Book Makers: The Backstory of the Juvenile Nonfiction Book Series 'You Wouldn't Want to Be...!' Starting with 'You Wouldn't Want to Be an Egyptian Mummy' by David Stewart & Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want To Be...! and You Wouldn't Want To Live Without...
The You Wouldn't Want To Be... is a series of mostly history titles I created and designed in 1999, I later adapted this series into the 'sister' series You Wouldn't Want To Live Without... in 2012 to accommodate a broader range of subjects as the 'common core', (a USA multi-state educational initiative had begun in 2010, which had the goal of increasing consistency across American state educational standards).
Creating And Designing Nonfiction Books
Since 1986, I have been creating juvenile nonfiction books for publishers. This involves developing concepts, creating presentation material like book covers and spreads, selling the idea to publishers, and then working on the project until it becomes a book. The concept includes series outline, book synopsis, thematic development, other series titles, design and layouts, text amount, font styles, cover design, visual elements, and selecting illustrators and writers.
What is Juvenile Nonfiction?
Juvenile nonfiction refers to information books created, designed, and written specifically for children and young adults. These books cover a wide range of subjects, including history, science, biography, art, health, and more. Unlike fiction, which is based on imaginary events and characters, nonfiction provides factual content aimed at educating and informing young readers.
Inside Story
One of the first series I designed and created was the Inside Story history series. Published by Simon & Schuster in 1989. I later republished this series as Spectacular Visual Guides, under The Salariya Book Co. Imprint Book House. I wanted my young readers to enjoy and return to the information books I created and designed and to lay the foundations for a lifetime of reading. I've strived to combine dynamic illustrations, sometimes humour, odd facts, and clear text. No series has achieved this more than the narrative nonfiction You Wouldn't Want To Be... series.
You Wouldn't Want To Be...! - Nasty, Brutish, and Short
In 1999, I came up with the concept for the You Wouldn't Want To Be...! series, aimed at children aged seven and up. Each 32-page book starts with You wouldn't want to be...! and explores the harsh realities of life in the past. I was inspired by Thomas Hobbes' quote from his 1588 book Leviathan, of life being "nasty, brutish, and short." I created and designed this series twenty-five years ago, when the world seemed to be a much more optimistic, happier and less divided place. Many of the horrors of the past were firmly in the past - or so I naively thought! My way of tackling difficult subjects was with the use of humour as the cover artwork of the You Wouldn’t Want To Sail on The Titanic shows, and is reinforced throughout the book by David Antram's magnificent artwork. I write under several (...don't ask) pen names and this was written under one of them - David Stewart.
A more Diverse and Nuanced View of History
The subjects of the books are from different times and places and sometimes about lesser known people and events from history. This approach provided a more diverse and nuanced view of not just major events but also the day-to-day lives of people set in a historical context. Some volumes in the series also cover scientific themes. Despite the serious subject matter, the books maintain a humorous tone, ensuring that learning about history and science and life in the past remains entertaining and accessible to children.
Disgusting Things You'd Rather Not Know
The titles of the books often feature sub-titles that explain why one would prefer not to experience or inhabit the scenarios depicted inside the book, such as You Wouldn't Want
To Be an Egyptian Mummy! Disgusting Things You'd Rather Not Know . I chose the word 'rather' being used here as it was a word that a disreputable 1950's 'toff'(upper class) or bounder ('Bounder' was the title of the actor Terry Thomas' biography, exactly the type of man who would say 'rath....er') ...perhaps double spaced though in pronunciation.
A Journey Through Time: The Creation of the 'You Wouldn't Want To Be' Series
...So How Did This Start?...Let's Go...
...Back To...1979...
I graduated from art school at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee, Scotland, studying illustration, printmaking and silversmithing as a craft subject. I trained to be an art-teacher at the University of Sussex and then found a job working on the night shift in a factory in London so I could go out with my portfolio during the day. I became a full-time freelancer, illustrating books for Reader's Digest and Kingfisher Books. I worked with Giovanni Caselli in Brighton and later started writing and creating book projects for the publisher Giunti Marzocco in Florence.
