Events that celebrate reading for pleasure

My author/illustrator workshops are highly interactive, collaborative, and fun. The participants will learn loads, but my main aims are to share the joy of stories and unleash oodles of creativity.

A draw-along activity from Oldham Libraries Storyfest

This little moment, from a Big Feelings workshop, captures the fun of identifying emotions and using empathy to illustrate them.

Which workshop?

  • An interactive book event based on the Best Friends With Big Feelings picture book series, gently exploring key social and emotional themes, such as anxiety, self-belief, resilience, empathy, and friendship.

    Suitable for: Reception & KS1

    Activities can include:

    • Introductions and story reading

    • Seasons bingo

    • ‘Big feelings’ discussion

    • Recognising emotions

    • ‘Simon Says’ with emotions

    • Live and interactive character drawing or draw-along activity (dependent on group size)

    Group size: Up to 90 children

    Duration: ~45 minutes per session

  • As an EmpathyLab trained author/illustrator, I focus this event on defining and understanding empathy and how reading and illustrating can nurture that skill. Using Interdimensional Explorers, we discuss the role of illustration in storytelling, encouraging their own interpretations.

    Suitable for: KS2

    Activities can include:

    • Introductions

    • Role of author/illustrator

    • Images that tell a story

    • Illustration process

    • What is empathy and what is its role in books/reading

    • Empathy mirror exercise

    • Draw-along activity

    Group size: Up to 90 children

    Duration: ~45 minutes per session

  • The children become the illustrators. They will learn about the creative process, discuss the role of empathy in illustration, and create their very own monster character design. This is a two-stage event, with an initial assembly followed by classroom-based workshops.

    Suitable for: KS1 & KS2

    STAGE 1 | Assembly

    Activities can include:

    • Introduction to illustration

    • Demonstrate character design process

    • Live and interactive character drawing

    Group size: As many as can practically fit in the assembly hall

    Duration: ~45 minutes per assembly

    STAGE 2 | Workshop

    Activities can include:

    • Fun warm-up illustration exercise

    • Brainstorm adjectives for characters

    • Assist pupils in creating their own character

    • Encourage some willing volunteers to present their design

    Group size: up to 30 children

    Duration: 45 minutes per workshop

A colorful promotional graphic for Empathy Lab UK with the message "I offer empathy-themed events!" written in bold blue text on a white background, surrounded by pink stars and icons for Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook in orange circles, with the Empathy Lab logo and the words "READ, CONNECT, ACT" at the bottom right corner. 
EmpathyLab trained author

I have received training, through the EmpathyLab, on integrating the power of empathy into my school visits and festival events.

Read stories. 
Build empathy. 
Make a better world.

– The EmpathyLab slogan

FAQs

  • £250/half day (2 sessions) + expenses

    £400/full day (4 sessions) + expenses

  • Yes. I have a number of event options available but I would be happy to tailor the activities to suit your needs. Just get in touch.

  • I will travel to your school, library, or venue.

    Depending on the scale of the event and my availability, I am prepared to travel far and wide. Please bear in mind, I am based in Cardiff and charge for travel expenses and accommodation if necessary.

  • No. However, I can assist you with how to arrange for stock to be available for purchase at the event. I would be happy to dedicate and sign copies purchased.

  • Yes. I am available for panel events, festivals, shop window display painting, and career talks.

A classroom filled with young students in red and white uniforms sitting on the floor, listening to a female teacher in a red jumpsuit who is standing next to a large digital screen displaying the words 'Jo Lindley BIG FEELINGS' with a cartoon girl o
A classroom with young students sitting on the floor, facing a teacher and a large digital screen displaying a colorful cartoon scene of children and animals having a picnic outdoors.
A classroom scene with a woman teacher and a group of students. The teacher, standing to the right, is smiling and gesturing. The students, wearing white shirts and red sweaters, are gathered around, facing the digital screen that displays colorful w
Young students in a classroom, some wearing red, gathered around a teacher pointing to a digital screen displaying a cartoon girl's face with a crown. The classroom walls are decorated with posters and charts, and there are children sitting on the fl
A classroom with a group of young students and their teacher posing for a photo. The students are holding clipboards with drawings of faces. A digital screen in the background displays the name Jo Lindley and the title Big Fe...
A group of children sitting on the floor in a classroom or auditorium, participating in a drawing activity called "Let's Draw Shugly" with a female instructor standing at the front. The screen displays instructions for drawing a character with descri
A classroom presentation with children sitting on the floor, facing a woman speaker on stage, with a large yellow poster behind her showing cartoon characters and the word 'Switch-up'. The children are wearing various shirts, some with sports logos,
A woman with short dark hair wearing glasses and sunflower-patterned overalls draws on a whiteboard. The whiteboard has various sketches, including a cartoonish heart and a large, abstract shape. The woman is inside a room with wooden flooring and a
A school assembly with students sitting on the floor listening to a woman giving a presentation. A large screen behind her displays an octopus illustration and the text "A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS." There is a banner on the right promoting O
Person holding a cartoon drawing of a monster with pink fur, sharp teeth, blue wings, and antennae in a store or library. The drawing has the word 'RAWR' in large white letters across it.
A woman with short brown hair and glasses, wearing a black dress and a purple scarf, is reading a children's book with illustrations of a snowman and children in winter. She is seated in a bookstore with shelves of colorful books behind her.
A person drawing on a large digital screen with a colorful cartoon of a girl with blue hair and a dragon. The cartoon has snowflakes around it and appears to be holiday-themed, with the words 'Merry Christmas' written in reverse.
A woman standing outside a bookstore window holding a children's book titled "Hello Winter". The window is decorated with snowflake stickers and displays various children's books about seasons and holidays.
A classroom scene with young children sitting on the carpet, facing a teacher and a large screen displaying a colorful 'Hello Summer' slide. The classroom has educational posters, a chalkboard with numbered circles, and various teaching materials. Th
A classroom filled with young students sitting on the floor, listening to a teacher who is holding a children's book titled "Hello Summer". The teacher is seated in front of a smart board displaying images representing the seasons. The classroom has
A classroom filled with young children sitting on the floor, a woman teacher talking and holding a book titled 'Hello Summer,' with educational posters, artwork, and a large screen displaying a congratulatory message for summer on the wall.
A teacher standing in front of a classroom of children with their heads turned toward her. The classroom walls are decorated with children's artwork, photographs, and posters. The teacher is smiling and holding a pointing device, with a digital drawi
A group of young children in red school uniforms sitting on a blue carpet in a classroom, smiling at the camera. An adult woman sitting behind them holds a children's book titled 'Hello Spring.' The classroom has educational decorations, including a
A collage of five photos from a classroom or library setting during a summer-themed activity, showing children holding up drawings of faces, books with summer themes, and a teacher or speaker on a screen explaining or engaging the children.
A teacher drawing a smiley face on a whiteboard in a classroom with children sitting on the floor.
A woman with pink hair and glasses reading a children's book titled 'Milo and the Mummy' to a group of children seated on the floor in a bright room with large windows. The room has red carpet, books, and promotional banners for Waterstone's bookstor 
Contact me to discuss your next event
EMAIL ME