Joseph Coelho OBE

Joseph Coelho, former Children’s Laureate, grew up in Roehampton and began writing poems at secondary school. He now writes for children of all ages; his picture books include the critically acclaimed Luna Loves… series illustrated by Fiona Lumbers and If All the World Were… illustrated by Allison Colpoys which won the Independent Bookshop Week Book Award 2019. His poetry includes his debut collection Werewolf Club Rules, Overheard in a Tower Block (which was shortlisted for the CLPE CLiPPA Poetry Award 2018) and The Boy Lost in the Maze which won the 2024 CILIP Carnegie Medal – the first time the prize had been awarded to a Black British writer. Recent work includes middle-grade series Fairytales Gone Bad and the newly published Relic Hamilton: Genie Hunter. Throughout his career, Joseph has highlighted the power of poetry and reading, championing and campaigning for local libraries and spotlighting new voices and diversity in children’s books. His work has poetry and performance at its heart, drawing on over 20 years’ experience running dynamic creative literacy sessions in schools. He aims to inspire young people through stories and characters they can recognise and explores themes including fear, courage, diversity, gratitude, empathy and loss.

Photo credit: Hayley Madden, The Poetry Society