A Diverse group of award-winning illustrators & authors creating across many industries.

P.U.R.S.T. Adventures Series by Ashley Spires

05 Apr 2016

Gordon: Bark to the Future! by Ashley Spires Is Out Today, With Excellent Reviews

May 1, 2018

Happy book birthday to Gordon: Bark to the Future! by Ashley Spires! The junior graphic novel is the latest installment of Spires’ popular P.U.R.S.T. (Pets of the Universe Ready for Space Travel) series, and stars Gordon, a genius dog who must use his super intelligence to combat aliens and save his friends (and his humans). But when his plan to travel back in time goes wrong, will Gordon be able to help after all?

Gordon: Bark to the Future! has already received a handful of great reviews, preceding its release. Kirkus Review calls it “wry, dry, and adorable,” insisting that newcomers to the series “will want to start at the Binky-beginning when done” and championing Spires’ “hilariously deadpan narration.” Booklist describes it as “ridiculous in the best way and sure to be a crowd-pleaser.” School Library Journal remarks that “Spires once more offers strong writing, and her adorable and quirky cartoon illustrations are well composed.”

Don’t miss out on this laugh-out-loud funny book- grab your copy of Gordon: Bark to the Future! here today.

Ashley Spires Nominated for Two Chocolate Lily Book Awards

June 21, 2017

The Chocolate Lily Book Awards is a reader’s choice awards that selects some of the best children’s fiction from authors and illustrators from British Columbia in Canada. Every year, they nominate books in categories such as picture books and novels. This year, Canadian author/illustrator Ashley Spires was nominated for two different books (see below)! Congratulations, Ashley!

Picture Books – Spare Dog Parts, written by Alison Hughes and illustrated by Ashley Spires

Chapter Books/Early Novels – Fluffy Strikes Back, written and illustrated by Ashley Spires

The Chocolate Lily Book Award’s full list of nominated books is available here.

Seven of Painted Words’s Authors/Illustrators Books Included in Bank Street’s Best Children Books of the Year 2017

May 2, 2017

Every year, the Children’s Book Committee at Bank Street College of Education compile a list of the best children’s books of the previous year. Based on criteria such as literary excellence, quality of illustration, diversity, and emotional impact, these books are recommended for parents, librarians, and children. This year, Bank Street has chosen seven of Painted Words’s books as some of the best books of 2016!

Under Five:

Five to Nine:

Nine to Twelve:

Bank Street’s full list of recommended books can be found here. Congratulations to our Painted Words artists and authors!

Watch the Book Trailer for Fluffy Strikes Back

April 13, 2016

The book trailer for Ashley Spires’ Fluffy Strikes Back is now online! Watch below:


Ashley Spires’s New Graphic Novel, Fluffy Strikes Back, Now Available For Purchase

April 5, 2016

Fluffy Strikes Back, the first volume in Ashley Spires‘s new series, P.U.R.S.T. Adventures, is now out! This hilarious graphic novel tells the adventure of Sergeant Fluffy of P.U.R.S.T., a coalition of cats and pets working together to protect the planet from aliens, aka bugs. When Fluffy discovers that P.U.R.S.T. headquarters has been taken over by bugs, he leaps into action to protect his comrades and his planets. Fluffy Strikes Back is a spin-off of Ashley’s popular Binky Adventure Series and Kirkus Reviews calls it, “a must for Binky’s legions of faithful feline fans.” You can order a copy online here.