Book Spotlight: Mr Snuffles’ Birthday by David Greaves

‘It was a wonderful day for snuffling for truffles,

‘What a birthday treat!’ thought Mr Snuffles…’

Adults and children of all ages will delight in following Mr Snuffles’ frustrating woodland quest for his beloved truffles. But is Mr Snuffles on the right scent?

Beautifully illustrated by Emily Wallis, David Greaves’ Mr Snuffles’ Birthday is a glorious celebration of language, friendship and truffles: a tale to be treasured and to read aloud together time and time again.

Born in Yorkshire in 1985, David Greaves’ warmth and generosity of spirit, and his love of travel and adventure led him to make friends around the world with people from all walks of life. His strength of character and devotion to achieving his goals was shown in his achievements as an ultra-marathon runner and Iron Man triathlete. It was also shown by his
determination to finish this book, and nine others, after being diagnosed with MotorNeurone Disease (ALS) in June 2015, just after his thirtieth birthday. In the fifteen months after his diagnosis he got married to the love of his life, climbed Mt Kilimanjaro, raising over
£12,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, and travelled through East Africa before settling in Newcastle upon Tyne. As David lost the use of his arms and speech he finished his collection of children’s books using revolutionary Eye Gaze technology which allowed him to type by tracking the movement of his eyes. David passed away peacefully at
home in September 2016. Mr Snuffles is David’s first book and his wife Philippa and family intend to honour his memory by eventually publishing all of his completed works.

Emily Wallis is an illustrator who uses traditional hand-drawn techniques. She completed her MA in sequential design and illustration at the University of Brighton. She lives in London, UK.