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The book, developed by the Council’s Education Development Team in collaboration with author Delyth Owen, follows the adventures of Aled Afal – a curious happy apple who journeys across Neath Port Talbot, discovering some of the area’s most iconic and heritage-rich locations. From the historic grounds of Margam Park to the peaceful trails of The Gnoll and the golden sands of Aberafan Beach, Aled’s journey is a celebration of the county borough’s natural beauty and cultural landmarks.

Designed to inspire reading among young learners, the book is part of a wider initiative named ‘Treehouse Tales’ to promote literacy and a love for the local area. The Education Development Team worked closely with pupils from a range of primary schools in the county to gather ideas for the story, ensuring the book reflects the imagination and voice of the community’s youngest residents. The book also features illustrations of the locations Aled Afal visits, bringing each destination to life for readers.

The launch event featured a live reading of the book by Paul Doyle from the Council’s Library Service and Rhys Locke from the Education Development Team, a talk by author Delyth Owen on how the story came to life, and a performance by pupils from a local primary school.

Copies of Aled Afal Explores will be distributed to all schools and libraries across Neath Port Talbot. They will also be on sale at The Gnoll.

Councillor Nia Jenkins, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Early Years, said: “Encouraging children to read from an early age is one of the most important things we can do to support their development. Aled Afal Explores is a wonderful example of how storytelling can spark curiosity, build literacy skills, and connect young readers with the rich heritage of their local area. I’m delighted to see the creativity of our Education Development Team, local pupils, and Delyth Owen come together in such a meaningful and engaging way.”

Delyth Owen highlighted that the partnership between herself and the Education Department was the result of over eighteen months of dedicated networking, all driven by a shared commitment to improving literacy standards across schools in the county. Reflecting on the initiative, she remarked, “This book will not only inspire our children, parents, and teachers—it will ignite curiosity about the local area, serving as a powerful bilingual ‘hook’ for learning within the Curriculum for Wales.”

The NPT Children's Book Festival is supported by the Heritage, Culture, Tourism and Events (HCTE) fund part of the UKSPF Place Prosperity Fund.

Managed by Neath Port Talbot Council, the aim of the HCTE part of the UKSPF Place Prosperity Fund is to support projects that invest in our local heritage and culture (including the arts), which have a positive impact on wellbeing, social cohesion, tackling isolation and facilitating access to services.

The UKSPF Place Prosperity Fund is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.