Coventry, Warwickshire Oct 9, 2019 (Issuewire.com) - Authors Ian Campbell and Tim Constable have recently been invited to read their new books to young children, generating events that have been popular with both children and Staff alike. And the idea is spreading. They have been writing and publishing their children’s stories featuring the character Billy Bog Brush for a little over two years. The first in the series, The Adventures of Billy Bog Brush: The Fire Brigade was published in December 2018. The second, The Adventures of Billy Bog Brush: The Lost Boy was published just a few weeks ago on 15th August 2019.
When Ian approached the nursery at the place where he works*, they were enthusiastic about the idea of both he and Tim going in to read one of the stories. They also suggested he contact a nearby Primary School, where he found the Head Teacher very keen on the idea. Dates have now been set for readings at both places. Tim explains “The recent readings in Coventry have been a kind of trial run for the bigger events. This is something neither of us has done before, it’s been quite a challenge!” After their most recent reading to 16 children in a nursery, they stayed on to play with the children while they had fun with Play-Do, then joined them for ‘tea time’, eating little sandwiches and yogurt from a plastic bowl! “When the Staff invited us to stay for tea time, I thought they were offering us a cuppa!” laughed Ian.
A lavatory brush (colloquially ‘bog brush’) seems an unlikely source to become a hero in a children’s story, but The Adventures of Billy Bog Brush have been going down a storm with young children in Coventry, and are set to do the same in North Warwickshire and Leicestershire. The stories promote the twin ideas of being helpful and achieving the impossible by breaking a task into small steps. “A kind of ‘motivational speaking’ for kids,” says Tim. Billy is brave, clever, strong and helpful. In ‘The Fire Brigade’, he clambers through a cat flap to try and get a front door key, after a distraught mum explains that the house may be on fire but she’s locked herself out. ‘The Lost Boy’ sees Billy offering to find a young boy that’s gone missing. In both stories, Billy finds himself in an impossible situation, but works out step by step how to achieve his goal, hence his catchphrase “I can do that!”.
Next month they will be reading to 180 children in one go. “That should be quite an event!” said Tim, looking forward to the occasion. He added, “This new activity has had quite an impact on Ian and I. It’s no longer just books that we’re trying to promote, but the stories are a catalyst to real interaction with real children”. The event at Wolvey CofE Primary School will be on October 11th. Media representatives will be welcome.
ABOUT IAN AND TIM
Ian Campbell is a senior storeman for the MOD. Born into a military family, he has lived in Germany, Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom. His first book, A Walk with God, was published in 2011. Tim Constable is a retired data analyst. As a graphic artist, he has designed logos and flyers for various organizations. He is also a musician, in the Coventry Cathedral choir as a boy, then later composing and playing in his own rock band, and leading worship in churches. Neither had written for children before this project.
Media Contact
Billy Bog Brush Books tim@billybogbrush.co.uk +447963510776 41 Morningside http://www.billybogbrush.co.uk
