Turning otters into books

Because I can, and because it eases my soul to do so I’ve taken to ink again. These inky twisters are for sale for the library fund that will be held at Kenilworth bookshop for Paddox school. 

Once upon a time I was a child. I know the power of a school library to change lives, open minds, encourage empathy. When I grew up we had so few books. A book was a luxury. I remember taking slim pocket money into W H Smiths to buy a book, being so scared that I would ‘get it wrong’, buy the wrong book. Libraries, with librarians, and teachers, help children to find the right book. And some bookshops, most indie bookshops, will do the same thing. They grow the readers of the future.

Otters, made from ink, can turn money into books. So these are offered for sale, and the money will go to Kenilworth books for the children of Paddox school, and maybe, if the teachers know of a child who really could do with a book at home, to keep, then they could quietly gift that child a book from the library, or from the book fund. Because I hear more and more of children who have no books at home. Children who are scared to go home and children who cry because they will be hungry when they go home. 

Kenilworth Books is a wonderful indie bookshop. I’ve watched Tamsin and Judy help people find the right books. Many in publishing are so comfortable with books and reading they fail to realise that not everyone feels like that, and that fear can be a wall that excludes people from the joy of reading. It’s almost as if we are in a club, but don’t make it easy for others to join. My parents weren’t big readers. They didn’t know about which books I would enjoy and couldn’t guide me. But they did know that the ability to read was important. Beyond the simple mechanics of being able to read there’s the alchemy that can take you anywhere. Reading is the only way to time travel. It’s intimate, as that one voice of the author whispers inside your head. It can open your mind, help you live other lives, see other places. It’s my passion and my joy.

So, I ask you to help me. Each of these otters is £250. To secure an otter email me with the words ‘otters for books’ in the subject matter. I will place them below to help identify which otter. Then I will tell you how to pay. Thank you. The auction still continues until this eve, unless more bids come in. Now, I’m off to play with ink.

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