A weekly treasure hunt, with clues released on the We Are Bedford Facebook group, is launching this Saturday (23 May) to celebrate the release of a new children’s book.
The events have been created to mark the launch of the second instalment of the ‘Monster (Being Different Was Just The Start)’ series by local author Jamie Hammond and his creative partner, John Charlesworth.
‘A Monster’s Life For Me’ follows Eric, a unique young human boy, as he navigates a world where monsters exist in everyday life.
As a one-of-a-kind individual, he faces isolation and misunderstanding but ultimately finds belonging through family, friendship, and self-acceptance.
“After the first book launched, we already had multiple plans laid out for the further adventures of Monster,” said Jamie.
“Choosing one for the second book was the hard part, but we feel ‘A Monster’s Life For Me’ was the perfect way to forward Eric’s story in a fun, informative and relatable way.”
The series of books is deeply rooted in lived experience, drawing from the authors’ personal connections to autism and ADHD.
The books explore what it truly means to feel different in a world that often struggles to understand neurodiversity.
“While awareness has evolved, the challenges remain familiar,” said Jamie.
“Monster channels these experiences into stories that are both entertaining and meaningful, offering readers a relatable and uplifting perspective on individuality.”
Treasure hunt
Designed to get children outdoors, exploring their home town and rediscovering the joy of reading, the treasure hunt will run every weekend in collaboration with the Facebook group, We Are Bedford.
A riddle will be posted each Saturday and Sunday morning on the Facebook group, guiding participants to a hidden Monster treasure pack. The first to find it wins.
Winners simply need to snap a photo of the prize at its location and share it on the Monster Facebook group here to trigger the next round.
Additional explorers who find the spot and post their photos will receive a free Monster badge.
“With so much emphasis on digital media, phones and tablets, we wanted to give families a good reason to spend time together outside in a fun way,” Jamie told the Bedford Clanger.
“Bedford has so much to offer and see, and hopefully with the treasure hunt being the catalyst, families will discover more about the town and enjoy its wonderful parks, waterways and amenities.”
