Woking-based children’s author Kerry Gibb is teaming up with young carers’ charities and businesses to get her book, The Elephant Squad, to young carers for free.

The Elephant Squad is a spin-off from Kerry’s popular It’s A Kid’s Life series and the four main characters are all young carers.

Kerry has been visiting schools for more than 10 years to speak to the children about being an author. Struck by the vast number of young carers she has met, she wanted to write a book where young carers could see themselves represented.

As well as being a writer, Kerry also does PR for a charity and seeing the relationships between the fundraising team and local businesses inspired her to use this model to benefit young carers charities.

“The concept is that I source the books at cost price, and the charity asks a business sponsor to cover the cost of the books and delivery,” Kerry says.

“I don’t make any profit as I will always get the books at the lowest price I possibly can and pass this saving on. It really is a small ask of a business in which they can give a little something back to their local community.”

When Kerry first put this idea out a few months ago, 28 charities contacted her saying they’d like to be involved. MYTIME Young Carers is the first charity to secure the funds and has put an order in for over 600 copies of The Elephant Squad for young carers in Dorset and the Isle of Wight.

“Engaging young carers in storytelling from a young age is so important,” says Anna, head of making memories at MYTIME.

“The more we can do to encourage reading at home, the better their outcomes will be. I think it’s particularly important to provide opportunities for young carers to see themselves in books. We know that this helps them feel seen and understood.”

“It’s great that so many charities want to get involved,” adds Kerry. “I’d love to help them secure the funding from their local businesses by spreading the word far and wide.

“I will be signing all the books to the children so know that I have a lot of work to do but it will be worth it knowing that the children who may not otherwise get the book will be able to read it and see themselves represented in such a positive way.”

There are approximately one million young carers in the UK. Among 8-11 year olds, almost half of them spend 3-4 hours a day caring.

Kerry is the author of six middle-grade children’s books for ages 6 – 12. She is also the author of women’s fiction book, Kayla’s Girls.

She has been a finalist in the IAN Book of the Year Awards for It’s a Kid’s Life – Double Digits and also for Kayla’s Girls. She is passionate about inspiring children with reading and writing, and regularly visits schools to talk to them about being an author.

For more information, contact [email protected]