Tollins: Explosive Tales for Children

Tollins: Explosive Tales for Children

Synopsis

These are the first three stories of the Tollins in which Conn Iggulden introduces the explosive, magical and adventurous world of the Tollins, all beautifully illustrated in full colour by Lizzy Duncan.

Complete with thrilling stories of danger and derring-do, glorious drawings, maps and diagrams, this is more than a fling fiction debut for children - it's also the definitive guide to these remarkable little flying creatures.

Yes, Tollins do have wings, but no, they aren't fairies.  Tollins are a lot less fragile than fairies.  In fact, the word 'fragile' can't really be used about them at all.  They are about as fragile as a housebrick.

In 'How to Blow-Up Tollins' a firework factory comes to the village of Chorleywood and the Tollins find themselves being used as industrial supplies.  Being blasted into the night sky or spun round on a Catherine wheel is nowhere near as much fun as it sounds.  One young Tollin must save his people from becoming an ingredient.

In 'Sparkler and the Purple Death' our hero looks execution in the face.  Luckily, the executioner's mask is on back-to-front.

Finally, in 'Wind-Bags and Dark Tollins', Tollin society faces a threat from Dorset, which, again, is much more frightening and nail-bitingly dramatic than it actually sounds.

About the Author

Despite finding time to write historical novels and The Dangerous Book for Boys, Conn Iggulden is in some ways better known as a trainer of Tollins.  His Tollin troupe, 'Small and Mighty', are famous in Tasmania, where they often play to packed houses.  "It used to be just a hobby," he says, "but when you've seen a display of Tollin synchronised flying, you realise it's your life's work.  Also, they can be transported in shoeboxes, so it's pretty cheap to get around."

About the Illustrator

Lizzy Duncan, with her trademark blue glasses, was a founding member of the 'Tollins in Art' programme, where inner-city school children are taken to the countryside by coach and encouraged to paint and observe Tollins in their natural habitats.  This is her first illustrated book.

Lizzy's abstract paintings of Tollins are much sought after whenever one appears at Sotheby's auction house and she is very active in promoting Tollin rights and registering them as a protected wetland species - or as a dryland species, if the weather's been good.

Child's Review

I love fairies because they're beautiful and kind but now I love Tollins too because they're funny and get up to all kinds of mischief.

I really enjoyed reading about all their adventures and one chapter at a time was never enough - I just wanted to keep reading.

I also really liked the illustrations because they're bright and colourful and just as funny as the stories.

This book is really fun and I want to read it again and again and again.

Parent's Review

We read this book together as a family - taking turns at reading - and we all enjoyed following the antics of the quirky, cheeky and witty Tollins.

Conn Iggulden has created a magical world inhabited by a memorable cast of characters - perfectly complimented by Lizzy Duncan's rich and detailed illustrations.

Tollins: Explosive Tales for Children will be enjoyed by the whole family - boys and girls alike.

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