He’s tiny, he’s mighty and he’s absolutely hilarious! If you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud children’s graphic novel series with plenty of action, colourful illustrations and a surprisingly brilliant introduction to Greek mythology, let me introduce you to Tiny Hercules by Jon Lock and Nich Angell.
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We’ve been enjoying the Tiny Hercules adventures since the first book arrived earlier this year. In fact, we were so excited about this new series that we pre-ordered the first book and were delighted when it arrived a couple of weeks before publication!
Since then, we’ve explored the audiobook, welcomed the second instalment and even had the opportunity to meet both creators at Cheltenham Literature Festival.
Here’s what we’ve thought so far, including a look at the books, the audiobook and some fantastic free resources to accompany the series.
What Is Tiny Hercules About?
Tiny Hercules might be no bigger than a jam jar, but he certainly doesn’t lack confidence or strength! After being banished from Tiny Olympus for ruining one of Tiny Zeus’s parties, Hercules finds himself on Earth. If he wants to return home, he’ll need to complete twelve legendary tasks.
Unfortunately, his idea of being a hero doesn’t always match up with reality. Arriving in the wonderfully named town of Chutney-on-Toast, Tiny Hercules encounters Jeff, a rather ordinary ten-year-old boy who loves maths and graphs.
The unlikely pairing of an enthusiastic tiny hero and a sensible, numbers-loving child makes for some very funny situations. Throw in plenty of Greek gods, mythical monsters, ridiculous misunderstandings and larger-than-life adventures, and you’ve got the makings of a fabulous graphic novel series.
Tiny Hercules Book 1 – Our Review
Tiny Hercules by Jon Lock and Nich Angell
- Published: 5 February 2026
- Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books
- Format: Full-colour graphic novel
- Pages: around 200
- Publisher age recommendation: 7–11 years
- Our suggested age: Approximately 6+/ from newly independent readers – mainly lowercase text with short sentences
- ISBN: 9781035059645
We absolutely loved our introduction to Tiny Hercules. It’s wonderfully silly, fast-paced and full of visual humour. The illustrations are vibrant and expressive, with plenty of little details to enjoy as you follow the action.
One of the things we particularly loved was how almost everything connected with the Greek gods is tiny. Tiny Athena was an especially big hit in our house!
The contrast between the incredibly powerful but miniature Hercules and the normal-sized world around him provides so many opportunities for comedy. The humour is a huge part of the appeal, but I was also really impressed by something I hadn’t necessarily expected.
Learning About Greek Mythology Through Graphic Novels
I was genuinely surprised by just how much Greek mythology Floss picked up from reading Tiny Hercules. The book is certainly not trying to be a traditional retelling of the Greek myths, but the characters, references and adventures sparked an interest in discovering more.
For us, that’s one of the lovely things about children’s books. Sometimes learning happens almost without anyone noticing because children are simply enjoying a brilliant story.
Tiny Hercules introduces characters and ideas from mythology in a way that feels approachable, funny and memorable. It’s a great starting point for children who might not otherwise have shown an interest in Ancient Greece.
And, of course, there’s plenty of scope for following up with other mythology books, creative writing, drawing and history resources. We borrowed Myths, Monsters and Mayhem in Ancient Greece by James Davies from the library to further Floss’s interest after reading Tiny Hercules. It’s also a graphic novel but a little more of a challenging read than Tiny Hercules – maybe more around 7+.
Is Tiny Hercules Suitable for Younger Readers?
Although the publisher recommends the series for children aged 7–11, I would happily suggest looking at the first book from around age six, depending on the individual child.
The full-colour illustrations are a huge part of the storytelling and really help carry the action. There’s plenty of slapstick humour, comic chaos and exaggerated peril rather than a serious or frightening atmosphere.
For children who enjoy Bunny vs Monkey, Dog Man or Donut Squad, I think Tiny Hercules could be a fantastic next series to investigate. As always, age recommendations are a guide. I much prefer looking at the individual child, their interests and the way they enjoy books.
Tiny Hercules: Golden Cabbage Chaos – Book 2
Tiny Hercules: Golden Cabbage Chaos by Jon Lock and Nich Angell
- Published: 27 August 2026
- Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books
- Format: Full-colour graphic novel
- Pages: around 200
- Publisher age recommendation: 7–11 years
- ISBN: 9781035059669
Tiny Hercules is back, and this time he’s searching for the mysterious Golden Cabbage as he attempts to complete another of his legendary tasks. Naturally, Tiny Zeus isn’t about to make things easy.
Our miniature hero must contend with three equally miniature mythical creatures: the Tinytaur, Minidusa and Grifflet. Meanwhile, Jeff has his own problems to solve. His local supermarket is in trouble, and he’s hoping that some clever thinking, maths and graphs might help save the day.
When their adventures collide, expect plenty of chaos! I love the idea of these two very different approaches to heroism. Hercules relies on enormous strength and enthusiasm, while Jeff has more practical, mathematical talents.
We do have two copies of this one. One we pre-ordered from Waterstones where they are doing a Waterstones Exclusive Edition that has a sheet of stickers! The other was part of our ticket for the Cheltenham event.
Tiny Hercules Audiobook Review – A Brilliant Way to Enjoy the Story
I also had the opportunity to listen to the first Tiny Hercules audiobook (thanks to the publisher and Netgalley), and it is brilliant!
The voices are superb, bringing the personalities of the characters to life and making the whole adventure incredibly engaging.
Each chapter opens with music, which adds another lovely layer to the listening experience and gives the story a wonderfully lively feel.
