In her regular column Link4Growth volunteer Debra Oakaby meets a local author whose children’s guide books have proved inspiring The school summer […]By Waltham Forest Echo
In her regular column Link4Growth volunteer Debra Oakaby meets a local author whose children’s guide books have proved inspiring
Children’s author Francesca Fenn
The school summer holidays are underway and for many families the cost of fun-filled activities is prohibitive. That is where Francesca Fenn comes in.
Francesca is a regular Link4Growth visitor and author of seven Step Outside guides for cost-free family days out in London.
Francesca says her user-friendly guide books for children, between four and 13 years, help families with not much money get out and enjoy the capital.
Working in partnership with her sister-in-law, Margie Skinner, and her son, Sam Fenn, who illustrates the books, Francesca is able to give a personal touch to each book. She uses animal characters to engage and steer the reader, who leads each adventure.
Research for each book is thorough and takes time. There is a trial of each book with three or four families and their feedback is collected through questionnaires. Looking through the first book, The London Treasure Trail, I am struck by how much information it contains.
There are illustrations, photographs, lots of colour, and activities to do along the way, such as: “Don’t forget to look up – some ceilings are richly decorated.” There’s also a wordsearch exercise, if you happen to take a well-earned rest. I liked the bus ride guide, enabling you to tick off sights along the way without having to do any hard work.
It is not just me who is a big fan. I called into The Bookshop North Chingford, in Station Road, and spoke to the owner Jo, who stocks Francesca’s books. She said: “I think they’re a wonderful idea, doing something from the children’s perspective. I’m not aware of others doing children’s walking books. The illustrations are real fun and helps bring it alive.”
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The latest book, London’s Splendid Square Mile, was the focus of a recent Link4Growth day out in The City. I caught up with Steve Pankhurst, who took part with Francesca and some other members of our group.
Steve thought the day out was a nice idea because it allowed him to be a tourist for the day and the guide book was, in his opinion, great for adults and children alike. He told me: “Such little cost incurred for such a great day out – highly recommended.”
Feedback is greatly appreciated by Francesca. She mentioned a young reader who told her: “It’s the best book in the world, ever,” and slept with it under his pillow.
I also learned how families, with children who have autism and Asperger’s syndrome, were benefiting from these books. Francesca recounted something one such parent told her: “It was the first outing she had been on with the children without a meltdown.”
If you do one thing this summer go on one of these adventures and tell us how you get on.
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