A CHILDREN'S author and illustrator from York has had her first picture book published.

Ailsa Burrows has created The Jar of Happiness, with publisher Child's Play.

The book tells the story of Meg, who fills a jar with her favourite things to invent her own kind of happiness, and finds it is the perfect way to cheer up her loved ones when they are feeling low.

Ailsa said: "I wanted the book's themes to be as universal as possible, and to create a story that gets to the heart of something bigger than the story itself. I hope that The Jar of Happiness will encourage children to discuss and explore relationships and what makes them happy.

"I was also keen to avoid Meg being too girly to broaden her appeal and avoid gender stereotypes. It was important to me to create a character who is creative, imaginative, smart and generous, and who knows what she wants.”

Ailsa grew up in Northallerton and now lives in Holgate with her husband and baby son. She studied Fine Art at university before working at a design agency and art galleries, before gaining a Masters in Children's Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art.

Local stockists of the book include The Little Apple bookshop in High Petergate, York.