We are proud to work with award winners the National Football Museum
We were delighted to work with the National Football Museum to create a children’s activity book. As recent winners of the visitor welcome award from the Museums & Heritage Show for their delivery of a world-class welcome for every visitor, it was vital that the new activity book was designed to suit the museum’s target audience, making the football museum engaging and accessible for families.
https://awards.museumsandheritage.com/awards/2026-winners/visitor-welcome-award-9/
We developed a hand-drawn character, ‘Pickles’ the dog, named after the famous dog that helped find the missing World Cup trophy in 1966. Pickles leads children through the book, sharing interesting football facts and guiding visitors around the various exhibits at the museum.
The full colour book includes puzzles and games and information about:
· The original Laws of the Association of football
· Football firsts (the oldest club and first England shirt)
· The FA Cup
· The Football League
· Mascots and anthems
· The women’s game
About the National Football Museum
The National Football Museum is the UK’s flagship home of football culture, history and storytelling – a modern, interactive museum in the heart of Manchester that celebrates the game’s impact on society, its heroes, and its unforgettable moments.
The museum is a charity dedicated to preserving and showcasing the heritage of English football. Its four floors combine historic artefacts, immersive galleries, hands-on games, and rotating exhibitions. It’s designed for everyone – lifelong fans, casual visitors, families, and schools, with a strong focus on why Football Matters culturally and socially.
Since opening in Manchester in 2012, the museum has welcomed over 3 million visitors from across the globe with a simple mission: to share stories about football. The museum has been shortlisted for the best family museum.
How Do Bespoke Activity Books Benefit Museums?
Colour Heroes’ bespoke activity books help museums turn a visit into an active, child-friendly, and educational experience that keeps families engaged for longer. They do this by combining storytelling, puzzles, illustration, and site-specific interpretation, all of which make museum content easier for children to understand and more fun to explore.
Here’s how a Colour Heroes’ activity book changes a family visit:
Children explore independently, giving adults more time to enjoy exhibitions.
Stories become interactive, not passive.
Parents feel supported, because their children are occupied and learning.
Museums gain a recognisable family offer, which is increasingly important for visitor numbers.
The museum’s narrative becomes memorable, thanks to characters, illustrations, and puzzles.
Our team worked closely with the team at the National Football Museum to ensure the activity book reflects the museum’s tone, brand, and unique story. Museums often struggle to communicate complex history or science to younger audiences. Colour Heroes’ illustrated characters, maps, and puzzles simplify these stories and make them accessible.
By making the visit more enjoyable for children, museums benefit from repeat visits and positive word of mouth from families who had a memorable experience. Our books are designed by our talented in-house illustrators who create accurate, age-appropriate content aligned with museum stories and learning goals. This supports informal learning, a core priority for museum educators.
“It was a privilege to work alongside the team at the National Football museum to engage their younger visitors and families.”
Vanessa, designer and illustrator
Find out how our family-focused resources can elevate your visitor experience. To book an appointment with Lorraine, call us on 01347 824 459 or email our friendly team at info@colourheroes.com.