chris haughton

I just handed my book in yesterday. It publishes in September. The History of Information follows the story of communication from prehistoric times to AI. I’ve been working on it for so long, I had the idea in 2006! So happy to finally finish it. This is the cover and end papers which kind of sum it up in a way. Thanks to everyone at @dkbooks and @debbiebiboagency. It can be preordered now. Link in bio

I'm an illustrator. I have been writing and illustrating picture books for the very young for the last 14 years. But i began working on this non-fiction book 17 years ago. Long before I began work on my first picture book. The idea came in 2006. UC Berkeley had announced that year they were putting all their undergraduate lectures online for free. They were the first university in the world to do this. I began to listen to some of them, psychology and philosophy and others but one course title stood out as I scrolled through: THE HISTORY OF INFORMATION. I listened to the first lecture and the lecturer asked the class a seemingly simple question: ‘Why is technology improving?’ Why is it that next year and the next and next we can almost guarantee we will have better phones and computers. And why has this improvement in tech been, more or less, a feature all through history? After some discussion it became apparent none of the students could answer it satisfactorily. The lecturer finally stepped in and answered: INFORMATION. I was immediately hooked. The course was a history of ‘information technology’ but the lecturers took a wide view of the subject and considered drawing, writing and print as ‘information technologies’. It was a completely different way of looking at the world. I wasn’t that interested in history when i was in school. And I think thats quite common, many children aren't interested in history. Which is pretty odd when you think about it. It’s like saying ..." Im not interested in everything thats ever happened: it's boring " So why is that? History, as it is taught, is a list of kings and queens and treaties and events. It presents the what and when. But it rarely asks why. Why is it that we had kings and queens in the first place? And why then all of a sudden did we abandon them and shift to democracies? Why are elders revered in traditional societies but not in modern ones? Why does every society practice ceremonies? Why did all the worlds religions emerge around the same time? Why are nearly all societies dominated by men? (continued in comments)

Some of the early pages from the HISTORY OF INFORMATION. The story begins with language and early mark-making. These were the first information technologies. It traces this history all the way to the social media and AI in the present day. Available for preorder now. Link in bio

I'm going to be at @bolognachildrensbookfair next week. Cant wait! On Monday I have a talk at 4.15-5pm at the Illustration Corner about all my work and introduce my new book The History of Information. On Tuesday at 4pm I'll be doing a signing at the bookshop. And on Wednesday at 11am I and the other four judges are going to be doing a panel talk about our choices for the illustrators exhibition. If you are going I hope I can see you at one of these events. See you soon! :)

Estem emocionadíssims d’anunciar l’exposició de Chris Haughton, un il·lustrador que ens apassiona. Les seves històries ens han acompanyat tots aquests anys des que comencem a llegir-los amb “Una mica perdut” fins al seu interessant primer llibre no ficció “La història de la informació”. Els seus àlbums destil·len una tendresa i empatia cap a la infància brutals. Ja podeu apuntar-vos a la xerrada. Estamos emocionadísimxs de anunciar la exposición de Chris Haughton, un ilustrador que nos apasiona. Sus historias nos han acompañado todos estos años desde que empezamos a leerlos con “Un poco perdido” hasta su interesantísimoprimer libro no ficción “La historia de la información”. Sus álbumes destilan una ternura y empatía hacia la infancia brutales. Ya podeis apuntaros a la charla. We’re thrilled to announce the exhibition by Chris Haughton, an illustrator we love. His stories have accompanied us all these years, from when we started reading him with “A Little Bit Lost” to his incredibly compelling first nonfiction book, “The Story of Information.” His albums exude a tremendous tenderness and empathy for childhood. You can sign up for the talk now. #chrishaughton #color #illustration #ilustracion #picturebook #childrenbook #handmade #watercolor #gouache #color #art #barcelona #illustrationoftheday #illustrated #illustrationart #illustragram #illustration #illustrators #illustrationartists #illustrator #illustrationartist #fosforito #tallerfosforito #fosforitobarcelona #galeriafosforito

The History of Information is coming out in German, Spanish and Estonian very soon. Vietnamese, Polish, French, Italian, Korean, Dutch, Greek, Japanese, Chinese and Mongolian to follow. If you are interested in publishing it or advance copies contact @dkbooks

I highly recommend Johan Grimonprez’s film Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat. It’s absolutely brilliant. About the murder of Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba by Belgium and the US. I also highly recommend Grimonprez’s previous film ‘Shadow World’ about the arms trade and based on the book by @andrewfeinstein it is available for free on YouTube

I just got notified from my publisher @dkbooks that The History Of Information has been selected by the @childrensbookcouncil in the US as a notable book for social studies. Another DK book was also selected 'A Kids book about Juneteenth' by the brilliant @garrisonh The Childrens book council have published the full selection on their website. Very grateful to be in such good company. Huge thanks again to @looniepark @dkbooks @jamesmitchem @charlottemilnerillustration @iamonlythegirl and everyone else who has been working so hard on this book. #NSSTB2025

The History of Information has been shortlisted for Childrens Non-fiction book of the year at the British Book Awards!! WOOOOO!!!! Thanks so much to @looniepark @dkbooks @berkeleyischool @debbiebiboagency @iamonlythegirl @jamesmitchem @charlottemilnerillustration and all that helped on this book. And congrats to the others on the shortlist. Very nice to be alongside all these other great books. 🎉 #Nibbies #BritishBookAwards

Thanks @martaltes

Today is the last chance you have to fill in the UK government's consultation on AI and copyright. If you derive any income from creating original work protected by copyright this could be your last chance to stand up for its protection. The govt and some AI entrepreneurs would like to change a 300 year old law so that generative AI start ups in the UK can train their data for free on your content, by crawling over or mining it, as AI companies already do in the USA or China. But just because that kind of wholesale theft is legal in other countries doesn't make it right there and doesn't make it right here. AI companies zealously protect their patents and IP, why shouldn't we? After all the UK creative industry is worth a staggering £126bn to our economy every year. Artists are educated, trained and developed, funded and invested in - why would you not protect that investment? We pay for electricity and rent, why should AI companies not pay to legally data mine our content as a similar service, with full transparency and copyright credit? The gov want creators to "opt out" of data mining, which is like saying you need to put a notice on your house saying you "opt out" of burglary. It is impossibly to enforce given the number of places our work can appear online that are beyond our control and also could stop creator's work being discovered at all online. This all being done under the same old canard of 'improving the NHS' etc - you don't need to steal from our words or art or music to do that. It is a wholesale heist of creative talent by the global oligarchy. The consultation is deliberately overlong and confusing to deter your involvement but @alcs_uk and @writersguildgb @theaoi have useful guides on how to fill it in. You have till MIDNIGHT TONIGHT Repost of the post by @piers_torday

The history of copyright. This is an extract from my book The History of Information We only have until Tuesday to object to the new copyright change proposed by the UK government Please sign and object Links in bio. @thesocietyofauthors @theaoi @simonaciraolo @momokodoodles @gedadamson @derekbrazell @dacsforartists