Urmston-born teacher and mum publishes debut children’s book

Reading to your children is one of the most magical parts of parenthood: worlds burst into colour, stories leap off the page, and these moments stay with parent and child long after the book is closed. For debut author Katie Why, those bedtime moments sparked a whole new chapter in her own life.

Katie, a former teacher from Urmston, Manchester, has published Bear and Friends To The Rescue, the first in a new series of children’s adventures. Released in September 2026, the book follows a little bear and his friends Deer, Duck and Rabbit as they learn the power of working together. The story is told in a gentle, rhythmic cadence designed to be easy and enjoyable to read aloud.

With more than ten years’ teaching experience in UK and international schools, Katie saw first-hand how rhyming books with a strong rhythm can build children’s confidence and make reading easier. A lifelong lover of poetry and short stories, she found that writing a children’s book was a natural way to bring her passions together.

“I loved sharing stories as a teacher that had an underlying message for children to discover and enjoy,” says Katie. “I wanted to create a book that captured the charm and familiarity of traditional children’s stories, with timeless characters and a meaningful message at its heart.”

Becoming a mum gave that ambition fresh momentum. “Reading to my own daughter has brought an even greater appreciation for the magic of books,” Katie adds. “Watching her develop her own love of reading has been a real joy and has inspired me to create a story that children and their families can share and enjoy together.”

Katie teamed up with Manchester-based illustrator Andy Rowland, who has more than 20 years’ experience creating artwork for children’s books, community arts projects and murals. Andy brought the characters to life, blending traditional aesthetics with a contemporary twist for a timeless feel.

“It has been a pleasure getting to know Katie. I have very much enjoyed sharing ideas and developing illustrations to bring out each character’s individual personality in a fun way, to help the story come to life and capture the spirit of friendship and teamwork,” says Andy.

The book has already been warmly received. Readers have called it “a gorgeous story with a clear message about working together” and said it “felt like a classic children’s book.”

Meet the author

Urmston Books will welcome Katie on Saturday 14th November for a book signing and reading of Bear and Friends To The Rescue. Families are welcome to come along, meet the author and get their copy signed.

Katie has big plans for the series. A colouring book will arrive in the new year, followed by French, German and Italian editions of the debut story, and a second Bear and Friends adventure is planned for Summer 2027.