New Childrens Book Provides a Tale for the Education Sector
A popular author who mentored university students in the production of a new children's book has hailed the social enterprise project behind it as 'unlike anything in the sector'.
Helen Greathead, who was also the original commissioning editor of the Horrible Histories series, said the University of Plymouth-led project to produce children's books had provided both experiential learning for the students involved, and a taste of Higher Education for the school children who helped to research it.
The book - We Love Looe - was written, illustrated and published by three students at the university and involved significant input from pupils at Looe Community School, in Cornwall.
Helen said: "I don't think there's anything else quite like this in the country. 'We Love Looe' is the first book produced through this kind of collaboration, and as such, everyone involved has learned a great deal from the process."
The schoolchildren helped research the book as part of their English and History curricula, and unearthed some of the legendary tales that have entered Cornish folklore. Among them was how in 1625, Looe Town Council announced it would compensate the families of local fishermen who were kidnapped by pirates from the Barbary Coast in Africa. And then there is the story of how the spire of Duloe Church came to be leaning as a result of smugglers storing so much contraband that it warped the foundations during the 19th Century.
Helen said: "What I liked about the project, from the school pupils' point of view, was that they were involved in working out how to approach the project right from the start and could then see the results of their efforts in the finished publication. For the university students I was especially pleased that this was a commercial venture: a creative project that also had to be marketable."
The inspiration for the book came from Marc Lintern, Head of Employability at the university, who entered a University Business Ideas Challenge, and developed from this a plan for a social enterprise project. He then partnered with charity Groundwork South West and conducted interviews to select the students who would work on the book.
He said: "Employability has become increasingly important for universities, and never more so than during the current economic downturn. It is vital that we produce graduates who have the relevant skills and experience required by industry today."
Anne Tillett, Education and Training Manager of Groundwork South West, added: "With this project, we have been able to provide the students with commercial experience that will stand them in good stead for the future. And by working with the pupils at Looe Community School, this has also addressed curriculum and widening participation agendas."
The book is now being sold by High Street retailers in Devon and Cornwall, including Waterstones in Plymouth, and the proceeds will go to fund the production of the next in the series. The next book, based on the Tamar Valley Railway, will be produced in conjunction with one of Plymouth's inner-city schools, Drake Primary School in Keyham, and the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership.