Flying Eye Books is the children’s book imprint of Nobrow and has been publishing books with their own unique style since 2013. They are well-known for eye-catching graphic novels and here we have highlighted a selection of these, as well as a number of their picture book offerings, which we believe have a lot to offer.
8 Amazing Picture Books from Flying Eye
- Archie Snufflekins – Oliver Valentine Cupcake Tiberius Cat
- Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too)
- Me and My Fear
- Imelda and the Goblin King
- Ingenious Edie, Master Inventor of Tiny Town
- Monty and the Poodles
- The Boy on Fire
- The Laugh
5 Wonderful Graphic Novels from Flying Eye
- Juniper Mae: Secrets of the Guardian Knights
- Luna and the Treasure of Tlaloc
- The Adventure of Team Pom – The Last Dodo
- Cactus Kid and the Battle for Star Rock Mountain
- Rune: The Tale of a Thousand Faces
8 Amazing Picture Books from Flying Eye
1) Archie Snufflekins – Oliver Valentine Cupcake Tiberius Cat
This book will quickly become a favourite in your house if you have young children! A picture book which takes what at first seems a sweet and simple story and gives it far greater depth when we discover that Archie, the cat, has managed to not only bring a community together but happiness to an elderly lady who had started to accept that she would feel alone forever. A must-read for all cat lovers and if you’re wanting a story that leaves you with a warm and fuzzy feeling!
Book Themes: cat, different homes (a cat makes himself at home in houses all along the street), love (the cat is loved by everybody on the street), missing (everyone worries when the cat hasn’t been seen for days), friendship (finding it), loneliness (the elderly lady is lonely until a cat brings her friendship and company), community
Suggested Age: 4+
What’s it about?: The cat who lives on Blossom Street is called something different by everyone, but loved by all. However, there is one house on the street he hasn’t visited yet…
Author & Illustrator: Katie Harnett
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
2) Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too)
If you’re looking for a book to dispel the myth that men can’t experience or show their feelings, then this is the book you’ve been looking for. Its jump-off-the-page illustrations will capture any young reader’s attention, while also providing plenty of opportunity for discussion with each turn of the page. The sweet ending to the story highlights that, in reality, it isn’t simply men with jobs which are traditionally perceived as masculine who are okay to show emotion, but actually all men and boys.
Book Themes: emotions (being sad), gender stereotypes (fighting against the idea that men can’t show sadness or weakness), men, feelings (understanding that every man has emotions and can be upset at times), expressing our emotions
Suggested Age: 4+
What’s it about?: Everyone has feelings – ninjas, wrestlers, knights and even dads have different emotions. All of these characters and more can feel sad sometimes, and that’s okay.
Author & Illustrator: Keith Negley
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
3) Me and My Fear
We all experience fear at one time or another, but for children it can be easy to think they are the only ones who have to carry it around with them. In ‘Me and My Fear’, Frenci Sanna has brilliantly personified fear and created a story which shows children that everyone is scared of something, but that we can be in control of our fear, instead of letting it control us.
Book Themes: starting a new school, anxiety (anxiety growing and impacting sleep, appetite, emotions etc), fear (represented as a cute, invisible friend), EAL (English as Additional Language), new country, isolation, emotions, happy ending, making new friends, awareness (realising that everyone has things that make them worried or scared)
Suggested Age: 4+
What’s it about?: When a young girl has to move countries and start at a new school, her fear tells her to be alone and afraid. How can she hope to make friends if she doesn’t understand anyone? Surely no-one else feels the same way…
Author & Illustrator: Frenci Sanna
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
4) Imelda and the Goblin King
Briony May Smith’s colourful and detailed illustrations really add to this story about a little girl who lives beside a fairy forest. When the fairies are in desperate need of help to find their fairy queen, it is Imelda they turn to. With rich language and engaging images, this book shows that what goes around often comes around when the evil Goblin King eventually gets his comeuppance.
Book Themes: woods, fairies, warning, bully (the Goblin King is unkind, grumpy, greedy, rude and is a vandal), kidnapping, punishment (what goes around comes around and the Goblin King is punished for his unkind behaviour), kindness
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Far away, behind the hills, a girl called Imelda lives beside a fairy forest. Every day she ventures into the forest to play with her fairy friends. But one day a nasty and greedy bully arrives – the Goblin King! When he kidnaps the fairy queen, the fairies call upon Imelda to help. Soon she and her fairy friends have come up with a cunning plan to outwit the greedy Goblin King and rescue their queen.
