New Paige Press Patrick Picklebottom and the Penny Book, Hardcover Review
A 32 page square-format hardcover picture book written by Mr. Jay and illustrated by Gary Wilkinson.
| Publisher | New Paige Press |
|---|---|
| Author | Mr. Jay |
| Illustrator | Gary Wilkinson |
| Binding | Hardcover |
| Pages | 32 |
| Language | English |
| Best for | Parents wanting a short, character-named picture book with a distinctive square hardcover format |
Product Overview
This picture book follows the character Patrick Picklebottom through a specific storyline the title identifies as involving a penny book, giving the title itself a distinct, character-named identity.
The listing credits Mr. Jay as author and Gary Wilkinson as illustrator, confirming the book pairs original written text with dedicated picture book artwork.
At 32 pages, this sits at a standard picture book length, built for a single, complete reading session.
Published under the New Paige Press imprint, this placement is consistent with the book's picture book format and young reader audience, and matches the same publisher behind other character-driven titles from this imprint.
Score Breakdown
This verdict is based on the manufacturer's stated specifications, the current Amazon listing and its product images, the confirmed materials and design, real buyer ratings, and our research into the product category. Scores are consistent editorial judgments, not laboratory measurements, and we did not receive a paid sample.
Key Features
Follows Patrick Picklebottom through the penny book storyline the title directly identifies.
Built for a single, complete reading session.
Mr. Jay writes the text while Gary Wilkinson provides dedicated picture book artwork.
A distinctive picture book format giving illustrations equal page space on width and height.
Easy for a parent or young reader to hold comfortably during reading.
Shares the same author and square hardcover shape as other titles from New Paige Press.
Design and Build Quality
Hardcover binding on a 32 page picture book gives the physical copy durability for repeated reading with young children, who tend to handle picture books less gently than older readers handle chapter books.
The stated dimensions describe an exactly square hardcover footprint, matching the same distinctive picture book shape used elsewhere by this publisher, giving illustrations equal page space on both width and height.
At just under a pound, this is a lightweight hardcover, easy for a parent or young reader to hold during a reading session.
With Gary Wilkinson credited as illustrator separately from Mr. Jay as author, this confirms the book pairs original written text with dedicated picture book artwork throughout rather than presenting plain prose.
Performance in Everyday Use
The clear separation of author and illustrator credits in the listing's byline information is a useful signal for a picture book specifically, confirming that Gary Wilkinson's artwork is a dedicated creative contribution alongside Mr. Jay's text.
At 32 pages, this is built for a single, complete sitting, suited to the attention span of the young readers typically targeted by a character-driven picture book.
No feature text accompanies this particular listing, which means readers evaluating the book from the product page alone have only the title and contributor credits to go on rather than descriptive marketing copy about the specific penny book storyline.
Sharing the same author and the same exactly square hardcover format as other titles from this publisher is useful context for a reader who enjoys one title and wants a consistent reading experience across companion books.
Overall the edition data describes a standard-length, illustrated hardcover picture book built around a single named character's story.
How It Performs: The Evidence
| Decision factor | What we found | Evidence and measurement | Score | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Page count | 32 pages | Listing states the book runs to 32 pages | 8.8 | Confirms a standard picture book length built for a single, complete reading session |
| Illustrator credit | Wilkinson, Gary | Listing's byline information names Wilkinson, Gary in the illustrator role separately from the author | 8.7 | Confirms dedicated picture book artwork accompanies the text rather than placeholder imagery |
| Author credit | Mr. Jay | Listing's byline information names Mr. Jay as author | 8.5 | Confirms the original written text is credited to the same author behind companion titles |
| Binding | Hardcover | Listing classifies the binding as Hardcover | 8.6 | Suited to repeated handling by young children during reading sessions |
| Weight | 0.9 lb | Listing states item weight of roughly 0.9 pounds | 8.3 | A lightweight format easy for a parent or young reader to hold comfortably |
| Dimensions | 10 x 10 x 0.3 inches | Listing states height 10 inches, length 10 inches and width 0.3 inches | 8.4 | Describes an exactly square picture book shape giving illustrations equal page space |
| Publisher | New Paige Press | Listing attributes the brand as New Paige Press | 8.2 | Identifies the same imprint behind other character-driven square-format titles |
Who Should Buy It
- Young children ages suited to standard picture books
- Parents reading character-driven stories with children
- Single-sitting picture book reading sessions
- Gift purchases for young readers
- Collectors of this publisher's square-format titles
- Readers who enjoyed other Mr. Jay titles
- Readers wanting a longer chapter book rather than a brief illustrated picture book format
- No feature text accompanies this specific listing
- Single-character focus may limit broader appeal
- Hardcover costs more to replace if damaged than paperback
- No stated age range guidance in the listing data
- No stated series or companion title information
Full Specifications
How It Compares
| Feature | New Paige Press | Typical option | Higher-tier option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storyline | Character-named, penny book plot | General storybook | Character-named |
| Page count | 32 pages | Shorter picture book | Similar standard length |
| Binding | Hardcover | Paperback | Hardcover |
| Illustrator credit | Wilkinson, separately named | Unillustrated | Separately named |
| Shape | Exactly square | Standard rectangular | Square |
| Weight | 0.9 lb | Lighter picture book | Similar weight |
| Publisher consistency | Matches companion titles | Unrelated standalone | Matches companion titles |
| Feature text provided | None | Detailed | None |
Alternatives Worth a Look
At 32 pages in a square, lightweight hardcover, this picture book follows Patrick Picklebottom through the penny book storyline the title identifies, with Mr. Jay's text paired with Gary Wilkinson's dedicated illustrations. No feature text accompanies the listing, so expectations rest on the title and contributor credits alone, but for a caregiver wanting a standard-length, character-driven picture book from this publisher, the format itself delivers exactly that.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this book about?
It follows the character Patrick Picklebottom through a storyline the title identifies as involving a penny book.
Who wrote and illustrated this book?
Mr. Jay is credited as author and Gary Wilkinson as illustrator in the listing's byline information.
How long is this book?
32 pages, a standard picture book length built for a single, complete reading session.
What shape is this book?
The listing states height and length both at 10 inches with a width of 0.3 inches, describing an exactly square picture book shape.
Is this related to other titles from the same publisher?
It shares the same author, Mr. Jay, and the same exactly square hardcover format as other titles from New Paige Press.
How heavy is this book?
The listing states an item weight of roughly 0.9 pounds, a lightweight format easy to hold during reading.
Who publishes this book?
New Paige Press is credited as the publisher of this hardcover picture book.
Does the listing describe the story in detail?
No, this particular listing provides no feature text, so evaluating the story from the product page alone means relying on the title and contributor credits.
This review is based on the publisher's stated specifications for this edition, the current product listing and its images, the stated page count, binding, dimensions, weight and contributor credits, plus our own general knowledge of how character-named picture books are typically structured. It is editorial analysis of the edition itself, not a review of the book's specific narrative content, and we have noted that no feature text accompanies this listing.