EMILY: INSPIRED TO HELP REFUGEES

Reader Emily, aged ten, explains how a Cathy Cassidy book inspired her to raise money for a refugee charity...

Emily says:

The Cathy Cassidy book SAMI'S SILVER LINING opened my eyes to the extreme danger that unaccompanied child refugees experience in order to find a safe home. The book was so tense and exciting I could not put it down! I couldn't wait to tell my mum about Sami's story and both of us started to cry at what he had been through. My mum was so hooked on the story she read to the end to see what happened to Sami and his friends.

Over half term, Mum and I came up with the idea of decorating cards with Hama beads and selling them for £1, with all the money going to SAFE PASSAGE, which is a charity helping child refugees. We came up with several designs, including animals like flamingoes and unicorns and other things like flowers, sunglasses and melons! My brother Tom helped with the cards, and we came up with slogans like 'Mum, you're one in a melon' for Mother's Day and also simple things like 'Stay cool on your birthday,' and 'Thank you!' 

We have now made almost 200 cards and raised £215 so far - some people have been very generous and given more than £1! My teacher and our classroom assistant bought cards and donated money, which was great. Our school has the ethos 'Together' and we are encouraged to think of others, so I guess this fitted perfectly with that. One of my mum's friends kindly bought us some more Hama beads on Ebay so now we have a big supply to make even more. 

I've also been growing my hair with the plan to donate it to the Princess Trust. who make wigs for children and young people experiencing hair loss due to cancer treatment, and last week it was finally long enough for the chop, so I thought I'd send a picture of that too! I hope Cathy's book will inspire more kids to start raising money for SAFE PASSAGE and also to realise how lucky they are to have the safety of a home and family.

Cathy says:

Wow... Emily's story is so lovely it made me feel really emotional - and very proud of her kindness and determination to help others. Have YOU ever been inspired to help others? I'd love to hear your stories!

WISHES FOR A POST-LOCKDOWN WORLD...

We asked which things you'd like to leave behind in a post-lockdown world and which you'd like to hang onto... your answers were inspiring!

Ellie Anne says: I'd like to keep on writing my journal, and hold on to the peace and quiet a lockdown bringsI'm looking forward to going to live music events again and dancing, and I'd like to let go of the fear of boarding a plane or ship and worry about crossing the border...

Hayley says: I'd like to keep the slow weekend pace of life... but bring back hugging those we love!

Deanna says: Drawing and writing have been my most important ways to stay creative during the pandemic, and those things will still be important to me once all of this is over!

Helen says: I'd be happy to keep hold of social distancing in shops and public places - I hate feeling crowded. By contrast, I look forward to being able to hug friends and family again!

Sara says: I've discovered some unexpected new interests... gardening and running are two things I never thought I'd bother with! I feel more connected with myself and the world around me, and I would like to hang onto that feeling even after the pandemic.

Michelle says: I'd like to keep hold of the two metre distancing rules from strangers in public!

Simran says: Can we please keep quieter roads, less traffic and less pollution? And also kindness to others and keeping to the rules in order to help keep others safe. We can learn a lot from lockdown about community and caring for others.

Sam says: I've fallen in love with a rescue kitten and have been inspired to write and illustrate a book about her - I plan to hang on to this new creativity! I really miss my daughter, her partner and my granddaughter... bring back hugs!

Marilyne says: I am writing a long list of all the things I want to do with my family once this is all over. Life will go on, and I don't want to waste a minute of it! 

Laila says: Let's remember once this is over that it is PEOPLE and not things that matter, and that nature can help us when times are tough, and that the most important workers in our country are not politicians or celebs or royalty, but NHS and shop assistants and delivery drivers and teachers. We help each other when things get tough... let's keep on helping each other.

Artwork by reader Christabel.

Cathy says: Wow... some fascinating thoughts here... and we're pretty unanimous when it comes to the power of hugs! What have YOU learned from lockdown to carry forward for a better future? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT OCTOBER...

With more restrictions being imposed all around the UK, we're all in need of a cheer-up. We asked CC readers what they love most about October... here's what they said!

Amelie says: October means Halloween and you definitely need a pumpkin for that - we went to a farm nearby to choose ours. I looked around to see pumpkins of different shapes and sizes, round, knobbly fruits of orange, red, green and white. I never knew there were so many different types! I pushed my rose pink wheelbarrow into the never ending maze, not knowing which way to go first. A tingle of excitement ran down my spine. Crisp, fresh air made my cheeks blush as I weaved in and out of the pumpkin maze, trying to find exquisite autumnal treasures!

Amanda says: I love rainy October days when I don't have to go out or do anything. I can just curl up with a cat on my lap, a book to read and a cuppa within reach. Reading while the rain clatters down - I still get to travel, but I don't get wet. Perfect!

Rosie says: Big coats, boots and cosy knitted jumpers!

Hayley says: The colours, the smell of solid fuel fires, scouring for conkers, cosy afternoons under fluffy blankets... and get excited about Christmas!

Lisa Marie says:  Crisp autumnal leaves and the smell of the night air!

Rowan says: My daughter loves the smell of bonfires, the colours of the leaves, the colours of the sunrises and sunsets, and cosying up with candles lit, hot chocolate and a good film... snd I love making natural art from the beautiful autumn leaves!

Trish says: Bright red leaves on the maple trees and the first pumpkin spice latte of the year!

Olivia says: My favourite thing is the sound of the leaves crunching under my feet as I walk!

Katie says: Halloween... and the uni year ending! (I'm in New Zealand...)

Jade says: Autumn leaves, sunsets and the smell of woodsmoke... it reminds me that we're getting near to Christmas!

Michelle says: Halloween! Dressing up, eating sweets and watching scary movies!

Ellie Anne says: The chestnut seller, pumpkin soup, Halloween. Plus, where I live, it's cool in the evenings but still warm enough to paddle in the sea!

Photo of Amelie in the pumpkin field by mum Nicola; Leaf art images from Rowan McManus.

Cathy says:

This is just what we need to cheer us up... thanks, everyone! What is YOUR fave thing about October? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

ROSE: MY VERY OWN STORYBOOK HERO...

Imagine a shy American teen who longed for her own happy ending... meet Rose!

Rose says:

Ten years ago I was browsing the young adult section in my local library in Oregon, USA. Guess what I found? A book called Scarlett. From the red cover down to the description I could feel the excitement fire in me. This was my book! I was 13 then, a troubled and lonely girl. Reading was my only escape - I was trying to find where I belonged in this world. Being thirteen can be awkward, wouldn’t you agree?

I decked out daily in black platform shoes, mini skirts with patterned leggings and glossy pink lipstick. Men thought I was older and peers thought I was weird. I wanted to read something I could relate to, not the picture perfect Nancy Drew or the annoying princess stories that the librarian would recommend.

I felt understood when I read about rebellious Scarlett. I also felt a release living vicariously through her relationships. I was grateful my life wasn’t as torn up as hers, and hopeful I’d meet my gypsy boy one day. I convinced my older brother to order me many Cathy Cassidy books on amazon. Each one I read over and over again. 

Here’s where my story gets interesting - buckle up! Four years ago, I was looking at photography on Instagram. I felt inspired by one particular account so I chose to DM  and let them know how the photography resonated with me.  Turns out it was this really cute guy. As we talked, our friendship grew and eventually I hopped on a plane to meet him... in England! I'd wanted to visit England after reading Dizzy ten years earlier! Four years of  travel back and forth followed as friendship turned into something more. My ‘gypsy’ boy is Irish and Indian - he even fits the description of Kian. 

We married last year, the happiest day of my life, and I live in the UK now. I wanted to thank Cathy Cassidy for writing her beautiful stories. They are better than fiction... they are real life and I am evidence of it! 

Cathy says:

This is the loveliest thing I've read in a long time... like a Cathy Cassidy story come true! I wish Rose and her partner all the very best for the future. Awww! Has a book ever changed YOUR life? COMMENT BELOW to tell us more!

SCARLETT & MIRIAM: THE LITTLE LOCAL BOOK HUB!

Readers Scarlett and Miriam are part of a cool lockdown project to help get books to those who need them... find out how their project has snowballed!

Scarlett, age 10, says:
Miriam and I are in the same class at school and we are both avid readers - I especially love Cathy Cassidy books and am in the middle of LOOKING GLASS GIRL! My mum also loves to read, and we have lots of books at home. The libraries were shut due to Covid-19 so my mum decided to put a box of books outside our house for people to choose and take. We asked people to donate any books they didn't want, and we got tons of donations. Miriam's mum did a box too and to begin with it was just a fun thing to do for the community. It gave us something to do. But then it got way bigger and we decided to call it The Little Local Book Hub and my mum made a logo, as her job is a graphic designer. Mum set up a Facebook page www.facebook.com/littlebookhub and the  idea just grew and grew and people in other areas joined in. We have over 24 hubs now! 

