'I just knew I had to write this book!': Co Down grandmother turns real-life mouse encounter into children’s story
Eileen Haywood has turned an unexpected visitor in her welly boot into Jamie and the Smelly Welly, a rhyming picture book for young children
A Co Down grandmother has turned an unexpected encounter with a mouse into a new children’s picture book inspired by her love of nature, rhyme and childhood development.
Eileen Haywood from Holywood is set to publish Jamie and the Smelly Welly, aimed at children aged five and under, on September 28.
The story follows Jamie, a little mouse who finds a cosy place to sleep in the toe of Granny’s welly boot.
But his peaceful nap is soon interrupted when Granny gets ready to head into the garden and pulls on her boot, only to discover something wriggling around her toes.
Startled and suddenly homeless, Jamie is captured by Granny, who soon realises he is more frightened than threatening. Their unusual encounter sparks an unlikely friendship and the beginning of Jamie’s adventures in Granny’s garden.
Beautifully illustrated and told through rhythm and rhyme, Jamie and the Smelly Welly explores themes of friendship, kindness and the joy of discovering the natural world.
The book draws on Eileen’s experience working with children with special educational needs, as well as time spent in the garden with her grandson as well as her own search of a ‘forever home’.
The grandmother-of-two said these experiences highlighted the impact that nature, rhythm and rhyme can have on children’s cognitive and speech development.
She explained: “The book was inspired by my work with SEN children and many days spent in the garden with my grandson, experiencing how impactful the natural world, and the fun and joy of rhythms and rhymes, are in child cognitive and speech development.
“I have a passion for reading children’s picture books and a love for beautiful illustrations, conceived via human inspiration, developed through human hearts and crafted by human hands.
“When I found a real live mouse in my welly boot, I just knew I had to write this book!”
Jamie and the Smelly Welly will be published on September 28, priced at £9.99, with ISBN 9781806340309.
Further information is available from Troubador.