In 1989, I founded The Salariya Book Co in Brighton. I became an 'editorial packager,' a term for a 'maker of books' as 'book-maker' was already in use which would have been a much better job description than 'packager';
Book-Maker to Mummy Maker!
I created, designed, commissioned, and produced books up to the stage where all the text and illustrations would be sent to the publisher as a 'paste-up'. The publishers production department would then take the material through all the stages of printing, distribution, and the selling of rights to foreign territories. I had created & designed a great many series which were being published by Phillipa Stewart at Macdonald Young Books and Franklin Watts published my books in both the UK and the USA: Timelines, The X-Ray Picture Book series, How Would You Survive...? Worldwise and many, many more. Chester Fisher was publisher at Franklin Watts in the UK and Marlene Johnston was CEO, both Chester and Marlene were instrumental in publishing my books as high-profile projects and nurtured a creative environment at Franklin Watts where sparks of ideas would flourish, even indulging me to the extent that Marlene allowed me to extravagantly print the inside and outside of the dust-jackets. A poster would be printed on the inside of all the Salariya/Watts books and I had also designed a logo for the Salariya/Watts books - using the constructed Roman alphabet devised by Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) famous for many great geometrical and structured capitals, the X used in the design was also inspired by Albrecht Dürer
...To...1997
The You Wouldn't Want To Be...! series has enjoyed remarkable success and longevity, and has been sold globally. It has been translated into thirty-five languages, four web books, two stage shows, and has sold over six million copies at the last count. Of course, it is also available as ebooks. I'll go through the backstory of the You Wouldn't Want To Be...! series, it was just a throw away idea that worked.
How the You Wouldn’t Want To Be…! series began
I had created and designed a series with the title So You Want To Be an… four volumes covering typical subjects: a Knight, an Ancient Egyptian
Princess, a Pirate, and
a Roman Soldier, figures from history that a young reader would find interesting. Published by National Geographic in the US and Macdonald Young Books in the UK. Inspired by people you would want to be, I was thinking about adding more titles for this series but kept thinking about all the places and people you wouldn't want to be ...or in, so, giving birth to the You Wouldn’t Want To Be…! series title.
Italy for Easter
I was travelling to Italy for Easter in 1999 and going to the Children’s book fair, the Bologna Book Fair, after the Easter Holidays, so I was heading to Venice and then on to the book fair and I hadn’t quite finished
everything I had been planning and time was running out - it was time to leave and I was on my way to Gatwick Airport and working on this last minute idea.
A guide to the mummification process
I knew enough about ancient Egyptian mummies to write a short synopsis and roughly sketched two double-page spreads at the airport. The book would target readers curious about mummification. Perfect for those (like me) who revel in the macabre and crave the bizarre, from embalming secrets to tales of tomb robbers, mummified animals, and famous figures like Tutankhamen and the 'unlucky mummy board' as well as the mouldy mummy of Ramses II's flight to Paris with occupation listed as 'King (deceased)'. The You Wouldn't Want to Be series would transport readers to the grisliest times and places in history and would be perfect for reluctant readers. The first-person narrative approach would put children in the shoes of some of the most unfortunate people to have lived.
Sketches Posted To David Antram from Gatwick Airport
Arriving at Gatwick Airport I completed the synopsis and pencil roughs and posted these layouts and instructions to illustrator David Antram. He then produced artwork for the two spreads which were brought out to Italy two weeks later for the Bologna Book Fair.