Author & Illustrator: Briony May Smith
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
5) Ingenious Edie, Master Inventor of Tiny Town
Edie is a brilliant inventor but always keeps her inventions top secret and just doesn’t know how to ask for help. However, to stop the thief that is tormenting Tiny Town, surely Edie can see that many hands will make light work? Patrick Corrigan has crafted a charming picture book that brilliantly teaches children about the need to work together for the greater good.
Book Themes: inventions, working alone (not wanting help despite needing it), magpies, stealing (magpies like anything shiny to steal), help (asking for help when you really need it), saying sorry, trust, turning behaviour around
Suggested Age: 6+
What’s it about?: On a tiny street, in a tiny town, lives a tiny inventor called Edie. She’s always coming up with clever new contraptions, but Edie’s inventions are always TOP SECRET. After all, everyone knows that the best inventors do it all by themselves, don’t they? But when Edie can’t find a way to solve her biggest problem yet – a mischievous magpie – she must find a way to work with the whole town to stop the thief.
Author & Illustrator: Patrick Corrigan
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
6) Monty and the Poodles
A gentle introduction to the importance of inclusion. When Monty, the homeless pooch is not welcomed into Ginger’s home because he doesn’t look or behave the same, Ginger and Monty work together to sneak Monty in. However, it’s not long before Monty just wants to be able to be himself. Lovely doggy illustrations and a heartwarming story make this a must for any doggy fan.
Book Themes: dogs (poodles), friendship, feeling unwelcome (when he is not welcomed by the unkind owner he feels very sad), discrimination (only poodles are welcome and not other types of dogs), happiness (finding a place where all types of dogs could live happily together)
Suggested Age: 5+
What’s it about?: When a homeless pooch and a pampered poodle form a special friendship, nothing will stand in their way – not even the dreaded Miss Lillabet, who runs Poodle Mansions, with its strict ‘poodles only’ policy. Can the two of them use their canine cunning to find a way to be together?
Author & Illustrator: Katie Harnett
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
7) The Boy on Fire
In ‘The Boy on Fire’, Sarthak Sinha has created an insightful way of visually demonstrating how emotions can spread easily. When Til is angry, his fiery character spreads and no one wants to be near him; this upsets him so much that his fire spreads even more. When a twinkling light befriends Til, this friendship changes how he feels, and this feeling spreads more happiness in himself and around him. A great book for helping children learn how their behaviour can impact those around them.
Book Themes: emotions, upset, anger (the more angry and upset he gets, the hotter he gets and the fire spreads), being different (this can seem lonely but can also be an opportunity to shine), friendship (when he makes a friend he begins to feel happiness and can suddenly control his fire)
Suggested Age: 5+
What’s it about?: Meet Til – he’s always on fire. But being ablaze sets him apart from others, leaving him feeling sad and alone. One day, he encounters a twinkling star and discovers a magical friendship that unveils a secret truth. Can Til learn to love his radiant light?
Author & Illustrator: Sarthak Sinha
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
8) The Laugh
Beautifully illustrated, this is a picture book about laughter, loss and love. Fay Evans has created a story which is sensitively told to enable readers to broach how grief can make us feel, but also what lovely memories we might be left with. When the little girl’s mummy dies, it is her laughter she misses the most until, one day, she realises she also has that laughter inside her. A book which may leave you with tears in your eyes but warmth in your heart.
Book Themes: laughter (different types of laughing), death (the lady dies of an illness), sadness (they miss the way she laughed), grief (life can get better again after someone dies)
Suggested Age: 5+
What’s it about?: Once there was a lady with the loveliest laugh in the world. But one day, the lady dies and the little girl left behind thinks her laugh has gone with her… However, she learns that, even though the lady has gone, the moments and the laughter they’ve shared will always be there.
Author: Fay Evans
Illustrator: Ayse Klinge
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
5 Wonderful Graphic Novels from Flying Eye
1) Juniper Mae: Secrets of the Guardian Knights
Juniper Mae is the perfect entry into the world of graphic novels. It brings all the best parts of graphic novels together: amazing illustrations, engaging characters, myths and adventures. Luckily there is already a second in the series and will surely be more on the way as Sarah Soh continues to create this fantastic new world.
Book Themes: monster, argument (Juniper Mae and Albi have an argument but resolve it), battle (Juniper Mae has to battle a beast), teamwork, friendship, inventing (Juniper Mae creates a new robot), engineering, adventure, villain, ancient tales (Juniper Mae discovers stories carved on cave walls)
Suggested Age: 8+
What’s it about?: Deep in the forest, Juniper Mae and her best friend Albie are working hard to become Guardian Knights. When they’re not helping the tama-tamas with amazing new inventions, they’re discovering ancient artefacts, training to fight evil, and learning more about their ancient knightly heroes. But a great darkness is rising close to home, and when one of Juniper Mae’s latest inventions creates a rift between her and Albie, they must find a way to work together to take the latest evil down and save their beloved forest.
