James Carter (D 73-78) is a children’s poet / non-fiction writer / musician. He travels all over the UK and abroad to Primary and Prep schools as well as literary festivals to give lively performances and writing workshops.

This September sees the publication of James’s non-fiction picture book for children - The Beasts Beneath Our Feet – a prehistoric poem and the latest instalment of James’ ongoing science-based series for younger readers for Little Tiger Press. Written in rhyming verse, the aim of the series is to make the fundamentals of science – be it space, space travel, palaeontology, evolution, inventions and other areas fun and accessible for young children, and to encourage them to look wider and deeper into each subject. Each book has sumptuous illustrations from illustrators from around the globe – Japan, Brazil, Italy, Spain, France and with this title, Russia. The second book in the series, Once Upon A Raindrop – the story of water – has quickly become a staple in Primary classrooms.

This book is dedicated to James’ former Biology teacher at Bradfield - the late Tim Potts who taught at Bradfield from 1955 to 1987.  The story was in part inspired by a 30,000 yr old baby woolly mammoth jaw discovered in the Thames at Goring in the mid-70s, and now kept in the Museum in Oxfordshire in Woodstock. James says, ‘Tim was the most inspirational teacher I ever had at school. I was not a motivated student in my teens, but Tim really knew how to work the room, how to engage students and to really bring Biology to life. And we laughed a lot. Tim was a real character. So I’ve always wanted to dedicate one of my books to him, and this seemed the most appropriate.’

As Tim is sadly no longer with us, James is keen to get hold of Tim’s daughter Sarah, fellow Bradfieldian (D 77-79), and one of the college’s first two girls. If anyone is in touch with her, please contact James at jamescarterpoet@btinternet.com

More details about James' writing and all his books can be found on his website: jamescarterpoet.co.uk