The Sprouting Years

Every child has a storytelling superpower. This book helps them to find it.

Created in partnership with schools, teachers, and nearly 100 pupils, The Sprouting Years: Finding Your Storytelling Superpower is a heart-led storybook designed to help children aged 9 to 12 understand and navigate one of the most important times of change and growth in their lives.

We follow the journey of Jamie, navigating his first year at secondary school. From saying goodbye to old friends to navigating new ones, from dealing with a loss to finding his voice in front of a class, The Sprouting Years follows one boy’s journey through the moments that shape us all.

Through unforgettable stories, Jamie discovers 9 emotional and social powers; Kindness, Help, Communication, Emotion, Confidence, Energy, Perspective, Curiosity, and Courage, each one helping him grow. But it’s only when they come together that he unlocks his ultimate superpower: Storytelling.

Written with heart, humour, and complete relatability this book offers:

• Real-life school moments that feel familiar, inclusive, and safe
• Gentle support for emotional literacy, empathy, and growing up
• Opportunities for self-reflection and personal growth
• A final empowering message: Your voice matters. Your story matters.

Perfect for reading at home, in class, or as part of transition and wellbeing support, The Sprouting Years: Finding Your Storytelling Superpower, is more than a story. It’s a reminder that who you are becoming is just as important as where you’re going.

Perfect for:

• Children aged 9 to 12
• Supporting and developing wellbeing, confidence, and communication
• Secondary school preparation and transition
• Class reads and PSHE discussions
• Parents, teachers, and schools seeking deeper emotional connections with children

Because when children find the superpower of storytelling, it can change their lives forever.

Looking for a deeper level of engagement with the book?... Then check out The Sprouting Years: Your Storytelling Classroom Companion. Whether it be in the classroom or at home, this companion unlocks more activities and resources designed to further enhance the growth and learnings from the book.

Stories · Change · Lives

www.jamie-mackenzie.com

Why not check out Jamie's other books (for the adults!): 28 Bags of Sprouts - Storytelling with Impact, AND Sprouting Happiness: The 5 Branches to a Happy and Balanced Life, also available on amazon.

With over two decades of leadership experience in multinational corporations and a lifetime of personal transformation, Jamie has discovered the profound impact of storytelling on communication, connection, and change. His journey from corporate boardrooms to becoming a bestselling adult and children's author, speaker, coach, social entrepreneur, is rooted in one powerful truth: Stories Change Lives.Jamie's mission is to inspire people of all ages to harness the power of storytelling to create meaningful connections, drive positive change, and prioritise long-lasting happiness. Through his work, Jamie equips individuals, teams, and organisations with tools that transform how they communicate and inspire action.Whether you're engaging with Jamie as a reader, participant, or partner, you'll discover how stories can shape perspectives, strengthen relationships, empower growth, and make life changing impacts.