The modest tortoise and the horrible hare - John Mill

A colourful, heartwarming tale based on the classic fable in a modern day school setting. We follow the story of Modest Tortoise who feels different from the other children at school. He is shorter, his skin a different colour and he has a hard shell for a coat that he can't take off even in summer. He has everyone of us at our most vulnerable, thinking we are not enough. Horrible Hare is the cool kid in school, the one we all wanted to be but he is devious, manipulative and ultimately a bully. The book touches on bullying, self-esteem and confidence and the last pages are filled with open therapeutic questions so that a parent, grandparent or teacher can explore with the child how the story made them feel and whether any parts of the story touched them based on their own lives. We are all born perfect with great self-value and confidence but school life, negative adults and early messages we are told change us and make us question our abilities.