January 31, 2023

Meet the Author 2023: Steve Cole

Our Patron of Reading, author Steve Cole, was the star of the show today as almost 350 children from across Berkshire joined him at Leighton Park School for an energetic and inspirational talk. Twelve primary and prep schools brought their Year 5 students to hear about Steve’s journey as a writer. Developing from a youngster with a fear of aliens and a penchant for scribbling stories through to a successful career as the creator of the series for Young Bond, Astrosaurs and Cows in Action amongst his 200+ published books, Steve shared the highs and lows of working with words as a profession.

 

The entertainment factor was high with Steve leaping around the Main Hall in between the visiting students, strumming his ukulele and singing songs which made everyone laugh. There were moments of audience participation and the chance to ask Steve questions at the end of the session. Event organiser and Leighton Park’s Librarian, Grace Ritchie, commented “We were so delighted to welcome Steve Cole back onto the park today. We are so lucky to have him as our Patron of Reading and it’s was a great opportunity to extend the experience to students in the wider community outside Leighton Park. It is always lovely to see him inspiring a love of reading in the younger students, and they were absolutely roaring with laughter the whole way through!”

 

Each visiting school was welcomed by one of Leighton Park’s Year 10 Literacy Ambassadors, students trained to deliver literacy support in local primary schools by charity Assisting Berkshire Children with Reading (ABC Reading). The students lead fortnightly sessions delivering literacy activities or listening to younger pupils read as part of their Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) Curriculum.

 

The schools who joined the event included Caversham Prep, Christ the King Primary, St Edward’s Prep, Geoffrey Field Junior, St Mary’s Henley, The Palmer Academy, St Piran’s School, Ridgeway Primary, Whitley Park Primary, St Teresa’s Catholic Academy and New Christ Church Primary.

 

Tracy Casey, teacher at Christ the King Primary in Reading noted, “His energy was captivating for the children”. Helen Bambridge, Head of Year 5 at St Piran’s in Maidenhead, commented, “Book Week last week at our school as space themed and year 5 pupils are reading Astrosaurs as a class reader. I hoped that our pupils would learn about the joy of reading, inspired by a real author. From the laughter and the discussions all were engaged and they have benefitted by being motivated to read a book by Steve Cole.” Paris Finnegan, Year 5 teacher at St Teresa’s Catholic Academy in Wokingham, hoped her pupils would gain “an excitement for writing” and that the event was “very successful” in achieving her aims.

 

The visiting pupils agreed with Liara from The Ridgeway Primary School enthusing, “He was funny and inspired me to write a book!” whilst classmate Abir reflected, “I loved how he made us giggle. I was very lucky to meet him. My favourite book by Steve Cole is Astrosaurs because it is about dinosaurs in space which is creative.” “10/10” concluded Jacob from St Edward’s Prep with Lucy from Caversam Prep agreeing “I think the day was the best!”.

Meet the Author 2023: Steve Cole

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