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Pupils at Trinity Fields School and Resource Centre have co-written a book about climate change. 

The students worked together to write the story with Petra Publishing as part of a project funded by Gelligaer Community Council. 

The book, Penguin on the Run, was officially launched at the school, in Ystrad Mynach, on July 5. 

The bilingual book, written in English and Welsh, features the story of a boy called Jimmy and a penguin called Frank – who is pursued by a leopard seal dressed in disguise. 

Jimmy ends up helping Frank with not only his own problems but by also tackling climate change.

After a reading of the book, headteacher Ian Elliott MBE praised the students as “a talented group of pupils”.

Mr Elliott, who is soon to retire, added that it was a “privilege” to work with the children.  

Plaid Cymru councillor Teresa Parry, who represents Hengoed, told Caerphilly Observer more about how Gelligaer Community Council had commissioned the book and said: “We’ve done this with other schools but this one is extremely special to us. 

Cllr Parry, who is also on the county council, continued: “The children are just amazing.”

Mike Church, writer for Bargoed-based Petra Publishing worked on the book and said: “The kids were fantastic.” 

Mike has worked with the business, which writes and produces children’s storybooks with local community groups since its first book came out in 2014 –  written by a group of mothers at Hengoed Community Centre.

Now, the business, which has worked closely with the Parent Network, has written 80 books.

Many projects are school-focused and create books with “an emotional wellbeing message” which can then be used by teachers in the classroom. 

Mike added: “These are a godsend to a lot of schools.”

Every Trinity Fields pupil who contributed to the book received a certificate, a toy penguin and their own copy of Penguin on the run – but they won’t be the only ones.

Cllr Parry added every primary school in the Gelligaer Community Council area will receive a delivery and said: “Every child will have a book.”