A BARRY cake designer has set her sights on the USA and Barry after her first attempt at children’s storytelling took off in New York.

31-year-old Laura Shire spent Thanksgiving week in the States stood in front of a group of nursery-age youngsters at an American school telling the tale of The Cloud That Couldn’t Cry – her first published, illustrated, book.

Laura, who was shy and struggled in school English lessons but always felt she was creative, captivated the five-year-olds at the Rainbowland nursery school, NYC, following an invitation from director's assistant Kathy Auda who contacted her via Facebook.

Laura also met child trauma therapist Kristen Slesar to talk about the book in which Roxy, a cloud, discovers she cannot rain – a tale which encourages children to understand their emotions and the effect on them.

Laura, of Rectory Road, said: “I took some Welsh bits and bobs to groups of four-to-five-year-olds.

“They loved the book and they really liked hearing about Wales and the dragon. They were calling me Miss Laura. It was so cute.

“It was terrifying at first, but the teachers were all so nice. After a while you just get used to it.

“If someone had told me at the beginning of the year that I’d be reading at a New York school I’d never have believed them so the message is never give up.

“I’m just so grateful they had me there. It was an amazing experience for me and I’m thankful.”

Laura had also had orders for her book from 12 schools, catering for underprivileged children, in Ohio and would like to share Roxy’s tale with any interested schools in Barry and the Vale.

Laura’s dad Tony died, when she was 10, and it had been on a drive through town years later that she had hit on the idea of what was the easiest way possible to talk about something.

She is currently working on her second book.

Laura contacted Cardiff-based publisher Candy Jar and, with illustrator Terry Cooper, produced the book which is now available for sale.

The Cloud That Couldn’t Cry, costing £4.99, is available from Laura on www.facebook.com/TheCloudThatCouldntCryByLauraShire or www.roxytheraincloud.weebly.com