News

BIG RHYME RUMBLE TOUR 2008

Following on from last year's mega-successful BIG WILD RHYME tour this year's tour will be bigger, louder and crazier! The BIG RHYME RUMBLE tour 2008 kicks off at the mighty Leeds Book Awards in May and finishes up in Middlesbrough at the end of August. See the tour dates here.

I'm taking my rhymes on the road to encourage people to have a lot of fun in libraries and get stuck into books. 2008 is the National Year of Reading and my tour is just one part of what's going on! See you on the road!

"Truly Brilliant!"
Judy Zajac, Children's Librarian, Newcastle Libraries

"Craig was hilarious - really inspired us to play with words."
Ray Stearn, Littleborough Library

"Craig raised the roof at Rotherham Library!"
Molly, Big Wild Read Co-ordinator, Rotherham Libraries

"Craig Bradley - he rocks!"
Josh & Michael, 10 & 8, Littleborough

LAUGH OUT LOUD

I'm dead chuffed to tell you that one of my poems 'Laughing Your Head Off' has been chosen Macmillan Children's Books to be included in their new poetry anthology called 'Laugh Out Loud'. The book will be available in all good book shops this summer.

DRIVING THE INVISIBLE BUS

My third collection of children's poems is now available. It's called 'Driving The Invisible Bus'. It features loads more funny, crazy, quirky and entertaining poems for kids aged 7 to 11. Copies are £4 each including P&P. For details on how to buy a copy please e-mail me or catch me live in a library somewhere!

AWARD WINNING SHINE MAGAZINE

In October 2007 I hosted the Youth Justice Board/Arts Council Just Creativity Awards held at the Carriageworks Theatre in Leeds. This awards ceremony is about celebrating the work the arts provides in youth justice. I was very pleased to be nominated for an award in the Outstanding Partnership category alongside Kirklees Youth Offending Team for the magazine we produced called "Shine". The competition was of a very high standard, but managed to WIN.

I was delighted because Kirklees YOT have really embraced the work I have been doing with them and their young people and the magazine is a testament to all this hard work. So well done everyone involved!

NORTHERN IRELAND TOUR

I have recently returned from a short tour of Ballymena Libraries in Northern Ireland. It was a fantastic experience to go over there and read my poems out to school children in all sorts of various communities. I performed in Ballymena, Greystones, Ballymoney, Crumlin and Rathcool. Rathcool was fantastic, driving through the big estate with murals on the sides out houses and Ulster flags flapping in the wind. The school children at the library were brilliant and really into what I was doing. I really enjoyed my time there and am already planning a return trip.

TODMORDEN TOUCHWOOD

I am looking forward to working in Todmorden in the upcoming months as part of the Todmorden Touchwood team of artists including the storytellers Shonaleigh and Peter Chand, visual artist Graham Higgins and sound wizard Kate Davy. Todmorden Touchwood will be collecting local stories which will be shaped by the team and performed sometime in 2008. I will be working on a poetry slam.