Tom Percival

Tom Percival was our Writer in Residence from February 2026 until August 2026. His residency explored how reading improves children’s wellbeing.

About Tom Percival

Tom is known for his uplifting stories and emotionally expressive illustrations, including his Big Bright Feelings series of picture books, such as Ruby’s Worry and Ravi’s Roar. He’s written over 35 books ranging from picture books to middle grade novels and illustrated literally more than he can remember. 

He’s also a keen photographer and a musician, spending a lot of the time that he’s not working on books writing songs. He also enjoys climbing mountains, spending time with his family and walking with his dog, Luna.

What Tom Percival said:

My residency [explored] how reading improves children’s wellbeing, which is hugely important. After all, everything you ever see, think and feel about the world is run through the filter of your own mind. So, if your mind’s not in a good place, your view of the world won’t be either. 

It’s vital that we all learn to be in tune with our emotions. To be aware of how we think and feel and crucially to be able to understand WHY we might feel that way. If we can learn to do all that, then on those occasions when we’re not feeling our best, it’s easier to navigate a path to a better place. And I can’t think of a better way to explore all these concepts than sharing books and stories with children.”

More from Tom Percival

Books by Tom Percival

  • Quiet

    by Tom Percival, illustrated by Richard Jones 

    2024 4 to 7 years 

    • Picture books

    This heartfelt, profound book by award-winning picture book makers Tom Percival and Richard Jones is a subtle and beautiful reminder to all of us that using our voices to stand up for what we believe in is important, both for the collective, but for the individual too.

  • The Wrong Shoes

    by Tom Percival 

    2024 9 to 14 years 

    • Coming-of-age

    Will and his dad don’t have much, and when there’s the chance to make easy money, Will must make a difficult decision. Moving and gritty, this is a fantastic read. 

  • Finn’s Little Fibs

    by Tom Percival 

    2023 5 to 9 years 

    • Picture books

    When Finn tells a fib about breaking Grandma’s clock, it leads to more and more fibs. How can he tell the truth? Reassuring, kind and sensitive, this is a lovely book, beautifully illustrated.

  • The Invisible

    by Tom Percival 

    2021 4 to 7 years 

    • Picture books

    When Isabel’s family moves to a new neighbourhood, everything is strange and different. Isabel feels like people look right through her – that is, until she starts to notice the other invisible people trying to make the world a better place.

  • Perfectly Norman

    by Tom Percival 

    2017 4 to 9 years 

    • Picture books

    Norman has always been normal, perfectly normal… So he is very surprised to have wings suddenly one day! This is a sweet and truly uplifting story that celebrates diversity in a subtle but unique way.

  • The Wonder

    Author-illustrator Tom Percival 

    2026 3 to 5 years 

    • Picture books

    A picture book about how grumpy Daniel starts to notice the sweet things in life and improves his mood. 

  • Little Legends: The Spell Thief

    by Tom Percival 

    2016 5 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Funny
    • Picture books

    When new boy Anansi arrives in Tale Town, everyone welcomes him to his new home, except for Jack. Missing a parent and feeling unease about a new friend are handled in an interesting, engaging way that doesn’t push the moral.

  • Ruby’s Worry

    by Tom Percival 

    2018 4 to 9 years 

    • Picture books

    Ruby loves being Ruby. Until, one day, she finds a worry – and it won’t stop growing. How can Ruby get rid of it and feel like herself again? A very beautiful, sensitive look at anxiety and how a problem shared is a problem halved. 

  • Silas and the Marvellous Misfits

    by Tom Percival 

    2022 5 to 9 years 

    • Adventure
    • Chapter books
    • Fantasy
    • Funny

    This is the third book in the Dream Defenders series and would benefit from being read in sequence. The imaginative Dreamscape setting, short chapters and lively black-and-white illustrations make it an engaging tale which celebrates individualism and promotes emotional wellbeing.

  • Dream Defenders: Erika and the Anger Mare

    by Tom Percival 

    2020 5 to 9 years 

    • Adventure
    • Chapter books

    After storming off to bed upset and in a terrible mood, Erika wakes up in the most incredible place ever: there are rainbow-coloured trees, super bouncy grass and waterfalls that flow up instead of down. But she’s in danger of being trapped there… can she find her way home?

  • Ravi’s Roar

    by Tom Percival 

    2019 2 to 9 years 

    When being the youngest and smallest gets too annoying, Ravi roars and turns into a tiger! But who wants to play with a tiger? An entertaining book about losing your temper and recovering from it.