Jim's passion results in a guide to children's books
A RETIRED school teacher with a passion for children's books has unearthed a selection of unknown tales based in North Tyneside.
Former head of English at Whickham Comprehensive, Jim Mackenzie, has spent months putting together his first book, entitled Journey to the Hidden Kingdoms - a Guide to the Children's Books of Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland.
It features 110 children's stories based in the area that may be unknown to the general public.
Jim explained: "I've always been interested in children's books and it was part of my job to know local stories.
"It all really started when I picked up a copy of Lorna Hill's Castle in Northumbria in Whitley Bay and I kept going from there.
"I've been going into book shops and Newcastle Central Library and North Tyneside Library and managed to find a substantial number which include Wallsend, North Shields, the river Tyne, Tynemouth, Whitley Bay and Blyth in their storylines and settings."
The book pays particular attention to detail and even includes four maps of the area, one showing the district of Newcastle and another giving a detailed outline of the river Tyne from Newcastle to Tynemouth and from there to Berwick.
Jim has also included numbers which refer to each book and the area they are set so readers can get a feel of where the book was born.
Jim also had to be selective with what could go into the book after unearthing so many stories and instead concentrates on those that might be unknown to some people or difficult for them to get their hands on.
The 56-year-old was given his lucky break by striking a publishing deal with Newcastle-based Powdene Publicity to get the book in print and on sale for the general public.
He said: "I was lucky enough to have written a few articles for the Northumbrian magazine which is published by the same company and it was their editor who suggested that the book was something that readers would be interested in.
"I believe some of the information that I have in the book is of strong nostalgic value as well as capturing a part of the regional heritage that might otherwise be lost."
Although Jim's search for forgotten regional literature won't stop here as he has found another 120 children's stories relating to South Tyneside, which he says will probably create a follow-up to his first book.
Jim's book, priced 12.99, can be bought direct from Powdene Publicity by calling (0191) 265 0040.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Whitley Bay
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
