The Bristol Crocodile Comes to Clifton Children's LitFest
- Jul 20
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 22
On Saturday 11 July 2026, I had the pleasure of taking The Bristol Crocodile to Clifton Children’s LitFest for a day of stories, creativity and Bristol-inspired family fun.
As an independent author and illustrator based in Bristol, being invited to take part in a festival celebrating children's books and the joy of reading meant a great deal to me. The day brought together everything I love about The Bristol Crocodile: stories, imagination, local adventures and the opportunity to connect with families in person.
We spent the day reading stories, signing books, colouring, making badges and enjoying a few Bristol Crocodile-themed activities. It was wonderful to see children getting involved, spotting crocodiles and seagulls, and proudly taking home something they had created themselves.
For me, it was a real highlight in the journey of The Bristol Crocodile so far.
The Bristol Crocodile: Bristol children's books inspired by a local story
The Bristol Crocodile began with a simple question: what if the mysterious crocodile reported to have been spotted in the River Avon in 2014 became the beginning of a story?
That original idea grew into a character, and eventually into a collection of Bristol children's books created for young children and their families.
Today, The Bristol Crocodile is a Bristol-based children's book brand creating books and activities for little readers, particularly children aged 3–5. The stories are inspired by Bristol and the places, characters and adventures that make the city special.
From exploring Bristol Harbourside to discovering the alphabet, the books are designed to encourage children to enjoy stories while connecting them with the city around them. The Bristol Crocodile and his seagull friend have plenty of adventures still to come.
That local connection is at the heart of everything I create. I wanted to make Bristol books for children that families could enjoy together - books that might inspire a child to recognise somewhere familiar, become curious about a place they have not visited yet, or simply imagine a crocodile making his way through the city.
From one Bristol crocodile story to a growing collection
When I first imagined The Bristol Crocodile, I could not have known how much the idea would grow.
What began as one story has developed into a wider collection of children's books and creative products, including:
Taking part in Clifton Children's LitFest gave me a chance to see how these different parts of The Bristol Crocodile come together. A story can be read at bedtime, a colouring book can become a quiet afternoon activity, and a Bristol-inspired adventure can become something a family talks about during a day out.
That is what I hope The Bristol Crocodile can become: not just a collection of books, but a way for families to share stories, be creative and enjoy discovering Bristol together.
A special day at Clifton Children's LitFest
The day at Clifton Children's LitFest was a wonderful reminder of why I started this adventure in the first place.
Seeing children enjoying the stories, colouring, making their own badges and getting excited about The Bristol Crocodile was incredibly special. There was something lovely about seeing the character come to life through the children themselves.
One moment that particularly stayed with me was when a child and his mother came over and told me:
“He absolutely loves The Bristol Crocodile, we read it every night, and we’re so excited to be here.”
As an independent author and illustrator, moments like that mean so much. Every part of The Bristol Crocodile has been built with passion, perseverance and a genuine love for Bristol, so hearing that the books have become part of a family's routine is incredibly special.
A huge thank you to Clifton Children's LitFest for featuring The Bristol Crocodile and for creating such a welcoming space for children, families and stories. Events like this are a wonderful way to encourage a love of books and creativity, and I was so happy to be part of it.
And, of course, thank you to every family who came along, said hello, joined in with the activities, bought a book or simply shared in the fun. Your support means more than I can say.
I am so excited to continue growing The Bristol Crocodile and creating more books, activities and Bristol-inspired adventures for families to enjoy.
Come discover the books to join The Bristol Crocodile on his next adventure!