Book Makers
John Selfridge, VP & Publisher
John Selfridge was Vice President and Publisher at the French Lagardere owned Grollier, Franklin Watts Imprint, Children's Press in the US. Following the Scholastic US acquisition of Grollier in April 2000, John played a central role in post-acquisition strategy, operations consolidation, and business integration at Scholastic. John, who had great publishing skills, ordered the first volumes in the You Wouldn't Want To series: Egyptian Mummy!, Roman Gladiator!, Viking Explorer!, Slave in Ancient Greece!. The first four volumes were published in 2000 by Scholastic's Children's Press in the USA and by Roberta Bailey at Macdonald Young Books in the UK.
The You Wouldn't Want To Be...! Series Design
The design concept for the You Wouldn't Want To Be...! was to emulate comic books. Ronald Searle’s drawings for the St Trinian's and the typography from the film posters of the 1950s greatly influenced me.
The dastardly girls of St Trinian’s, and also Britain’s naughtiest schoolboy, Nigel Molesworth from the Curse of St Custard’s School, these characters encapsulated the style and humour I wanted for my books. I wanted to evoke the "wonderful indiscipline of the tearaways and the debauched indifference of the staff" as the Radio Times Film Guide reviewed the 1954, film 'The Pure Hell of St Trinian's'.
Fonts: Uncle Stinky & Bludgeon
Font’s with the wonderful names of Uncle Stinky and Bludgeon designed by Chank Diesel conveyed the sense of subtle anarchy, and a comic book feel and were used as dropped caps and headings.
Cookery Book concept...what you need...ingredients...a dead body!
I had the idea of using the format of a cookery book for the sequences of how to make an Egyptian mummy. So... what do you need... ingredients... starting with a dead body. I decided to write these books in the first person, hence as an Ancient Egyptian - it is you who is about to drop dead and be mummified. Admittedly, it is easier for me to design projects when writing them too - no disagreements with writers!
(I wrote that title with the pen name of David Stewart, my middle name is Stewart).
Masterplan, Thumbnail pencils for You Wouldn't Want To Be An Egyptian Mummy!
Pages had easy to read captions and speech bubbles
The layouts of the pages for the You Wouldn't Want To Be An Egyptian Mummy! were carefully planned to have small, easy to read captions, visual cues, such as dropped caps, helped distinguish main text from captions especially when two columns of text are side by side. Using eccentric looking character fonts added a playful touch to the pages, making the reading experience more like a tragicomedy inspired comic not an educational book.
"A fascinating full-on colour weapon"
The Manchester Evening News called this series "‘a fascinating full-on colour weapon in the battle to get kids to remember historical facts’. Educator, blogger and reading advocate Keith Schoch http://teachwithpicturebooks.blogspot.com/2009/05/ says that David Antram’s ‘lively, hysterical cartoons (very reminiscent of Mad magazine) give the text a comic book feel, and every page is packed with well-researched facts…"
"It's rare that I get excited about a series of picture books, but kudos to the small army of writers who produced the "You Wouldn't Want to..." series of nonfiction books. It seems that the series was started by British author David Salariya and has since been taken on by several other writers, although most of the titles are illustrated by the extremely talented David Antram. " Keith Schoch
Gloomy and Difficult Subjects
Despite tackling gloomy and difficult subjects and the harsh realities of life in the past, the books maintain a respectful and honest approach. While the first four titles in the series feature main characters meeting untimely ends, subsequent volumes adhere to the feedback from the US publisher, Scholastic, (spoiler alert) opting for more uplifting endings - not many die...
Ultimately, the aim of the You Wouldn't Want To Be…! series was to serve as a tool for children to gain insights into history while preparing them for life's challenges with a blend of humour, honesty, and respect for the subject matter and of course be deliriously funny.
David Antram, Illustrator Of More Than Fifty Of The You Wouldn't Want To Be...! Books
David Antram
David Antram's artwork which complements the text and enhances the reading experience. immerses the readers in the different time periods being depicted with a sharp eye and tongue firmly in cheek, David Antram's artwork really made this series the success it has been.
David Antram was born in Brighton, England, in 1958. He studied at Eastbourne College of Art and then worked in advertising for 15 years before becoming a full-time freelance illustrator. He has illustrated well over 100 titles, mainly for children and young adults, including around fifty titles in the You Wouldn't Want to Be...! series.
Readers
Wonderful kitchen table instructions on how to make an Egyptian Mummy in the style of a cookery lesson! David Stewart and David Antram were delighted with this young 'cook'.
So How Did The You Wouldn’t Want To Be…! WEB BOOKS Come About?
An added element to the You Wouldn't Want to Be...! series was the development of a series of 'Web Books' created by Peter Cook. Web-based versions of titles: You Wouldn't Want to be an Egyptian Mummy!, Roman Soldier!, Polar Explorer! in 2001. These used some of the text and images from the print version but allowed the users to interact with the content by locating a cursor over ‘hotspots’ to view a simple animation or a speech bubble – a fun element that was a distinguishing feature of the You Wouldn't Want to Be...! series. Peter also developed a Web Book version of You Wouldn't Want to Sail on the Whaling Ship Essex!, one of three titles that Peter had written in the series.
The Web Books Generated Millions Of Views & Publicity For The Print Versions of You Wouldn't Want To Be...!
The Web Books of the You Wouldn't Want To Be...! generated millions of views and good publicity for the print versions. For a number of years, the 'Egyptian Mummy' and 'Roman Soldier' Web Books were listed at the top of Google web searches for these subjects. This was the result of Google's search algorithm, which ranks websites based on the number of other websites that link to them and the ranking of those websites as credible sources. The majority of the links to the You Wouldn't Want To Be... Web Books came from US schools and respected sources, such as the BBC History website. It was unfortunate that Scholastic, Franklin Watts Imprint, the US publisher of the book series, did not have the foresight to invest in and promote the Web Books series, which could have had a future as 'Apps' developed for mobile phones and tablet devices.
Writers And Artists Who Worked On The You Wouldn't Want To Be...! series
Writers, editors and editorial assistants
Working with me on the You Wouldn't Want to Be...! books were a diverse team of exceptionally talented writers, each bringing their unique perspective and expertise to the project. From historians to educators, scientists to storytellers, the writers of the You Wouldn't Want to Be...! series have expertly crafted each book to take readers to fascinating moments in history and to walk in some really unfortunate people's shoes.
Fiona Macdonald, Jacqueline Morley, John Malam, David Stewart (Pen name of David Salariya), Jim Pipe, Andrew Langley, Peter Cook, Michael Ford, Kathryn Senior, Thomas Ratliff, Rupert Matthews, Ian Graham, Colin Hynson, Alex Wolfe, Meredith Costain, Jen Green, Anne Rooney, Roger Canavan, Mark Bergin, Simon Smith.
Throughout the span of 25 years, this collaborative effort has resulted in a rich library of educational yet entertaining books that take readers to different eras, cultures, and adventures. With humour, wit, misery, and an unwavering commitment to accuracy and gloom, the authors have transformed history lessons into unforgettable experiences, sparking curiosity and hopefully inspiring lifelong learning.
With me, this team of writers, illustrators, editors, and editorial assistants who created a legacy which continues to enrich the minds of young readers around the world, proving that learning can be both fun and fulfilling. So, whether they are exploring ancient civilizations, braving the high seas, or venturing into outer space, the You Wouldn't Want to Be...! series is surely hopefully going to continue to delight, disgust, horrify, and educate readers of all ages for years to come...or will it? Tastes and fashions change, and humour and cartoon artwork can be subjective.
Editors:
Penny Clarke
Stephanie Cole
Michael Ford
Stephen Hayes
Sophie Izod
Nick Pierce
Karen Barker Smith
Editorial Assistants:
Charlene Dobson
Tanya Kant
Robert Walker
Mark Williams
How to deliver all these thrills and chills?
It's obviously great for me to have a spark of an idea for history enthusiasts who crave a blend of gore and knowledge but how do you deliver all these thrills and chills in paper and print? That is where page make-up and production take-over.
