Kids love picture books, so imagine how they feel when they write and illustrate their own story and it is published for the world to read!
I was lucky enough to catch up with children’s author, publisher and founder of the Child Writes Fund Emma Mactaggart as she worked with primary school students at the Darling Heights State School in Toowoomba.
Emma’s journey as an author, illustrator and publisher started 15 years ago, when as a mum with three young children she decided to give writing ago. She registered her publishing business Boogie Books and the adventure was underway!
From little things big things grow and Boogie Books has grown to become the the largest publisher in the world on Amazon of children’s picture books written by children for children.
Emma has honed her craft and has been teaching writing and illustrating to children and adults for the last fifteen years via her Child Writes program. The success of this program was the inspiration for the formation of the registered charity THE CHILD WRITES FUND which is supported by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR).
“The Child Writes Fund is about empowering children to navigate their future through story,” said Emma.
The Garden City Zonta club donated funds to support a Child Writes project at the Darling Heights State School in Toowoomba with the theme of ‘harmony in the garden city’.
Darling Heights is Queensland’s most ethnically diverse primary school with students speaking over 40 different languages. The school is known for its English language programs and support for refugee families.
Emma worked with the students to develop and illustrate a story around the harmony theme. Her unique methods draw all the students into the project, developing characters, building a story and then illustrating it.
In the Darling Heights story, four friends from different countries and backgrounds go in search of a place to hide a very precious necklace . They encounter many challenges but in the end find the safest place to keep the necklace it as at home.
It’s a rollicking story, with many twists and turns and will be a terrific picture book for youngsters once Emma’s team of put a professional touch to the work before publication by Boogie Books.
The book will be released on Harmony Day 2021 and you will find out what the story is called