A FORMER teacher from Salisbury has published his first book for children inspired by the birth of his granddaughter.

Rocky Salt describes An Animalphabet as a quaintly zany A-Z book of illustrated animal poems for grown-up children and childish grown-ups.

He said: “Three years ago my daughter gave birth to my first grandchild, Isla, and I thought I would like to do something special to mark the occasion as they live in Australia and I don’t get to see them as often as I would like.

“Initially, I sent an A-Z of baby animal pictures taken from the internet which my daughter made a picture book out of.

“I then thought that I might do something to improve on that, so I set about writing a poem for each of the animals.

“Once the poems had been read aloud by a few friends and family members, I gathered from the positive reactions that I may have been onto something.”

Now, two years later, thanks to Rocky’s publisher brother in Washington DC, the book has been printed and is available from Salisbury Cathedral gift shop.

Rocky’s good friend, Fred Fieber, is the book illustrator, a break with tradition for the artist who is responsible for Salisbury’s largest mural, the one under the flyover at the top of Milford Street.

“It is funny, educational and sometimes eco-friendly,” Rocky said.

“In it, one can learn how the cheetah got its name, how the fox changed its diet, what the giraffe can do with its tongue and what on earth quaggas or uakaris are, or were.

“I have been absolutely delighted with the reception the book has been given. From a throw-away idea to mark the birth of my granddaughter, it has turned into something much bigger and something that I am very proud of.

“So much so that the follow-up book is already being written.”

Rocky who went to Bishop Wordsworth’s School spent 11 years as head of languages at an international hotel and catering college in the Bavarian Alps and ran the Wyndham Arms in Salisbury between 1999-2001 and 2008 - 2011. He now sits behind the front desk at the cathedral, welcoming visitors.

An Animalphabet can be purchased from the cathedral gift shop.