A grant from the Susanna Wesley foundation has enabled children’s pastor and University of Roehampton DTh research student Bridget Steenkamp to link up with Victoria Beech, a paediatric chaplain, digital artist and publisher, to create a picture book that can be used in future child-led research. This picture book was created as part of Bridget Steenkamp’s doctoral research ethics clearance and tested with the help of 33 preschool child researchers. The book personifies Sphere, Cylinder, and Cube that are found in Froebel Gifts and Occupations (Froebel Trust).
They take turns explaining what it means to be child researchers, allowing the child audience time to explore whether they too would like to be researchers and giving them the opportunity to give informed assent to being part of the entire Theological Action Research journey. The ink drawings are made from Oak Gall Ink from Oak galls from the Oak trees outside the University of Roehampton Library and made during Slow Eco Workshops run by Bridget to promote interdisciplinary conversations about sustainability on Campus. This Slow Eco Oak Gall Ink that is being used for the drawings in addition to being locally made using ancient techniques, is fully biodegradable.
The grant supports the development and production of the book and activities to further its dissemination and impact.