The ‘Teeny Tales for Growing Minds’ book series is for children aged 3-7 years, and aims to support the existing PSHRE curriculum with literary content that is not currently available.
Curated playfully and beautifully to normalise engagement with non-mainstream topics, Teeny Tales is accessible and relatable to all.
The first book in the series: Puffed Up Pearlette has been written by Becky White and illustrated by Emma Watremetz and Elana Evans.
The project promotes reading at an early stage of life, responding directly to recent findings from the ‘National Literacy Trust – Children and Young People’s Reading in 2023’ research, which recorded the lowest level of reading enjoyment since 2005 between 5-18 year olds.
As part of the project, we have delivered theatre and storytelling workshops for Key Stage two students, with the aim of empowering them to identify and tell the stories they wish they’d read when they were younger. Some young people have been inspired to write about their own lived experiences.
These stories were then illustrated by Tin Holloway and Maria Atamas, and exhibited alongside Puffed Up Pearlette on its book tour to schools and festivals in Spring 2025.
See left for Tin’s illustration of Little Red Riding Hood and the Magical Green Horse, written by students from Elm Academy, Bournemouth.
A number of follow-on ‘words and sensory play’ workshops were delivered with early years settings, which gave the key stage two children a chance to share their stories with the intended audience, as well as chance for preschoolers to delight in shared reading experiences and wordplay with older children.
The project has supported emerging talent within the arts industry by investing in an early career Author and early career Illustrators, in line with Wakey Wakey ARTS’ commitment to sustain practitioners with ongoing work and career development.
The project aims to:
✍️ Increase engagement with reading/writing and storytelling (the National Literacy Trust recently recorded the lowest level of reading enjoyment since 2005 between 5-18 year olds).
🧠 Improve wellbeing of young people through participation in creative activities.
☺️ Increase confidence and social skills in young people.
📚 Increase access to reading for all age groups involved.
❤️ Raise awareness of non-mainstream topics among mainstream groups.
🎨 Support emerging talent to advance their skills and launch their careers in writing and illustration (keeping talent local).
🤓 Enhance leadership/peer-mentor skills in young people.
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See below for the Teeny Tales for Growing Minds 2024-25 Project Report.
Supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, and BCP Youth Fund through BCP Council.
We are now seeking funding to turn Puffed Up Pearlette into a children’s dance/theatre show, as well as beginning to explore future topics for our next Teeny Tales for Growing Minds children’s book. Please email Claire at wakeywakeyarts@gmail.com if you’d like to collaborate.
Wakey Wakey ARTS 