Meet Buster and Squeezer at Teesside

Amy Wilde has a passion for children’s books, collecting thousands of them over the years. In 2004 she decided to add to her vast collection, by writing and illustrating her very own children’s book ‘Buster and Squeezer’. Amy, 21, from Skelton, is in the final year of a BA (Hons) degree in Graphic Design at the University of Teesside. She created her book specifically for the Macmillan Children’s Picture Book competition, and was Highly Commended in the Children’s Picture Book Illustration category.

Amy said: “I was absolutely shocked to achieve the Highly Commended category in a national competition. I thought I wouldn’t stand a chance. I thought of the character names Buster and Squeezer after a University trip to New York, where we were attending a graphic design conference. I met a man walking his two pug dogs, called Buster and Squeezer! I like pug dogs, and thought the names were wonderful.

“My book is humorous, and explores the friendship between two very different characters, Buster, a small boy, and Squeezer, a giant chicken. It’s a bizarre relationship, but they get along and Squeezer defends Buster against some bullies. I’d really love to see the book produced. My parents Jill and Steve are really, really proud.”

Amy has completed work experience with a leading children’s book publisher in London, and is aiming for a career in this field.

A large version of Buster and Squeezer, along with the book, will be on display at the University of Teesside’s annual Design Degree Show. Projects by final year degree students on the following BA (Hons) degree courses: Design Marketing, Graphic Design, Industrial Design and Interior Architecture and Design, will all be showcased.

The show is free to all and runs from Thursday 3 to Wednesday 9 June (not Saturday or Sunday), from 10am - 4pm, at the Main Hall of the Middlesbrough Tower, off Borough Road, Middlesbrough. The work exhibited at the show will also be on display at the New Designers Show at Islington Business Design Centre, London, from Thursday 8 - Sunday 11 July.

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