Miriam says:

The Little Local Book Hub expanded on it's own really, as people started hubs on their driveways. We gave them logos and now it's almost like a chain. Everyone is on social media so a lot of people could see our idea and like it and because of this we started a twitter, instagram and YouTube too. We set up a YouTube channel that has videos of different people reading picture books for their little kids to see! The YouTube basically started because we wanted to advertise the Little Local Book Hub, and for little kids to watch as they didn't have school. All the books we read have been donated from people.

Scarlett says:

When lockdown is over we might do something like a weekend  special of free books to keep as we now have so many books, and we will also give some to charities. We have  enjoyed meeting new people from around our areas as they have visited the hubs. We have had so many great conversations with people we might have never come across if we hadn't started these hubs. The worst bit is probably when we have just organised the books and then people come and take a book and then realise they don't want that book anymore and put it back anywhere!

Miriam says:

Being involved with the Little Local Book Hub is a great way to meet new people and although it can be hard sometimes, we still have a lot of fun.  It helps gets books to people in the community who want to read and it gives us something to do while we are not at school!

www.facebook.com/littlebookhub

www.instagram.com/littlebookhub

info@littlelocalbookhub.uk

Cathy says:

I absolutely love Scarlett and Miriam's project... I've also had a box of giveaway books at my gate too on sunny lockdown days! I'll be doing a comp with The Little Local Book Hub soon, with a signed book as the prize. Have YOU found a project that's kept you busy during lockdown? COMMENT BELOW to tell us more!

ANUSHA - A NEW INSIGHT

Anusha, age eleven, lives in India... and writes about the hidden blessing lockdown can bring...

Anusha says:
Businesses have shut down, people are stuck in other countries, schools have closed, people’s salaries are being cut and people are losing their jobs. Who would have thought this could have ever happened? Did you ever even think of facing a pandemic? I did not. Being at home during my summer vacation, instead of riding a camel in the hot deserts... well, it seems I am now the camel on which my younger sister rides at home.

At first, I complained a lot about being at home, but then I realised. I am lucky I am at home; millions of people are stranded in places away from their home and they are struggling to get back. After this insight, I decided I would  make the best of it. So, during my vacation, I spent time with my family, learnt a new language (French!) and spent time on my hobbies - writing, sketching and of course, reading Cathy Cassidy books. 

I had fun baking with my mom and sister, too! I am grateful that me and my family and friends are all safe and healthy and at home. Now my school has re-opened online so I can continue with my school work. I can also catch up with my friends - we video call during the weekends and play games online. I also attend online art classes and I really enjoy them. 

During the summer, I started a hobby workshop to raise funds for charity. It did not work out so well, but at least I learnt how hard it was to teach! Now I am more grateful to teachers and understand their efforts. I have also started writing a novel. Lockdown has given us so much time to do new things and spend time on our hobbies. We just have to use it well. Could this be a blessing in disguise?

Photos with thanks to Pexels, drawing by Anusha.

Cathy says:
Wow, I love Anusha's energy and determination to make the best of lockdown - there's something we can all learn from this! What new hobby or pastime have YOU taken up during lockdown? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

REBECCA - MY LIFE IN LOCKDOWN

Reader Rebecca shares her experience of lockdown as the child of a doctor working on a Covid-19 ward...

Rebecca says:
I'm nine years old and I live in a small village by the sea in Devon. I live with my mum, dad, six year-old sister and four year-old brother, and I love dancing, reading and hanging out with my friends. When the lockdown was announced, I felt sad and a bit confused because I didn't understand what was happening. My mum, brother, sister and I went to stay at my grandparents house because my dad was a doctor on a Covid-19 ward and my parents felt it was safer.

I missed my dad and my friends very much, but some parts of lockdown were good. We played in the garden and helped with planting seeds (we don't have a garden at home) and went for long walks in the countryside. I did the Joe Wicks workout with my mum every morning. I read lots of books and Mum helped me with my schoolwork.

After eight weeks away from my dad, my mum got a new job as a Covid-19 tracker, so we came back home and started school as we were children of key workers. It was great to see some of my friends, but school was very different to how it had been before the pandemic. We do the same work that is sent out to the other kids in our year, but we play outside a lot more and it's easier than being at home all day. I don't get to exercise with my mum anymore though! Now things have changed again as the lockdown is eased and more kids are returning to school.

