Here at Funky Gerbil we publish books and comics to help young people get important stuff across to grown-ups who don't seem to want to listen.

It's not because they don't care, it's just that... well... adults are usually incredibly busy and don't have the time they would like to just sit down and talk.

Many adults have also forgotten what it is like to be young. But the truth is, adults are just children who have been around for a long time. I know, I am one. A parent too. I was also a school teacher until I decided I could make more of a difference by doing this.

The books we publish begin life as something important that young people and adults really need to be talking about together. Such as what it is like to be stuck in school, bored all the time. Or what it is like to be Autistic, or Dyslexic.

We throw young people, authors and artists into a huge pot, stir and out comes a book or two. Sometimes even a comic strip or an animation. Why? To get everyone talking about stuff that matters.

Welcome. Look around. Contact us. Get involved.

Paul J.

(Proud) Editor of Funky Gerbil Press

Available from Amazon and bookshops worldwide

THE BLURB

An elephant has a dream, but a crowd of people think he is silly. Will he make his dream come true or listen to the voices telling him to stop?

ABOUT THE BOOK

This book is about raising self-belief in young children. A short tale written in verse and beautifully illustrated charts the journey of an elephant who is determined to fulfil his dream, despite a number of people giving him different reasons why he can't do it. But he does it anyway and leaves the doubters looking ... well ... a bit daft.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sue is married with two children. She works part-time as an Occupational Therapist and full-time as a mum. She likes to run, garden, cook and sew. This is her first venture into writing and illustrating and she hopes to continue with more books - kitchen garden / work / children permitting.

We think she should.

Available from Amazon and bookshops worldwide

Available from Amazon and bookshops worldwide

THE BLURB

Charley always seemed to get into trouble, though he didn't mean to. He was getting fed up of going to school, because he felt different than most of the other kids. Then he met his Aunty Bella... and everything changed.

ABOUT THE BOOK

This book is about dyspraxia, a neurological condition affecting 1 in 10 people, but it is still very misunderstood. We chose not to name it in the story because this book is for every child that is different. See our links to useful information about dyspraxia.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jane Binnion grew up with dyspraxia and watched her daughter do the same. Driven by frustration at people's misunderstanding of this condition, particularly within the education system, Jane decided to write a children's book that would hopefully get children and adults talking about what it is like to be different and why this is not necessarily a bad thing.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Colin Shelbourn is a gentleman - ed.

Available from Amazon and bookshops worldwide

Available from Amazon and bookshops worldwide

THE BLURB

Some people eat very little and exercise a lot. You could say obsessively so. Is this really a problem? Most of us tend to eat too much anyway.

As with all things in life, it’s about getting the right balance. Extreme under-eating and over-exercising is not just being obsessive, it is a very serious medical condition. One that can be deadly.

Whether you give it a name or not, this condition needs to be recognised by family, friends and teachers. This is why the author chose to write about her own experiences with anorexia.

ABOUT THE BOOK

This book is about raising awareness of eating disorders amongst primary school-aged children. It can also be used to broach the subject with a child you suspect has an eating disorder. "What are you running from?" is not a medical book. It is a catalyst for discussion of the social and emotional aspects of eating disorders.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lynn Hamel was diagnosed with anorexia when she was 11. At 29, Lynn is a top athlete, having learned how to manage her food intake to fuel her exercise. She wanted to share her story.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Chris Duncan is a natural talent. He expertly observes behaviour and translates this into detailed and humorous manga-style sketches. This is Chris's first book. Oh, Chris has Autistic Asperger's and is planning to tell his story at another point, but currently we keep him busy with The Speshuls project.

Available from Amazon and bookshops worldwide

We are currently working on two children's books about what it is like to have Dyslexia. They will be written by dyslexics of course, we wouldn't do it any other way!

The Speshuls as a comic strip arose from the observation that many young people with special needs also had something about them that made them special.

We know this instinctively. Blind people have an amazing sense of where they are through sound and smell. Deaf people have an amazing ability to read body language and some can even tell what someone else is saying just by watching their lips move!

The point is, a weakness in one area typically leads to a strength in another. While most of us are just boring with average strengths and weaknesses, some of us have special strengths.

Every teacher will also tell you this is true, from the autistic kid who doesn't seem to be able to get on with others but who everyone goes to if they are stuck, to the kid who doesn't seem to like learning in class but who displays an amazing talent for football once outside on the playground.

But, like adults, young people have to put up with a lot of stuff. Especially those of us who are different in some way. Unfortunately many adults seem to forget that young people can also suffer from depression, lack of confidence, boredom and anger. 

Many young people don't know why they are different, they just seem to be, and are often made to feel bad because of it. This leads to a vicious circle.

Enter The Speshuls. The Speshuls are a rag tag group of young people who find themselves thrown together because they are all different in some way. But The Speshuls recognise what makes them special - in a good way - rather than focus on the bad. The world would be a better place if we all learned to do the same. Perhaps they call themselves The Speshuls to poke fun at those who think special is a bad word?

Chris Duncan, our artist, favours a westernised manga drawing style to bring The Speshuls to life. So far we have invented Burger, Dizzy and Manic. Each one has a special need but that special need also gives them a special power. 

We'd like you to help us come up with some other characters and story lines. The Speshuls belongs to you. While we are still only at the concept stage, we see The Speshuls turning into an online comic strip, with a printed annual to celebrate the best of The Speshuls each year.