IT’S an illuminating sign of the times that nearly 30 per cent of children starting primary school in the UK these days don’t know how to correctly handle a physical book.
They try to tap or swipe the pages as if they are screens.
According to an annual survey by the early years’ charity Kindred Squared, teachers are witnessing an escalating ‘school readiness’ crisis.
Because many toddlers are exposed primarily to smartphones and tablets rather than print media, they expect static pages to respond with animations or lights.
When the book doesn’t respond to a swipe, some children grow frustrated or try to pull the book apart.
Now the good news. There’s someone in Worcester who is aiming to right the wrongs.
In a way Mike Pitman is an authority on human behaviour but at the other end of the body to the brain.
He’s a chiropodist, dealing with problems people have with their feet. So it’s a quantum leap from that area of expertise to writing a children’s book.
“Stories featured heavily in my upbringing,” Mike explained.
“I remember when I was little, mum reading to me. An innocent and wonderful time in the mid-60s. This became my inspiration to write on occasions all my life.
“Until now I have never had anything published but during my career as a chiropodist found myself penning sympathy cards to the families of patients who had passed away. A rhyming tribute to their life, their career and personality.
“Moving to Worcester in 2022 after my parents passed, I found my future home alongside the Birmingham-Worcester canal, not far from Lansdowne Park.
“This became my motivation to write a children`s picture book. I‘ve called it One Swan, Two Swans, Three Swans More: tales from the canal.
“I decided to write a book that was a nice and calming read for adults and children alike. Drawing on the inspiration from the animals and birds on the canal.
“It has been an amazing experience, also because I found a wonderful illustrator in Alison Lingley. We worked very well together.
“It is not until you sit and take stock of your life and the past influences that you can begin to explain your present life and your actions, strengths and weaknesses. Really what makes you tick.”
Mike’s father served as a marine at Eastney Barracks in Portsmouth during the Second World War while his mother was an electrician on board the headquarter ships based in Portsmouth Dockyard prior to the D Day landings.
He added: “Many years later, mum would always recount these stories to me of WW2 and subsequently had her recollections featured in a book of Historical Portsmouth published by Portsmouth University titled The Role of Women in the Dockyard.
“I was used to hearing stories as a child and believe it is so important for kids to appreciate the written word. Apparently, more than a quarter of all five year olds don`t know what to do with a book. They tap it or swipe it, thinking it is tech.
“Another motivation was to produce a book that was a calming and gentle read. I suppose getting back to my childhood and typical of the books that were read to me.
“Now I live literally six feet from the canal and all the wildlife, the swans, ducks, herons and kingfishers, feeding them daily.
“When I started to write I thought let’s have all the swans names begin with an S because they hiss, especially when protecting their young. The ducks are a mad bunch and then there’s Henry the Heron, very statuesque, very calm, unshakeable.
“I found writing incredibly engaging and a real pleasure. Sometimes when shaving I found myself thinking of lines for the book. Stopping straight away and writing them down.”
But writing was just the first part. Mike needed to find an illustrator to bring his words to life.
He explained: “By chance, I came across a book fair in Malvern. There was an author selling her children’s book and seeing her illustrations. I immediately knew this was the illustrator I wanted.
“Finding Alison Lingley on the internet was quite easy . I sent her my manuscript and she agreed to do the illustrations. Seeing the illustrations for my book for the first time was incredible. She is so talented.
“I am thrilled to have had my children’s book accepted on Waterstones website and for sale through Tudor House Museum in Friar Street, Worcester, and Wyre Forest Books in Bewdley. It has been a long time in the planning but has been an incredible experience.”
An amazing feat by a chiropodist you might say.
One Swan, Two Swans, Three Swans More: tales from the canal by Mike Pitman costs £9.99.