What I particularly enjoyed was listening while following along with the physical graphic novel. Now, it’s important to know that the audiobook doesn’t follow the book word for word. With a graphic novel, much of the storytelling happens through the illustrations, expressions and comic panels, so adaptations need to approach things a little differently.
However, I found it thoroughly enjoyable to listen to the audio alongside the physical book. Being able to see the characters and all the colourful visual details while hearing their voices adds a whole new dimension to the experience. I certainly wouldn’t dismiss the audiobook simply because this is a graphic novel.
Whether children prefer listening independently or enjoying the physical book at the same time, I think the audio is well worth exploring.
My verdict: Superb character voices, highly engaging storytelling and a fantastic audio adaptation that can be enjoyed both on its own and alongside the illustrated book.
Meeting Jon Lock and Nich Angell at Cheltenham Literature Festival
One of our highlights of October was attending a Tiny Hercules event at Cheltenham Literature Festival. Floss and Daddy went along to meet Jon Lock and Nich Angell, and the event was amazing! Both creators are from Cheltenham, which made the festival appearance feel especially lovely.
They had brilliant energy and banter together, and it was wonderful for the children to get an insight into the people behind these hilarious characters. Floss even had the chance to ask a question.
What If You Have Too Many Story Ideas?
Floss wanted to know what you should do when you have lots and lots of story ideas in your head. I absolutely loved that Jon and Nich gave different answers!
Jon suggested taking each idea and making it into a short two-page story. That way, you can explore lots of ideas rather than feeling you have to choose just one.
Nich suggested something rather different: why not mash your ideas together to make something new? After all, that’s partly how you end up with a story about tiny Greek gods!
What wonderful advice for young writers and illustrators. I think both approaches are brilliant, and it was such a lovely reminder that there isn’t one correct way to be creative. Floss also came away with a Tiny Hercules bookmark and signed book, a lovely little reminder of a fantastic event.
Tiny Hercules Book 3 – Gods Gone Wild!
There’s more Tiny Hercules on the way!
The third book in the series, Tiny Hercules: Gods Gone Wild!, is scheduled for publication on 11 March 2027.
This time, Tiny Hercules decides it’s time to celebrate after completing two legendary tasks. But things don’t quite go to plan!
With Jeff’s parents away, Hercules arranges an enormous party involving the Tiny Gods. Unfortunately, Tiny Zeus is still causing trouble, and our tiny hero ends up on an unexpected adventure into the Underworld. Meanwhile, Jeff is left trying to keep everything under control. We can’t wait to discover what happens next!
There’s also a book 4 on the horizon for September 2027. There is no cover yet but it’s called: Tiny Hercules – Cosmic Cake Odyssey.
Free Tiny Hercules Resources and Activities
One of the things I particularly enjoy about discovering a new children’s book series is finding creative activities to accompany it.
The creators have put together a fantastic Tiny Hercules website with plenty to explore.
Official Tiny Hercules Free Activity Sheets
Head over to the official Tiny Hercules website at Big Punch Studios.
You’ll find:
- Free downloadable activity sheets with puzzles and challenges.
- Sample pages from the first graphic novel.
- Illustrations and information about the characters.
- More details about Tiny Hercules and his adventures.
It’s well worth bookmarking if your children have enjoyed the books.
More Tiny Hercules-Inspired Activities
If you’d like to take the adventures a little further, here are some creative ideas to try.
Design your own tiny Greek god
Choose a character from Greek mythology and imagine what they would be like in the Tiny Hercules world. What would their special powers be? What miniature objects might they carry?
Invent a mythical monster
Take inspiration from the Tinytaur, Minidusa and Grifflet. Combine different mythical creatures to design something completely new. Give it a name, special abilities and perhaps a weakness!
Create a Greek hero trading card
Draw your own hero, choose their powers and give them ratings for strength, intelligence, bravery and speed.
Make a two-page comic
Inspired by Jon’s advice at Cheltenham Literature Festival, challenge yourself to tell a complete story in just two pages.
Mash two story ideas together
Try Nich’s approach! Choose two completely different ideas and see what happens when you combine them. The stranger the combination, the better!
Explore the Twelve Labours of Hercules
Find out about the original Greek myth and compare it with the adventures of Tiny Hercules. Which elements have been changed to make the stories funny?
More Children’s Graphic Novels to Explore
If your child has enjoyed Tiny Hercules, we’ve got lots more children’s graphic novel recommendations on Busy Busy Learning.
Take a look at our seasonal roundups:
- Most Anticipated Kids’ Graphic Novels: January–March 2026
- Most Anticipated Kids’ Graphic Novels: July–September 2026
- Best New Kids’ Graphic Novels: October–December 2026
You’ll find everything from laugh-out-loud comic adventures to magical mysteries, illustrated stories and books that might just spark a whole new interest.
Our Final Thoughts on Tiny Hercules
Tiny Hercules is a wonderfully entertaining series that combines larger-than-life adventures with some very small characters!
We’ve loved the humour, the colourful illustrations and the way the books have introduced Floss to so much Greek mythology without ever making it feel like a lesson.
The audiobook has been another brilliant discovery, and having the opportunity to meet Jon Lock and Nich Angell at Cheltenham Literature Festival has made the series even more special for our family. You can get the audiobook for both book 1 and 2.
If you’ve got a child who loves funny graphic novels, mythical monsters and unlikely heroes, I would definitely recommend giving Tiny Hercules a try. We can’t wait to see where his next legendary adventures take him!
Have you discovered Tiny Hercules yet? I’d love to know which of the tiny characters is your favourite. Let us know in the comments!