Child's play

We meet some of the leading ‘inventors’ in the county who have developed inspirational products or initiatives to help improve the lives of children

- Holly Louise Eells and Sarah Rodi

Sweet Caroline’s Hidden Book Adventure

“Congratulations, Book Adventurer!” reads the letter that comes with the treasure when you find it. “You are the lucky finder of this book; we hope you like it. Read and enjoy the story together. Keep the story for as long as you like and rehide the book in a new secret location for other treasure hunters to discover.”

This is Sweet Caroline’s Hidden Book Adventure, a book sharing initiative co-created by Duncan Shearer and his sister, Caroline Reynolds.

Duncan, a client services director, who has lived in Newbury for 17 years, says: “My sister, who used to be a headteacher, came up with the idea at Christmas time. She bought some books online for my two sons, aged eight and six, for a home-made advent calendar, but over-ordered. She decided she wanted to start a hidden book adventure with them, so I ran with the idea.

“My sister, unfortunately, is terminally ill with cancer, so I am trying to get as much momentum behind what is turning out to be an amazing, positive initiative.”

Duncan says he loves nothing more than exploring Coombe Gibbet and the surrounding areas with his boys, on foot or by bike, and stopping for lunch at some of Berkshire’s best pubs, such as the Crown & Garter in Inkpen. And now this experience has become even more exciting with the prospect of finding a hidden book.

“We have discovered so much fun and excitement in finding books in all sorts of places,” says Duncan. “My sister and I are both passionate about children reading for pleasure. We want to make reading more fun and take kids away from their screens. When people find a book, we suggest they chat about it, read it, then share their experience and photos on our Facebook page. There have been some really fun posts, with lots of smiles and happy kids. It’s wonderful to see.”