Book publisher, Beachy Books, has helped a local author and illustrator to achieve her dream of becoming a children’s author by publishing her rhyming children’s books.
Shirley Adams has created ‘The Hungry Fox’ and ‘Penny Feathers: A Little Penguin with Big Dreams’ for children aged 3 to 7 years – and parents who love rhyme!
Shirley’s passion for rhyme and reading aloud came from her own children, as she explains:
“I like books read aloud. When my children were small we all used to tumble into a double bed and read. They used to bring their friends as well! I’d sit there and read something like 101 almatians and I’d be the one sobbing!
“I started writing about ten years ago now. My daughter took my grandchild over to France. I wanted her and my granddaughter to have something to remember me by so I started writing a story and I did the pictures to go with it”.
Quiet by nature, Shirley has overcome her shyness to perform to an audience over the summer at various events including a very successful reading at The Freshwater Coffee House as part of the Freshwater Book Fair, as Shirley explains:
“I absolutely hate talking one-to-one and making eye contact with people I don’t know, as it makes me feel very uncomfortable. But, when I’m taking on the persona of the characters in my books while I’m reading the story to the audience it improves my confidence. When I get going it’s absolutely fine and then when I sit down after I can’t remember it! It’s lovely reading my stories because you’re watching the children or adults reaction to it and that feeds you because you see them enjoying it and smiling or laughing. It’s wonderful!”
If you love rhyme and children’s books then join Shirley Adams during her half-term and beyond book-reading tour, including children’s craft activities, at the following Isle of Wight venues:
• Ryde Library – Saturday 26th October, 11:00 – 12noon.
• Medina Books, Cowes – Wednesday 30th October, 10:00 to 11:00
• Lord Louis Library, Newport – Saturday 9th November, 10:30 to 11:30
‘The Hungry Fox’ and ‘Penny Feathers: A Little Penguin with Big Dreams’ by Shirley Adams are available for sale at Isle of Wight Traders in Newport and Medina Books in Cowes, as well as direct on Amazon at https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1093142707/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_t2yRDbB88HSKY and https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1697537278/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_11yRDb4SJVHW5.
