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The story of a story

19 Aug 2024    

When not in Oxfordshire, I am often in Liverpool. My favourite gallery in the city is the Walker Art Gallery, facing St George’s Hall. These two neoclassical buildings and the cobbles that surround them seem far removed from the rest of the city, although in fact they are just a few minutes’ walk from Lime Street Station.

For me, the Walker has become reassuringly familiar. Perhaps it’s the gentle gurgle of the Victorian plumbing that warms gallerygoers on colder days? Or the crushed-raspberry flocked wall coverings? I particularly like spending time in room 11 – British Art from 1880 to 1950. Hanging next to each other are ‘The Falling Star’ (above) painted in 1909 by James Hamilton Hay and ‘Nightfall, Luxor’ painted in 1910 by David Young Cameron. The titles of these two paintings were part of the inspiration for one of my picture-book texts.

I began to think about things in nature that fall – either from season to season or during the course of a day – and the idea that every fall triggers a different kind of joy. On my daily walks I see blossom, leaves, rain, snow and so much more, each bringing their own transformation to the landscape as they fall.

And so I wrote When a Star Falls.

As a little girl and her father walk through the story, a succession of natural elements, starting with a seed, asks, ‘Will I fall?’ Carolina Rabei’s luminous artwork frames each question beautifully until finally the little girl herself says the words and is answered by the simple reassurance of parental love.

Our book is published by Orchard Books on 29 August 2024.

Although they have both since moved to new ventures, I would like to thank Frances Elks and Elaine Connolly who guided the book editorially and Paula Burgess, Orchard’s Art Director, for her sensitive design.

I hope it’s a story that brings nature close, something that is important for all of us.