A scribe from the Valleys area is embracing historical narratives to motivate youngsters to explore literature.

Paul Wines has debuted Wild Hair: The Storyteller, a comic-format book aimed at children who struggle to connect with traditional novels.

The writer, born and raised in Maesteg, hopes to attract the interest of hesitant readers through vibrant, image-centric historical tales.

He remarked that when a young person announces they dislike reading, he challenges that notion. He explained that what they typically mean is they have not yet encountered an approach that speaks to them personally. Once they discover that gateway, a remarkable shift takes place.

This newest publication represents the next chapter in Candy Jar Books’ Wild Hair series, building on the debut title Wild Hair: The Shadow of the Fox. The inaugural volume has also been released in Welsh.

The story progresses through graphic novel presentation, designed to feel reminiscent of watching a movie unfold across the page rather than reading conventional text.

Wines observed that compelling children to love books produces no positive outcomes. Instead, one must capture their imagination, evoke their feelings, and sustain their attention so they remain absorbed without even recognising they are reading.

Shaun Russell, head of publishing at Candy Jar Books, described how this method tackles a persistent issue.

He pointed out that a literacy hurdle is evident for everyone to observe. Many children form early beliefs that books are not suited to them, and once that perception becomes entrenched, altering it becomes tremendously difficult.

The Storyteller expands the Wild Hair realm with vibrant artwork by Johan Ari Wijaya and Fajar Maulana Harahap.

The book hit shelves on April 30 and is stocked at independent retailers via the Books Council of Wales.