the room to feel warm and welcoming, but also more like the inside of a treehouse - with wooden beams, round windows, and cosy lighting to match the outside of Mr. Timble’s home.

In the earliest sketch, Julia filled the background with lots of framed pictures and items hanging on the walls, but I felt it was a little too busy. I asked instead for the space to be more open, with the large windows, a bookcase filled with objects, and hanging lamps to bring in a softer glow. The focus then shifted onto the two characters talking together.

Another small but important detail was Mr. Timble tipping his hat - I wanted this so the reader could see his hidden piece of cheese, a fun touch that shows more of his quirky character. Alongside that, Mavis sits politely in her red jacket and skirt, with the simple table in front of them holding apples and books.

When the colours were added, the golden walls, wooden beams, and warm light made the room feel alive - a place where stories could be shared and mysteries could begin.

Illustration of two mice in a room with a table and pictures on the wall.

Two cartoon mice in a room with a table and books.

Illustration of two mice in a cozy room with books and a clock.

Behind the Scenes - Page 9

For this illustration, I pictured Mr. Timble in the library, leaning over the desk to carefully read the logbook, while a mouse librarian stood on the other side to assist him. In my original description I suggested the librarian might wear glasses to give her a more scholarly look, but in the end Julia drew her without them. I actually liked this better, as it gave her a softer, more approachable feel.

The big “Quiet in the Library!” sign was something I especially wanted - it adds a touch of humour for children listening, while also setting the strict but comical atmosphere of the library.

Julia brought the scene together with the rows of drawers in the background, the logbook open on the table, and Mr. Timble holding his briefcase in one hand as he points with the other. Once the colours were added, the warm wood tones of the library furniture gave the setting a classic, old-fashioned feel - perfect for a detective story.

Cartoon illustration of two mice in a library with one mouse whispering to the other.

Behind the Scenes - Page 10

This illustration shows Mr. Timble in full detective mode - magnifying glass in hand, carefully inspecting a front door. From the beginning I wanted this to feel like a classic detective moment, where he takes even the smallest clue very seriously.

In the first sketch, the sign on the wall simply said “RON”. I asked Julia to expand it into a proper address, so it became “Ron, 4 Kibbles Brow.” That tiny detail helped the world feel more believable, like each mouse had their own little street and home. A fun fact is that Kibbles Brow was actually the name of a real street I lived on when I was younger, so slipping it into the story felt like a little secret nod to my own past.

Other details stayed wonderfully consistent through the sketches - Mr. Timble’s briefcase by his side, his smart coat, and his determined expression as he peers through the magnifying glass. In the final version, the red door stood out brilliantly against the brown tree trunk, making the scene feel both bold and playful.

This page captures exactly what I love about Mr. Timble - he’s serious about his detective work, even when the clues might not be as important as he thinks!

Illustration of a mouse with a magnifying glass near a mailbox, on a beige background. Illustration of a mouse in a suit standing in front of a door with a sign, holding a camera.

Illustration of a mouse character with a magnifying glass and suitcase in front of a wooden house with a red door.

Behind the Scenes - Page 11

In this scene, Mr. Timble visits the bakery, where shelves are stacked with fresh loaves of bread and the shop owner mouse hands him a bag of goods. I loved including a cosy bakery in the story because it adds warmth to the little mouse village, making it feel full of everyday life.

The shop owner we see here is actually Mrs. Munchkins, the baker’s wife. This is a playful nod towards my next story, Mr. Timble and the Bakery Theft, where Mrs. Munchkins becomes an important character. Including her here felt like a fun way to quietly connect the stories and give a glimpse of what’s coming.

Julia’s details really helped bring this moment to life — from Mrs. Munchkins’ cheerful headscarf to the shelves of loaves behind her. And one of my favourite touches is the little shopping bag with the apple design that Mrs. Munchkins hands over. It’s such a charming detail, and it adds to the homely, everyday feel of the scene, even while Mr. Timble is busy with his detective work.

Illustration of a mouse in a hat and coat interacting with a mouse behind a counter in a bakery. Illustration of a mouse customer and a mouse baker in a bakery.

Behind the Scenes - Page 12

In this scene we see a mouse sitting in the barber’s chair, getting a neat trim while Mr. Timble arrives at the shop, briefcase in hand. I love how this moment shows the everyday life of the mouse village, with even the barber’s shop playing its part in the wider mystery.

