Meet Adam Stower's adventurous duo, Murray and Bun

About Author

Award-winning author and illustrator Adam Stower joins ReadingZone to introduce Murray and Bun's latest adventure, Murray the Explorer!

Adam has been drawing pictures and making up stories for as long as he can remember. He was born in England but grew up in Switzerland and Germany. After nine years at an ancient boarding school in Norfolk, Adam trained in Illustration and then moved to Brighton to study for a Masters in Narrative Illustration and Editorial Design. Adam fell in love with the city and lives there still with his wife.

Interview

August 2026

Adventures await through the catflap with Adam Stower's Murray and Bun!

Adam Stower's Murray and Bun series offers engaging, highly illustrated stories for young readers, with fun-packed adventures brilliantly illustrated by Adam.

Series like Murray and Bun are a great way to support children as they grow in confidence as readers. Once they've enjoyed the first book in a series, young readers will have more confidence in picking up another book in the series, knowing it will have the same characters, settings and reading level.

ReadingZone caught up with Adam to find out more about the Murray and Bun series and their latest adventure, Murray the Explorer!

Q&A with Adam Stower: Creating illustrated adventures for young readers

"Expect a search for a hidden temple and the biggest ruby in the world, lots of dangerous
boobytraps, quicksand, robbers and plenty more besides!"

1. Thank you for joining us at ReadingZone! Can you tell us how you became a children's author and illustrator?

I have always loved drawing, ever since I was tiny. Back then I didn't even know that being an illustrator was a job! But when I found out that I could draw pictures as a professional, I went to art school. I began illustrating books as soon as I left college, over 30 years ago!

I was just an illustrator first, but my own drawings in my sketchbooks seemed to suggest stories to me, and in 2004 I wrote and illustrated my first picture book, Two Left Feet. I haven't stopped since. I still illustrate stories for other authors too, and even illustrate other things like magazine covers, but mostly I illustrate stories I have written myself, like the Murray and Bun books. I love it!

2. What inspired your Murray and Bun series? Who are Murray and Bun, and what kinds of adventures do they get up to?

I have a cat, called Murray. If you have a dog, you almost always know where they are, but with cats, when they leave the house, you're never quite sure what they get up to. I imagined all sorts of adventures that Murray might be having. And I thought those adventures would be even more fantastic if his cat flap was magic and could take him anywhere! So that is how the idea started.

In the books, Murray has a best friend called Bun and so far they have had adventures as vikings, knights, pirates, ghost hunters and explorers!

Pages from Murray and Bun: Murray the Explorer

3. So the reader discovers that Bun is - a bun?! How? Why?

Murray lives in an ordinary house in an ordinary street with a wizard called Fumblethumb. Fumblethumb is hopeless at magic! Murray loves snacks . . . especially sticky buns, the ones with a cherry on top. But one day, Fumblethumb accidentally turns Murray's last and favourite sticky bun into . . . a rabbit! That's Bun! He is small, sticky and excitable. He has a cherry for a tail and he LOVES adventure!

4. We also find out that while Murray loves to nap, Bun adores adventures. Are you more Murray, or Bun?

Yes, Murray loves his home comforts and Bun loves adventure. I think we are all a mix of Murray and Bun. Although I am definitely more Murray than Bun. But I try to embrace adventure. I think we should all try to do that . . . to be more BUN!

5. As you've mentioned, the friends go through a catflap to find their adventures. How does it work?

Murray's cat flap is his way to the garden. He has to use it, but Fumblethub accidentally enchanted that too, and being magic, it sometimes leads to adventure, much to Murray's dismay. When they go through, if there is a loud 'PA-POOOF!' Sound, they know adventure isn't very far away.

6. How many adventures have Murray and Bun found themselves on so far? Are there any places they've been that you'd love to visit too?

Murray and Bun have had five adventures so far - they have been Vikings, Knights, Pirates, Ghosthunters and Explorers. I like the pirate one, because the pirates end upon a beautiful tropical island with nothing to do but sunbathe and swim. I think I could get used to that.

7. Where do Murray and Bun find themselves in their latest adventure, Murray The Explorer, and what should readers expect?

In Murray The Explorer, Murray and Bun find themselves deep in the jungle. Expect a search for a hidden temple and the biggest ruby in the world, lots of dangerous boobytraps, quicksand, robbers and plenty more besides!

8. What's your favourite moment in the story? And what made you chuckle the most?

I don't want to give too much away . . . but there is a tribe of rabbits who think Bun is VERY special. That makes me laugh.

9. We love the illustrations - are there any details you'd like readers to look out for?

Thank you. I like the illustrated sequences, so look out for the path full of boobytraps!

10. As well as great adventures, is there anything else you'd like young readers to find in these stories? Do you have more planned for Murray and Bun?

What I love about Murray and Bun is that at the heart of each adventure is the loyalty and friendship between Murray and Bun, and how Murray always leads with kindness, searches for the goodness in everyone (and thing) he meets, and helps them if they need it. I'd like a friend like Murray, and one like Bun too.

There are at least three more adventures in the pipeline . . . so watch this space!

Creative Challenge from Adam Stower: My challenge is: What adventure would YOU send Murray and Bun on? What would they be? AND can you draw a picture of how Murray would look in YOUR adventure?

School Visits by Adam Stower: I enjoy visiting schools. My event includes drawing games, draw-alongs, a reading from the book and a peek at how I make the Murray and Bun books . . . Lots of Fun! If you would like me to visit your school, please contact Amelia Curran at HarperCollins Publishers. Thank you.

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