The project is based around a fun concept developed by Holly Wadsworth-Hill, author and founder of Picture-This Books™, who is part of the ootiboo team. In her books children read or listen to the story, before going back to the start of the book and illustrating a page or two at a time. This is a mindful journey into a child’s unique imagination. No two finished Picture-This Books™ are ever the same – just like the children illustrating them! Picture-This Books encourage imagination and creativity, whilst nurturing empathy and kindness.

For our project, we provided a simple digital lesson plan and resource for teachers to deliver in a 1-hour mini workshop. During the project, Holly and Goose delivered 19 workshops to nine ootiboo schools. As ever, all resources and workshops were FREE.

Students did not need to be artistic to take part in the project; this was more about imagination rather than art and we wanted it to be fully inclusive.

Teachers submitted entries from students, which were judged by Holly based on imagination and interpretation. The winners of the competition are listed below. There are two runner-up prizes of a signed book by Holly. The main prize is a special Christmas in September workshop run by Holly for the entire class the stand-out entry came from. Here, students design a decorative Christmas Star.

We are excited to be working with Spark UK, a mental health organisation established by a group of inspiring teenagers. Illustrations from the Christmas in September workshop will become the doors to their star-studded advent calendar, which in the past has included Stephen Fry and Dame Judy Dench. Which famous face might be behind each of the student’s designs?