What began as a way to pass the time during a period of illness has now turned into a significant achievement for eight-year-old Bertie Hartshorn and his mother, Lauren. The duo, from Shrewsbury, has recently celebrated the publication of their debut children’s book, Bogre The Ogre Who Really Loves Yoga.
The story’s journey began at the kitchen table in their home, where the mother-son pair sought a creative outlet to combat the boredom Bertie experienced while missing school due to a string of illnesses.
“Between October 2021 and February 2022, Bertie had a real run of viruses. He had one thing after another,” said Lauren Hartshorn, 32. “This meant a lot of time spent at home, so we played a lot of board games and read a lot of books. One day, we thought, ‘Why not try writing a story together?'”
The result is a whimsical tale that combines humor with a meaningful message. Bogre The Ogre Who Really Loves Yoga follows the adventures of Bogre, an ogre who discovers the calming and empowering benefits of yoga—a fitting theme for a story created during a time of physical recovery.
The book, now officially published, marks a milestone in the family’s creative journey. What started as an afternoon project to keep busy during illness has blossomed into a published work that is sure to inspire young readers and their families.
