A SOMERSET author has written a children’s book inspired by the rainbows for the NHS.
Michelle Robinson’s The World Made a Rainbow is about connection during the coronavirus crisis.
She wrote the book so that she could reassure and comfort not only her own children – but the children she visited in schools before lockdown.
“I wrote the book to reassure my children, and the many thousands of children I’m used to seeing in schools when I visit to get them inspired about reading and writing,” said Ms Robinson.
“I’m sure I also wrote it to comfort myself at a point when I found the entire situation very overwhelming and frightening.
“We’ve all had to try and adjust to a strange new way of life very quickly. It’s been bewildering, upsetting and frightening for adults — so just imagine how it’s felt to young children.
“The World Made a Rainbow reminds us all that, regardless of what’s going on in the world, what truly matters is feeling safe and loved.
“Focusing on that is always important, but it’s especially necessary when our anxiety is constantly being stoked. I hope reading it helps families and classrooms talk openly about their own experiences and feelings.
“My biggest hope is that the book becomes a piece of social history sooner rather than later.”
Once the book is published next week, the Frome-based author has decided to donate a proportion of each sale to Save the Children.
“Children, no matter what their background, are amazing and they all deserve only good things,” she said.
“I feel very worried about what kind of world we’ve created for them. It feels right to be doing something positive to help children who aren’t as fortunate as my own.”
Ms Robinson is very grateful to the team at Bloomsbury publishing for helping her to create the book.
“It’s incredible to have a picture book turned around so quickly,” she added.
“Emily Hamilton, the illustrator, and the team at Bloomsbury have done phenomenally well to make it possible.
“The sooner it’s on the shelves, the sooner it can begin bringing comfort to children during story time.
“It feels good to be doing something positive as an author after spending the last six months feeling largely redundant.”
The World Made a Rainbow will be published on September 17.
To buy a copy visit bloomsbury.com/uk/the-world-made-a-rainbow-9781526629807/
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