A Cottam author’s first book has sold out within weeks, with all proceeds going to charity.

Rachel Walmsley’s book, Christmas Cabaret, is aimed at pre-school and KS1 children, and is written in rhyming couplets.

Rachel, who has always had a love for the written word, said: “In my first job as a Solicitor I loved drafting legal documents, then when I retrained as a primary school teacher literacy was my favourite thing to teach. This also started my love for children’s books which grew as my children were born.

“The idea behind Christmas Cabaret was a fun celebration of Christmas vegetables as a means of promoting healthy choices in a subtle way – which is perhaps the best way when it comes to children and veg.

“The book is in collaboration with my sister Helen McKnockiter who is an artist specialising in oil paintings of the natural world. This is the first time she has turned her hand at illustrating and she has done an amazing job.”

Helen is donating money from the book’s sales to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity’s Children’s Appeal, which aims to raise £1 million to create a bright, friendly and appealing environment where children and their families can receive the best possible care and experience.

“We chose to give all proceeds to The Children’s Appeal as it felt like a nice positive start to our venture and because it is a nice thing to do at Christmas.”

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While this is Rachel and Helen’s first book, they already have plans for more.

Rachel said: “We have many more in the pipeline including Dotty the Dogwalker, Listening Ears and Don the Digger who doesn’t like the dirt.

“I am also in the process of writing books aimed at older children aged seven to 11 years old, which I hope to work on more soon.”

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