School visits
Mrs S - C*** Primary School
“You were amazing today
and the story is absolutely fantastic. Really perfect for KS1 and could so easily be used as a prompt for writing in English and across the curriculum! Ambitious vocabulary for the children... There was so much!”
SEE BELOW FOR FULL REVIEW!!
When I visit a school, I’m aiming to bring my story to life. We dive into an interactive experience where the kids shout, cheer, and become part of the story. As we craft and learn together, their faces light up—they gasp, they laugh and they ask so many thoughtful questions.
My first story, ‘The Stoat and his Yellow Raincoat’, is all about individuality and peer pressure. I love to share moments though-out the story where we can reflect on the actions and feelings of the characters- with the help of my little Snail reminder Sally. Sally pops up intermittently and reminds us when we need to slow down. The story is designed to facilitate conversations around how we choose to show up in the world, and why respecting everyones personal choices is important.
We explore big themes like individuality, kindness, and self-expression, even using some of the more challenging words to spark curiosity. My story ties beautifully into the Key Stage 1 PSHE curriculum, creating a space where every child feels heard.
If you’d like me to bring this energy and connection to your school, you can reach out via the website or on social media—I’d be so excited to share this journey with your students.
Review: The Stoat and His Yellow Raincoat
The Stoat and his Yellow Raincoat’ by Heather McKenna is an absolutely beautiful book and an outstanding resource for primary schools. From the very first page, the story completely captivates children with its charming woodland characters, engaging rhyme and heartfelt message about individuality, acceptance and celebrating diversity.
This text is perfect for KS1 children. The use of rhyme throughout makes it incredibly enjoyable to read aloud, with children naturally wanting to join in and predict repeated patterns and phrases. The rhythm and flow keep pupils fully engaged, while the ambitious vocabulary provides a wonderful opportunity to expose young children to rich language in a meaningful and accessible way.
What makes this book especially powerful is its huge potential across the curriculum. It works brilliantly as a stimulus for cross-curricular writing, inspiring descriptive writing, character exploration, poetry, diary entries and discussion-based work. The woodland setting and memorable characters spark children’s imaginations instantly.
The PSHE links are exceptional. The story opens up thoughtful and age-appropriate conversations around identity, belonging, kindness, empathy and celebrating differences. Its message about embracing what makes us unique is delivered with such warmth and sensitivity that children connect with it immediately.
We were lucky enough to have Heather visit our school and deliver the story as part of a PSHE lesson, and the impact on the children was incredible. Pupils were completely hooked from the start .They adored the characters, were deeply invested in the story and engaged thoughtfully in every reflective moment prompted throughout. The discussions it generated were genuine, mature and meaningful.
This is exactly the kind of text that could easily become a focus book within schools or form the centre of a themed topic. It is memorable, inclusive and beautifully written, with a message that stays with children long after the story ends.
A truly wonderful book that deserves a place in every KS1 classroom.