An author from the Cheddar Valley has released a book that aims to help increase the understanding of adoption.

Local writer Molly Ashton has written The Kite's Tale: A Story of Adoption, which is a picture book with three chapters that has a thread of hope throughout.

The Kite's Tale follows the story of Archie, who longs for a brother or sister, and Posy, who needs a forever home.

Molly told Cheddar Nub News: "The Kite's Tale was written out of our own adoption journey, with two of our four children being adopted.

"As we went through our first adoption, our social worker apologised for the lack of books through which we could prepare our two small sons for an adopted sibling, and suggested I write one. Several years and a second adoption later, I did.

"It has been promoted well by adoption agencies, but I'm now keen to get it into the wider market place.

"Books are a powerful, yet gentle, way of offering a window into someone else's life, and reading helps us to grow in understanding and empathy toward those whose journey is different from our own.

"People are often curious about adoption but afraid to ask in case they ask the 'wrong' questions. It's not a closed subject any more, and openness, alongside respect for our kids' privacy, can only help in increasing understanding towards all those involved in the adoption 'triangle'."

The Kite's Tale has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon, with comments including "A really helpful and positive book about a family's journey to adoption" and "A perfect book to help a child with the excitement and worries, of having an adopted sibling in a gentle, beautiful and real way".

It can be bought via Amazon HERE or via Austin Macauley Publishers HERE.