Linda Hill Miller, owner of Ayrshire-based LAH Travel, and Shirley Husband, best known for writing The McCoo Family series, have come up with Kaleido’s Travels.

Through Kaleido, a “completely original creature and fresh new travel companion”, the pair hope to teach young children about history, geography, science, culture and general global awareness. Kaleido’s “mission” is detailed on his website and YouTube channel.

Miller and Husband are inviting travel firms to collaborate. “We invite partners who share our vision of inspiring young explorers and their families with the magic of travel to join us on this exciting journey,” the pair said.

Sally Preseig, who has worked on puppets for and starred in CBeebies shows such as Button Moon, Peggy Patch and The Tweenies, is creating the two-foot Kaleido puppet. Kaleido will be a regular visitor to schools and events, according to Miller and Husband.

Miller said: “I have a nine-year-old niece, and when she was booked on her first cruise, she had all sorts of anxious thoughts about her ship sinking. It made me realise that children have many fears and questions about travel."

She continued: “Kaleido brings new energy and will teach the next generation how precious and wonderful our world is. His potential is huge – I’m really looking forward to the next 12 months and exciting potential collaborations.”

Husband added: “It’s amazing to work on this project with Linda, who has worked in the travel industry for 30 years and has built a fantastic reputation among her colleagues and associates.

“We’re both extremely passionate about travel and our ability to inspire children to forget their worries, learn about the wider world and be inspired by what’s possible.”