If you look back at the early sketches, you’ll notice a big change. At first, the barber’s shop looked quite plain inside, but I wanted it to feel more like it belonged inside a great tree. So we added the wooden beams across the ceiling, which instantly gave it that cosy, tree-house character.

Julia brought in so many lovely touches — the striped wallpaper, the little framed pictures on the wall, and of course the barber’s pole by the window, which makes the setting instantly recognisable. Those details, combined with the beams, made the final illustration feel warm, whimsical, and full of life, just as I imagined.

Illustration of a mouse getting a haircut in a barbershop with another mouse and a barber. Illustration of mice in a barber shop with a mirror and chair.

Behind the Scenes - Page 13

For this scene, the first sketch showed Mr Timble and the station mouse running alongside the train, but I felt it would work better if they were standing and talking in front of it. Julia reworked the illustration so the train became the backdrop, with smoke puffing from its chimney and a large clock showing the time. This change gave the scene more atmosphere, making it feel like a proper station moment, and helped slow the action down so the reader can focus on Mr Timble’s conversation. I also always like to squeeze in a clock when I can, so the reader has the chance to ask the child the time or point it out, giving the child a clear visual reference.

Cartoon illustration of two characters near a train with luggage, in black line art on a beige background. Illustration of two mice by a steam train, with one mouse holding a suitcase.

Behind the Scenes –

Behind the Scenes – Page 14

For this scene, Mr. Timble is shown outside, carefully checking through his case of letters. In the early sketch, the background was quite simple, with just rough outlines of the tree and doorway. This was later developed into a much richer setting, with leafy branches, a winding path, and a blue door built neatly into the tree trunk.

Illustration of a mouse with a suitcase near a tree with a post office door and envelope.

Behind the Scenes – Page 15

For this scene, I felt the milk cart in the first sketch looked like it was tipping over, which made it feel a little unsteady. In the final version, Julia adjusted the angle and proportions so the cart sits firmly on the road, making it look much more balanced and natural. This small change makes a big difference, keeping the illustration both charming and believable.

Cartoon illustration of a milk delivery scene with a milkman and a milk truck on a beige background.

Illustration of a milk truck and a child in a rural setting

Behind the Scenes – Page 16

For this scene, the only adjustment we needed to make was with Ron’s expression. In the story, he’s meant to look surprised, but in the first sketch his face appeared a little too calm and neutral. Julia refined his features so he really looks caught off guard, which fits the moment in the text much better.

It’s those little shifts in expression that bring the storytelling to life, making sure the characters’ emotions line up perfectly with the words on the page.

Illustration of mice in a vintage setting with a taxi and milk truck. Illustration of three mice in a park-like setting with a taxi and ice cream truck in the background.

Behind the Scenes – Page 17

For this scene, the main adjustment was with Ron’s size and his expression. In the first sketch, Ron looked a little too big compared to Mr. Timble, which threw off the balance of the illustration. Julia scaled him down so the proportions felt more natural, while still keeping his presence clear.

Two cartoon mice in a stylized landscape with trees and a clear sky.

Two cartoon mice in a vintage style with one holding a suitcase and the other wearing a hat. Illustration of two mice in a forest setting, one wearing sunglasses and a blue shirt with a suitcase, the other in a green coat with a hat.

Page 18

For this scene, the main adjustment was adding Mavis’s glasses. In the first sketch she was missing them, which made her look unlike herself and less recognisable as the clever, bookish character she’s meant to be.

Two cartoon mice in a library setting with books and a clock. Illustration of two cartoon mice at a table in a library setting.

Behind the Scenes – Page 19

For this scene, I really wanted the theme of friendship to shine through. You can see it in the way Mavis and Ron are running together, both caught up in the fun of getting the kite into the air. Their teamwork and shared joy give the whole illustration its warmth, while Mr. Timble watches fondly from the bench.

Julia brought that sense of connection out beautifully — the matching energy in their movements, the way they’re focused on the same goal, and even the little details like the flowing kite string that links them together. It’s a moment that celebrates not just play, but the bond of friendship at the heart of the story.

Illustration of two mice flying a kite on a beige background

Illustration of Mouse and Ron Flying a kite in a park with a Mr Timble watching from a bench.

Behind the Scenes – front cover

We started off with the picture I wanted for the front page. Then we worked on putting a frame around it to give the cover its shape. After that, Julia put the colours together for the picture inside the frame, which really brought it to life. The final step was deciding on the background colour for the book cover. Julia first suggested an orange shade, but I felt something more natural would blend in better with the trees. After a bit of back and forth, we landed on the final result — just what I had in mind.