It's not very often that you meet an adorable Bison. Usually you'd imagine them to be big hulking creatures ready to charge all over the landscape wreaking havoc, but young Toby is an energetic and inquisitive (and thoroughly adorable) little chap.
Toby is slowly exploring his world and on his travels he meets his nearest neighbours, other fantastical creatures that also ruled the landscape back in the Ice Age.
Part story book, part informative history tome, "Toby and the Ice Giants" is the sort of book you instantly fall in love with from one glance at the cover, and then discover the insides are equally wonderful too.
Charlotte is a history nut as we've said many times before, but normally she prefers human history (humans DO make an appearance in this wonderful tale so look out for them!)
Here though, as we followed Toby's story (at times fraught equally with danger as well as wonder) we began to learn what life would have been like on a planet populated by colossal lumbering beasts as well as the very first predators (including man) who strove to establish themselves at the top of the pecking order.
But Toby is the real star here, as wonderful a tour guide as a child could wish for in a brilliant book exploring prehistory. Joe Lillington's illustrations are beautiful, equally full of energy and character but always with a mind on ensuring they're not the cute dewy eyed beasts you'd expect to see in a children's story.
It's utterly captivating and glorious, a fantastic blend of non-fiction and fiction (Toby would've been an amazing creature indeed to cover all the continents where his neighbours dwell on his daily jaunt out into the icy wilds).
Charlotte's favourite bit: When Toby meets the snarling Smilodon, one cat you do NOT want to mess with!
Daddy's favourite bit: A truly gorgeous book, a beautiful blend of fiction and non fiction that will utterly captivate anyone who lays eyes on it, and truly win them over once they delve inside.
(Kindly sent to us for review by Flying Eye Books)
"Toby and the Ice Giants"
Written and Illustrated by Joe Lillington
Published by Flying Eye Books.
Release Date (Hardback): 1st September 2015