Ed Boxall at the Alexandra Park greenhouse’s Halloween event last year (photo: Colin Foy).

Ed Boxall launches new book at Alexandra Park greenhouse Halloween event

CHILDREN’S author Ed Boxall will launch his latest book at the Alexandra Park Greenhouse community hub in October. Lynda Foy tells the story so far.

Ed Boxall, who illustrates and performs his own stories at schools and other venues, will entertain children and their families at Alexandra Park Greenhouse’s Spooky Halloween event on Thursday 31 October. The session for children aged four-plus starts at 1.30pm.

Ed, who is based in Hastings, will tell the story of Umpkin, a little mouse who lives with her mum and dad in a garden, sheltered by a giant pumpkin.

Image: Ed Boxall

Umpkin’s life is disrupted when a terrible storm blows her and the pumpkin out of the garden and into the neighbouring sea. She finds herself adrift on the pumpkin with plenty of adventures in store.

Ed first performed the story verbally at last year’s Halloween event in the greenhouse, off St Helens Road. Now he has published a story book about Umpkin and will use large story boards and other props to re-tell the adventures of this small rodent.

“I got the idea after I grew a massive pumpkin last year weighing four stone,” he said. “Then I bought some cute little wooden mice that were in a shop in Rye.

“The story went down really well last year and I developed it and then made the picture book very quickly.”

He plans to bring another large home-grown pumpkin to this year’s greenhouse event which will also include songs and games.

The book, designed and illustrated by Ed, has been printed by Youloveprint at Uckfield. Copies usually cost £8.99. but will be on sale for just £7 at the greenhouse event.

Copies can also be ordered from Ed’s website or from any good bookseller.

Spooky Tales and Book Launch with Ed Boxall Alexandra Park Greenhouse community hub, Thursday 31 October, 1.30pm. Booking for the event is essential; tickets cost £5 (plus booking fee) online.

The greenhouse can be hired for talks, workshops, exhibitions and social events. Contact social@our-greenhouse.co.uk.

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