Family debut children’s book takes flight with The Bim-Bam Boozle Bird

A Manchester-born family have launched their first children’s picture book, The Bim-Bam Boozle Bird.

Author Eileen Morrison, along with graphic designer and illustrator Tommy Morrison, have created a quirky character sure to pique the curiosity of toddlers and young children.

The pair grew up in Didsbury, before Tommy moved to Birmingham for work.

Inspired by listening to her grandfather’s made-up rhymes and funny words, Eileen put pen to paper to create her own poem – a rare, exotic bird that flies and sleeps upside-down, surrounded by wild nature.

The Bim-Bam Boozle Bird

The pair both discovered their love of writing early on.

Eileen, a former teacher, said: “I enjoyed creating the book and would be delighted if children fell in love with the Bim-Bam Boozle bird as I did as soon as I saw Tommy’s illustrations.

“It was like being little again, living inside out book. Working with my son has been a pleasure and he’s been amazing at interpreting my ideas.”

Tommy, graphic designer and illustrator, said: “I’m excited to get the book out into the world and I hope that children enjoy the character.

“I was inspired by my mum’s poems and it’s been great to collaborate on the book together.”

A Dream Team Collaboration

Eileen Morrison, a former teacher, drew inspiration from her grandfather’s humorous rhymes and imaginary worlds to craft a whimsical poem that formed the foundation of the book.

She said: “The storyline was just buzzing around in my head for ages, and then I finally sat down and wrote it.

“Me and Tommy thought, wouldn’t it be nice to have some pictures to go with it? So he worked on those.

“At Christmas about five years ago, my husband had 12 copies printed, and it was this beautiful physical thing finally, rather than just ideas. It came to life.”

Tommy Morrison, a graphic designer and illustrator based in Birmingham, brought the story to life with bold and enchanting illustrations, creating a captivating visual experience for young readers.

He said: “Mum has always loved literature – she’s always been an avid reader and was a primary school teacher for years.

“Her passion for reading and books just took a logical step putting things from pen to paper.

“I’m on the other side doing the pictures – I’ve always loved drawing, and have been a graphic designer now for years. It was something a bit different, the illustration side – but it was challenging and I loved it.

“I’ve taken influences from various illustrators like Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler, Dr. Seuss, and classics like Quentin Blake. Dr. Seuss is quite an influence on the little bits of the world of the birds.

“I try to include a different interesting kind of tree or plant, creating a magical lost environment.”

The Bim-Bam Boozle Bird inspiration

The main character, the Bim-Bam Boozle Bird, emerged from Eileen’s childhood memories and her grandfather’s entertaining rhymes.

Eileen said: “When I was a little girl, my grandad lived with us, and he used to say funny rhymes.

“He was an Irishman who’d grown up in Scotland and travelled over the world with the army, so he had a strange accent.

“He used to talk about things like somebody with a broom chased a codfish all around the room.

“To me as a little girl, that was hilarious. I wanted to capture his wonderful energy.

“I loved anything wacky as a child. The Roswell radio was a big thing in our house, and the humour in books like Billy Bunter appealed to me. I’ve always been drawn to strange and sometimes scary things happening from a safe place presented funnily.”

Working Across Generations and Geographies

Despite living in different cities, Eileen in Didsbury and Tommy in Birmingham, the mother-son duo collaborated on the project.

They both said it had been a hugely enjoyable experience.

Tommy said: “Working together has been fun and much different from working with clients. It’s more collaborative and creative, bringing Mum’s poem to life through the pictures.

“We’ve never really worked together before, but it’s been a wonderful experience.”

“We both share a whacky sense of humour” Eileen added.

“Things don’t get tense between us. Tom’s sketches correspond to stanzas of the poem, and it’s nice to add little details informed by my experience as a primary school teacher.

Where to buy The Bim-Bam Boozle Bird

As the Morrison duo celebrates the launch of “The Bim-Bam Boozle Bird,” they are already contemplating future projects.

Eileen has started working on another book, viewing the current one as an introduction to more imaginative tales.

We wish them the best of luck!

You can get your copy of The Bim-Bam Boozle Bird by clicking here