Perivale teacher publishes her first children’s book

A Perivale teacher has turned her experience in the classroom into her first children’s book. Zainab Shahid, assistant headteacher at Selborne Primary School, has published the picture book “But, It’s Raining!”, and pupils at her school have already staged an assembly performance based on the story.

From classroom observations to a book

Shahid has worked in primary education for 13 years. The idea grew from the reactions of younger pupils on rainy days, when outdoor play had to give way to activities inside. She decided to show children that rain does not have to mean only cancelled plans.

The story follows six-year-old Ming Mei. She would rather stay at home because she believes rain spoils everything. Conversations with her mother help her understand that water allows plants to grow, provides for animals and sustains the natural world. The book is intended to encourage young readers to find a positive side to bad weather.

The author also wanted children to encounter characters from a range of backgrounds in the books they read. Ming Mei is British Chinese, and her name was partly inspired by one of Shahid’s pupils. Shahid, who is British Pakistani and grew up in multicultural west London, treated diversity as a natural part of the story rather than its only subject.

What happened at school

The book was released during the summer. According to Ealing Council, copies have been placed in classrooms and the school library, while pupils presented their own adaptation of the story in an assembly. Shahid navigated the publishing process herself and found an illustrator online. She has also created songs and animations connected with the book.

The debut may be the start of a series. Shahid is already working on a second story, this time about autumn and the changing seasons, and Ming Mei may return in future instalments.

How to get a copy

Around Ealing is running a competition with one signed copy as the prize. Entries should be emailed to aroundealing@ealing.gov.uk with “But, It’s Raining!” in the subject line and must include the entrant’s name, address and contact details. The deadline is 11.59pm on Monday, 12 October. Only one entry per person is allowed. The winner will be selected at random and contacted after the competition closes.

The book can also be bought through online bookshops. Retail listings identify it as a 46-page English-language paperback published by Maple Publishers. For families in Perivale, the local connection is direct: the author works at Selborne Primary School, and the story has already moved from the page into school activities involving its pupils.