TO have your artwork published in three books is an impressive achievement in itself, but it is all the more remarkable when you consider that the artist has only just started high school.

11-year-old Thomas Jenkins' illustrations first featured in his dad Paul's poetry book, 'My Bottom Did A Burp In Class', back in 2016.

The book proved to be a success, and they continued their partnership with a follow-up, 'Wibbly Wobbly Words' a year later.

The pair, who live in Ramsbottom, have now sold more than 1,000 copies of their books, with orders and requests for workshops coming in from all over the UK.

This month is set to be a busy one for the talented father and son as they launch their third collection of poetry, 'The Man In The Silly Hat'.

The book, which is the final part of a trilogy of children’s poetry books, is set to be released at primary schools across the borough, before Paul embarks on a new nationwide tour.

Like its predecessors, ‘The Man In The Silly Hat’ contains twenty new poems and illustrations, covering everything from learning to juggle; seasick Viking invaders; rock fairies; a boxing match in a bowl of fruit and invasions of giant crabs from outer space.

Thomas, who started in year seven at Woodhey High School in September, has honed his own style of working through the book projects - giving the characters a distinct look and feel from book to book.

In this latest collection, he also developed and guided the ideas for the poems with his artwork.

“Some of the poems in this book like ‘Crustacean Nation’ - the poem about giant crabs from space invading earth - were written about pictures which I thought of before dad had written the poems,” said Thomas.

“It’s been fun creating the drawings and then seeing what poems were made up about them.”

Paul, who previously worked as a teacher before becoming a full-time performance poet, said: “It’s been so much fun sharing the work with kids across the country.”

“I’ve been everywhere from the West Country to London to Scotland and back again - helping pupils to write their own poetry and letting them know about how publishing actually works.”

“They’re particularly interested in Thomas’ story as they can see how someone who is their age can get their work published.”

The book launch will begin at Chesham Primary School on Friday, where Paul will deliver an assembly and a series of writing workshops for pupils, before moving on to Holcombe Brook Primary at 6.30pm for a celebration event in the evening.

‘The Man In The Silly Hat’ costs £4.50 and is available from Amazon or from Paul directly at www.thedramastudio.org.uk.