Eye Spyclops, Libby Whittaker
Written by Libby Whittaker
Illustrated by Lily Uivel
Published by Little Love; 13 April 2023; RRP: $20.00
Media contact: Gemma Finlay, Notable PR
gemma@notablepr.co.nz / 027 628 9695
Can Alfred find what he is looking for?
When Alfred goes to the optometrist, he finds out he needs glasses. But life can be tricky when you’re a cyclops. Can Alfred find glasses that suit him?
Eye Spyclops is a story about finding the right fit and learning it’s okay to stand out.
The book seamlessly blends a relatable story about the everyday, as Alfred gets his eyes checked, has to find glasses he likes, and deals with not feeling like he belongs, with the fantastical. The world Alfred inhabits features cyclops, fairies, and other magical elements. Additional imaginative details are incorporated into the illustrations for readers to discover themselves, along with the eye spy challenge at the back of the book.
Eye Spyclops is written by Libby Whittaker, an Ōtepoti Dunedin based doctor who is also an established writer, having previously published a junior fiction novel and a collection of poetry.
The idea for the story came to Libby when she was half asleep one night after a long shift at the hospital. She asked her partner to text her “Cyclops needs glasses”, which luckily still made sense the next day. Libby soon after had a draft story, which she shared with her flatmates who encouraged her to take it further, leading her to find a publisher.
“I’ve been a glasses-wearer myself since age 10 and some aspects of Eye Spyclops are drawn from personal experience,” Libby says. “There are also themes that all of us can likely relate to on some level, such as insecurity, self-acceptance, belonging, and being enough just the way you are.”
Libby’s quirky story is perfectly accompanied by Lily Uivel’s playful illustrations and pared back colour palette. “Lily brought my story to life even better than I could have imagined. Her art, zany and whimsical with just the right amount of enchanting detail, made me fall in love with the characters all over again.”
“I love the ‘eye spy’ items in the back of the book to go back and look for, though I wish there were more! There are a number of lovely little (and big!) characters to spot throughout the book, which makes a lovely addition to the story and gives you a chance to go back and soak up the illustrations again and again.”
Review from Read NZ
Libby Whittaker is a New Zealand doctor and writer. After growing up on the beautiful Whangaparāoa Peninsula in northern Auckland, she now lives and works in Ōtepoti, Dunedin.
Libby loves writing stories for children, and her debut junior fiction novel Sunny Turner and the Deadly Bite was a finalist in the 2015 Wishing Shelf Book Awards. Eye Spyclops is her first children's picture book
LIBBY WHITTAKER IS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW / BOOK EXTRACTS AND IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST