SCHOOLKIDS will be gaining inspiration from an award-winning performance poet and writer as he visits hundreds of pupils from across the area.

Joseph Coelho will be at primary schools in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire next week as part of the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour.

He will be at Eaglesham Primary and St Thomas’ Primary, in Neilston, on Tuesday, May 14, and at Braidbar Primary, in Giffnock, on Wednesday, May 15.

Joseph will then be at Lochwinnoch Primary and Brediland Primary, in Paisley, on Thursday, May 16, before going to Williamsburgh Primary, also in Paisley, and Kilbarchan Primary on Friday, May 18. 

Joseph, whose poems explore areas from family life and childhood experiences to loneliness and bullying, won the Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award in 2015 for his collection Werewolf Club Rules.

During his visits, he will work with pupils as they focus on Overhead in a Tower Block – a set of poems which explore how he grew up.

He will also discuss Luna Loves Library Day, which was chosen as one of the top 25 books to share for World Book Day, and his latest picture book, If All the World Were, as well as performing dramatic readings and talking about where his ideas came from.

Joseph said: “I am delighted to be touring Scotland and I am hugely excited to see what fantastic poetic ideas will be formed as we explore poetry, different worlds, thoughts and feelings. 

“I’m always left awed by the imaginations demonstrated in schools by both pupils and teachers and can’t wait to discover what poetic delights Scotland has in store for me.”

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