Billy Books Collection

For 7 to 9-year-old boys and girls

Billy and his friends are children entering young adulthood, trying to make sense of the world around them. Like all children, they face a complex, diverse, fast-changing, and exciting world full of opportunities, contradictions, and dangers, which they must navigate on their way to becoming responsible adults. The foundation of their journey is rooted in the values they gain through their experiences. In early childhood, children learn their values by observing their parents' behaviour. From around eight years old onwards, children are driven by exploration and the desire for independence; they become more outward-looking. At this age, they begin to think for themselves and can attach their own meaning to feelings and to the events and experiences they encounter. They are developing their own identity. The Billy Growing Up series supports an initiative championing Values-based Education (VbE), founded by Dr Neil Hawkes. The VbE aims to influence a child’s capacity to succeed in life by encouraging them to adopt positive values that will serve them during their early years and sustain them throughout adulthood. Building on this aim, each Billy book harnesses the power of traditional storytelling to contrast negative behaviours with positive outcomes, illustrating, guiding, and shaping a child’s understanding of the importance of values. This series of books assists parents, guardians, and teachers in addressing the challenges children face as they come of age. Addressed gently through storytelling, children begin to understand the challenges they face and the significance of introducing positive values into their daily lives. Setting these issues in a meaningful context helps children see things from a different perspective. These books act as icebreakers, facilitating easier communication between parents or other significant adults and children when discussing difficult subjects. Volume 2 includes Billy Helps Max, Billy Saves the Day, Billy Wants it All, and Billy Knows a Secret.

I am a dad of two grown children and a stepfather to three more. I started writing five years ago with books designed to appeal to the inner child in adults - very English humour. My daughter, Louise, reminded me of the bedtime stories I told her and suggested I write them down for others to enjoy. I haven't yet, but instead, I've written eight titles in the Billy Books series for 8 to 11-year-olds boy and girls. These are traditional stories addressing negative behaviours, but with positive outcomes. Although the main characters Billy, Ant and Max are made up, Billy's dog, Jacko, is based on our much-loved family pet, who, with our second dog Malibu, caused havoc and mayhem to the delight of my children and consternation of me. Prior to writing, I was a college lecturer and later worked in the computer industry, at a time before smartphones and tablets, when computers were powered by steam and stood as high as a bus. I believe in, and strongly support the values based education program founded by Dr Neil Hawkes being introduced to the UK and worldwide schools.