The Grotlyn

Product Information

His first, The Storm Whale, won the inaugural Oscar's Book Prize and was Dutch Picture Book of the Year 2017. His second, called Grandad's Island, won the children's book category of the AOI World Illustration Awards 2015 and was crowned Best Picture Book and overall Children's Book of the Year at the Sainsbury's Children's Book Awards 2015. A stunningly illustrated picture book full of mystery and suspense, from the bestselling author of THE STORM WHALE and GRANDAD’S ISLAND.” I find that inspiration is anywhere and everywhere, you just need to be looking out for it. Ideas for my stories strike when I'm least expecting, like when I'm not actually trying to work – on holiday, while walking, travelling... so you have to have your wits about you.

Coffee house Caffè Nero has announced the 16-strong shortlist for the inaugural Nero Book Awards, recognising the outstanding books of the past 12... The Grotlyn is a mystery told through the eyes of the children who live in a dusty old city. Things go missing – an oil lamp, a toolbox, some silk handkerchiefs – but nobody knows who or what has taken them. I have been interested in writing and drawing since I was very young. I spent several years working as an animation director and then realised that all the things I loved about that – coming up with characters and settings, making them feel like they are living and breathing, telling their stories – could also be done by writing and illustrating children's books. Dare we ask if you have a favourite book from your childhood? After The Storm Whale books and Grandad’s Island, it’s my first rhyming picture book. It might feel quite spooky at the start but I urge the reader to carry on and see who The Grotlyn is. Because this book is about finding out that not everything is what we might first assume – that in the dark there is light. It was a lot of fun to write. Where did the idea for The Grotlyn come from? It's not a name we've heard before!No, never. Some people swear by that method but for me knowing what the children reading my books will respond to, I see that as my job to work out. I was a child once (you may or may not believe!) and so I'm hoping that when I make a new book I am reflecting my own experience of childhood and how I remember feeling and reacting to the world around me. The stories you write and illustrate are also available as animated trailers. Do you have any plans to further build on this, creating full-blown short films? Watch this trailer for the book. Could you make your own book trailer using Powerpoint or animation software?​

You need to develop not so much a style, but an approach that is uniquely yours. Try different tools, let your own ‘handwriting’ develop in your work. You can be influenced by other artists but it’s important to take these influences and then look deeper and make your work your own. Otherwise, you will only ever be a paler version of the work you love. It's a name that I made up. It just popped into my head one day when I was thinking about this creature who slipped out of the shadows in a grimy Victorian setting. 'The Grotlyn' just seemed to fit. I suppose deconstructed it is a kind of portmanteau of grotty or grotesque and gremlin or goblin. It borrows the sounds from these words and mixes up their meanings to create something new. The book follows your success with The Storm Whale and Grandad's Island. You write such lovely stories. Where do you get your ideas from? One of my favourites was Frog And Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel. It’s the ongoing story of a beautiful and life-affirming friendship. When you read your own stories to children, how do you tell them?When reading this book, there is a lot of rhyme and rhythm within the written text which captures the readers' attention and allows the reader to change tones in their voice and bring the book to life. The illustrations are clear, which can help children describe what is taking place in the book, supporting those who are visual learners to clarify the picture and bring their meaning. There has been some talk! But that’s all I can say for now. I was an animation director for several years, working mainly on commercials and music videos. I’d love to get involved in the world of animation once again, but this time through the stories I have created. Moth has done a fantastic job on The Grotlyn trailer and it would be incredible to see a longer-form piece. Take turns role playing interviews between a reporter and people in the town about what they saw or heard. Write a news report All in all, a wonderful book by Benji Davies. And I would highly recommend this book to everyone young and old! The story is essentially about flipping the darkness on its head, the characters finding out that these mysterious goings-on are not what they seem, that they have a playful, hopeful outcome.