NNFN: A guest post by Joe Lillington plus a giveaway
- Nov
- 23
As part of National Non-Fiction November, today we have a guest post for you from illustrator Joe Lillington, whose debut book, a non-fiction picture book about giant ice-age animals, Toby and the Ice Giants, has just been published by Flying Eye Books. Details of an amazing giveaway packed with non-fiction titles from Flying Eye Books follow Joe’s post below.
Illustration, narrative and non-fiction
“In Toby and the Ice Giants I was keen to combine the idea of being able to learn and put together your own understanding of the creatures from the Ice Age alongside an exciting narrative. I wanted the reader to enjoy the story, characters and imagery whilst also being able to relate the accompanying facts back to what they could see happening in the pictures. By keeping the factual information consistent across all the different animals that Toby met on his journey, I wanted the reader to be able to make clear comparisons between the creatures based on their weight, size and diet. I think this allows the reader to play an active role in the story and also in their understanding of the Ice Age Giants.
Combining information and narrative is an approach that I keep coming back to in my illustration work. When I was younger I really enjoyed reading non fiction books as I liked the mixture of information and facts running alongside the illustrations. I especially liked it when the pictures had cut away sections, showing the inside of buildings, cars and boats etc. in more detail, as this would give a real sense of how things work and fit together, letting you gain a lot of information visually before you even look at the text.
One of the things I particularly enjoy about creating a non fiction piece of work is that you get to expand your knowledge on a particular subject or learn something new entirely. I already had an interest in the Ice Age, but when I was doing the research for the book I learnt a lot more. The trouble was I ended up with a lot more information than I could include in the book! I then had the challenge of selecting and condensing all my research into something that would work for the audience and as part of a story picture book.
I hope that the inclusion of facts and figures, maps and size charts in Toby and the Ice Giants gives the book a sense of being a resource that can be returned to again and again for reference. Using stories as a way of learning seems to make subjects such as the Ice Age more accessible. I think stories that are grounded in fact are engaging and exciting because while reading about these fantastical creatures of the Ice Age, you know that they really did exist and that humans who were just like ourselves lived alongside them!”
This guest post was provided by Joe Lillington. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Federation of Children’s Book Groups.
Now for the giveaway!
One lucky person will win a bundle of books worth over £65, consisting of a copy of each of the following:
Toby and the Ice Giants by Joe Lillington
Professor Astro Cat by Ben Newman and Dominic Walliman
One Day on Our Blue planet by Ella Bailey
Mad About Monkeys by Owen Davey
Beautiful Birds by Emmanuelle Walker
To enter the competition all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post (don’t worry if your comment doesn’t appear immediately – each has to be checked manually by a real human being to make sure we’re not inundated with spam).
Things to know:
Best of luck! Our thanks go to Flying Eye Books for enabling this generous giveaway.
*******THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY EMAIL (30 Nov)***********
163 responses to “NNFN: A guest post by Joe Lillington plus a giveaway”
Sign up to get every blog post!
Support Us
Follow Us!
Recent news and blog posts
- Children’s Book Award Younger Children Blog Tour Round-up
- A New Direction
- Emily Windsnap: A Guest Blog from Liz Kessler
Support your local bookshop
A great prize for all eyes!
These delightful books say “open the cover and browse endlessly”. The book bundle is destined for a cash-strapped primary school classroom.
[…] had giveaways: A guest post by Joe Lillington plus a giveaway A map-themed giveaway! Brilliant non-fiction books – a DK giveaway worth over […]
What a lovely collection, my niece and nephews would love them x
Ooh yes please, what a lovely selection of books 🙂
what a wonderful prize giveaway, fingers crossed
I would love to share these inspiring books with my Grandchildren!
I love reading and I may sure myself and my husband read to our kids everyday, story time is their favourite time of day
These books all look beautiful. They would be a great addition to our bedtime reading.
Fab Prize, I would love these for my local school for the children with special needs, they would love them!!
My little boy would love these books so much! Fingers and toes crossed Xx
Wonderful books to read with all the family.
we want Freya to grow up aware of the wonderful planet where she lives. These books look lovely and education through fun is by far the best kind
Fantastic prize, I’m amazed how my little one get mesmerised with story books
great selection for some bedtime stories
Great prize
What a lovely selection!
