You may or may not have heard of the Ministry of Stories in Hoxton, London. The front of the shop is a monster supplies store, but hidden away at the back is a creative writing centre for children. Volunteers, including authors and writers, all help the children to develop their writing skills. The store was set up by the brilliant Nick Hornby, who was inspired by Dave Eggers genius '826 Valencia' project.
The Ministry of Stories have an exciting new project which I was honoured to do some illustrations for... but we need your help... In the ministry's own words...
This Hallowe’en, we’re hoping to publish our first book-length project of children’s work, The Awfully Bad Guide to Monster Housekeeping.
150 local primary school children, five very talented poets and five leading children’s book illustrators have worked in teams to create a new up-to-date version of the book, with sections on Fashion and Grooming, the Alphabet, Food and Recipes, Home and Recreation and those all important tips for correct monster Etiquette. Together, these four little books will make up the all-new Awfully Bad Guide to Monster Housekeeping, ready for a new generation of little (and big) monsters to enjoy.
We are now looking to raise £1000 to enable us to actually publish the book. A team of professional designers and editors are giving their time for free and we hope to launch it in time for Hallowe’en. All the children who tapped into their imaginations will receive a copy of their work that they can present to their friends and family and treasure for many years to come. The achievement of seeing their ideas in print will provide a great boost in writing confidence. And by supporting us with a pledge of just £20 upwards, you can get your hands on the complete set of four books. Please support the Ministry of Stories today by pledging at wedidthis.org.uk
This is a fantastic project, and I've seen the finished books, trust me they are WONDERFUL. Please help if you can!