Colin’s Castle

By Holly Swain

Nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration 2025.

A Children’s Book Club pick for Spooky Halloween Books – BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

When a vegetarian vampire moves into his dream castle, he soon discovers he has an unwanted house guest …

Colin’s new castle is perfect in every way – apart from the DUCK.

The duck pops up when Colin’s in the bath. When he’s watching telly. When he’s ON THE LOO. QUACK!

But where there’s a will, there’s a way. Colin has a PLAN. Will he succeed in banishing Duck from his castle and leading the bird-free life that he dreams of?

Format: Paperback
Ageband: 3 to 6
Release Date: 29 Aug 2024
Pages: 32
ISBN: 978-0-00-869812-6
Holly Swain is an experienced illustrator who has created picture books for many publishers. This is her debut picture book as author-illustrator.

”'Hilarious” - The Sunday Times

”'[a] superbly humorous picture book” - V's View from the Bookshelves blog

”'Full of humour and beautifully illustrated, young readers will enjoy the duck's antics and Colin’s attempts to live a bird-free life” - RTÉJr

”'The illustrations of Colin and his duck are delightful and the details of the castle are brilliant! […] This is definitely a book to enjoy together in the autumn term.” - Scope for Imagination Blog

”'Colin's Castle is gentle and hilarious, and the illustrations are full of so many wondrous little details. Colin is a utter DELIGHT.” - LoveReading4Kids

”'A perfect autumnal treat, Colin’s Castle is a story which will have children laughing hysterically before bedtime or in their classroom.” - Check 'Em Out Books blog

”'With a fiendishly funny adventure to enjoy, two unlikely adversaries, and a whole castle full of laughs, you won’t want to duck out of this rollicking romp!” - Lancashire Evening Post