An epic adventure across magical lands with crocodile creeks, rivers of lava and forbidden forests has sprung from the minds of a Penrith family.
During the COVID pandemic Johnny French and his wife Stef were unable to pursue their work as sports coaches to children in the Eden area due to lockdown restrictions.
They had been working for Johnny’s Action-Ants business, which delivers PE lessons with a difference in schools and nurseries.
The couple, with input from their young sons Leo and Arran, decided to use their time to write a book based around the Action-Ants PE and activity sessions.
The result was an exciting adventure story and activity book called The Action Ants and the Alien Invasion to accompany the sessions — plus a separate edition for children to read at home.
This version includes an adventure story covered in five chapters — over nearly 100 illustrated pages — and lots of family activities which can be done at home.
Johnny said: “Our aim was to stimulate children’s imaginations and promote active lifestyles at an early age. The book was illustrated by a family friend, artist Will Brewster, who was locked down in Paris during the book’s creation.”
The story follows an invasion of the Action-Ants’ beautiful planet Antopia by gruesome aliens who plan to gobble up everything in sight. The sports obsessed Action-Ants set off on an epic mission to stop the aliens which sees them encounter many hazards.
“We have been running the sessions in schools now for a few months and they have become very popular with children and teachers,” said Johnny. “During every PE session we read a short chapter to the pupils and then the children get an opportunity re-enact the story through playing lots of fun activities.”
These include archery, light sabre fencing, obstacle courses, giant football tennis, lacrosse and junior warrior challenges. During the classes Johnny and Stef present an interactive version of the book on a large screen.
The couple say this helps children learn skills including language and literacy, maths, hand-eye co-ordination and creativity.
The book is also available on Amazon.
