By Jamie Oliver
Billy & The Giant Adventure
Welcome to Waterfall Woods! This is the magical world Jamie has created for his first children’s book Billy & The Giant Adventure (for 7-11 year olds). Friends Billy, Anna, Jimmy and Andy are out exploring when they stumble across a gate into another world… and so begins an adventure they’ll never forget. Billy & The Epic Escape, sequel to Billy & The Giant Adventure, is out now!
Buy nowSomething for the kids this summer
Looking for something to keep the children busy during the holidays? Billy & The Giant Adventure will give them all the action they need! Long journey ahead? Then the audiobook will keep them company. Watch the video to find out Jamie’s inspiration behind the book…
Meet the gang
Billy
…is a brave, gadget-obsessed 10-year-old boy, whose big heart and thirst for excitement see him go on all sorts of adventures.
Anna
…is a smart, fiercely independent girl who isn’t afraid to get stuck into any adventure that comes her way.
Jimmy
…is Billy’s nature-obsessed, kind-hearted best friend. He’s always there for his friends, and will do anything for them.
Andy
…is not to be underestimated! He’s smarter and braver than you think, and just when you reckon he isn’t paying attention, he’ll come out with the shiniest pearl of wisdom.
Read & listen to Billy & The Giant Adventure!
Not only can you enjoy the beautifully illustrated book – big thanks to Spanish illustrator Mónica Armiño – but you can also enjoy the audiobook, starring the voices of some of Jamie’s real-life best friends.
Eat the book!
The book also features some delicious recipes, so here are a couple to enjoy.
Find out more about our nutritional guidelines for children.
Tropical fruit plate
Billy’s mum makes the most beautiful platter of fruit, finished with a mint sugar.
Billy & The Giant Adventure FAQs
Jamie has written this book for children aged 7-11. Although adults will also enjoy reading this too. (There are some fun 1980s references in there!)
From Petal and Buddy’s bedtime stories to fully-fledged children’s book, it took Jamie four years.
When they were younger, Jamie’s children Petal and Buddy would ask him to tell them a bedtime story from his head. To make sure he knew where he left off the night before (children have excellent memories – adults, not so much!), he would record the stories on a dictaphone – and before he knew it, he’d come up with the storyline for Billy & The Giant Adventure.
Very much so. Being dyslexic himself, Jamie knows how difficult it can be to read books, so he, alongside his publisher, carefully chose the font to make sure the text was as clear as possible, and that the illustrations were beautiful and eye-catching to keep children’s attention. Then, to help those who love stories but find reading difficult, he worked hard to create an incredible audiobook that’s as fun, silly and engaging as possible. It really is a rip-roaring listen!
Jamie finds the physical act of putting pen to paper tricky, so he approached the book in a slightly different way – recording his stories on a dictaphone and working with editors to write them up. He was engaged in every step of the process, and even though it has been challenging because of his dyslexia, it’s also encouraged Jamie to find ways around barriers and think really creatively.
It was really important to Jamie to make this book as accessible to everyone as possible, and that meant making it available to children who, like him, find reading hard. He has put everything into making the audiobook as engaging and fun and full of bells and whistles as possible. And it’s turned out to be the most entertaining and engaging listening experience!
Yes he did! Not gonna lie, it was a challenge for him, but he was up for it and completed it in three days.
The audiobook is very much a family affair! Jools (Mama Boona), Buddy (Jesse) and River (Autumn) all make an appearance, as well as Jamie’s best mates Dexter Fletcher (Grandad) and Jason Flemyng (Bilfred). Then he had amazing actors Kadeem Ramsay (Jimmy) and Amy Wren (Chief Mirren), and musicians Tamzene Allison-Power (Anna) and Benny Mails (Andy) play their parts too.
Yes! Jamie wrote and sang on the Grow song, which Bilfred sings (yes, Jason Flemyng actually singing), which he created with his music producer friend Tobie Tripp.
When Jamie realised he’d come up with a storyline that was fun and full of adventure, and also highlighted some important life lessons and themes (living in harmony with nature; realising we all have our part to play; the importance of finding your own way in life; celebrating our uniqueness), he wanted to bring that to everyone.
That you’re perfect just the way you are! That we each have a responsibility to look after the world – and that you’re never too young to play your part.
We’ve pulled them together here, as well as some super-fun videos for you to follow.
Jamie worked with his brilliant Puffin team, who found Monica. For Jamie, her illustrations just jumped off the page, so it was one of the easiest decisions of the book-making process to get her on board. And, we think you’ll agree, her illustrations really help to bring the story to life. We’re in awe of Monica!
You can buy it from all the usual book retailers and outlets.
Billy & The Giant Adventure has been translated into lots of different languages and is available in many different countries. Here is the list of countries:
- Australia & New Zealand
- Germany
- India
- South Africa
- Netherlands
- Croatia
- Estonia
- Poland
- America & Canada
- Lithuania
Our export English Language edition is now available globally.
You can access the audiobook from your usual audio retailer.
Salt and vinegar Hula Hoops!