Reading Together

At Messy Church, we’re always looking for ways for different generations to interact. Reading together is one approach. Providing a quiet book corner alongside the hustle and bustle of a busy Messy Church might give a parent/carer the opportunity for some quality 1:1 time as they read with their young child. It also allows the introverts and those with a studious spiritual style, to pick up a Bible and read about the theme of the day.

Aike caught up with children’s author Elaine Slade at the Hand in Hand conference, to find out more about her work and passion for storytelling.

When did you first get into writing children’s books?

I have always had a dream to write children’s stories since I was a child myself sitting up the top of a tall elm tree in our garden and making up stories. I was a book worm and always had my head in a book, but a busy life as a Mum and teacher took over and the dream was buried. However, I finished teaching, and my girls had grown up and the dream resurfaced as I felt God prompting me to remember the dreams of my youth. Alongside this Lockdown occurred and I suddenly had lots of free time. Contact with a publishing house through a friend spurred me on to fulfil my dream.

What was the first story you ever wrote?

The main characters of the stories are our two family dogs: Charlie and Jasper. I got inspiration for the stories from them and in 2021 ‘Oh No Charlie Farley!’ was published.

How do you bring your Christian faith into your writing?

 Across my life I felt a calling to ‘bind up the broken-hearted’ and to be a ‘repairer of broken walls’ so in my teaching role at school and church, I always tried to give children the building blocks to equip them for life and to raise their self-esteem. This of course was following the example of Jesus and whilst my books are not overtly Christian (so they reach a secular as well as a church audience); they are based on biblical principles. In fact, I realised after the first few stories had been published that the themes were relevant to me and were often the lessons God had taught me through life, so they were written from the depths of my faith and my heart without me realising!

Tell us a bit about the magical world of Charlie Farley and why you’ve written these two series?

The first is a six book picture story series for 2-8 year olds written in rhyme with these themes: teaching children that they are unique and special, that there is courage inside them to face things they’re scared of, to be themselves and don’t feel they have to fit in to have friends, to change their ‘I can’t ‘ into ‘I can’, to give gifts thinking of others needs NOT to impress and finally a sensitive but honest story which helps children to learn about the concept of death helping adults to support children before or during a time of bereavement. The language isn’t babied which is why it is relevant to older children too.

The second series is a set of four read alone or out loud chapter books so far(there will be two more…). These are aimed at 5–9-year-olds to read themselves or a wider audience if reading aloud to children. This series is based around Charlie Farley and his friend the little red squirrel from the picture book series. The squirrel leads Charlie though tunnels, holes and spaces into a magical wood when her nose glows. There Charlie, from his own experience in the picture book series, guides and helps the animals to learn lessons such as Courage, Respect, Perseverance and Trust. The magic of the adventure is partly the magic of the wood but also occurs when the animals have learned their particular lesson and the sticky situation they are in is resolved.

All the books in both series have resources in the back to help children and their adults explore the themes so reinforcing and applying the lessons of life they are learning.

Elaine’s books are available: www.elainesladebooks.com

We’d love to hear if you have a book corner at your Messy Church and your top tips for making the best use of this space, together with any book recommendations including which Bible versions. Drop the Messy Church team an email: messychurch@brf.org.uk

Aike Kennett-Brown

Messy Church Ministry Lead