With different, imaginative creatures on each page, Splats by Simon Crack tells the story of several different creatures, from Splarks to Meanies to Splooges and more. In bright, painted colors, each page gives a short description of the various creatures, as well as an alternative name for them. For example, the Leggie is a very tall creature with long legs; however, it is scared of heights, which is ironic! Every page shares different fun facts, taking young readers on an informative journey through this world of imaginative creatures who all look so much fun. Simon Crack’s book, Splats, is a wonderful read that is sure to make children smile!

Splats by Simon Crack is an easy-to-read, creative children’s picture book that is unlike anything I have ever read in terms of the art and imagination this story encourages. I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it and love how interactive it is at the end, with some blank pages encouraging children to draw their own splats. I could see from where the inspiration was drawn for a couple of the pages, but overall, each of these illustrations was very unique and different. I loved the vibrant colors throughout each page, drawing readers' eyes to each creature. I would recommend Splats to all young children, especially those who love to come up with their own creatures and stories. It is easy to read yet would still provide learning opportunities for children on the younger side who are developing their reading skills.

In the year 2001, Simon Crack submitted a collection of paintings of weird creatures as a project for his college Art and Design Foundation course. Inspired by that project, Splats contains illustrations of uniquely inventive creatures born out of randomly dripped colored ink on paper and gradually drawn into some truly mesmerizing shapes. Each creature is assigned fun-filled traits and characteristics that will appeal to children and light a spark to their unlimited imagination. The bright and vibrant choice of colors makes the illustrations pop out of the pages, making it easier to catch the young reader's eye. The excerpts accompanying them give an idea of how living beings in the real world are attuned to nature, and their physical makeup is dictated by the needs of their surrounding environment.

Splats is a delightful collection of illustrations and excerpts that are bound to inspire children into picking up a paintbrush. Author Simon Crack provides a creative way for children to express their limitless potential through art, which is not only a fun way to pass their time but it also invigorates their vast imagination. Apart from the excerpts that come with each illustration, Crack also leaves room for kids to use their own imagination and fill in the blanks in some of the paintings that are left without any writing beside them. My favorite aspect of the book is that every illustration seemed to be initially created by a random splash of colors and later given shape and meaning through a personal touch. Splats is a children's picture book I highly recommend.

Splats: A Collection of Crazy Creatures is a unique book for children. Even the simply worded title page – SPLATS by Simon Crack – intrigues with a green splatter of paint cleverly adapted to form a gloomy creature; the shape of his mouth being dictated by what might be a dog with its mouth open. Following the dedication page are sixteen “splats”, each with a short comment about them. After that, come two Create Your Own pages. Both are blue, but utterly different, and have places to name the creatures they cause the reader to imagine, including in “Latin”, and yet more lines for the child’s description. Simon Crack uses language that would challenge under-eights, but the amusing stories have appeal for any age, and the chance to “make a mess” with paint is irresistible.

Initially, I was fascinated by the background to Splats: A Collection of Crazy Creatures. Art and Design Foundation Courses positively encourage innovation, but Simon Crack has taken this a huge step further by developing the technique into a book guaranteed to captivate children – and adults! Every member of the Splat collection is brilliant, but my own favorite is Splooge (087. Thinkalotus) who ponders life’s profoundly important questions, like what to have for tea. And then there is Snozz, who uses his long nose – but to say more would give away secrets! Splats by Simon Crack would make a marvelous gift for the children in your life. Most of all, I recommend it to 3rd and 4th-grade art teachers in schools.

Who doesn't like imagining fantastic creatures, drawing them, and finally giving them unique and hilarious features? If you are a child (or an adult with a lot of imagination) who enjoys the company of amazing and unpredictable animals, here is the right book for you. I invite you to take a look at Simon Crack's colorful and hilarious book Splats: A Collection of Crazy Creatures. Here, you can have fun looking at the illustrations and reading the bizarre notes that describe the unusual animals you meet. Moreover, at the end of the book, you will also have the chance to create your favorite creatures. Are you ready to let your imagination run wild?

When I first picked up Splats, I was sure this book would surprise me. However, I could not have imagined that I would have such a good time (even though I am not such a young reader anymore). Simon Crack has a vivid imagination, which makes this book unique and special. I have to praise the author and illustrator twice, first for the images (ink stains can only become creatures thanks to the observer's ingenuity) and second for the descriptions. I confess I laughed out loud when I read the features of the unusual animals I met because they are often paradoxical and amusing. I highly recommend Splats to all young readers who love to fantasize, and I also invite them to start creating their own creatures after having fun in the company of those created by Crack.

I purchased this book in Feb 2022 after looking for something fun for my young Son and it hasn’t disappointed. My wife and I have found it very funny, highly recommended if you need a new book and a giggle at bedtime. Phil