New children’s book by local writer

A new children’s book aims to raise money for UNICEF, and is sure to delight youngsters as well.

Ventnor resident Christine Grayden is generally known for writing about local history, the environment and social issues.

But she has also written for and with children over many years.

For her 70th birthday Christine decided that she would concentrate on producing picture books with positive messages for children and to raise funds for UNICEF.

Her first fundraising book, “The Lost Blanket”, is a small locally-printed paperback with Christine’s own colour pencil illustrations.

The heartwarming story includes bonus colouring and story-writing pages and a happy ending. There is also a beetle to find on each page, and children can tell their own story of how the beetle befriends the blanket and engages with all of the creatures that visit the blanket over two days.

With both face and digital clock displays, the book also helps children tell the time.

“The Lost Blanket” debuted at Turn the Page bookshop during the school holidays, where children and adults all enjoyed Christine’s lively reading of the story, followed by an art activity.

The book is now selling through Turn the Page and The Corner Dispensary.

With donations to UNICEF from friends and family to commemorate Christine’s 70th birthday, combined with a $2 donation by Christine from the sale of each book, “The Lost Blanket” has so far raised $700 for UNICEF in a few weeks.

She’s hoping the community will throw its support behind the project and add to the already impressive fundraising tally.

Christine is currently working on her next children’s picture story book: “Where’s your home?”, featuring various mini-beasts in parks and gardens.