Leeds lecturer’s first children’s book is out of this world

Dr Leigh Hoath has published Enquiring Explorers: Reach for the Stars, which follows the journey of two best friends, Charlotte and Zach.

The duo, who are inspired by Dr Hoath and her co-author Emma Vanstone’s own children, share a love of all things space and take the trip of a lifetime into space, encountering a series of fun challenges to solve.

Aimed at primary children aged five to nine, each chapter has a different problem to solve before moving on to the next. The illustrated book covers topics including healthy diet, plants, habitats, seasons, health, forces, materials, recycling and sustainability.

Enquiring Explorers: Reach for the Stars is accompanied by downloadable activity resources for each chapter, meaning the book can be read as a story and also to support learning in class and at home with a parent or guardian.

Dr Hoath, senior lecturer in Science Education said: “Writing this book was not only fulfilling an ambition – it was so much fun! Seeing the characters come to life through the beautiful illustrations was magical. Enabling children to learn and apply scientific thinking, reasoning and knowledge in this way brings together so much. It’s a lovely book to look at for sure but also a very useful one for supporting learning.”

Enquiring Explorers: Reach for the Stars is the first in a series of children’s activity books, with the authors currently writing two more stories for release in early 2021. The book is available to pre-order at www.millgatehouse.co.uk for £10.