Hammie Goes to School

“Hammie Goes To School” is Book One and the first in the series titled "The Adventures of Hammie" and begins with Hammie pursuing his dream of becoming a schoolboy. Having the same sweet gentle nature as Wilbur from Charlotte’s Web and the charm and innocence of Babe, Hammie is an adorable little piglet, with the persona of a real life child, in the fashion of Porky Pig, without the stutter.

Convinced pigs have a purpose, this brave little piglet trots into the school playground, to the dismay of the Principal Mr McPhee, teacher Miss Higgins and the school children. Hammie's dreams of going to school are soon shattered as the Principal turns him away. As tears of disappointment stream down the piglet's face, the children begin to chant, gaining the Principal's attention until the kindhearted Mr McPhee changes the rules and Hammie goes to school. Each of these ten heart warming stories has a moral, portraying many aspects of life children can identify with. Often touching on sensitive issues, such as bullying at school, children will relate to Hammie in a way that reinforces their confidence and values. These stories demonstrate the closeness and security of family life, in an old fashioned way, giving children the opportunity to enjoy the simple pleasures sometimes overlooked with today’s busy lifestyle. The Adventures of Hammie is guaranteed to capture the hearts of readers everywhere. Hammie’s high spirited, fun loving character will fill children with love and inspiration as his humorous adventures unfold throughout the series. The ten stories alternate between Hammie’s family life at home with his Mum, Dad and four siblings and his adventures at school.

Cathie’s love of rhyming began at the tender age of eight, when she won a Poetry Competition at school in 1960. Over the years Cathie dabbled in light hearted rhyming poems and personal verses on greeting cards etc but never actually expanded beyond this. Then in August 2006, at the age of 54, Cathie’s writing began to emerge in a way she never believed possible. Writing a children’s story had never entered her head, until she was asked by a friend’s daughter; a university student studying teaching, to write a children’s story for her to market as an assignment. This was the beginning of a whole new world, unleashing a passion Cathie never realised existed. Having self published her first children’s book in 2009, Cathie was delighted to be invited by international author Peter Watt, to share in the Book Launch of his eleventh novel, published by Pan MacMillan, titled “To Touch the Clouds.” Placing her book in over 150 stores around the country, gave Cathie the confidence to continue to self publish her second and third title. Cathie won The Clarence Valley Senior’s Week Writing Competition two years in a row, demonstrating her ability to entertain adults with her writing, but her heart will always be in children’s books. Consequently she loves interacting with children at school and library visits and the opportunity to see the precious looks on the faces of her young audience, as they listen to her stories.