A third anthology in the series ‘Kicking Leaves’, celebrating writing from primary school children across East Lancashire, was launched at a special event at Burnley Mechanics in October 2005. Over 200 children, teachers and family members attended the event at which each child received five copies of the book and a certificate.
Writer Alan Brown, who was commissioned to write a short story for the anthology, based on experiences during a writing residency with children from two Rossendale schools, presented the awards. He paid tribute not only to the writing of the children whose work appears in the book but also to the poems and short stories of hundreds of children whose work was not selected this time. Copies of the anthology, which costs £3, are available from David Smith at Mid Pennine Arts.
‘Kicking Leaves’ is a partnership project led by Mid Pennine Arts and involving Land along with over a dozen regional and national agencies. The project ended in December 2005 with the publication of a picture book for young children – the result of a collaboration between children’s illustrator Steve Hutton and the Year 3 Class from Stubbins Primary School in Rossendale.
