The Adventures of Harry Rose by Chris Alexander, £7.99

RETIRED Appleby teacher Chris Alexander was inspired to pen this delightful children's novel after taking a party of schoolchildren on a canal trip.

It is set at the beginning of the second year of the First World War - 100 years ago - and tells the story of a 15-year-old boy whose parents run a commercial canal boat carrying coal and other goods between London and Birmingham.

The story opens with news that Harry Rose's father, who enlisted to fight in the war, has been taken prisoner by the Germans. Soon after, his mother is injured in a Zeppelin airship raid and Harry is forced to carry on the family business alone, taking the narrowboat, Lady Rose, to Birmingham, delivering coal to local people along the way.

Accompanied by his dog Milly, Harry has a number of adventures as he meets new friends and experiences kindness and hope in the middle of a terrible time for the country.

The Adventures of Harry Rose is illustrated by Appleby artist Juliet Whitworth.

Chris Alexander spent more than 30 years working in special education and therapeutic communities, the last 25 of them in Cumbria.

ALLAN TUNNINGLEY