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Bath primary school teacher, Emma Perry, has has her first book, I Don’t Like Books. Never. Ever. The End, published by David Fickling Books. Emma, who teaches at Combe Down Primary School, is set to host a book launch of the new title at Waterstones, Bath on Saturday, 15 February, 3-4pm.

Emma Perry and illustrator Sharon Davey

The book tells the story of a girl called Mabel, a girl who didn’t like books. She used them for all sorts of things, from juggling to sledging, but she never looked at the stories inside. Until the books decided they had had enough! Tossed one night into the books’ pages, hopping between adventures, Mabel finally discovers what she’s been missing . . .

“I Don’t Like Books. Never. Ever. The End. was one of the very scripts I started writing,” explained Emma. “Everything I’d read, about how to write, was telling me to write ‘what you know.’ Well, I kinda know books – I teach them, review them and give them away on International Book Giving Day. I’m a bit obsessed with them to be honest! So books it was.

“However, there was a problem. Those books that I was bringing to life in my story just wouldn’t behave. Seriously. I was forced to tuck the script into a dusty drawer for quite some time. When I had the courage to delve back in the story emerged, Mabel emerged and so did all the characters she met on her adventures. Phew!

“I whisked it off to my agent and fortunately she liked it, and so did David Fickling Books who offered to publish it. Hooray! Then the team at DFB set about turning it in to a proper book. They discovered the amazing illustrator Sharon Davey who has created the most amazing illustrations – full of movement, warmth, humour and lots and lots of books! The colour palette that she used, and that cheeky blue monkey she created… I love it all and feel super lucky.”

So what do the children at Combe Down think about their teacher being an author?

“That’s a good question… so I asked Freddie and Adelina in Year 1 what they thought,” answered Emma. “Freddie said, ‘Absolutely, extremely excellent! then Adelina added, ‘Great, great, great, great all the way to the stars.’ Four greats… love that!!”

So if you have a chance, pop along to Waterstones in Bath on 15 February to meet Emma and illustrator Sharon. You might just find that this is the perfect book for you.