Knowle West teacher publishes children’s book during lockdown
Story now used in lessons at Oasis Academy Connaught
Pictures courtesy of Stevie-Jane Wade.
A Knowle West teacher has achieved her dream of writing her first book before she was 40 – which was published during lockdown.
And now she’s busy working on her second which she hopes to release by Christmas.
Stevie-Jane Wade who works at Oasis Academy Connaught in a pastoral role has just released The Magical Feelings of Moodville: First Day at School.
It’s a fantasy story about feelings and emotions aimed at exploring the anxieties caused in everyday life – and written for young people aged four to eight years old.
Stevie-Jane, who lives in Bedminster Down, has worked for several years at the primary school, covering a range of social and emotional needs.
She originally never intended to publish her book – but wrote it for her four-year-old daughter.
She says: “This was a personal goal for me. I wanted to write a book before I was forty!”
“It was my editor that encouraged me to publish it, and in the end I decided to go down the self-publishing route.”
“The Magical Feelings of Moodville: First Day at School, was released eight days after my fortieth birthday.”
The book has also been a hit with pupils at the primary school and is now being used as a resource.
Stevie-Jane says: “Connaught children have been amazing! Reception class used it as their topic just before we finished for summer holidays which was lovely especially in these very strange times!
” I will going back in September In a social/emotional role so I will be getting it out then.
“I’m going to add some emotional/social resources that go with the book to my webpage soon as well.”
The story features seven-year-old twins, Rae and George, who face the challenging journey of starting a new school.
Experiencing a range of emotions from fear and sadness to excitement -they wonder if they will ever get themselves through the school gate.
As they arrive, they are quickly swept away to a magical world called Moodville. Here they meet Wren Worry, Seth Sad, Ella Excitement, Nev Nervous, Flora Frightened and Andre Angry, a group of mysterious characters called the Feelings.
The reviews of her new story have been so positive – Stevie-Jane has teamed up with the Twins Trust for their Back to School campaign – is now busy planning her new book.
She says: “I honestly didn’t expect this much interest in my story. I’m overwhelmed!
“I’m very excited about the future, me and my lovely illustrator Claire Bicknell are already discussing the illustrations for the next story.
“Book number two has been edited and ready for illustrations – it’s a Christmas in Moodville book.
“Unfortunately it’s not cheap having it illustrated. So It all depends on sales for this book on whether the next book is released…”
The Magical Feelings of Moodville-First Day at School can be purchased from Amazon. To keep up to date with Stevie-Jane Wade’s future publications visit her Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
