Budgie

Joseph Coelho is a playwright, poet, award-winning children’s author and the Waterstones Children's Laureate for 2022-2024. Joseph’s poems have been featured in many anthologies such as Green Glass Beads by Jacqueline Wilson and his own debut poetry collection, Werewolf Club Rules, earned him the CLiPPA Poetry Award in 2015. Joseph has also written the picture book series, Luna Loves, and the middle-grade, Fairytales Gone Bad series. Most recently, his book, The Girl Who Became a Tree, was shortlisted for the 2021 CILIP Carnegie Medal.

"This moving and lyrical story is pitched perfectly at young readers. It is short and accessible, yet full of empathy and compassion, with beautiful illustrations. Pippin shines brightly out of the artwork, echoing the brightness he brings to everyone’s lives." – BookTrust"I did not expect the plot of this lovely book to go the way it did, and it was such a beautiful thing." – Lesley Parr, author"A beautifully crafted, poetic and poignant story" – The Guardian"[Coelho's] latest book is a short novel which speaks of growth, loss and love. It is not poetry, but it is very similar." – Repubblica"This is a gorgeous story, beautifully illustrated, about a missing budgie who inspires an unlikely friendship between a young boy, Miles and his elderly neighbour, Mr Buxton, who always seems grumpy and annoyed by him. Formatted for young dyslexic readers in mind with plenty of lush pictures, it’s full of important themes about giving people a chance and not rushing to judgement." – Irish Independent"A beautifully rounded story full of his hallmark humanity and love of nature." – LoveReading4Kids“Joseph Coelho and David Barrow have created something wonderful. And ‘reluctant reader’ experts Barrington Stoke have preserved all of the soft beauty & textures of Joseph’s prose.” – Letterbox Library"A touching tale about discovery, loss and friendship … The imagery is wonderful, perfectly illustrated by David Barrow. Joseph Coelho’s rich and poetic vocabulary allows you to almost feel the soft feathers of the budgie in your own hands. This is a well-written, very accessible story that gently looks at death, socio-economic difference, aspiration and love in all its forms." – The English Association"Gently introduces the topics of grief and death to young readers, and shows how empathy is formed." – Peters, Recommended Year 3 Class Read