A LOCAL author and illustrator have collaborated to create a new series of children’s books aimed at supporting young children’s emotional wellbeing.

Lysha Goode, from Radstock, and Amy Chandler began working on ‘The Adventures of Coco Marshmallow’ after Amy’s children attended Green Shoots Preschool in Bath, where Lysha is employed.

During conversations about early years education, Lysha shared that she had written a children’s book and was seeking an illustrator. Amy subsequently became involved, bringing the central character, Coco, to life through illustration.

Over the past year, the pair have worked together to prepare the stories for publication. The books are self-published and focus on helping young children understand and manage their emotions.

Themes include emotional identification, regulation, empathy and resilience, with each story incorporating a simple wellbeing practice designed to engage both the child and the reader.

Lysha has more than 30 years’ experience working in early years education and has a longstanding interest in storytelling, poetry and supporting children’s emotional development.

Since publication, more than 150 copies have been sold. The books are available via Etsy, with the authors also exploring opportunities for interactive events linked to the series.

Further details can be found at etsy.com/uk/shop/CocoMarshmallowBooks