World Book Day with Vix J Cooper
This week’s World Book Day family learning resource is brought to you from author Vix J Cooper whose books Crazy Pets and Secrets Revealed and Fin and the Red Deer are inspired by COAM.
Vix has taken inspiration from the animals and nature around our Museum site to create her stories, characters and plots.
From Vix J Cooper
Chiltern Open Air Museum has given my family pleasure for years even before I became a children’s author. Its countryside and farm animals and buildings with snippets about past inhabitants are a treasure chest.
As a farm volunteer, walking the goats (or them walking me!), cow Clementine’s reactions to me singing as I groom her and working at the top of the threshing machine, such as for BBC Countryfile’s harvest episode, are just a few of the things that have inspired my story writing.
Getting on my hands and knees to consider what an animal may see, and feeling the strength needed to squeeze water from washing with a mangle as a school workshop leader, helped shape some descriptive detail in my book Crazy Pets and Secrets Revealed.
Studying birds and deer in the woods, and butterflies in the meadow and gardens, plus the thatched buildings, gave me scenery and character ideas for picture book Fin and the Red Deer. Observing generations of grandmothers, mothers and younger sheep interacting helped inspire my new book Who Did This?
Even if a particular subject such as history doesn’t appeal to someone, the museum offers such variety there’s something for most. Not surprisingly, I recommend the museum for writers and artists of all ages; or to anyone because it’s a special place.