How it started…
(Message from Lilly’s parents)
Preparing for Lilly
When we were expecting our first baby, my husband and I were eager to invest in her future.
At a baby show in London, we met a doctor from the USA who specialised in early educational development, and built an entire resource base around his own daughter. Inspired by his research and his experiences as a parent, we purchased a bundle of learning materials and waited excitedly for the arrival of our daughter. Dylan was born in early December. We named her Dylan, but at home we have always called her Lilly.
A Different Beginning
Lilly was born partially deaf.
By eight weeks old, she was wearing hearing aids, and from the very start, we were extra attentive to her milestones, learning to observe carefully and patiently.
Early Learning
From around four to six months old, Lilly began exploring books, flashcards, and early learning toys.
She would grab the books with curious hands, studying them with fascination. She would always carry a book and her blanket.
Recognising her first words
At seven months, we noticed something amazing. During snack time we were playing with flashcards whilst peacefully sat in the lounge. We held up a flashcard that said "clap" — and Lilly started clapped. Another said "arms up" — and up her arms went. We scrambled for the camera, realising we were witnessing something extraordinary.
Nurturing a Love for Books
We nurtured her love of reading by visiting London’s public libraries three times a week, borrowing sensory books, picture books, and word books.
Soon, Dylan was managing her materials independently, flipping pages and absorbing everything.
Expanding her reading material
By seven years old, Dylan was confidently reading aloud from books like Sapiens.
We enrolled her in Stagecoach drama school to help build her speech, memory, and confidence on stage. At eight, Lilly had already read around eleven Shakespeare adaptations, retelling plots and character arcs from memory.
Her appetite for knowledge became unstoppable: cookbooks, dictionaries, fact books, newspapers — anything she could get her hands on.
Building Her Library
Lilly has always preferred physical books over e-readers, mostly because she was able to see her collection of books grow.
She has built a collection of nearly 400 books in the last 3 years. Dylan likes to choose her own reading material because she has a pretty good idea of what she has and has not read. She also loves book vouchers.
A Daily Habit
Now 11 years old, Lilly reads around 50 books a month.
She reads mostly in English, but has started reading at least one book a week in French too.
She balances an active life — swimming, cycling, coding, competitive sport, friends, martial arts, piano — with a daily habit of reading.
Reading has shaped how Dylan approaches life and learning. She consistently scores 90–100% on school assessments and truly enjoys exploring new subjects with energy and joy.
Inspired to Create
After reading Rebel Girls Mean Business and finding inspiration from authors like Rick Riordan, Dylan decided she wanted to create something of her own.
This website is the beginning of that journey.