Bella & Joe Explore Eynsham is a visitor guide with a difference, starting from Eynsham Lock but approaching the sights of the village from a child's perspective. There are questions along the way, points of interest to tick off, and an absorbing series of images to take home as a souvenir - and colour on a rainy day.
Bella and Joe are on a boating holiday. A picnic on the riverbank by Swinford Bridge tempts them to explore the village of Eynsham... and you are invited to join them. A useful map highlights some of the appealing features you will find there.
Heading into the centre via the Talbot Inn and children's play area - and diverted by goodies in the traditional DIY and bread shop - they reach the Market Square to find the Carnival in full swing, with Morris dancing and the annual Shirt Race.
A tour of the Square includes the Bartholomew Room, Eynsham Cross and a point on the Abbey Heritage Trail (not to mention the resident cat) but is crowned by an exclusive visit to bell tower of St Leonard's Church. The churchyard has unexpected treats too, with horses to admire in the field next door, and the Abbey Fishponds offer wildlife in abundance.
Back in the village centre, there's just time to resolve a couple of interesting questions in the Library before tea at Eynsham Emporium and a stroll back to the Lock.
Bella and Joe explore Eynsham has 20 pages of line drawings at full (A4) size, plus a cover in full colour. All proceeds will go towards the renovation of St Leonard's Church Hall.
This charming book is clearly destined to become a collector's item. The illustrations were provided by June Middleton, who devised the costumes for Eynsham Mysteries 2010 (her style will be instantly recognisable), with artwork for all the background detail by her husband Bill. Which of them drew the cat and other creatures is still unclear...
Bella and Joe themselves are thinly disguised references to Isabella and Joseph, grandchildren of Doreen Hockedy, who 'story-boarded' the book with their mother Deborah de Kock. Isabella first appeared as a babe in arms to advertise St Benedict's Fair in 2005.
The book goes on sale this weekend in St Leonard's Church Hall, as part of the Cotswold Churches Festival, amongst a pile of photos and preliminary drawings (not for sale).
It will soon be available more widely at local shops including Mille-Fleurs on Mill Street and at St Leonard's Church.
Bella and Joe explore Eynsham is another venture from Eynsham Enterprises - just one year on from their triumph of collaboration on the Eynsham Cookbook.