CHILDREN at a Richmond primary school have been giving their views on the design of a new children's book about a pair of chirpy robins.

Richmond Methodist School teacher Rachel Bramley encouraged author and illustrator Debbie Wise to face the critics of class one when the book was nothing more than a jumble of paintings featuring robins Rosie and Rufus.

The children gave their opinions on how the book should look, and recently Mrs Wise returned to show the class what they helped create.

Rosie and Rufus is available at Waterstones and independent bookshops including Castle Hill Books, Richmond, Allium of Barnard Castle and The Art Shop, Darlington.

Mrs Wise said: "Rosie and Rufus is my first children's picture book in a series, and each book will introduce new characters based on the small, often un-noticed creatures that visit our back yards and gardens.

"Rosie and Rufus is ideal for young readers or shared reading with toddlers; it is fun and has a short, simple rhyming text.

"It's great fun for classroom reading; the children quickly pick up the rhyming words and everyone can join in."