November 18, 2021

Four Primary Schools Meet the Author: Steve Cole

We were delighted to welcome four local primary schools to Leighton Park on Thursday 18th November to meet our Patron of reading and popular children’s author, Steve Cole, during National Schools Partnership Week.

Whitley Park Primary, Ridgeway Primary, St Teresa’s Catholic Academy and Thameside Primary were treated to an array of entertainment including anecdotes from Steve’s childhood, ukulele performances, audience participation sing-a-long, and a talk on being a writer. Our visitors went away with heads full of compound words and how to make them, their imaginations firing with fantastical stories about their pets, and possibly a new phobia of salad vegetables!

Steve’s exuberant presentation charted his writing career from a young boy to the successful author he has become having written 210 books with no plans to stop! His latest fictional work was co-written with Tim Peake and ‘Swarm Rising’ is set to feature on the Christmas list of many KS2 pupils this year! Steve’s fascination with aliens began early with an intrigue about outer space that was laced with an equal amount of fear as he grew up. Having channelled his imagination into writing he has created many books featuring monsters and aliens including the phenomenally popular series Astrosaurs, featuring dinosaurs in space over almost 30 books, and the 12-book series, Cows in Action.

“It was amazing and so fun!” said Henry from St Teresa’s.”This is the best place ever ad I would love to meet Steve Cole again.” Added classmate, Lena. “I don’t think it could be better, 5 star!” agreed Stella. Yvonne John, teacher at Ridgeway Primary, commented, “The students have benefitted from an engaging performance, great writing ideas and ambition; you can be an author!” Justine Dabrowski, Teaching Assistant at Thameside Primary agreed, “It has given them so many ideas for their writing. We would not change a thing, it was amazing fun!”. ‘Steve Cole is a funny guy!” concluded Devesh from Whitley Park Primary.

Commenting on social media parents of the children who attended said “My son was there today and had a great time, thank you!” (Michelle D) and another commented “My son has not stopped talking about today, thank you!” (Alison C).

Leighton Park Librarian, Grace Ritchie, who organised the event enthused, “We were so delighted to welcome Steve Cole onto the park today in our first major, in-person author event in nearly two years! It was lovely to see him inspiring the younger students and they were absolutely roaring with laughter the whole way through.”

See more photos from the afternoon in our Flickr gallery.

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