Words by Smiley Team
A children’s author and social entrepreneur from Wirral has received a sensational response to her initiative delivering boxes filled with books and learning activities to promote creativity and literacy.
Natalie Reeves Billing is an award-winning children’s author. She created Builder Book alongside social enterprise, Split Perspctivz, comic artists Jonathon Tottey and Chris Williamson, and fellow children’s author Jude Lennon.
"I’m a big believer in the power of storytelling, and I wanted to reignite the love of learning and reading in a simple, fun way for all the family," Natalie tells Smiley News.
“These boxes are created by local people, and contain the books of local authors and artists, so local children can see that anything is possible, and they can be who they want to be. We created a box that looks like a worker’s toolbox, to make children excited - especially little boys, who are notoriously hard to get into reading.”
“Inside, children can read books and comics, and then, using papercraft, build the book too. They can turn their box into a little theatre of imagination, where they can act out their stories alone, with friends or with family.”
(Read about Dolly Parton’s library which is gifting free books to children)
Natalie explains that there are different themes of boxes – such as sport, history or mental health – and children can also learn how to write and illustrate their own stories too, with each box containing activity books, stationery and links to online resources.
“I want to ensure all children have access to educational and creative resources," she says. "Books and educational tools should never be a luxury some parents can't afford, there should be access for all children.”
Builder Book will deliver 20,000 literacy and creativity boxes over Christmas to children on free school meals across Merseyside, as well as to community centres and family hubs.
So far, the team have been delivering boxes across Merseyside in a VW van called Buttercup, and they look incredibly striking with their printed Builder book skirts and petticoats.
They’ve been brilliantly received, and especially so by parents of autistic children, who really benefited from the interactive storytelling, and have developed a better understanding of the building blocks of storytelling and teamwork.
(Read more about these seven inspiring children’s books promoting equality)
In the new year, the team will be releasing their Builder Boat of Hope box, which follows their child mental health campaign, The Boat of Hope, which will see social entrepreneur Bernie Hollywood OBE row solo 3,000 miles across the Atlantic on a rowboat filled with artwork of children from across the UK.
Natalie wrote the children’s book for the campaign, and a portion of proceeds from this creative box will go towards the Samaritans and Love Rowing Charities. You can find out more about the Boat of Hope on its website.
Builder Book is always looking for volunteers in Merseyside to help assemble boxes, and are keen to work with corporate partners to create a package to help them achieve their corporate CSR targets in their key areas. See how you can get involved on the Builder Book website.