Page Make-Up
Page make-up is a blend of art and science, requiring both creative and technical skills to produce a visually appealing and functional end product.
Mark Williams
Robert Walker
Printing the You Wouldn'T Want To Be..! series
When the You Wouldn't Want to be...! series started in 1999 we were only beginning to use computers to make up books, the computers were not powerful enough to make up the book files in high resolution - so books were made up in low resolution files. Images used on the internet are typically 72 dpi, which is a suitable resolution for websites. This resolution keeps file sizes small and ensures that images don't look visibly pixelated on most computer screens. However, when printed, images at 72 dpi will always appear pixelated and low-resolution.
The files for the books in1999 were made up in 72 dpi then these files were sent to the printers in China where the low resolution files were replaced with high resolution files to make them of the quality to be able to print.
The printing and production for the You Wouldn't Want to be...! over the period of twenty five years was handled by four people:
Karen Barker-Smith
Jo Furse
Anthony Green
David Brine.
Foreign Rights and Special Sales
In UK publishing, a person working selling foreign rights and special sales plays a crucial role in expanding the reach of books beyond the UK market. The You Wouldn't Want To Be...! series was sold into into thirty-five languages, this did not just happen, and took the skills, expertise and hard work of the Foreign Rights and Special Sales Executives:
Roberta Bailey, Patricia Borlenghi, Cecilia Fanucci, Jo Furse, Sophie Furse, Ingrid Gegner, Lizzie Kelly, Nina de la Mer, Anne Murray, Fiona Turner.
Foreign Rights and Special Sales Executives negotiate the contracts and licensing agreements with international publishers, allowing books to be published in different languages and regions.
They promoted the books at international book fairs (e.g., Frankfurt Book Fair, Bologna Children's Book Fair) to attract foreign publishers, sold rights
and handled the legal and financial aspects, ensuring compliance with international copyright laws and managing royalty payments.
The You Wouldn't Want To Be... Website
The "You Wouldn't Want To Be...!" website was a feast of gory information about the books and had links to where the UK and US editions could be purchased, as well as having extra content. The website had free teaching resources, such as activity sheets and 12 themed plays written by John Townsend around specific titles in the series for use in classrooms, alongside web pages stuffed with humour, foul facts, interviews with the authors and artists, and of course, a blog where the latest news about the series was updated.
Stage Shows of You Wouldn't Want To Be...!
Edinburgh Festival in 2016
Two shows were based on the series, the first at the Edinburgh Festival in 2016, You Wouldn't Want To be in The Great Fire of London! Joe Potter and Harriette Sym wrote and performed a two man show and was created to be performed in schools and based on the book written by Jim Pipe.
The second show was based on You Wouldn't Want To Be an Egyptian Mummy! based on the book written by (me) writing as David Stewart, this show premiered at the Cheltenham Literary Festival by Mr Dilly and received fantastic responses from families.
You Wouldn’t Want To Be An Egyptian Mummy! ran at the Capitol Theatre in Horsham from the15th to the19th October 2019. The show entertained children aged 7+ and featured Mr Dilly’s combination of drama, music, comedy and audience interaction based on the book written by David Stewart/David Salariya.
The Hastings Literacy Hub teamed up with The Salariya Book Company and Mr Dilly to bring the, You Wouldn’t Want To Be…!, children’s history series onto the stage for the very first time! Students from two Hastings primary schools were invited to free performances, bringing the magic of live action to children who might not normally have the opportunity to come to the theatre.
"As well as providing the schools with free tickets to the performance, The Salariya Book Company also kindly subsidised their travel costs, which is often a real barrier to schools who want to enrich their pupils learning with experiences further afield.
This was a fantastic opportunity for the children to access inspiring new experiences, through an interactive and exciting way of learning all about the history of the ancient Egyptians.