Author & Illustrator: Sarah Soh & Tim Fraser
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
2) Luna and the Treasure of Tlaloc
Set in the time of the Aztecs, this graphic novel follows the treacherous and wayward Luna Brownstone as she hunts for treasures all for herself. This is an engaging, fun story with a deeper message: being selfish and devious isn’t necessarily the way to gain self-satisfaction. Luna eventually realises the importance of family and how, by helping others and returning favours, she begins to understand that the treasures in life are not always the expensive ones.
Book Themes: mythology, artefacts, adventurers (facing challenges, danger, needing to show bravery and selflessness), upbringing (family can impact how you live your life), theft (she steals precious items for herself), Aztecs, selfishness, realisation (she realises that someone else has been good to her so she should be good in return, she realises the importance of family, she realises she has the power to change her ways), helping others (helping others can make you feel rewarded)
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Buried amongst the treasures in Professor Brownstone’s vault lies a humble collection of books. Filled with legendary stories from his ancestors, they tell of fearless fighters and unlikely heroes. Join Luna, the most devious Brownstone, as she journeys to the palace of the Aztec rain god Tlaloc, hunting for treasures. But will this thief learn that some things are more important than even the greatest riches?
Author & Illustrator: Joe Todd Stanton
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
3) The Adventure of Team Pom – The Last Dodo
They’re whacky, quirky and a little bit silly, but all in a wonderful way. If you like your adventure mixed in with a heavy dollop of humour, based around a storyline with three girls who put the power in girl power, then this is the book for you.
Book Themes: villains (a dodo wants to change humans into dodos), teamwork (friends working together to stop the villain), humour
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Roberta, Ruby, and Agnes are back for a summer of mis-adventuring in Shadyside. This time, they’ve got their sights set on becoming the natural history scientists of the future – but their plans are about to be rudely interrupted by the nefarious Steve and his band of ruffians.
Author & Illustrator: Isabel Roxas
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
4) Cactus Kid and the Battle for Star Rock Mountain
Have you ever thought that to succeed at something you must do it alone, otherwise it’s not really your success? Well, this is exactly how Cactus Kid feels. He’s determined to prove he’s the best superhero by getting his hands on a piece of Star Rock Mountain, but he’s working on his own and is up against some stiff competition. This brilliantly illustrated graphic novel sets out to prove how important it is to have support behind you and that asking for help once in a while can really help.
Book Themes: desert, mountain, magic (potion making), being a hero (Cactus Kid is trying to be a hero to impress his family but believes he must do it alone), working alone (Cactus Kid meets a group who try to convince him that heroes never just do everything on their own and every good hero needs a good teacher), embarrassment (Cactus Kid is embarrassed when they read his diary), name calling (dummy, dumb)
Suggested Age: 7+
What’s it about?: Cactus Kid is on a mission to be the best wizard in the whole world, and he’s not about to let anything stop him. He just needs one ingredient to perfect his next level of magic: a chunk of star rock. But, unfortunately, he’s not the only one after it…
Author & Illustrator: Emmanuel Guerrero
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
5) Rune: The Tale of a Thousand Faces
A fantastical graphic novel full of weird and wonderful creatures and a lead character who is deaf. At the orphanage, best friends Chiri and Dai lead a pretty miserable life, where they are mocked by the other children. So, when they fall through a portal and find themselves with a purpose to defeat the evil Shadow King, they realise the importance of finding somewhere where they feel like they truly belong.
Book Themes: hearing impaired (sign language, lip reading), unkindness, mockery (laughing at someone because they’re deaf), orphanage, bullies, violence (fighting with fists and with scythes), mystical creatures (dragon, wisp, witch, druids, minions), magic, safety (the feeling of belonging somewhere), adventure
Suggested Age: 9+
What’s it about?: Deep in the forests of little valley lies a secret lost in time and darkness. Best friends Chiri and Dai stumble into a forgotten realm, tormented by the evil Shadow King who yearns to spread terror to Little Valley and beyond. Can they seal the way between their worlds before it is too late? And will the druids, warriors, archaeologists and magical goats they encounter help them along their way?
Author & Illustrator: Carlos Sánchez
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
We would love to be able to feature all of Flying Eye’s fantastic books here, but do look at Spy Readers’ website to be able to find their other great titles!