Rainbow Sparkles, Children’s Books, and the Joy of Creating Together
Rainbow Sparkles Saves The Day — Emelia’s first book, created from her own story idea.
Every so often, a creative project comes along that means more than the finished object itself. For me, Rainbow Sparkles Saves The Day is one of those projects.
This is not simply my latest children’s book. In truth, it is Emelia’s first book.
My granddaughter Emelia came up with the entire story. The idea, the characters, the direction of the plot, and the heart of the message all came from her. My role was really to help shape it, edit it, and turn her idea into a finished picture book that could be shared with others.
My granddaughter Emelia came up with the entire story. The idea, the characters, the direction of the plot, and the heart of the message all came from her…
At the centre of the story is Rainbow Sparkles, a friendly shark who proves that not all sharks are scary. That idea was Emelia’s from the beginning, and it says something lovely about how children see the world. Beneath the colour and fun, the book carries a gentle message about kindness, courage, friendship, and not judging others by appearances.
The illustrations were created by me, but they were very much devised and directed by Emelia. She had strong views about how Rainbow Sparkles should look, what should happen on the pages, and how the story world should feel. In many ways, I was simply the person holding the digital paintbrush while she acted as author, art director, and creative lead.
That feels especially fitting because Emelia and I have been making art together for years. She has been working alongside me in my — or perhaps I should say our — art studio since she was just three years old. Over that time, we have painted, drawn, experimented, made a mess, laughed, and created all sorts of things together. This book feels like a natural next step in that shared creative journey.
Rainbow Sparkles may have been drawn by me, but the look and feel of the character were directed by Emelia, including the rainbow fins!
Although my art website is mostly home to my abstract paintings, Rainbow Sparkles Saves The Day belongs here too. Whether I am working on a large abstract canvas or helping bring Emelia’s story to life, the same creative instincts are involved: colour, imagination, feeling, storytelling, and the joy of making something that did not exist before.
For me, this project is a reminder that art does not always begin with a grand plan. Sometimes it starts with a child’s idea, a conversation in the studio, and the willingness to follow where imagination leads.
I have created a small dedicated website for the book, where you can read more about the story, see the cover, learn about how it came about, and find the link to buy it.
You can visit the new website here:
https://rainbowsparkles.netlify.app/
Rainbow Sparkles Saves The Day is Emelia’s first book, and I am incredibly proud to have helped her bring it into the world. It is colourful, heartfelt, and full of her imagination — and for that reason, it may be one of the most meaningful creative projects I have ever been part of.