SCHOOL pupils have waved off a book that will be heading off to sunnier climes and bringing back some valuable life lessons.

The Travelling Book will circumnavigate its way around the globe stopping at Holland, the US, Fiji, Australia, Thailand and Bangladesh before returning to the UK.

Youngsters from Dorchester Middle School will be following its progress online and learning about different cultures of the countries. The book’s first six pages are filled with information on life in Dorchester and the UK and are stuffed with mementos like photos, poems and pieces of writing and drawings done by the youngsters.

Community development worker Kris Hallett is calling on other schools to take part in the project – which will promote the Dorchester One World Festival this summer – by asking 10-year-olds to produce their own travelling books.

Mrs Hallett, of Dorset Community Action (DCA), said: “In this town we don’t have close contact with a large swathe of ethnic minorities so it’s not quite so easy to develop a good understanding of different cultures.”

The idea came about after Dorchester Middle School pupil James Cooke wanted to find a better way of staying in touch with his own relatives.

Mrs Hallett said: “The book will be sent to people that we know and trust in other countries.

“Pages will be added by people in each different country.

“It’s all in support of raising the profile of multiculturalism.”

The first travelling book has been sent off and will be returned to Dorchester in time for the One World Festival on August 8.

Pages will even be written in different languages.

Festival founder and Dorchester restaurateur Khalique Miah is involved in the project and will be translating pages written in Bengali sent by his Bangladesh-based brother.

People are being asked to take photos of each page as a back-up plan.

Mrs Hallett added: “It’s a fantastic way of learning that’s real and also very imaginative.”

Anyone who wishes to find out more about the travelling book scheme should contact Kris on 01305 216409.

The book’s pages and its progress around the world can be seen at dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk/travellingbook.