New children’s book is just The Bee’s Sneeze
A Cambusbarron author enlisted the help of his hayfeversuffering son to craft a new children’s book which centres around a sneezing bee.
Mark Steward and ten-year-old James are responsible for The Bee’s Sneeze – a light-hearted page-turner aimed at young people who struggle with sinus problems.
The book has been launched for families in the lead up to Christmas, and both Mark and James were busy talking to potential readers at Allan’s Primary’s Christmas fair and Cambusbarron Christmas fair about the story last weekend.
Mark told the Observer: “Around five years ago we were on a camping holiday in France when James was suffering quite badly with hayfever, and he was feeling pretty sorry for himself.
“He asked if bees could get hayfever and we had a bit of a laugh about it – that’s where the idea for the book came from.”
Mark, who works freelance in publishing, enlisted the help of friends and colleagues Richard Happer and illustrator Steve Evans, in addition to son James, to undertake the project.
They’ve had to work on the book in their spare time as Mark has been busy with a number of projects for Harper Collins while James is a P6 pupil at Cambusbarron Primary.
Mark added: “I really just thought of it as a nice project to work on with my son. It’s been about four years in the making but we really wanted to get it out there in time for Christmas – and we’re really happy with the way it has turned out.
“I suppose the story is really about overcoming adversity and not giving up – something that’s really important to young people these days.
“It’s been a fun thing to do and it’s pleasing that we’ve managed to see it through.”
The Bee’s Sneeze, of which 2000 copies have been printed, has been reviewed by social enterprise Talking Mats, Allergy UK and a number of teaching professionals.
The book is available at www.beessneeze.com and from Made in Stirling.