Local writers and illustrators fulfil dream through St Helens Borough Council's Arts in Libraries project

Article date: 18 March 2025

The Storybook Project, which began in September 2024 at The Carnival of Creativity held in the World of Glass Museum, has seen five community writers living in the borough successfully write, illustrate, and publish their very own children's picture books.

The project, which received funding from Arts Council England and is part of a wider programme of work, was created to help local writers craft stories that would be dedicated to beloved children in their lives.

Barbara Beeston, Paul Grant, Eman Diab, Carol Howard, and Kathryn Edwards were the five selected writers who participated in a series of creative writing workshops over four months where they developed their ideas, drafted stories, and worked through the editing process, culminating in the publication of five unique and engaging books that explore themes of bravery, magic, kindness, and community spirit.

Arts in Libraries then commissioned five professional illustrators to bring the stories to life, with Catherine Jackman, Meta Mezan, Stef Woof, Jen Chennell, and Toni-Louise Carter selected.

Barbara Beeston, one of the writers, expressed pride in her book, Too Busy for Bunny, aimed at preschool children. The rhyming book explores themes such as relationships, dealing with disappointments, and the bond between parent and child.

"I never imagined writing a book, getting it published and seeing it in print," said Barbara, 65, from Newton-le-Willows, whose inspiration to write her own book came from reading to her three grandsons. "This project gave me the confidence to pursue something I had always wanted to do. It has been a life-changing experience, helping me build new skills, confidence, and a sense of purpose.

"Seeing my grandchildren's faces when they saw my book on display in the library was magical and I'll be forever grateful for this opportunity."

Barbara's book was beautifully illustrated by St Helens resident, Catherine Jackman, who shared her excitement about working on the project. "When I received the email saying my application was successful, I was overjoyed," Catherine said. 

"It was a dream come true to illustrate a book for a local author and knowing that the book would be available at my local libraries made it even more special."

Catherine, who regularly attends Read & Rhyme Time sessions at St Helens and Eccleston libraries with her young twins, added: "This project boosted my confidence immensely, and it opened many doors for me. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the Arts in Libraries team, who, in my opinion, are the best in the world and offered amazing support every step of the way."

Mayor of St Helens Borough, Councillor Jeanette Banks, who met with the authors and illustrators at a recent celebration event at Chester Lane Library, praised the initiative by saying: "The Storybook Project has brought our community together in such a meaningful way. It's inspiring to see local writers and illustrators making their mark, and I look forward to seeing these beautiful books enjoyed by children and families across St Helens."

The five books, Too Busy for Bunny; The Brave Little Firework; There's a circus in my tummy; The Furgelthwarts Tale and The Three Who Knocked On All The Gates are available for library members to loan from St Helens Borough Council's network of seven libraries.

Arts in Libraries is funded by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation.

To find out more about an exciting range of activities on offer through Arts in Libraries, visit: https://artsinlibraries.sthelens.gov.uk/