Award-winning Yorkshire author launches children’s books teaching good manners
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Please pull up a chair, and take time out to enjoy a delightful new series of children’s books about good manners, written by a retired Yorkshire primary teacher.
Today’s children, and their parents, live in a fast-paced digital world, where communication can be reduced to quick messages, texts and emojis.
The vital skills of communication, empathy, kindness and good manners can be lost along the way.
Retired teacher Diane Hull spotted a gap in the market, and her award-winning books are available on Amazon, in Waterstones, various independent bookshops and online. And one lucky Halifax Courier reader will win a set for free, in our exclusive competition.
About the books
Her delightfully engaging characters, the Countryside Companions, who are beautifully illustrated by her friend Jeannie Duncanson, take youngsters on a gentle journey to learn the importance of being empathetic and polite.
“It’s not,” says Diane, about ‘making children posh’, but instead helping them learn vital skills for life.
Teaching children nice manners is teaching them about the importance of communication, helping people get along and understand other people’s points of view. The books also teach empathy, and working together.
From bank teller to award-winning author
Diane’s own background is in education, though she came to it later in life than expected. It was her dream at 19, but then a career in a bank, two young children, and a job as a teaching assistant came along. Her head teacher convinced her to get a teaching qualification, and Diane held down one job in the morning, another in the afternoon, and at 47 years old gained a 1st class honours degree in Early Years from Manchester University having studied in her spare time.
Eventually promoted to head of Early Years at Shade Primary, Todmorden, ill health forced Diane to retire early. Now 66, she wanted to put her time and talent to good use, and created a series of books. As well as the five ‘good manners’ books, there are earlier offerings, including a book about being unique and one about colour. A table manners book will follow shortly.
Jeannie has illustrated them beautifully, and they are written in short, repeated rhyming refrains, which works very well as a way for young children to learn.
The books are primarily aimed at children aged three to eight, and as well as being the perfect fit in any home in the region, she’s hoping teachers working hard to instil good manners in the under-resourced topic of Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (PSED) will find them useful.
A Yorkshire message
Now living in Cliviger, Diane added: “At their core, manners are about respect and consideration. Simple acts such as saying “please” and “thank you,” reflect an awareness of the feelings and needs of others. Teaching manners to young children is not easy. If parents model the use of please and thank you, children will quickly follow their lead.”
Each little rhyming story covers a different topic: “Please,” Thank you,“ “Excuse Me,” “ Taking Turns,” and “Sorry” and introduce animal characters from the “Countryside Companions.”
They teach life’s little lessons, and the Countryside Companions are Animals who share, because they really care.
Win a set of books
Diane has kindly offered a set of five books as a competition prize. To be in the running, answer this simple question.
What’s the magic word children are often taught to say?
A) Please
B) Abracadabra
C) EyUp
To enter, click here and fill in your details.
Terms and conditions apply, UK entrants only, the editor’s decision is final. The closing date for entries in 11.59pm on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
To buy the books, head to search Diane Hull on Amazon, find her at Waterstones, buy from independent book stores or find out more on her own website here.
Thank you for reading.