Emily's Adventures: The Nail Makers Workshop

Emily's Adventures: The Nail Makers Workshop is a richly illustrated and emotionally engaging children's historical nonfiction book that brings the forgotten world of 19th-century nail making vividly to life.

Told through the voice of young Emily, a child growing up in a working-class nail maker family, this book explores daily life in an Industrial Revolution workshop, where iron, fire, and family survival are closely bound together. Readers discover how nails were made by hand, the harsh working conditions of nailers, child labour realities, and the unfair practices of foggers and tommy shops-all explained in a way that is accessible, educational, and deeply human.

Perfect for history-loving children, homeschooling families, educators, and museums, this book combines storytelling with factual learning. It introduces young readers to Victorian trades, social history, industrial heritage, and traditional craftsmanship, while fostering empathy and historical understanding.

An ideal resource for Key Stage 2 history, classroom discussions, and curious young minds interested in how everyday objects once shaped lives.