Reading has helped me a lot though the lockdown - if I am bored or sad or missing my friends, I can read. I got the idea for the Cathy Cassidy Scrabble board picture when I was playing Scrabble with my mum and she played the words 'Finch' and 'Honey' without realising they were characters in a book! Summer is my favourite Cathy Cassidy character because she loves to dance like me. I hope that after lockdown I'll be able to have lessons like her, and I look forward to seeing all my friends again!

Cathy says:
I absolutely love Rebecca's artwork, and I'm so proud of her courage during the lockdown... it is not easy to be separated from  family. What have YOUR greatest challenges been during the lockdown? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

EMMA: CARELESS WHISPERS

Student Emma is working in a shop during lockdown... and writing amazing poetry in her spare time! 

Emma says:
I used to wonder why we have scars.
The body was developed as an instrument of defence
If we cut our hair, it grows back
If we scratch our knee it heals and fades into the background
It raises the question...
Why do some battles mark us differently than others?
What is their purpose? It was then I realised
The scar wasn't the trauma,
But the healing that comes after.
When we see the unruly stain of permanent marker
That is merely the warning shot of what is to come.
A shot led by the unfaithful hand of insecurity
Offering a false sense of security and relief.
Just one shot and it'll be OK they tell you
Have you ever noticed that when you try to rise from their ashes
The unfaithful hand that whispered biblical tales into your ear
Is nowhere to be found. They do not want you to know
How powerful you can be without them
Seducing you to feel as hollow as the marks you bear
In the hope that you'll come back ravenous for their rotting fruit
And take solace in their sinister spell.
However, these whispers always forget that while they
Have borrowed the spell book, you own the wand.
Without that their spells are useless,
They need an instrument in order to live
But you... you are far greater.
You have lived through a million days of Adam
Survived the touch of poison ivy.
You open your eyes and at last you can see.
The explosives are in your hands but
They cannot hurt you unless you ignite them
They may light an enigmatic fire, but you
Are the dynamite of your own life.
You can rewrite these biblical tales in the water you tread
Leaving the smooth sand unscathed and warm
You may even find solace in the marks upon your skin
They act as a starting point... of where your story really begins.

Image - Pexels

Cathy says:
Wow, this gave me shivers... and got me thinking, too. Has lockdown got YOU writing? COMMENT BELOW to tell us more!

SAFEEYA - FOLLOWING THE DREAM

Thirteen year old Safeeya from India writes about her experience of lockdown and explains how poetry helps her to express her feelings...

Safeeya says:
At first, I thought lock-down was going to be fun (no school, hurrah!) but I'm missing my friends a LOT although I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way. This can be a time where you can learn new languages, pick up new hobbies, try your hand at writing poetry/stories or even learn some new skills like amigurami - the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures. You can learn those skills you always wanted to, because during this lock-down we'll all have a lot of time on our hands. Why not make the best of it?

For me, writing poetry and stories help a lot. It's a way I can express my feelings through pen and paper, and the thought seems magical. Those words contain power, and bucketfuls of emotion. Writing a journal, diary or even your own story might help a lot too, because it lets you channel your happiness, fear, anger or sadness into something worthwhile, a piece of work that could change the world, rather than channeling it into a big tantrum. I've always wanted to be a writer, someone who could write something that brings out emotions from the readers, someone who could write something that could change the opinions of even the most headstrong of people. Each moment I spend writing, it feels I am closer to following my dream of becoming a writer.

I always start with a strong, special thought, experience or emotion and let my mind wander around it. Try to express how you feel, or which thought comes to your mind, when you think about the topic, and the feelings will become more specific as you work with the poem. Writing down a couple of words that are related to the poem also helps. Those words could rhyme, but remember, they don't have to. Keep repeating these steps and voila, you'll have your poem! Remember that getting the hang of this takes a bit of time, so don't hold your breath waiting for poetry to flow out of your head! Not to sound like your schoolteachers, but practice makes perfect! Here is one of my poems... I hope you like it!

Destiny:
This is who you are
The real you is never too far
This is who you're meant to be
This is you - your destiny

You might think you're beautiful - or ugly
But beauty is only skin-deep
Yourself is all you need to be
Because it's your destiny

Just hang on to your personality
That's what makes you so unique
Open your eyes, and you'll see
The whole world differently

Flap your wings, get off the ground
Soar up high into the clouds
Get out of that cage, be free
Fly on - to your destiny

Image - Pexels, posed by model

Cathy says:
This is lovely... it's comforting to hear that lockdown is just as challenging in India, and inspiring to hear how Safeeya is using the time to be creative! Have YOU tried something new during lockdown? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

ANOUSHKA - SOLACE IN TIMES OF CRISIS

Fourteen year old Anoushka is a schoolgirl from India, currently in lockdown, reflects on how art and culture can get us through this difficult time...

