RENOWNED author and poet Paul Cookson visited Harewood Primary in Thornaby on Wednesday (15 November) to deliver an inspiring session to schoolchildren.
As part of the Northern Children’s Book Festival, Paul’s visit gave the pupils the opportunity to listen to some of his unique poetry and storytelling. With over sixty titles and three quarters of a million books sold since 1989, Paul is currently the official Poet in Residence for the National Football Museum.
The region-wide festival has seen six acclaimed authors visit approximately 2,000 pupils at nine of the Borough’s primary and secondary schools with the aim of inspiring a love of reading and storytelling in a new generation.
Councillor Norma Wilburn, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Arts, Leisure and Culture, said: “It has been fantastic to see the sessions go down so well with the pupils and I am sure that they have taken a lot out of them. I hope it really encourages them to continue reading new books, stories and poems throughout the rest of their lives.”
Paul said: “Coming to the Northern Children’s Book Festival is always a highlight of my year. A great, friendly festival and it’s an honour and a pleasure to be part of it while meeting old friends and making new ones. Long may its special existence continue.”
The Northern Children’s Book Festival is run in partnership by all 12 local authorities across the North East, with the author sessions in the Borough organised by Stockton Libraries.
This year’s festival concludes with a free Gala Day celebration event at The Word in South Shields this Saturday (18 November), between 10am and 5pm, where children and their families can take part in creative sessions run by the authors of some of their favourite books.
For more information, visit www.northernchildrensbookfestival.org.uk or www.stockton.gov.uk/libraries