I’ve never seen Mad about Monkeys and it would be so perfect for my son. He’s just used his allowance to sponser a Mountain Gorilla
Fantastic books! My daughter loves reading
What a lovely selection to read with the children. Thank you.
In a world of technology its all too easy to forget the joy of learning together books can bring to children. As a parent of three young girls I feel its so important to give them knowledge through reading wonderful books together and these look beautiful xx
This would be great for my son he loves reading x
I think these books look great, learning about our natural world is wonderful for children
We are a family of bibliophiles and this collection looks great. It would be perfect for our son and we appreciate the opportunity. Thank you.
lovely prize
My kids would love the books
These books look beautifully illustrated, great prize thanks
Books have always been an important daily element in mine, my childrens’ and now my grandchildrens’ lives. To see the promotion of such beautiful books is so gratifying, particularly the non-fiction ones where the youngsters learn so much about the world we live in.Thank you.
A lovely bundle of books for all the book worms in the family! 🙂
What a super prize – my grandchildren would love these.
My Children would love this selection of books, they look lovely. Thank you for this competition.
Beautiful books to be treasured. Non fiction at its best.
Thank you for producing such beautiful books and raising the profile of children’s non-fiction!
Great prize my daughter would love these 🙂
I think my daughter would like Beautiful Birds by Emmanuelle Walker
What a gorgeous bundle. We would love some new reads for our bedtime stories 🙂 x
Great prize!
These stories look fab
What a fab educational giveaway!
Fab giveaway!!
There’s a lovely selection of books here. I’d love to win
These books look lovely, thanks for the great giveaway.
Lovely prize – can never have too many books!
My 5 year old boy would love these books, he is really coming on with his reading at the moment.
wow, great books love to win
Great stories to read together. Thanks for the comp. x
Thanks for this great giveaway!
What an amazing prize. We would love to read these titles with my son as we all really enjoy reading together!
They look brilliant. Thanks for the chance. Great to look at when the weather is rubbish and we can’t get out as much.
This is a fabulous prize. Always love non fiction books.
What a fabulous prize. Thanks for a great competition.
I love the idea of combining a narrative with facts – such a fun way to learn.
Love reading with my daughter it is so much fun
These look brilliant
Lovely illustrations, great prize!
These books look brilliant
A brilliant selection of lovely books
what a great selection of books on offer. thank you for a chance to win them.
The illustrations look amazing
I love the illustrations – such a lovely prize!
Beautiful books, we’d love to win them – thank you for the chance!
these would be great for my sons
Love books! Love reading them to the kids its such a special time of day x
What a great prize
Great prize, thanks for running this competition.
This is an amazing giveaway!! Those books look absolutely beautiful!!
Beautiful books. Would be cherished and thoroughly enjoyed by myself and my two book loving sons
This prize is as amazing as the books in it. I’m not sure that makes any sense, but the crux of what I’m saying is HOLY MOLEY this looks like another CORKER from Flying Eye. Great job Joe!
I love Flying Eye Books and would love to win these for my school library
One Day on our Blue Planet… in the Savannah is our class book at the moment. One five year old said to me “Is this English and Science at the same time?!” Brilliant cross-curricular learning and always such amazing books from Flying Eye 🙂
A fabulous collection!
I absolutely love children’s books and these would be a great addition to my children’s library!
Even though my son has just celebrated his nineteenth birthday, can I still get these and pretend he’s still a tot….then keep them for myself…..?
Great prizes 🙂
My 3 year old niece would really love these… enough that I’d be willing to share.
My friend won 10,000€ on a scratch card today and this would make me feel a lot better
Really lovely prize, would be delighted to win.
Both my kids love reading so these books would be such a lovely surprise.
My grandchildren would adore these lovely books.
I love spending time reading with my children so would be over the moon to win these x
My son and daughter love reading, they would love this great selection. Fingers crossed.
Ooh! What a fantastic giveaway. Flying Eye Books have to be my absolute favourite. Loved Imelda and the Goblin King!
Fantastic set of books, love the look of Toby and the ice giants
A fantastic prize, my great nephew could lose himself in new worlds with these books.
My daughter loves books. Fab prize
All of these books are so beautifully illustrated!
My 5 year old and 8 year old would both enjoy looking at these x
I’d love to expose my daughter to more nonfiction books. And the illustrations on yours are amazing.
woulld love to win this for my little girl this xmas she loves books
These look really good books.
