Daisy, from Year 4, with her winning entry

Two creative pupils at Monmouth School Girls’ Prep have triumphed in an exciting design competition set by a successful children’s author.

Beatrice, in Year 3, and Daisy, in Year 4, have been chosen as the Year group winners by author Catherine Barr and will receive a signed copy of one of her beautifully illustrated books.

Catherine met virtually with both Year groups last month and challenged the pupils to name and design a front cover for her next book.

The fifth book in Catherine’s ‘The Story of . .’ series has gone on sale this week and The Story of Climate has just won a prize from the Books Council of Wales.

Catherine was impressed with each entry from the pupils at Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools and will be sending off all their work to her publisher.

Year 3 winner, Beatrice, aged eight, was praised for her ‘beautifully detailed cover’ of The Story of Medicine, a subject that Catherine has been thinking about tackling.

“I love the artwork but also the relevance of this topic today as we struggle with the global pandemic,” said Catherine.

“Publishers are always most interested in non-fiction ideas that tie into topical issues.

“I also really like the ideas of exploring weather and the story of trees; both are also very much in the news and so interesting.”

Year 4 winner, Daisy, aged nine, shone with her ‘detailed and thoughtful idea’ of The Story of Women in Medicine.

“I like the focus on women and the beautiful cover design for this book; it was a well-deserved winner,” said Catherine.

Catherine said there were so many other great ideas from the girls – from plastic to pollution, ponies to jungles and even partying pangolins.

Millie’s The Story of Explorers with its bright cover and words about daring and great courage, was a runner-up, along with Eliza’s The Story of Food and Rosie’s The Story of Jungles.

Beatrice, from Year 3, with her winning design