Doncaster author to donate books to local schools this autumn
A Doncaster author is donating her books to local schools to bring the joy of reading to children.
Local author and illustrator Lisa Davis‑Isaacs is on a mission to bring a welcome dose of “delightful disorder” to classrooms across the community.
This week, the Bircotes-based creator is hand‑delivering free book donation packages to pupils at two of Harworth’s three local primary schools — Harworth Church of England Academy and St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School.
Each donation bundle includes physical copies of The Mayhem Menagerie: Kids’ Edition series, alongside her award‑winning adult creative non‑fiction memoir The Mayhem Menagerie: Chaos Untold, winner of Best Memoir Voice at the national Booky Awards.
Inspired entirely by the real-life, lawless antics of the animals at Davis‑Isaacs’s home on the South Yorkshire–Nottinghamshire border, the series introduces local children to Houdini, a silver bantam with a severe distrust of falling leaves; Henry and Junior, two turkeys with highly questionable judgment; and Sanjay, a smug black cat who rules the household with absolute seriousness.
“These books are a completely free gift to our local pupils — no forms, no requests, and no follow‑up required,” says Davis‑Isaacs.
“With the incredible stress our schools and families have faced recently, my only goal is to place these stories in teachers’ care and bring genuine laughter, imagination, and a bit of everyday magic to our library shelves.”
In the coming weeks, Davis‑Isaacs will be delivering similar donation packages to primary schools in Bawtry, Misson, and Tickhill, expanding the initiative across the wider Doncaster and North Nottinghamshire area.
Parents, educators, and animal lovers can follow the flock’s ongoing adventures and upcoming seasonal releases via Matriarch Publishing @ www.mayhemmenagerie.co.uk.