A COLLABORATION between poet Rhuar Dean, who spent his early life in Ross-on-Wye, and illustrator Charlotte Workman, have published a book that aims to encourage and embolden young readers.

And through the medium of poems and pictures, the book The Loudest Whispers is a delicate, mischievous approach to the children who read them and the adults, they will one day become.

The Loudest Whispers brings together 64 pages of illustrated poems exploring the many wonders and worries of childhood, including early mornings, family walks, the first days of school, dinner-times, losing football matches, the chaos of siblings, staying safe online, words that rhyme with ‘poo’, playground bullying, bedtime reluctance, and plenty of pure, joyful nonsense.

Designed for children aged five to 12, and for the adults who share stories with them, The Loudest Whispers shows that life can be funny, difficult, silly and sad – sometimes all at the same time.

Rhuar Dean is a poet and writer whose early life was in Ross before emigrating and continuing his education in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. He is currently living and working in the Middle East.

Poetry is Rhuar's first love and the only one who really listens, and explains: “These poems come both from comfort and conflict. A desire to bend the rules, to not grow up.”

His poems and fiction have appeared in magazines including Litro, the Interpreter’s House, Crannog, Open Pen and the Londonist and have been performed in London, Leicester and New York.

Charlotte Workman is an illustrator based in Lewes, and is also an actress, who especially enjoys creating artworks that viewers can return to, interact with, and keep finding something new.

You can find out more about the book via the website: loudestwhispers.com.