How Bradford’s Children Are Becoming Authors of Their Own Adventures

Last year, if you’d told me I’d be sitting in the middle of Centenary Square, live on Radio, talking about sea monsters, platypus sidekicks, and the power of children’s storytelling, I would’ve smiled politely and raised an eyebrow.

But here we are.

The Adventures of Bradford, a creative movement that began in my living room with my 10-year-old son Gabriel, and is now inspiring classrooms full of young authors across the city.

Here’s what I told Bradford Community Broadcasting

Where It All Began: An Idea Becomes a Book

It started with a question.

After finishing a chapter of Treasure Island, I turned to Gabriel and asked, “Shall we make up a story where you’re the hero?” Without hesitation, he said yes. And with that, our journey began.

He didn’t write his story down, he spoke it aloud. I scribbled notes, asking him to “tell me more” at every turn. What does the sea monster look like? How many heads? What’s the name of the platypus sidekick?

Within weeks, my desktop was flooded with files. So, I compiled everything into a Word document just to organise it — and that’s when Gabriel said, “Mum, this is a book.”

He was right. We self-published it, not as a grand ambition, but because he believed in it. And when other children started reading The Adventures of Gabriel, something beautiful happened: they wanted to write too.

The Birth of StoryQuest™

That moment lit a spark.

I began running workshops in Bradford schools, using the same process Gabriel and I had followed at home. We called it StoryQuest™, a framework that gives children total freedom to imagine and express their own narratives.

No red pens. No grammar drills. Just storytelling.

Children work in pairs, one is the storyteller, the other the scribe. They don’t start with a blank sheet; they start with imagination. The storyteller talks, the scribe jots down ideas in bullet points: characters, settings, sidekicks, superpowers, quests, dragons, and UFOs. Then they swap.

By morning break, the classroom is buzzing with energy.

By the afternoon, those notes become full stories, complete with illustrations, ready to be shared, read aloud, and celebrated.

Celebrating Children’s Voices Together

What’s made this experience so powerful is seeing how children lift one another up.

They don’t just write, they collaborate. They help each other expand their ideas, refine the characters, up-level the plot. The phrase “Tell me more” has become a magical invitation for deeper creativity.

And the outcomes? They speak for themselves. Children who were once hesitant writers are now leading storytelling circles. Classrooms are vibrant with imagination. And boys, who are statistically more likely to fall behind in literacy, are among the most enthusiastic participants.

The Vision: An Anthology for the City

Right now, each participating school is creating its own book, The Adventures of [School Name]. But the bigger dream is this:

A citywide anthology: The Adventures of Bradford.

A single volume celebrating the creativity of our children, showcasing the power of their voices, and representing Bradford on the national stage as the UK City of Culture.

This would be more than a book. It would be a statement. A joyful, unfiltered, collective portrait of what happens when you give children space to speak and a pen to write with.

Why This Matters to Me (and Gabriel)

It’s not just about literacy, it’s about agency. Gabriel didn’t just write a story. He realised that his voice mattered, and now, he’s inspiring others to believe the same.

He’s already finished Book Two (coming soon!) and is incredibly proud, not just of his work, but of what it’s sparking in other children.

How to Get Involved

If you’re a teacher, parent, or young storyteller, we’d love to hear from you!

Visit theadventuresofgabriel.com/bradford to bring a workshop to your school.

And thank you to BCB Radio for giving me a platform to share this project with our amazing city. You made me feel right at home! 

Here’s to more stories, more laughter, and more sidekicks.