Twinkl have come together with Charlie Mackesy, author of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

24th January 2022

Twinkl have come together with Charlie Mackesy, author of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, to help encourage important conversations amongst young children in the classroom and at home

Global educational publisher Twinkl and much-loved British artist, illustrator and author, Charlie Mackesy are launching educational resources featuring illustrations and quotes from Charlie’s bestselling book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. These new materials have been developed to help support teachers and parents in opening-up meaningful conversations with children around confidence, compassion and resilience and to help them consider how they can show kindness to themselves and others. 

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse follows the story of four unlikely friends as they embark on a journey together, and share important life lessons around hope, vulnerability, kindness and friendship. These themes fit perfectly with the ethos and mission of Twinkl and are really integral to children’s social development.

Encouraging Children to Ask for Help:

Over the last couple of years, children’s social development has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, so helping them to express themselves is more crucial than ever. The immersive resources created by Twinkl and Charlie Mackesy combine Charlie’s artwork and messages with interactive activities such as assemblies and circle time, to help create an environment where children are encouraged to open up and discuss their feelings. The themes of friendship and kindness central to The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse can be woven into different styles of learning using these resources, providing those who teach with an accessible way to spark honest conversations about our emotions. Twinkl’s network of teachers, parents and children around the world will be able to access these resources for free from 20th January 2022.

Jonathan Seaton, Co-Founder and CEO of Twinkl, said:

“This collaboration with Charlie Mackesy can steer conversations about friendship and kindness in both the classroom and at home. Through this artwork, it can become much more accessible for educators, creating inspiring and heart-warming conversations that leave a lasting message with children. Mackesy’s work is already loved by those who teach, so being able to help Charlie carry on his mission and help more people is so rewarding.”

Charlie Mackesy, artist and author of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse says:

“When I was sixteen, I had a very kind and patient art teacher who showed me the value of drawing. I’ll never forget him. Educators have a great impact on their student’s lives and so for me to be able to support teachers, parents and children in some way, in the work that they do, is a huge privilege.”

To view the resource collection, visit Twinkl. Images and examples of the resources are available here.