Lilly & Myles: The Torch

Lilly is holidaying at Grandma’s seaside house in Wales. She always enjoys her gran’s tall stories about sea monsters living in a cave nearby. When it finally stops raining, Lilly can’t wait to get outside and explore - especially as she’s found an old torch to play with. She discovers all sorts of things in its trusty spotlight. There are ladybirds with tiny spots to count, little frogs to watch in the mirky pondwater – and even that famous cave to investigate!  But, in her eagerness, Lilly ventures into the cave alone, and soon realises she is scared. Something is joining her in the echoey caverns….could it really be a sea monster?

There is undoubtably something very special about being allowed to embark on an adventure of your own, with just the right degree of freedom. For Lilly, this involves having her loyal assistance dog Myles at her side, sturdy torch in hand - and a vigilant Grandma keeping an eye on her from a distance. The reader knows Lilly can safely explore the world and its wildlife. It’s an excitement that is universally relatable – as is the fear of the unknown, and the reassuring realisation that you are safe. 

Lilly is on the autistic spectrum and the book beautifully depicts the specific ways in which she experiences various textures, sights, sounds and events. That said, this is a book about having adventures, as much as having autism. But along the way, it definitely offers plenty to discuss and to learn from, including a useful reminder of why we should not distract an assistance dog from its job, plus some useful end notes about autism.  

A gentle, insightful and reassuring story with gorgeous mixed-media artwork, from a successful Wales-based author and illustrator duo.

Stori yw hon sydd yn dathlu’r llawenydd mae plant yn ei brofi wrth ddarganfod y pethau symlaf. Mae Lilly yn awtistig. Mae hi a’i chi cymorth yn aros gyda Mam-gu dros y gwyliau. Un diwrnod mae Lilly yn dod o hyd i fflachlamp sy’n ei hysbrydoli i fynd ar antur ar lan y môr. Yma, gyda help ei theclyn newydd, mae Lilly yn rhyfeddu at fyd natur o’i chwmpas. Mae problemau yn codi pan mae Lilly yn mentro i ogof heb ei chi. Mae’r awdur yn esbonio yn syml ac yn sensitif rai o heriau awtistiaeth a pham fod cŵn cymorth mor bwysig. Mae symlrwydd y testun ynghyd a’r darluniau trawiadol yn creu stori hudol.

A deceptively simple story which celebrates the joy children find on discovering the simplest of things. Lilly is autistic, she and her assistance dog are staying with Grandmother over the summer holidays. One day Lilly day finds a torch and with it the urge to go on an adventure along the seashore. Here, with the help of the torch, Lilly finds wonder in the world of nature. Problems arise when Lilly ventures into a ‘sea-monster’s’ cave without her dog. Here the author effortlessly explains some of the challenges of autism and why assistance dogs like Myles are important. The simplicity of the storytelling, coupled with the captivating art, makes for a magical read.