Tim Stead’s new children’s book is snot to be sniffed at. It features the Snot family and their adventures as they are picked out of a boy’s nose. 
The Snots is the tale of Daddy Snot, Mummy Snot and their son, Sid Snot. They live up the nose of a boy called Billy. 
“They get picked, put in the boy’s mouth and travel through his body,” says Tim, who lives in Silloth. 
“They go past his heart, past his lungs and towards his stomach. They don’t want to get turned into poo - they want to get back home into the nose.” 
Tim is also a part-time driver with Eddie Stobart. His illustration work includes the Eddie Stobart fanzine Steady Eddie. 
The Snots is his tenth book. It is the first one that he hasn’t written as well as illustrated. The story is by comedian and actor Phil Walker. Tim explains how they came to work together. 
“I’m a big fan of the comedian Justin Moorhouse. I asked him if he fancied collaborating on a children’s book. He said ‘It’s not really my thing. You’d be better talking to a children’s entertainer.’ 
“I Googled some and Phil was the first that came up. He said ‘I’d love to. I have an idea that’s been on the shelf for years.’ He sent me a synopsis and I thought it was brilliant.”
“I read it to my son Thomas, who’s seven. He giggled all the way through. I said to Phil ‘Let’s do a collaboration.’ We just clicked. He’s just as silly as me. It works really well. It was nice to just illustrate a book rather than write it as well.” 
The Snots is aimed at children aged six and over. Tim said: hopes that it combines a fun story with a learning experience. “It’s partly educational. There’s a basic explanation of how the human body works. Drawing a heart and stomach was a challenge, but a good challenge. 
“Readers are asked to spot the bogeys in every picture. There are 57 in total! I love that. I’m a big kid. The message at the end of the book is, eat your greens, except the ones up your nose!” 
The Snots is published by Lancashire-based Purple Parrot Publishing. and can be ordered via Amazon and Waterstones. 
Tim and Phil are hoping to have a launch event in early February. 
“It’s had a fantastic response,” says Tim. “Phil’s written a second book: The Snots Go Into Space. I’m illustrating that.” 
Tim is also working on a book with impressionist Francine Lewis, who reached the 2013 final of Britain’s Got Talent. It features a family of mice and encourages children to spend less time on electronic devices and more time playing outside. Tim studied graphic design at Cumbria College of Art and Design in Carlisle, and graphic design illustration at De Montfort University in Leicester.