Children’s book is a light at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel, says Sheffield author

A Sheffield author and illustrator is to have her first book published at the end of this month.
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Emma Woodthorpe has just written and illustrated a rhyming children's picture book called Our Dave that is due for release on September 30.

Based on her own cat, which she got from The Sheffield Cats Shelter in 2014, the story tells the tale of a cat who is abandoned in the cat shelter by his old owners and who is left to battle loneliness and loss while searching for his forever home.

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Emma explained: “The first edition print run of Our Dave was funded through Kickstarter during the Covid-19 lockdown. When all other income for my illustration business, Embers and Ink, was halted or reduced because of the virus, a community formed around the book to help bring it into the world.

Author and illustrator Emma WoodthorpeAuthor and illustrator Emma Woodthorpe
Author and illustrator Emma Woodthorpe
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“To me, that this book made it to publication day is a symbol of the light at the end of the Covid-tunnel.”

She continued: “Since being a child I have always wanted to write my own books. Before becoming a self-employed illustrator I was a teaching assistant with four to seven-year-olds, and have seen first-hand how important reading is in children's development. So when writing this book, I aimed it at independent readers of five to seven, but because of the rhyming structure and the illustrated pages, any age will find this book enjoyable, and will hopefully help fuel their future enjoyment of books.”

The front coverThe front cover
The front cover

She added: “I am so proud to be an independent business in Sheffield. We have so much power to change the world through the way we conduct business, as independents. I am choosing to stock my book only in small independent stores. Amazon doesn't need any more of our money, but those unique and fantastic independent shops who hold our high street together do.”

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A spokesman from The Sheffield Cats Shelter, which is receiving a £1 donation from every sale of the book, said: “This is a beautiful book with a beautiful message that utterly warmed our hearts. A must-read for cat-loving families everywhere.”

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