PUPILS from eight Berkshire primary and prep schools joined students at Leighton Park School in Reading, for a Meet The Author event.
Steve Cole, Leighton Park’s Patron of Reading, shared the ups and downs of writing, and engaged a young audience of 363 Year 4 and 5 pupils with humour and imagination.
The children’s author has sold more than three million books, including Dr Who stories: I Tardis, Ten Days Of Christmas, and Time Lord Victorious.
Other children’s books include Astrosaurs, Cows in Action, and Young Bond series.
Leighton Park School felt he was an ideal author to engage young audiences.
He also has a talent for the ukulele, as the children discovered when they met him.
Steve’s newest book, Drowning in my Bedroom is the latest of more than 200 published children’s books.
He discussed his experiences as a successful author, with many digressions prompting bouts of laughter.
His audience was able to ask questions, share their thoughts, and gain insights into the creative process of writing.
Children from New Christchurch Primary, Whiteknights Primary, Christ the King Primary, Ridgeway Primary, Whitley Park Primary, St
Piran’s Prep School, Caversham School and Hemdean House attended.
Children said that they had enjoyed the fact that the event was ‘very funny’.
One pupil said that she ‘hadn’t read any of Steve Cole’s books, but now she really wanted to.’
Andrea Hutchison, deputy head at Caversham Prep School, said: “The event was excellent in promoting a new genre of reading.”
She added that her students had been inspired to write and to see the value in writing.
Alex Matthews, Year 5 teacher at New Christchurch Primary agreed that the event had made writing seem exciting and fun for the students.
Steve Cole has been School’s Patron of Reading since 2019, engaging thousands of children over the last four years.
He will end this role in the summer, when Leighton Park librarian Grace Ritchie will welcome a new author, and launch the school’s new library in the Grove House Sixth Form Centre.
For more information, visit: www.leightonpark.com
