Eastbourne teenager has written and illustrated a children’s book to help youngsters affected by bullying

Cristina Ruggiero has illustrated and written a book called Dotty the Doughnut. This book is aimed at four to seven-year-olds and has an important anti-bullying message - something Cristina feels very strongly about.

She said: “As a nation bullying is a big problem - especially when you start to grow up - so teaching young children to take a stand against bullying now will help them deal with it in the future.

“Thanks to the social stigma of being branded a ‘snitch’ or a ‘snake’, many instances of bullying go unreported, and children are afraid to tell teachers or parents.

“This is a cruel reality that many children have to live with everyday, and is something no child or teenager should ever have to go through alone.

“Children need to be reassured that they will always have a helping hand if they ask for it, and it is only if they speak up that the issue can be resolved.”

The idea came about when Cristina was set a school project in Year Eight to write a book for the primary children in the school. Two years later, and lots of hard work, Cristina has taken the project to another level and has her very own book available to Amazon.

She is also reading her book in assemblies at local primary schools to spread the message that children should speak up about bullies.

He proud parents Annarita and Giovanni Ruggiero said: “We have always tried to encourage and support Cristina in achieving her passions and dreams and to stand up for what is close to her heart.

“We had a few tears in our eyes as Dotty and his friends have the ability to deliver a strong message with the simplicity and innocence only children have and it melted our hearts.”

Cristina said: “It feels amazing to be able to say that you’ve written and published a story.

“It feels great to hold and flick through a book that you created.”

Cristina’s book is now available to buy on Amazon and she is donating 40 percent of the profits to BullyingUK.