The Book of Knowsley

The Book of Knowsley is a unique guidebook, offering a glimpse of Knowsley through the eyes of its youngest residents.

The children from Cronton Church of England Primary School, Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Knowsley Village Primary, St Leo's and Southmead, St Luke's Catholic Primary School, St Marie's Catholic Primary School and Willow Tree Primary have shared the places they love, the places they wish could be better and the changes they would make if they were in charge. A smaller group worked with Andy and Beckie to bring hundreds of ideas together into 36 pages of must see sights, walks, monuments and loads more.

The book reflects a broad and rich tapestry of voices from Knowsley’s young people and their perspectives on a wide range of places across the borough. Children from seven primary schools contributed their ideas: Cronton Church of England Primary School, Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Knowsley Village Primary, St Leo’s and Southmead, St Luke’s Catholic Primary School, St Marie’s Catholic Primary School and Willow Tree Primary. A smaller group of student editors worked with artists Andy and Beckie to shape the final version.

Liverpool illustrator Rosa Kusabbi was commissioned to create the illustrations for the book and it was designed by Will Brady.

To get hold of a copy for your Knowsley venue, school or library contact natalie@heartofglass.org.uk or download a PDF version below.

Process

Andy and Beckie developed an activity pack that employed methodologies such as model making and creative writing to elicit responses from the children about how they view their hometown and community. The focus was upon generating playful, imaginative responses that are reflective of how nine-to-ten year-olds think and feel, rather than a set of facts. The activity pack was delivered by the class teacher. Each teacher received online training from Andy and Beckie to help with the delivery of the pack. Generating material for The Book of Knowsley was a truly collaborative process between artists, children and teachers.

A smaller group of editors (two children from each school) worked with Andy and Beckie over a series of facilitated zoom sessions to edit the content for the book and make decisions about some of the book’s most essential elements such as the composition Knowsley’s flag and anthem.

The project aims to:

• Foster children’s empathy and creative skills by encouraging them to collaborate with internationally known artists and one another.

• Encourages cross-generational dialogue between children and adults about the place they live.

• Celebrate community pride by highlighting the best of Knowsley, showcasing its landmarks, green spaces, and everyday places that matter most to its young people.

The Book of Knowsley forms part of The Book of Your Town, an internationally known social-engaged project that invites local schoolchildren (aged 8-11) to create a guidebook of their town or city. Originally commissioned by Heart of Glass in 2021, the project has since been adapted in various locations worldwide, including São Paulo, Riga, Brighton and Hove Cambridge, and now Knowsley!

The Book of Knowsley is part of Andy and Beckie’s continued collaboration with Heart of Glass, building on five years of work with young people in St Helens, including Project Parr (2025), Lookout (2022) and The Book of St Helens (2021).