My Pirate Grandad is written in rhyming verse for young children just learning to read.
David’s grandaughter was just three when he wrote the poem (and Oliver was one) but she is now five and can read the book by herself – although Sophia probably knew the poem by heart anyway.
When she saw the published book, Sophia apparently laughed aloud at some of the illustrations, and David admits the words are nothing without these.
Each verse is depicted in mixed-media and the ship’s dog, a Jack, features on many of the pictures. Natalie says he’s a hybrid of the Jack Russells that both David and Natalie’s family own.
The pair have various ideas about future collaborations, including more nonsense verse for children and a series of children’s counting books is in the pipeline.
Natalie says: “It’s been a real privilege to work with a former teacher who I, and countless others, have always held in such high esteem.”