Special National Poetry Day event! Join us on 5th October at Waterstones Bristol to launch Stephen Lightbown's 'And I Climbed, And I Climbed'

'Why didn't you catch me? Why, Tree? Why?'

Cosmo is a young boy whose life has changed forever since he fell from the tree he loved to climb. Now unable to walk and a wheelchair user, Cosmo has a great deal to adjust to and come to terms with. He also wants to have words with a certain tree.

And I Climbed, And I Climbed is an outstanding new collection of poems for children written by Bristol-based poet Stephen Lightbown, sensitively illustrated by Shih-Yu Lin. The collection draws on Stephen’s personal experiences as a wheelchair user, while creating a unique and engaging character in Cosmo. Written in Cosmo's voice as he confronts the tree, and peppered with contributions from the boy's family, these poems take the reader on a journey of challenges, questions, hurts, explorations and triumphs.

“When I look back at my time growing up with a disability, I realise how few people I saw like me in the arts and media I enjoyed,” says Stephen. “The few examples that I did see didn’t seem authentic. So my hope is that by drawing on my own experiences, Cosmo feels like a real person that other children can relate to.” You can read more about Stephen’s thoughts on writing the book in his recent blog here.

We’re thrilled to launch this profoundly authentic, deeply moving and much-needed collection on National Poetry Day 2023! Please join us at Waterstones in central Bristol where Stephen will read from, and talk about, the book. He’ll also answer your questions and sign copies of the book.

The event will also feature guest readers, including Shauna Darling Robertson who will read poems from her 2023 collection You Are Not Alone, exploring young people’s mental health and wellbeing (“Should be on every teenage shelf” - The Scotsman).

All welcome - please consider yourself invited! If you can RSVP that’d be helpful for numbers, but if not then feel free come along on the night. For more information and to RSVP: Roy Johnson on 07710 412 830 or kidglovesbooks@gmail.com. We hope to see you there!