Land Rover launches ‘Landy and Friends’ writing competition for children

Land Rover is calling on all budding young writers to enter its new Landy and Friends story writing competition, with the chance to have a scene from their story illustrated by acclaimed author, Veronica Lamond. For over a decade, Lamond has been writing and illustrating the Landy and Friends series of books, following a 1956 Land Rover Series I (Landy) and a 1999 Land Rover Defender (Fender) on their adventures all over the world.  

Starting with the original ‘Landy’ book in 2010, there are a total of eight books in the series, following not just the cars but also their energetic young owners, Jack and Dan. The seventh in the series was especially commissioned by Land Rover, featuring Landy visiting the Solihull factory to commemorate the last of the original Defenders being produced there.

Launched on World Book Day, March 4th 2021, the Landy and Friends writing competition will run for three weeks, providing a creative platform for youngsters during the latest lockdown. Land Rover is also seeking to engage teachers and schools in the process, to encourage imaginative youngsters to get creative with words.

Competition entries should be stories of no more than 500 words and from two age groups – 5-6 year olds and 7-8 year olds. The judging process will be undertaken by Landy and Friends author herself, Veronica Lamond, who has kindly given a few tips on the sort of stories that youngsters might want to consider. 

“You could find some pictures of Land Rovers doing interesting work, speak to a grown-up about something adventurous they have done in a Land Rover or just make up a story about something you’d like to see or do,” she says.“Plan the structure of your story: beginning, build-up and problem resolution and then get going. Have fun – we look forward to reading your story.”

Anthony Bradbury, Jaguar Land Rover UK Marketing Director, said: “At this tough time for children, parents and teachers, we’re hoping to inspire a brand new generation of creative writers. Veronica Lamond has perfectly brought Landy, a 1951 Land Rover Series I, to life with her books and we’re greatly looking forward to seeing the adventures Landy embarks upon in the minds of the nation’s children.”

The winning entrant will receive an original illustration by Veronica Lamond of a scene from their story and a Land Rover Half Day Experience at one of the Land Rover Experience sites nationwide. The runner-up entry in each age group will receive a set of signed Landy and Friends hardback books, while the third-place entry in each group will receive a set of signed soft-back Landy and Friends books.

If you’d like your child or pupil to take part in the  competition, you can explore the competition homepage at https://www.landrover.co.uk/landy-adventure.html 

Animated YouTube videos featuring the Landy Adventures (Fender & Landy) can also be used via Land Rover’s social media channels and special free teaching resources created by Lamond can be shared freely with teachers, schools and parents and found here:  https://veronicalamond.com/landybooks-teaching- resources-for-home-schooling/

The deadline for entries is 11:59pm Thursday 25th March.