Recently, I have been really struck by this quote as we have been beavering away behind the scenes on ‘Where we live is creative’. The book is an accumulation of lots of ideas and inspiration feeding in experience from my working life in education, publishing and heritage – it is beautiful book that synthesises different strands of creativity found in the UK and, of course, around the world (although the book focuses on UK creativity). Emily Shore has brought the chapters and birds, Fern and Bay, to life beautifully, crafting an invitational and optimistic tone perfect for families.
Where we live is creative by Emily Shore, illustrated by Marion Lindsay
‘Where we live is creative’ is not only symbolic of my working journey but features the brilliance of organisations and artists from across the UK (and further in the case of Thomas Dambo whose Giant of Sperrin, Ceoldàn, is featured in the book). Every page, activity and theme presented is a nudge towards creative possibilities. I hope that by representing these in the book, children and their families will notice creativity in their own communities and that this will develop an appreciation for art, creativity and expression. I think of all the educators who’ve championed the idea that learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. Learning extends into homes, parks, neighbourhoods, and the spaces between.
‘Where we live is creative’ is essentially a love letter to all of these influences. It’s our attempt to gather up the wisdom of those who’ve understood that creativity isn’t solely about works in a gallery (although I love galleries). It’s also about seeing, wondering, and engaging with the world around us in meaningful ways. I’ve written before about our connection to people and places in this blog.
Including Families In the Conversation
One of the most important aspects of this work is recognising that children’s learning exists in multiple places. What happens at school is one part of the story. The moments that happen at home, on the walk to the shops, in gardens and parks, or around our own communities, these moments are rich with creative potential.
Emily has thought carefully about how to broaden out the book to include families. It’s a book designed and written to be shared. Because when we invite families to notice creativity in their everyday environments alongside their children, something magical happens. Parents start seeing their neighbourhoods through fresh eyes too. Siblings become collaborators in wonder. Grandparents share stories about how their own streets have changed over the years.
Learning becomes a shared journey, not a separate learning topic kept within school.
A Resource for Teachers
For teachers working with this material, we’ve created a companion poster that brings together the key ideas from ‘Where we live is creative’ in a visual, accessible format. Think of it as your ‘working wall’ for creativity – something you and the children in your class can use to gather their thoughts and ideas in one place and as a way to get excited about creativity in your community.
The poster captures the heart of the book: that the places we inhabit are filled with creative possibilities, and that helping children develop their ‘noticing muscles’ in these familiar spaces is one of the most valuable gifts we can offer. The themes of the book link to the National Curriculum (England) Art & Design Programme of Study for Key Stage 1, and are relevant for the Curriculum for Excellence (Scotland), the Curriculum for Wales and the Northern Ireland Curriculum.
So yes, we stand on the shoulders of giants. We’ve borrowed brilliance from educators, from creative schools of thought, from artists and makers who teach us to see, from communities that understand the power of place.
And now, we’re hoping to pass that borrowed brilliance forward to you, to the teachers and families and children who will take these ideas and make them their own. Because that’s how knowledge grows, isn’t it? We are inspired, we borrow, we learn, we share.
I’d love to hear how you’re noticing creativity in the places you live. What have your children drawn your attention to lately? What moments of wonder have surprised you in familiar spaces?
‘Where we live is creative’ published on 17 Dec 2025. It is available via Amazon and boskypublishing.com
Author: Emily Shore
Illustrator: Marion Lindsay
Featuring artists, artworks, organisations and events including:
Leicester’s Festival of Lights, Eisteddfod, Northern Ballet, PuppetSoup, Write2Speak, Thomas Dambo, Antony Gormley, Maggi Hambling, Hannah Horn, James Brunt and Simon O’Rourke.
You can download our accompanying poster here at TES Resources.