Post box topper celebrates local children's author

A children's author has said she is "touched" that a post box topper has been made near her home town, inspired by her stories.

Melanie Seiver who was born and raised in Trentham, Staffordshire, published her first book, The Story of Polly Pin, in 2023. She has since written and published two more.

The topper is located in Orchard Place, Barlaston, and features several elements from the books.

"I think that it's so important to support anything that happens locally, and especially something that's intended for small children," said Marianne Stevenson - a member of the University of the Third Age (U3A) sewing group that made it.

"We wondered what we could do [between] VE day and VJ day.

"We thought: 'Lets do a children's book for the summer', because last year we did a seaside scene."

The idea to feature Ms Seiver's books was put forward by her own mum, who is part of the group.

Melanie Seiver had the idea to write a children's book while she was teaching

"I read Polly Pin in Barlaston First School not long ago, so I'm hoping that lots of the little ones from that school will see it and it'll just bring a smile to people's faces," said Ms Seiver.

The books follow Polly, a sewing pin. The first introduces children to the world of sewing and celebrates differences between people.

The idea came from Ms Seiver's love of sewing and teaching children, though it was not always that way.

"I used to hate it, and that's what I couldn't understand, and I think because my mum said I was good at it - that's what inspired me to keep going," she said.

Her passion was ignited when her grandfather gave her a sewing machine during lockdown.

The post box topper features characters from the books

An early years teacher by trade, she said the idea struck her while at work.

"One of my favourite parts of my job is reading stories to children," she said.

"I looked at all their little faces looking up at this book, and I just thought it must be amazing to write a story and have children look at it like these are looking at this now.

"[I thought] maybe I could have a pin in my story... and then a little girl in my class walked past whose name is Polly and I just went... Polly Pin!"

She teamed up with local illustrator Christine Warrington, and the books are now stocked in places such as TG Jones (formerly WH Smith) and Waterstones.

"I'm so touched, and Christine herself as well to be honest, because it was Christine that designed the characters for me," she said of the topper, which had lots of positive feedback from the community.

"They're just such a kind group of ladies who are really, really talented."