Baby's First Bank Heist was the target of a fiercely fought auction before being purchased by Bloomsbury.

Move over, Bonnie and Clyde, because there's a new criminal mastermind in town ... Baby Frank!

Baby Frank's parents say that he can't have a pet – 'Pets are for older kids', 'Be happy with your teddy', 'They cost too much to keep' – which leaves Baby Frank with a BIG problem because he REALLY wants a pet. What's a baby to do ... ? Rob a bank, of course! But will money buy Baby Frank the fluffy pet he so desperately wants?

This is a major new partnership – Stephen Collins, cartoonist in Guardian Weekend magazine, and Jim Whalley, an exciting debut author. It's Burglar Bill for a whole new generation and is perfect for fans of Chris Haughton, Rob Biddulph and Jon Klassen.

Praise for Baby's First Bank Heist: 

'Baby’s First Bank Heist zips along in rhyming verse, telling the tale of a kid so desperate for a pet that he turns to a life of crime. Collins’s drawings are so rich in detail that repeated reading pays off.' The Guardian

“An absolute delight from start to finish.” The Evening Standard

“A delightfully funny tale with expressive, detailed illustrations.” The Irish Independent

“A bouncy, laugh-out-loud rhyme.” The Observer

“As smart and funny as its title suggests ... with a fab ending that will delight a child and retro, sassy artwork, this is a classy picture book.” The Independent

“Children will love Frank's logic and naughtiness and it's hard to say which illustrations are more fun: the bank heists or the hidden menagerie ... Steve Collins's witty, expressive illustrations will delight young and old. Great fun!” LoveReading4Kids

“A corker of a book ... Pet-related preposterousness to make both children and adults splutter with glee; I'm sure this will quickly establish itself as a story time favourite.” Red Reading Hub

“It's a caper par excellence.” Read It Daddy!

“Debut author Whalley's jaunty, rhyming laugh-out-loud tall story is suitably illustrated by Weekend Guardian cartoonist Stephen Collins, whose droll scenes will delight both the young and not so young.” Books For Keeps

“Enjoy Stephen Collins' lively illustrations and encourage your child to spot and name all the animals in the pictures. A refreshingly different picture book star, Baby Frank could go on to great things.”  Parents in Touch

“[T]he smart, bouncy rhyme, comic adventures and unexpected ending make Baby's First Bank Heist an absolute treat of a picture book … you should buy it immediately. I can't wait to see what baby Frank gets up to next!” Armadillo Magazine