Children's author to visit Wigan schools

Mischievous cats will be the main theme when an author and illustrator visits schools in Wigan as part of World Book Day.
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Sean Perkins will share parts of his colourful children’s book “Oscar and Ben” to pupils at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary in Wrightington and Golborne Primary School.

He will also visit Golborne Library, as well as schools in Chorley, Preston and Bolton as part of his tour.

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The funny story is about what the two cats get up to overnight and the consequences of their actions.

Author and illustrator Sean Perkins with his book, Oscar and BenAuthor and illustrator Sean Perkins with his book, Oscar and Ben
Author and illustrator Sean Perkins with his book, Oscar and Ben

Children can join Oscar and Ben in their woodland den as they venture into the forest to meet a hen, an angry frog and a tiny mouse living in an underground house.

They go into the woods and get into trouble, winding the other animals up, who decide to get their own back.

Sean, 32, from Standish, said he wanted to use the book and school visits to highlight the importance of reading to children.

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He said: “I’m working with local libraries and schools trying to promote and improve reading across the borough. That would be amazing.

“Oscar and Ben is a children’s picture and rhyming book, a bit like The Gruffalo.

“The two cats basically go into the woods and get into trouble, winding animals up, who then get their own back.

“I will be visting 40 schools in towns including Wigan, Chorley, Preston and Bolton.

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“The two in Wigan will be St Joseph’s Catholic Primary in Wrightington and Golborne Primary School, as well as visiting Golborne Library.

“This is all about highlighting the importance of reading to children.

“I’m looking forward to sharing Oscar and Ben with the children.”

He said the premise of the story is treating each other kindly.

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Sean said: “When Oscar and Ben don’t act kindly they see the consequences.

“So I very much want to promote the importance of treating each other kindly.

“The book is aimed at three to seven year olds but even year six children have come to me saying they enjoy it.

“It’s had a really good reaction since it was published and has been so well received.

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“I’m amazed by how well it’s gone down and I just want to keep getting it out there to as many people as I possibly can.

“I want to create work that brings things to life and makes it more fun, so children enjoy reading.

And Oscar and Ben isn’t the first book Sean has written, as in 2016 he published “Mr Bread Head And The Disappearing Loaves”.

The story evolves around a character called Mr Bread Head, who has to uncover the mystery of why a town called Breadby’s vital bread supplies start to disappear.

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In a similar style to Oscar and Ben, the book is aimed at children and has lots of illustrations. Sean, who studies graphic design at Leeds College of Art said his aim was always to write in a creative way.

He said: “I like to write and illustrate my own stories.

“I’ve always thought it important to be inventive in the way I write and make reading fun for children through the use of humour and pictures.”

He went on to highlight the importance of World Book Day.

The annual event this year is on Thursday, March 5, and aims to promote reading, publishing and copyright.

Sean said: “World Book Day is a really important way of promoting the importance of reading to children’s development and learning.

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“So I’m delighted to go round Wigan schools and libraries and share my book and to do my best to promote and improve reading across the borough. “

Oscar and Ben costs £7 and can be bought online by visiting Sean’s website https://www.seanperkinsauthor.com/

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