Students in Carmel College’s Foundation Learning Department, a discreet provision for students with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) have officially had a book published by St Helens Council.

The book, called “Have A Go, Avocado”, centres around various social anxieties children can have and how they can deal with them. The book was launched at St Helens Book Stop in the town centre.

All the students in the class had a hand in creating the book, from the story ideas, which came from personal experience, to the illustrations and beyond.

There were plenty of special guests at the launch, including teachers from the College, the Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Jeanette Banks, parents of the children who had made the book and students from Eaves Primary School.

Tim, who illustrated the book, said: “We came up with the idea of a book, and for it to be about an avocado. I then decided to try my hand at illustrating it.

“Everyone was really impressed by it!

“Maybe I would do this again, but maybe for an older demographic, like teens, or maybe adults. That is something I would be interested in.”

Meanwhile, Bobby, who was also involved in the making of the book, added: “It just started off with Mike (Foundation Class Teacher) saying ‘I want to make a book’, and then we came up with ideas, and then we came up with [the] avocado, and then we just built it up from there.

“Each one of the pages is an idea from the students. The beginning page is Lucy's, the second page is Aaron’s, I did the homework scene, it’s all filled with love and care.”

The day ended with Bobby giving the first official reading of the book with the children from Eaves Primary School.