On Tuesday 13th June, Waterstones Children’s Laureate (2022-2024), Joseph Coelho, will be visiting Cowes Library on the Isle of Wight.
It part of Joseph’s tour of public libraries across the South West of England on his bamboo bicycle, as part of his nationwide ‘Library Marathon’ tour.
An epic cross-country mission
The award-winning performance poet, playwright, and children’s author is on an epic cross-country mission to join a library in every local authority in the UK – more than 200 libraries in total – with the aim of encouraging people, young and old, to join their local library. Across the ‘Library Marathon’ tour, Coelho has been championing local libraries and the vital role they play within the community and inspiring a love of reading in young people.
Travelling by bicycle
This is the only leg of Coelho’s epic marathon where the Waterstones Children’s Laureate will be travelling by bicycle.
Following a return ferry ride to the Isle of Wight, where he will cycle to Cowes Library, Coelho will be pedalling between Portsmouth and Plymouth, with stopovers in Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset, and Torquay.
Coelho: They have been a vital part of my life
Joseph Coelho, Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2022–2024, said,
“As an avid cyclist, I can’t wait to gear up for the first bicycle leg of my Library Marathon tour! Libraries made me a writer and make communities thrive.
“They have been a vital part of my life: from living on estates where I had a library next door, to my first Saturday job, to working at the British Library whilst studying at UCL, to touring theatre shows designed to be performed in libraries.
“I’m immensely grateful to libraries and the services they provide, so I want to use my platform as the Waterstones Children’s Laureate to champion these essential launchpads of learning. I want to hug every library, these miraculous institutions where new horizons line the shelves, where minds go to grow.”
Jones-Evans: We hope Joseph’s visit will help encourage even more families to our libraries
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, Isle of Wight council’s Cabinet member responsible for libraries said,
“We are very much looking forward to Joseph Coelho’s visit to the Island. His work as Children’s Laureate in raising the profile of the importance of libraries to children and families is to be welcomed.
“We know the relevance of literacy in achieving positive life outcomes and the council aims to provide engaging children’s areas with a range of activities to encourage library participation.
“We hope Joseph’s visit will help encourage even more families to our libraries.”
Where and when
Joseph will visit Cowes Library, 12-14 Beckford Rd, PO31 7SG on Tuesday 13th June at 3.30pm.
Amongst the activities offered at Isle of Wight libraries are:
- Rhymetime – an informal, noisy session for babies and toddlers
- Children’s storytime
- Lego Clubs
- Family board games
- Dungeons & Dragons
Image: © Joseph Coelho
