- Royal Bolton Hospital domestic Holly Flynn has written and illustrated children’s book about ADHD
- The book helps children understand ADHD in a fun, positive way
- Holly taught herself digital illustration to create the artwork
A member of staff at Royal Bolton Hospital has turned her personal experiences into a children’s book designed to help young people better understand ADHD.
Holly Flynn, a hospital domestic working for Bolton NHS Foundation Trust’s estates and facilities partner, iFM Bolton, was inspired to write and illustrate the book after reflecting on her own experiences growing up with ADHD and the self-doubt she often faced.
Holly says she spent many years struggling with focus, distraction and confidence, often being labelled as “ditzy” without fully understanding why her brain worked differently. As she grew older and began helping friends and family understand ADHD, she realised there was a need for a book she wished she’d had as a child.
Aimed at children aged four to eight, the book, called ‘When my cloud gets busy’, explains ADHD in a fun and accessible way, helping young readers understand why certain things can be more challenging for them while also celebrating the strengths that come with thinking differently.
Holly said:
“I wanted children to be able to see themselves in the story and understand themselves a little better. Kids with ADHD are often told to concentrate, sit still or stop getting distracted, but they don’t always understand why those things can be harder for them. I wanted to show that having a brain that works differently isn’t a bad thing and that there are positives that come with it too.”
Determined to bring her vision to life, Holly not only wrote the book but also taught herself digital illustration using Procreate so she could create all of the artwork herself.
She added:
“I’ve always wanted to write a book, so eventually I just thought, ‘Why not me?’ I’m really proud of how it all came together. If the book helps even one child feel a little more understood or more confident in themselves, then I’ve achieved what I set out to do.”
The project reflects Holly’s passion for supporting others and helping children with ADHD recognise that their differences can be a strength, empowering them to better understand themselves from an early age.
‘When my cloud gets busy’ is available to buy now on Amazon as a paperback and Kindle Edition.
