Knife and gang crime is a serious problem in society which, unfortunately is involving younger children than in years gone by. Peer pressure can push children into patterns of behaviour which can have highly destructive and violent outcomes.
Echo’s New Watch encourages discussion about the reasons people carry knives and the impact on victims. The book helps convey the message to children to be strong, not to give in to pressure from others and underlines the fact knives are dangerous.
Echo’s New Watch follows Echo Squirrel as he gets lost in the forest and is confronted by a gang of weasels. They threaten him and take his new watch. Poor Echo is lost and frightened but luckily for him one of the weasels turns out to be kinder than the rest and she goes to find Barney Eagle who rescues him. Soon Echo is safely back home. He
tells his friends about what has happened and they all agree to start a ‘No More Knives’ campaign.
The book is punctuated by activities that develop the learning objectives for the children.
Echo's New Watch is a fun and interactive support to children’s citizenship education in primary schools.