A CHILDREN’S books publisher has been selected as one of the UK’s trailblazing small businesses.

JaJaJa Books, based in Colchester, was founded in 2010 by Genevieve Yusuf.

She originally set up the firm after writing stories which included a foreign language to encourage young children to learn languages earlier.

She has since gone on to write and publish books to encourage empathy and inclusion, with one book, “Sam and the Spider”, written in collaboration with the Multi-Schools Council.

The book caters for children with special educational needs.

The publisher has been chosen as one of 100 small businesses in the official countdown to Small Business Saturday, which takes place across the UK in December.

In the 100 days running up to Small Business Saturday, the campaign will spotlight each of the Small Biz 100, as part of its mission to celebrate small business success.

JaJaJa Books is being placed in the spotlight on September 26, when it will be celebrating by offering a free story time and a selection of books to one lucky school in Colchester.

Genevieve said: “I work tirelessly to keep JaJaJa Books running and I am so passionate about my books.

“To be recognised and be part of Small Business Saturday makes me feel so very proud. It’s a wonderful campaign and a great way to showcase the incredible small businesses in the UK.”

Small Business Saturday is open to all businesses and will commence its regional bus tour roadshow across the UK during the autumn, to drum up further support.

Michelle Ovens MBE, director of Small Business Saturday, said: “Each year this campaign has grown in support from government, business and communities alike, so we can’t wait to begin the annual 100-day countdown.

“Small Business Saturday’s increasing popularity means it was harder than ever to choose just 100 of this country’s incredible 5.6 million small businesses to showcase.”