There will also be a charity collection at all evening performances of the show, with all proceeds going to the National Literacy Trust."
Louise Willard, teacher at The Baird Primary Academy said
"Thank you very much for making it possible for our children to attend this performance. The children genuinely loved all aspects of the show, especially the interactive parts and opportuntities to witness their teachers and school friends on stage and laugh at their expense! They learnt a great deal on the topic of Ancient Egypt from the show and were keen to relay what they had discovered on their return to the classroom. It helped considerably with giving them some background knowledge on a subject they were due to be learning the following term."
The Danger Zone
The Danger Zone - The Salariya Book Company Imprint Book House published some of the You Wouldn't want To Be... titles under a different series title The Danger Zones in the UK. Hachette were still publishing eight of the You Wouldn't Want To Be...! titles in the UK. The same titles were published by Scholastic Inc in the US as You Wouldn't Want to Be...!'s.
ALCS Educational Writers’ Award
The Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) Educational Writers’ Award is awarded to an outstanding example of traditionally published non-fiction which stimulates and enhances learning. The total prize money is £2,000, shared between author and illustrator. The ALCS Educational Writers’ Award was established in 2008 by ALCS and the Society of Authors, “to celebrate educational writing that inspires creativity, encourages students to read widely and builds up their understanding of a subject beyond the requirements of exam specifications.”
The Danger Zones, Shortlisted twice for the ALCS Educational Writers’ Award
The 2013 Award focused on books published during 2011 and 2012 for the 5-11 age group
2013 The Danger Zone: Avoid Working on a Medieval Cathedral! Fiona Macdonald and David Antram (Book House an Imprint of the Salariya Book Company)
The 2014 Award focused on books published during 2012 and 2013 for the 11-18 age group.
2014 The Danger Zone: Avoid Being Sir Isaac Newton! Ian Graham and illustrator David Antram (Book House an Imprint of the Salariya Book Company)
Consistent styling:
Over the twenty five years, the You Wouldn't Want To Be...! series has maintained a high standard of quality in terms of content, writing, and production. This consistency has helped build an identity for the series among readers, teachers and librarians, contributing to its enduring popularity.
The You Wouldn't Want to be Sail On The Mary Rose! book was published in 2021 in conjunction with the Mary Rose Trust.
A Double Edged Sword
Reflecting on the You Wouldn't Want to Be...! series, it brought highs and lows, successes and challenges. Creating these books allowed me to study important historical times and people, and collaborate latterly with The Tank Museum, The Historic Royal Palaces and The Mary Rose Trust however a long successful series stops the development of new projects and stagnation can set in. Information books need to be updated fairly frequently as even the information in history books changes over time. In the twentyfive years since I wrote You Wouldn't want to Be An Egyptian Mummy! huge changes have taken place in the way that Egyptian Mummies are examinded. Mummies can be studied through advanced imaging techniques, including CT scans, MRIs, and x-rays. Additionally, endoscopic cameras can be introduced via a small incision, allowing direct visual inspection of the interior. In certain instances, soft tissue samples can be extracted with minimal harm to the mummy for DNA analyses.
The Power Of Story Telling
Despite being mostly historical, the subjects resonate with present day issues like war, disease, climate change, corporate greed and democracy, as seen in the last two volumes by Anne Rooney: You Wouldn't Want To Be In A Virus Pandemic! and You Wouldn't Want To Live Without Democracy!
In a world plagued by division and uncertainty, storytelling with humour becomes an act of resistance. It's a way to confront the harsh realities we all face, to see new perspectives, spark conversation, and to inspire change. And although the fictionalised history of theYou Wouldn't Want to Be...! series came to an end for me when I decided to close the Salariya Book Co in 2022, the power of storytelling – and the ability of storytelling to shed light on the darkest corners of human history – will continue to endure.
Let us remember the lessons, stories, and impact we've made, books that open our eyes to new ideas and bring us closer together. May we find courage, hope, and strength in storytelling. Our back stories connect and unite us, reminding us of our shared humanity.
