Celebrating five recent children’s books authored and illustrated by Falmouth’s alumni

Little Moth Adventures by Alyssa Georgia  

For second-year BA(Hons) Illustration (Online) student Alyssa, Little Moth Adventures is a picture book based on a character she created in her first semester at Falmouth. Having been tasked with creating the day in the life of a character as part of her course, Alyssa came up with the idea of Little Moth, who would later go on to become the titular character behind her self-published children’s picture book, Little Moth Adventures. 

Published in March, the book came about thanks to the encouragement of her course tutor for helping to inspire her to continue working on the project, using the artistic skills she developed during her time at Falmouth to transform Little Moth into Little Moth Adventures. 

Grandad’s Treasure by Caitlain Reavley 

The idea behind BA(Hons) Illustration alumna Caitlain’s story, Grandad’s Treasure, was also first thought of whilst she was a student at Falmouth.

Released with the independent publisher Pegasus, Grandad’s Treasure is a story that draws on Caitlain’s own childhood experiences to create a tale full of charming illustrations and adventurous storytelling. 

She told us: “I remember being a child in my grandparents’ homes, which was where I would find all sorts of odd treasures dotted around that I probably wasn’t supposed to play with. This inspired the idea of a story centred around a treasure hunt set within a grandfather’s home. It’s a place that’s familiar yet can also hold so many secrets. And who doesn’t love a manor house mystery!”

The Hedgehog Rescuers by Sarah Oliver and Juliet Prentice 

After studying Falmouth’s MA Professional Writing, Sarah has gone on to become a Sunday Times bestselling author, publishing over 30 non-fiction books for children. Her talent for writing has more recently secured Sarah a five-book deal with Tiny Tree, the first of which was published last spring. Reflecting on the joys of protecting wildlife, The Hedgehog Rescuers explores how two brothers helping hedgehogs brings their community together.  

The novel was also illustrated by Illustration BA(Hons) alumna, Juliet Prentice, who took part in one of Falmouth’s micro-internship opportunities to illustrate the book. Speaking on the collaboration, Sarah shared: “I thought it would be a great opportunity to help a Falmouth illustrator get their first real experience. The book didn’t materialise until I saw Juliet’s sketches of hedgehogs, which were included in her sample of work. It was those hedgehogs that inspired the story.” 

The Three Hungry Microbes by Dorcas Tang and Cuifen Pui 

For BA(Hons) Illustration (Online) alumna, Dorcas Tang, co-writing and illustrating The Three Hungry Microbes with Cuifen Pui came about from their mutual interest in sustainability and compost-making. Their children’s book focuses on compost-making in a fun and inspiring way, highlighting the microbes inside the soil and using them as the characters who tell the story.  

The pair have since been touring their work around schools in Singapore, inspiring children to take interest in sustainability.  

Speaking on how studying illustration online at Falmouth helped her to get here, Dorcas shared: “Studying illustration at Falmouth has been a dream come true! It solidified my decision to pursue illustration, particularly children’s books, because I found that over the years I was continuously drawn to simple, whimsical and meaningful stories. I also love working with kids.” 

ABC Bedtime illustrated by Sana Bansal 

Since completing her MA Illustration: Authorial Practice, Sana has secured commissions with an impressive array of clients, one of which being Penguin Random House. Sana has worked on two board books for the publisher’s young audiences in India and Southeast Asia.

She told us: “I got to incorporate important elements like diversity into their visual style and work with an art director who trusted my process, which was key. It was so rewarding to see the books out in bookstores where I grew up.”