Colin

The shape of it

The shape of this universe.

Colin is Holly Swain's picture-book series about a vegetarian vampire and the duck who refuses to leave him alone. Colin's Castle (2024) won the English Association 4–11 Picture Book Award and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration; Colin's Grandma (2025) and Colin's Monster (2026) extend the world. The humour is deadpan, slightly British and very funny; the design is bold, the colour palette deliberately limited and silhouette-y. Pitched 3–6, with proper crossover appeal for adults reading aloud. Strong for Halloween-but-not-scary territory.

Award-winning picture-book series about a vegetarian vampire and a persistent duck, deadpan, beautifully designed, just spooky enough.

Primary themes

Tone palette

Funny
Whimsical
Warm
Silly

The series

One way in.

SpinoffSpinoff

Colin's

Best for 3–6s who enjoy Halloweenish humour without actual scares; very strong read-aloud.

Books

Ages

3–6

Status

Ongoing

Open series

Funny
Whimsical
Warm
Silly

Cultural footprint

A shelf of evidence.

What Colin has done

Major award winner

Cultural ubiquity

2/ 5

A working classic for readers in the know.

Sensitivity

Low, and collection-wide.

LowCollection-wide

Across the collection

All 3 books.

Colin's Castle

Colin's Grandma

Colin's Monster

About the creator

Holly Swain.

Holly Swain

Both

Holly Swain: British picture-book maker behind the Colin series (Colin's Castle, Colin's Monster, Colin's Grandma) — gentle, character-driven everyday-emotional picture books for ages 2–6.

At a glance