RETIRED teacher Margaret Young has fulfilled an ambition and published her first children's book.

Groovy Grandad addresses sensitive issues such as bullying, low self-esteem and the special relationship between children and their grandparents.

The grandad is based on Margaret's husband David, and the setting is the medieval town of Josselin, in Brittany in France — where the couple have had a holiday home since 2003.

Children will remember Mrs Young from many Island schools, starting with Upper Chine in 1984 and more recently at Barton Primary.

She recorded a reading for Barton pupils to celebrate the recent World Book Day.

Margaret, of Winford, said: "I have used my experience as a teacher and living abroad during the holidays to inspire the story.

"Archie is a very ordinary boy, from a very ordinary family and goes to an equally ordinary school. However, he has an extraordinary Grandad!

"At school Archie tries hard to keep his head down and go un-noticed to avoid the attention of the class bully. During the school holidays he stays with his Grandad in France.

"Time spent with Grandad is always full of fun and adventures – and it’s whilst he’s in France with Grandad Archie discovers that, he too, has an extraordinary talent."

Find out more at the website www.groovygrandad.co.uk — which was designed by Island resident Katy Wade of Little Victories.

Illustrations in the book are by Isle of Wight artist Maria Ward.

The book is out today (Thursday), available to purchase via Waterstones, Amazon, Blackwell’s and Foyles.