Internationally renowned chef and author Jamie Oliver will visit the Manchester Arndale Centre on Thursday 13th April to meet fans and sign copies of his first book for children, Billy and the Giant Adventure.
It’s the only public signing event for the book so is a unique opportunity to meet and chat to Jamie. The event will be fun, immersive and family friendly and Jamie’s team will be bringing the book to life throughout the Waterstones store. It’s an ideal event for parents looking for activities to do with children over the Easter holidays. Book your place HERE.
Jamie Oliver is a global phenomenon in food and campaigning. He has sold over 46 million books worldwide, is the top-selling non-fiction author in UK history and achieved an estimated global TV audience reach of 67 million across 182 territories. Now the bestselling author, internationally renowned chef and campaigner, has delivered the perfect recipe for a page-turning children’s fiction debut.
Billy and his friends know that Waterfall Woods is out of bounds; strange things are rumoured to have happened there and no one in their village has ventured past its walls for decades…
But when they discover a secret way in, Billy and his best friends, Anna, Jimmy and Andy, can’t resist the temptation to explore. Only to quickly discover that the woods are brimming with magic and inhabited by all sorts of unusual creatures, including a whole community of sprites who need the children’s help.
With magical battles, a long-lost mythical city, fantastical flying machines, epic feasts and one GIANT rescue, this is an adventure young readers will never forget, brought to life by stunning illustrations from Monica Armiño throughout.
Billy and the Giant Adventure also offers a dazzling audiobook experience for children and families, featuring an original immersive soundscape, designed by Vaudeville, that allows readers to step into the world of Waterfall Woods. Jamie Oliver is joined by exciting acting talent such as Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher and Kadeem Ramsay (as well as a special guest appearance from Jools Oliver!), who bring the story to life with engaging characterisations mixed with original music and sound effects.
The spell-binding production will create a magical world for readers, including those who may struggle with the written word, which is something Jamie Oliver has personal experience with.
Jamie Oliver has spoken openly about having dyslexia and accessibility is a key focus for his debut novel. The physical editions have incorporated key design elements for ease of legibility and the audio edition features state-of-the-art sound effects as well as multiple voices, including narration by Jamie himself, to bring the characters and situations to life for a fully immersive experience.
“Yes, everyone, I’ve written a kids’ book and I’m so excited to share it with you” says Jamie. “Growing up with dyslexia meant reading and writing didn’t come easily, but rather than holding me back, it’s only ever helped me achieve anything I’ve set my mind to. I look at things differently, which has meant an overactive imagination – brilliant for being creative and coming up with great stories for the kids at bedtime.
“So, I’m beyond excited to be publishing my first children’s book, based on a story I used to tell Petal, Buddy and River. And what a journey it’s been! My writing process probably isn’t the most conventional, but I’ve loved every second and just hope that families everywhere enjoy reading or listening to, (yes, I’ve done an audiobook!) Billy and the Giant Adventure as much as I’ve enjoyed dreaming it up.”
Puffin will publish Billy and the Giant Adventure on 13th April 2023 in hardback RRP £14.99, eBook and audio. Age Range: 7+ The book is now available for pre-order.
Tickets for the book signing are available HERE
