A NEWPORT teacher is preparing for his fourth children’s book to hit the shelves early next year.

Paul Manship, a teacher at Millbrook Primary School, Bettws, for more than 20 years, has just finished his fourth book called Just Imagine.

Aimed at eight- to 14-year-olds, the book tells the tale of Ellis and best friend Jay who are visited at their school by a famous storyteller called Dylan Morgan, based on the author Daniel Morden, who has visited Millbrook Primary several times.

The two boys find themselves in a land called Phantasmagoria, where Ellis discovers he will need all of his imagination in order to survive.

Mr Manship, whose other books include Rewind, The Cube and Dear Mr Author, said his love of books started as a child when he was taken to Maindee library on Saturday mornings by his father, where he would borrow fairytale anthologies.

The teacher has also written Og and the Cup of Good Fortune, which was a short story commissioned to celebrate last year’s Ryder Cup.

He said: “I had a fantastic year last year, winning the Tir na n-Og and appearing at the Hay Festival.”

Mr Manship won the award from the Welsh Books Council for Dear Mr Author.