Welcome to The World of Pleasington Farm
A timeless place of cozy wonder, where wonderful characters live inside beautifully crafted stories and illustrations, all hand-drawn with love, care, and attention to detail.
More than just a series of picture books, Pleasington Farm is a world children and parents will want to return to again and again. A place that feels familiar, comforting, and full of gentle magic.
Books & Stories
The world of Pleasington Farm picture books are developed for children of 4-7 years. Stories are carefully crafted, written in verse and brought to life by beautiful illustrations, making them a joy to read out loud and a pleasure to explore visually.
Throughout, the reader is rewarded with a gently evolving narrative arc connecting characters, background elements and the series as a whole.
Each book is developed to work as a stand alone or to be enjoyed as part of the wider series, with each story further enriching the wonderful world it inhabits.
Betsy Boo! is the first book set in the World of Pleasington Farm. Super entertaining and beautifully paced, the story flows effortlessly, with intuitive, shout-out-loud moments that children love. It introduces a host of charming characters and a layered narrative that’s easy to follow, yet filled of unexpected and meaningful twists and turns.
One of the most magical aspects of Betsy Boo! is its emotional journey. Readers quickly form a genuine connection with the characters, feeling real empathy as the story unfolds. At times sad, joyful, surprising, and enlightening, the story always feels warm, cozy, and safe — a reassuring place to land.
About the Authors
Rebecca Brant
Rebecca began her career as a successful singer-songwriter, performing at prestigious venues and events across the country. After gaining her PGCE, she went on to work with children in secondary schools as a Pastoral Leader and Religious Studies teacher.
The birth of her children sparked a new creative chapter, and her songwriting naturally evolved into storytelling. From this, the first draft of Betsy Boo! The Cow Who Could Not Say “Moo!” was born.
Michael Hodgkinson
Michael also enjoyed an early career as a singer-songwriter. Combining his love of writing with his passion for drawing, he began developing story- and character-led IP, specialising in children’s, evergreen, and sentimental brands, with commercial success both in the UK and internationally.
Michael has also created characters and IP for television, including having one of his own shows commissioned by the BBC for CBeebies.
Rebecca and Michael were first introduced in 2019 by Peter Saunders (Mackinnon & Saunders) and quickly formed a natural creative partnership. A reimagining of Rebecca’s original story soon followed — and with it, the World of Pleasington Farm was born.
World Design & Artwork
From the very beginning, the look and feel of Pleasington Farm has been just as important as the writing itself.
Michael’s philosophy is that characters should “draw themselves” — their emotional backstories shaping not only who they are, but the world they inhabit. The environment becomes a reflection of the characters’ emotional core, both individually and collectively. The guiding principle throughout was simple: the story should feel as beautiful as it looks.
Living amidst the hills of North West England, Michael and Rebecca wanted Pleasington Farm to reflect that landscape — from rolling countryside and old stone walls to all the small, quietly familiar details in between. Bringing this gently worn, beautifully aged, organic environment to life has been a real joy.
The final artwork was created to give depth and richness to the world, while preserving the soft, organic feel of Michael’s original sketches. After much experimentation, a style emerged that felt true to everything they envisioned. Michael painted the artwork digitally, mixing traditional painting techniques with the digital canvas and carrying through the original, hand drawn sketches into the finished artwork.
Contact us
If you like to get in touch, we'd love to hear from you.
Please drop us a line using the form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible :)
