Countryside Homes is celebrating World Book Day with the launch of its very own children’s book, Hard Hats and Happy Homes, designed to inspire young minds by bringing the process of building a new community to life.
The beautifully illustrated book follows the journey of creating a new housing development – from the very first site surveys and laying foundations, through to the final touches that transform a construction site into a thriving neighbourhood. Aimed at KS1 children, Hard Hats and Happy Homes introduces audiences to the wide range of people, skills and teamwork involved in building the homes and communities around them.
As part of the World Book Day celebrations, Countryside Homes will be donating copies of the book to primary schools close to their developments across the west London region, including Glenbrook Primary School in Clapham, Harmony Primary School in Harrow and IRIS-School in Kilburn.
The story is brought to life by illustrator Holly Bailey, who will host a special reading Glenbrook Primary School in Clapham on Tuesday 3rd March. Pupils will have the opportunity to hear directly from Holly about the creative process behind the book’s illustrations. The book is Holly’s second published works; she developed a short story in memory of her nan just last year.
Emily Gilchrist, Sales & Marketing Director at Countryside Homes, comments: “World Book Day is a fantastic opportunity to spark curiosity and imagination in young people. With Hard Hats and Happy Homes, we wanted to create something that not only encourages reading together but also helps children understand how the places they live come to life. By donating the book to schools across the region, we hope to inspire the next generation of designers, engineers, planners and community builders.”
Holly Bailey, illustrator of the book, adds: “It has been wonderful to work with Countryside Homes and I am excited to share this book with local schools. As well as introducing children to the fascinating process of building communities, I also hope to inspire children to think about illustration as a career path.”
Through this initiative, Countryside Homes aims to support literacy, celebrate creativity and strengthen its connection with the communities it helps to build.
