Childrens picturebook with sensory pages - Mission To The Moon
Childrens picturebook with sensory pages - Mission To The Moon
Scroll down for the Space helmet project, Mission patch and Kinetic art…
School/class reading workshops online - book your school in for special reading sessions: see below…
Children's Picturebook:
Published on the 16 August
‘Mission To The Moon’
a sensory space story
Written & illustrated by David Grigor
Check out this cosmic song about the book:
Discover your imagination in this book with sensory pages.
In the book I ask 3 questions on Page 43:
Here are the questions and answers:
Can you work out how many times a tambourine and shaker are featured in the story?
Answer: Tambourine - 11 times Shaker - 12 times
Can you work out how many times Midnight and Boomer are featured in the book?
Answer: Midnight - 19 times Boomer - 18 times
How many dolphins and seagulls are there around the ship when it lands - and why do you think the number was chosen?
Answer - There are 5 dolphins and 5 seagulls because there are 5 characters in the story, so each creature symbolises each character.
School/class reading sessions are being booked by teachers in the UK and the USA. If you are in another country worldwide please contact me via my website, Facebook or Instagram to discuss options.
I am delighted to offer this as my career as an educator has spanned over 3 decades now.
Discover more about this as an opportunity to have your class have the book read out to them with the option of doing activities such as the sensory pages and the Mission patch. Teams or an alternative video link can be used.
The first schools to enquire and book are in Brighton (UK) and Florida (USA)
The initial session can be free, or please make a donation:
Mission to the Moon -
Reading session for classes/ groups/ assemblies
ALSO - NOW AVAILABLE!
Meet the author Zoom session FREE for anyone. The next will be Thursday 4pm GMT (Look out for links soon for these dates). If you are overseas please check your time zone.
Monday 6 & Wed 7. Thank you to those who joined.
(Open to those interested in purchasing the book and can answer some questions about the book).
Please donate to support this book in reaching youngsters and communities and enjoy sensory story telling.
A special online fun art pack for
Mission to the Moon
2D kinetic collage
Click here and on the picture below to take you to the project page.
This project pack is available for free and includes templates can be ideal for classroom activities, clubs, at home, on holiday, or for any other place or event.
It will include making an artwork that features all 5 characters in the story and their adventure to the moon. It may require support to make the project, and to source some of the materials needed.
Please donate above for using this pack as this will enable me to provide extra art tuition each week for those with PMLD Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities as part of PAMIS, so that more individuals can benefit from this and other specially designed art projects that I’ve created over the past 3 years.
Join us on the Mission to the Moon and be part of creating wellbeing through art.
MISSION PATCH
MISSION PATCH
The Mission Patch:
This is the badge that Astronauts
can wear as an embroidered patch.
This is woven to the flight suit, Space suit or clothing that represents the mission.
It can be nearly any shape but up to particular size.
How the book came about.
Mission to the Moon has been developed in association with Pamis.co.uk that includes sensory .
The book has been produced and published with the help of the Book Whisperers and the guidance of the International best selling author Mary Turner Thomson.
(Mary has produced a series of books including 2 childrens picture books, and is the co-founder of the Book Whisperers, who are enabling authors to reach their potential.)
I am the author and illustrator, and have created this story with rhyme along with specially designed Sensory Pages from Pamis.
Advice from other authors:
Further advice and help was given by Lauren Lockhart who is included in the acknowledgements for her helpful advice from the perspective of people with Down’s Syndrome, (as she worked for the charity, Down’s Syndrome Scotland). A lovely picturebook called ‘Trudy and Me’ published in 2022 about a siblings relationship between a child with Down’s Syndrome and her brother is about Lauren’s son and daughter. She shared her experience with production and publishing so her input was most valuable as she provided knowledgable insights into what works for those with Down’s Syndrome. She is included in the acknowledgements for her very helpful advice.
UK Charities that provide guidance for those with Disabilities of all ages:
PAMIS (Promoting A More Inclusive Society) The only charity in Scotland for people purely with PMLD.
Down’s Syndrome Scotland, UK
Autism society UK
Dyslexia Scotland, UK.
Why I wrote this book?
I’ve been interested in space and astronomy most of my life. In 2009 & 2010 I went to Educators Space Academy and Educators Advanced Space Academy and experienced training like an astronaut at the world famous Spacecamp in Huntsville Alabama, USA. The story behind this can be seen in ‘About Me’ page. It was truly inspiring.
After half a year of planning the book is now published!
Both the book and illustration originals and prints and other merchandise will be available for purchase this week.
Buy your copies from Kindle Publishing Direct, the book aims to be designed with accessibility as a core feature of the story to enable everyone to benefit.
Please keep visiting to see updates on the books sales now and how we are promoting it at home in the UK and globally.
This is just like being on a mission!
