A CITY author and his son have published a new children’s book called ‘The Time Travelling Coventry Taxi’.
The 28-page book written by Aaron Ashmore, who runs Etch and Pin, and Oscar, eight, and the pictures have been created by local illustrator Lizzie Ryan who brought the pair’s ideas to life.
The story centres on Oscar and his brother Caleb discovering a time travelling taxi due to a mix-up with a tour guide at the Coventry Transport Museum.
The boys end up in Coventry in 2122 where Lady Godiva is not known, The Specials did not play their first ever gig, Coventry had not won the FA Cup in 1987 and Frank Whittle did not invent the jet engine.
Using the Time Travelling Taxi, the boys go back in time to help right those wrongs and fix Coventry once again.
This is the latest in a series of books which look to promote the city’s history to local young people.
Previous releases include ‘Lady Godiva’s Birthday Suit’ and ‘Meet the Coventry Kids’.
Aaron said “Writing the books so far has been amazing and Oscar has always shown a keen interest so I thought it would be an amazing way to write my first fiction book about the city by working with Oscar.
“I am so proud of how hard he has worked on the book and it is special to see both of our names on the cover.”
Oscar added: “I have loved writing the book with my dad.
“It took a lot of effort and I love what we have made.
“I hope people like our book and we are able to write another book together in the future.”
Since 2020, Aaron has donated over 4,000 copies to Coventry primary schools free of charge and, teaming up with Coventry Building Society, 1,000 copies of ‘The Coventry Time Travelling Taxi’ will be heading to schools once again.
Leanne Stanley, senior community specialist at Coventry Building Society, said: “We’re focused on doing more in Coventry to enhance education and raise aspirations amongst primary school children.
“Aaron’s stories do a fantastic job teaching young people more about the city they live in, in turn making them proud to belong, and inspiring their futures – something we’re also doing through our Coventry Counts programme.”
Visit etchandpin.co.uk/books to buy The Time Travelling Coventry Taxi.