What would a new book on Egyptian Mummies be like?
The You Wouldn't Want To Be...! books came about from a tiny change I made in an idea - what if the idea was moved on a little more to embrace all the scientific and social changes that have occurred in the past twenty-five years? A modern "You Wouldn't Want to Be an Egyptian Mummy" would be more than a history book. It would be a digital gateway to a holistic education, showing children how ancient cultures can teach us about modern science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. This approach would not only expand the subject beyond history and add the value of the arts in education, it would also prepare young readers for the multifaceted challenges of the future, reinforcing the importance of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), in schools and beyond.
What about looking also at the more positive religious and scientific aspects of being an Ancient Egyptian Mummy for children in the 21st Century and for this exercise we will assume we have an unlimited budget and access to digital creators!
Ancient Egyptian Mummies - From Life to Afterlife
A Journey Through Life, Death, and a new life you'd much rather have!
• Augmented Reality (AR): Use 3D models and animations to bring illustrations to life.
• Interactive Scenes: trigger animations of mummification processes, pyramid construction, or daily life scenes in ancient Egypt.
• Interactive Story Elements: Touch-Responsive Illustrations, Mini-Games, and Puzzles.
• Multimedia Integration: professional voice-over narrations, background sounds of ancient Egypt, and educational videos.
• Personalised Content: Name Integration, Interactive Quizzes, Fact Pop-Ups, and Glossary Links.
• Educational Enhancements: Fact Pop-Ups, Glossary Links, and Creative Engagement Tools.
• Social and Sharing Features: Book Club Integration, shareable achievements, and parental and educational controls.
Titles in The You Wouldn't Want To Be... series by year of publication
The You Wouldn't Want to Be...! series takes readers to the worst of times in the worst of places, with a first-person narrative approach putting you, the reader, in the footsteps of some of the most unfortunate people to have lived!
2000:
You Wouldn't Want to Be an Egyptian Mummy! - Written by David Salariya writing under the name of David Stewart, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Viking Explorer! - Written by Andrew Langley, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Slave in Ancient Greece! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to be a Roman Gladiator - Written by John Malam Illustrated by David Antram
2001:
You Wouldn't Want to Sail on the Titanic! - Written by David Salariya writing as David Stewart, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be an Aztec Sacrifice! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Victorian Schoolchild - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Polar Explorer - Written by Jen Green, Illustrated by David Antram (also published as You Wouldn't Want to Be on Shackleton's Polar Expedition! in 2008)
2002:
You Wouldn't Want to Be Sick in the 16th Century! - Written by Kathryn Senior, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be Married to Henry VIII! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Pirate's Prisoner! - Written by John Malam, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a 19th-Century Coal Miner in England! - Written by John Malam, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Live in a Wild West Town! - Written by Peter Hicks, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be an American Pioneer! - Written by Jacqueline Morley, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Work on the Great Wall of China! - Written by Jacqueline Morley, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be at the Boston Tea Party! - Written by Peter Cook, Illustrated by David Antram
2003:
You Wouldn't Want to Be in a Medieval Dungeon! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be on Apollo 13! - Written by Ian Graham, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Civil War Soldier! - Written by Thomas Ratliff, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Sail in the Spanish Armada! - Written by John Malam, Illustrated by David Antram
2004:
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Medieval Knight! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Sail with Christopher Columbus! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Pyramid Builder! - Written by Jacqueline Morley, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be an American Colonist! - Written by Jacqueline Morley, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Mammoth Hunter! - Written by John Malam, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Greek Athlete! - Written by Michael Ford, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Sail on a 19th-Century Whaling Ship! - Written by Peter Cook, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Second World War Evacuee! - Written by Simon Smith, Illustrated by David Antram
2005:
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Victorian Servant! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be in Alexander the Great's Army! - Written by Jacqueline Morley, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Sail on the Mayflower! - Written by Peter Cook, Illustrated by Kevin Whelan
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Crusader! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by Mark Bergin
You Wouldn't Want to Explore with Sir Francis Drake - Written by David Salariya writing as David Stewart, Illustrated by David Antram
2006:
You Wouldn't Want to Be Tutankhamun! - Written by David Salariya writing as David Stewart, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Roman Soldier! - Written by David Salariya writing as David Stewart, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Travel with Captain Cook! - Written by Mark Bergin, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be an 18th-Century British Convict! - Written by Meredith Costain, Illustrated by David Antram
2007:
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Mayan Soothsayer! - Written by Rupert Matthews, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be Cleopatra! - Written by Jim Pipe, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Sumerian Slave! - Written by Jacqueline Morley, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be an Inca Mummy! - Written by Colin Hynson, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be an Assyrian Soldier! - Written by Rupert Matthews, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Victorian Mill Worker! - Written by John Malam, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be an Aristocrat in the French Revolution! - Written by Jim Pipe, Illustrated by David Antram
2008:
You Wouldn't Want to Be on the First Flying Machine! - Written by Ian Graham, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be Sir Isaac Newton! - Written by Ian Graham, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be on the Hindenburg! - Written by Ian Graham, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Suffragette! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Live in Pompeii! - Written by John Malam, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Worker on the Statue of Liberty! - Written by John Malam, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be Mary, Queen of Scots! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Live in a Medieval Castle! - Written by Jacqueline Morley, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Salem Witch! - Written by Jim Pipe, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Sail on an Irish Famine Ship! - Written by Jim Pipe, Illustrated by David Antram
2009:
You Wouldn't Want to Explore with Marco Polo - Written by Jacqueline Morley, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Skyscraper Builder - Written by John Malam, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Samurai! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Meet a Body Snatcher! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Work on the Brooklyn Bridge! - Written by Thomas Ratliff, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Second World War Pilot! - Written by Ian Graham, Illustrated by David Antram
2010:
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Secret Agent During the Second World War! - Written by John Malam, Illustrated by Mark Bergin
You Wouldn't Want to Be Joan of Arc! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Work on a Medieval Cathedral! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Shakespearean Actor! - Written by Jacqueline Morley, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Chicago Gangster! - Written by Rupert Matthews, Illustrated by Mark Bergin
You Wouldn't Want to Climb Mount Everest! - Written by Ian Graham, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Nurse During the American Civil War! - Written by Kathryn Senior, Illustrated by Mark Bergin
2011:
You Wouldn't Want to Live in the Middle Ages! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
2012:
You Wouldn't Want to Be Cursed by King Tut! - Written by Jacqueline Morley, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Work on the Hoover Dam! - Written by Ian Graham, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be an American Builder! - Written by Ian Graham, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Pony Express Rider! - Written by Thomas Ratliff, Illustrated by Mark Bergin
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Ninja Warrior! - Written by John Malam, Illustrated by David Antram
2013:
You Wouldn't Want to Meet Typhoid Mary! - Written by Jacqueline Morley, Illustrated by David Antram
2016:
You Wouldn’t Want to Be an Anglo-Saxon Peasant! - Written by Jacqueline Morley, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn’t Want to Be Guy Fawkes! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
2020:
You Wouldn't Want to Be in a Second World War Tank! - ,Written by Roger Canavan Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want To Be In A Virus Pandemic! - Written by Anne Rooney, Illustrated by David Antram
2021:
You Wouldn't Want to Sail on the Mary Rose! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
2022:
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Prisoner in the Tower of London! - Written by Fiona MacDonald, Illustrated by David Antram
You Wouldn't Want To Live Without Democracy! - Written by Anne Rooney, Illustrated by David Antram
Cartoons & comic strips (Children's/YA)
Cartoons & comic strips (Children's / Teenage), History & the past: general interest (Children's / Teenage)
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