Guernsey Press

Sell-out story book a first for Alderney mum

AN ALDERNEY mum-of-two has turned bedtime story reading into a sell-out debut children’s story book.

Published
Samantha Ball with son, Lucas and her first published book.

Samantha Ball, who is mother to Lucas, 5 and Amelie, 1, has written and illustrated Harvey Hippo and the Magical Caterpillar and has more tales on the way.

Her inaugural book tells the story of a young hippo who becomes fascinated with a caterpillar hanging from a twig in the jungle.

The story chronicles the caterpillar’s metamorphosis into a – spoiler alert – colourful butterfly.

‘We were reading stories every night and it got to the point I started making stories up and Lucas loved them and I loved making them up too.

‘I made this story up for Lucas one evening off the top of my head. I decided it would be about a hippo in the jungle. I like the fact that it taught him something in a fun way. I researched the terminology so I didn’t get anything wrong and to ensure I’d got the process right.

‘I’ve had so much positive feedback about how people’s kids loved it, which has been brilliant,’ she said.

The book costs £5 and is on sale at the Charity Shop, the Alderney Centre and by emailing Sam on

sam@samanthaball.co.uk.