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Toni's tummy of screams and dreams - children's story

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Toni’s Tummy of Screams and Dreams follows Toni, an aspiring dancer, navigating school life while managing the unpredictability of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

The book opens up conversations around sudden toilet trips, dietary restrictions, fatigue and pain, the value of safe spaces and supportive staff, and the power of kindness and empathy from peers.

Toni’s story highlights not only the challenges of attending school with a bowel condition (the screams), but also the possibilities (the dreams) when schools listen, adapt, and champion inclusion.

Download the story (PDF)

How the story was created

This project was led by Dr Catherine Wilkinson at Liverpool John Moores University, in collaboration with Research Assistant Dr Jenna Rice and Illustrator Charlotte Wood.

As part of a participatory research approach, seven children and young people living with IBD shared their experiences of navigating school life with a bowel condition. Their insights directly informed the development of characters and storyline for the book.

The resulting storybook, written by Dr Catherine Wilkinson and illustrated by Charlotte Wood, authentically reflects the lived experiences of children and young people attending school with IBD.

Crohn's & Colitis UK supported the project by promoting the research and assisting with participant recruitment.

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