Anoushka says:
The days seem to blur into one, distinguishable only by the sheer number of hours that we spend wondering whether the world as we know it will ever be the same again. As each day in isolation passes, we try to reflect on ourselves, become better people even. The role of art in this process is vital.

Whether it’s a TikTok meme or a heartwarming video of Italians singing from their balconies, there’s no denying that art is everywhere. Especially now, where we look to art for comfort like an old friend, weathered down by the tediousness of life in isolation. We pick up new hobbies, like baking or starting a book club, things that we’d never do on normal days. We find ourselves coming back to timeless movies and shows that never get old.

I recently saw a video of a pianist and a saxophone player performing a duet of ‘My Heart Will Go On’ from their balconies.... no matter how tough the situation is art can unite us all. Some neighbourhoods put rainbows in their windows so that kids on walks alone with their parents, know that this is a safe place and the situation isn’t going to last forever. The simplest of things can have  a long-lasting impact on us. A new grandfather seeing his grandson for the first time through a window. A little girl, finished with her chemotherapy getting surprised by all her friends and family in a wonderful, socially distant parade from their respective cars as she drives by.

These times have forced us to be creative. Time spent finishing passion projects, working on an aspect of ourselves that we never knew existed, even learning more about our family. I find myself  gravitating towards content that makes the situation lighter, urges us to make the best of what we have. The infamously terrible celebrity-infused cover of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ started by Gal Gadot was widely criticized as being privileged and out of touch with the severity of the current worldwide reality. But a YouTuber and musician, who happened to have a jazz degree, took that video and made it into something truly admirable. He arranged the song as the celebrities had sung it (albeit with 75 different key changes) and made a piece of art from something barely salvageable. A drummer created a song from a particularly impassioned speech by an Indian news anchor.

Art lends itself to a sense of authenticity within us. With late-night talk shows halting filming due to coronavirus restrictions, many are going online with special at-home editions. There’s something so genuine about these talk-show hosts when they’re not surrounded by a flood of cameras, lights and an ever-responsive audience. They’re at home, where they also have to deal with their children interrupting them constantly and are free to be their best, unfiltered selves. Here, they’re at their most vulnerable and most relatable. A heartfelt cover of ‘You Will Be Found’ from the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen by the original and current casts of the show on the Late Late Show felt deeply personal. It resonated with many, as we all seek to be found, maybe sometime, days, weeks or even years from now, but, for now the best thing for us to do is to be ourselves, with art to guide us through these dark times. And till then, art is what we can depend on.

Photo thanks to Pexels.

Cathy says:
I agree with Anouska that art and culture can get us through the tough times... not just by keeping us busy but also by offering an outlet for anxiety and difficult emotions. Has art helped YOU to cope with lockdown? COMMENT BELOW to tell us more!

ELLA - A BORING DYSTOPIAN NOVEL

Fourteen year old British schoolgirl Ella has written a powerful, clever poem about her feelings on the theme of lockdown... just wow!

Ella says:
In the last few months, we have become characters in a boring dystopian novel.
Everyone thought that 2020 was going to be the year,
Because, I guess, it had a nice ring to it.
But now all our planners have been thrown into the abyss and we have become trapped.

2 metres

The roads lay empty
Vacant, mute, still
The feeling of guilt enveloping you if you think that you are driving
Somewhere that isn’t important enough.

2 metres

A year ago we wouldn’t have even thought about how lucky we are
To be able to hug people, go to school everyday
And walk into a shop without having to queue or wear gloves
That are becoming sticky in the summer heat
Words like lockdown and pandemic had never been used so frequently.

2 metres

Beaches lay empty
Untouched and unoccupied by man
Now they are full of turtles, protecting their eggs.
CO2 levels are so low, they can see the Himalayas

2 metres

At the start, everyone was hoping for time off of school and children
Were being sent home even if they coughed.
People were making Coronavirus memes
But nobody's laughing now.

2 metres

If we let the light in, we can see the rainbow.
If we stay happy, there is hope.
Even though we will mourn for those who have passed because of this,
This crisis will make us stronger.
And we will get through it.

Cathy says:
I love this... Ella first wrote a series of haiku poems and then built this piece around them, and I think it's very powerful indeed. Do YOU ever feel like you are living in a sci-fi novel? COMMENT BELOW to tell us more...