Fantastic giveaway, my son loves books and these books look right up his street
What lovely books. Can never have too many books! 🙂
Beautifully illustrated book! Great prize.
Wow these books look fabulous! Id love to read these to the children. Thank you for the chance!
A great giveaway, thanks for the opportunity to win
This would be awesome, fingers crossed and thanks for running (:
What a great collection of books – my kids would love these!
These would be awesome for the kids – they’d be reading non stop forever!! great competition, thanks xx
Great giveaway of books that make learning easy and fun for children. Toby and the Ice Giants looks particularly engaging
I love that Joe combines story with facts, maps etc. The book bundle would be great for our local school.
fab giveaway my son would love these
these books look really lovely, they would make great stocking fillers for my boys
What stunning books!
Fantastic prize! Something here for each of my children
Fingers crossed for this! It would be perfect for my daughter x
Would love reading these lovely books to my daughter x
Awww brilliant prize,perfect for our grandaughter
Professor Astrocat’s Frontiers of Space looks AWESOME!
Fantastic books. Absolutely love getting books for my son. Reading together is such a special time
My little girl is such a bookwoorm, she would adore this x
These would make great presents for my four grandchildren
Great prize! These would make a great addition to my nephew’s little library!
This looks like a great present for my nephew 🙂
Fantastic prize
great prize fingers crossed xx
love these books.they are brilliant
Great set of books that are sure to be well loved
Fab prize, fingers crossed!
Our granddaughter has just started to take a huge interest in books, so fingers crossed, this is a fantastic prize
perfect for my little boy who loves to read – even at the tender age of 4
Amazing prize. Someone will be very happy!
I would love to win for my granddaughter
what a fabulous prize for the little ones xxx
My little girls would love reading these books. They are little book worms
A lovely selection of books which would be perfect for our special school library.
Lovely selection of books that grandchildren would love
Would love to win these for my little boy.
What lovely books 🙂 We haven’t got any of these, so would love to win for my book loving boys!! They adore reading! And these look so perfect.
Many thanks for running this lovely giveaway. My daughter loves books.
Such a great selection of books, great prize
what a lovely selection of books . . . . . Jake would love them if l were to win
Great prize – My children are mad about non-fiction at the moment. Its fabulous to witness them learning so much and enjoying it x
These look gorgeous! Please count me in xxx
Love them all!!!
What a lovely selection of books. Thank you for offering such a great prize.
These books look fantastic! Especially like the look of Toby and the Ice Giants. Great reading for a winter’s afternoon snuggled under a blanket!
My daughter would love these books. So would I!
These books all look amazing. It would be so nice to have some new books for my 3 bookworm girls to try! Xx
A lovely selection of books my son would love reading thanks 🙂
Amazing prize. What a gift in every sense of the world. Good luck everybody.
Interesting books I haven’t seen anywhere before…
Beautiful books which I would love for my grandchildren
Flying Eye Books always has a beautiful list, this is a great prize!
fantastic giveaway
Would love these books to support the Children of the Wilderness Project in Africa. They grow up with elephants in the wilderness but “Ice Giants” and “Frontiers of Space” and the other books would open a while new world for them.
The book is beautifully illustrated. A lot of hard work went into it!
always fantastic to see such amazing illustrations in NF
What a fabulous bundle.
I leave my current school soon after 15 years so these would be great to donate to the school library as a leaving gift.
Incredible prize! Flying Eye Books have such a beautiful list
Would love to have these books!
Joe is one of many incredibly talented authors and illustrators that are able to reach a wider audience thanks to the inspiring people at Flying Eye Books… One of the best children’s book publishers on the market today. The kids in my classes have always adored their books.
Wow, my daughter would love these, we are crossing our fingers, thank you x
Interesting blog, great facts for chatting to customers at work. Thank you 🙂
Awesome prize – I could do a lot with these beauties x
These would be great for my school library.
I love non fiction presented in such a beautiful format, so accessible!
Flying Eye Book are always such wonderful quality, educational, interesting and by superbly talented illustrators
It would be amazing to have all these gorgeous books! Flying Eye have such a great list of authors and illustrators!
What a beautiful bundle of high quality books. I know that Toby and the Ice Giants will be perfect for our school unit next term on settlers and scavengers
Interesting to read about the author’s own love of non-fiction, I’ll certainly check his book out.
What a lovely prize! Fingers crossed.
These all look amazing!
great prize