Our story and timeline:
2023 - First thoughts of this book and creating a story about a mission to the moon with sensory pages. thinking about what the book would be about and what I wanted to achieve in a story that could inspire youngsters and adults alike. These bullet points below reflect what happened as it happened so they are in the present tense.
2024 - First sketches and outline of the books content.
2024 summer - Discussions with Pamis about developing the book and sensory pages.
Content of the story begun and rhyming for first half of book.
Began designing and drawing out and design 20 illustrations from front cover to ending on A2 acrylic multimedia paper.
Using initially pen & ink and acrylic with oil pastel, the first sample illustrations started.
2024 Autumn- Content of story continued and rhyming for second half of book.
Contacted various charities for disabilities in Scotland and the UK for advice on the production and layout.
2024 Winter - The story developed and illustrations further developed.
Jan 2025 - Discussions with Pamis to begin introduction to the Book Whisperers'.
17 Feb - Initial Zoom meeting with the Book Whisperers.
20 Feb 2025 - Zoom meeting with ‘Book Whisperers’ and Pamis with production and publishing of the book and what it will involve.
7 March 2025- Zoom meeting with The Book whisperers - Mary Turner Thomson to begin formatting the story line of the book, introducing the main characters.
14 March 2025- Zoom meeting with The Book Whisperers to talk about further editing.
2025 April 2025- All illustrations are being developed and completed.
May 2025- Illustrations all finally developed so that the draft can be assembled, before the sensory pages are added.
The Mission patch is now developed and complete, that will represent the entire Mission. The Mission patch will hopefully be converted to an embroidered patch that can be worn on any hat, garment, bag or item. The patch usually has the names of the crew and has specific features on the patch to describe the mission.
30 May 2025- Zoom meeting with The Book Whisperers to look through layout and editing.
26 June 2025- Zoom meeting with The book Whisperers to discuss formatting and editing.
3 July 2025- Zoom meeting with The Book Whisperers to do Proof copy of book on Kindle Direct Publishing on Amazon.
July 2025- KDF proof copy being shared with select disability charity focus groups for comment.
Through July - Pamis are holding a number of focus groups of expert young storytellers who are commenting on the proof of the book. The names of those youngsters whose parents/carers/guardians have given consent will be mentioned in the book. It’s fantastic that Pamis are trialling the book in this way, great thanks goes to those involved.
August 2025 - Final adjustments and edits are being made before publication …..
Are we ready for launch and countdown? 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, ………
Watch this ‘space’ for PUBLICATION!
Friday 15 August - Zoom meeting - Publication process.
Saturday 16 August - The book is now published as a paperback on Amazon UK!!
Kindle and Amazon.com and Amazon worldwide follow in the following days.
Click on the link and boxes below:
“Mission to the Moon’ a sensory space story, written and illustrated by David Grigor.
Buy single copies or in bulk for family, friends, communities, schools, etc.
News and articles:
Old Brightonians - The Pelican Magazine:
OB News - News from OBs: David Grigor publishes “Mission to the Moon: A Sensory Space Story”
Disability Arts Online:
Disability Arts Online : Blog - 2 Sept 2025
Literary Escape Festival: Sat 8 November 2025:
David Grigor
Author and illustrator
of
Mission to the Moon
a Sensory space story.
Space helmets project - make youth own space helmets
Space helmets project - make youth own space helmets
To make a space helmet you’ll need to have the following:
Cardboard boxes - large one measuring something like 40x30x40cms for the larger model, and/or a smaller cardboard box about 30x20x30cms approx.
Celotape, parcel tape, gaffer tape or something similar. Also double sided tape if possible.
Cardbaord from cereal packets or similar.
Scissors
PVA glue
White paper or card and black paper or card
Black pen,
Silver foil and shoes strings, and any other household item you may like to use.
Step 1: The templates here can help, however they wont be suitable to print out, so try and copy as best as you can.
Step 2: Assemble the templates together:
Make a basic structure like this:
Step 3: Assemble the outer shell using cardboard and the offcuts from the box like this:.
Step 4: Complete the cardboard assembly.
Step 5: Complete 2nd covering - soft card using PVA glue here and brush:
Step 6: Outer-shell - white paper and PVA glue. Can use papier-mache too.
Step 7: The visa - using cardboard, and soft card, white and black card:
Step 8: Fill in the inner cavity sing soft card and white paper.
Step 9: Complete the helmet by adding shoe laces, silver;bver foil, black card, and a plastic sheet (from plastic paper sleeves) and put at least 6 holes in the plastic front visa for safe ventilation. Any other details details- use double sided tape, etc:
The Astronaut helmet was a month long. See if you can make your own helmet in 3 to four weeks?
Space helmets- for youngsters and adults:
Scratch models that you can wear.
The steps for this cosmic project will be available from this evening: