Joseph Coelho: From Roehampton Roots to Literary Laureate

Joseph Coelho: Life, Career, and Roehampton Connections

Early Life and Family in Roehampton

Joseph Coelho was born and raised in Roehampton, a suburban district in southwest London often described as “the last village in London” . He grew up during the 1980s on the Alton Estate – a council housing estate of towering blocks – living with his mother (a single parent) and his younger sister . Coelho has spoken about how, as a child, he didn’t imagine becoming an author because “writers were special people who existed elsewhere… they didn’t exist in Roehampton” . Nonetheless, his childhood in Roehampton planted the seeds of creativity. He recalls drawing inspiration even as a little boy from favourite books like Raymond Briggs’ Fungus the Bogeyman, copying the pictures and making up his own stories before he could fully read or write .

From an early age, Coelho found refuge and inspiration in his local community resources. “As a child growing up in Roehampton, it was hugely important that I had access to books and writing,” he says, crediting the local Roehampton Library for opening up the world of literature to him . His mother would take him and his sister on regular trips to Roehampton Library, where young Joseph became “obsessed with the ‘oversized books’ sections which had books on ghosts and mysteries and UFOs” . He loved flipping through these giant books about mythical creatures and unexplained mysteries – “the Yeti and the Loch Ness monster” – which broadened his horizons and sparked his imagination . Coelho attributes these library visits and the rich array of books he encountered with making him “a reader and, by extension, a writer” . In fact, the public library beneath the tower block where he lived became a foundational “community space” that nurtured his love of reading from the very start .

Growing up in a working-class, single-parent household, Coelho also absorbed a love of language and wordplay at home. He recalls that his mother would sing playful little songs and that his family enjoyed puns, which gave him “permission to play with words and to be silly with language” . This supportive, creative home environment helped lay the groundwork for his future poetic voice. Coelho’s upbringing in Roehampton – from the concrete high-rises and public art on the estate, to the green expanses of nearby Richmond Park – would later permeate much of his writing. Childhood memories of local sights have directly inspired his work; for example, he wrote a poem about The Watchers, a trio of eerie bronze statues that loomed over the Roehampton estate and terrified him and his friends on their walk to school . Living amid those distinctive landmarks and diverse communities left an indelible mark on his identity and creative imagination.

Education and Early Inspirations

Coelho attended local schools in the Wandsworth area, including Brandlehow Primary and the Elliott School in Putney (now Ark Putney Academy) . It was during his sixth-form years in secondary school that a pivotal spark ignited his passion for poetry. A visit by the renowned Jamaican dub poet Jean “Binta” Breeze to his classroom had a profound impact on the teenaged Coelho . He remembers how Breeze performed a poem that “totally wowed the class,” and he thought to himself, “One day, I want to do that!” . From that moment, poetry became a tangible, inspiring path for him.

Even before this encounter, Coelho had been dabbling in writing. His earliest attempt at poetry he can recall was a piece in Year 8 (around age 12) for a school competition – an empathetic poem about a chained performing bear titled “Unbearable.” He didn’t win that contest (“the judges were not that impressed”), but he “still wrote” and kept experimenting with poems throughout his teen years . He wrote about his feelings and daily life at school – angry poems, sad poems, funny poems – sometimes mustering the courage to share them in his drama class . This blend of literary interest and performance would eventually become a hallmark of his career.

Outside of literature, Coelho also developed an interest in history and archaeology, influenced in part by those library books on ancient mysteries . He took a mix of A-levels in subjects ranging from English and Theatre Studies to Chemistry and History . Ultimately, he chose to pursue archaeology at university – perhaps envisioning adventures akin to Indiana Jones, as he later joked . He enrolled at University College London (UCL), graduating with a BA in Archaeology in 2002 . During his degree, Coelho traveled on field expeditions, including two summers in Peru unearthing historical artifacts – experiences he found thrilling, even though he soon realized his true passion still lay in storytelling and poetry .

While at UCL, Coelho stayed immersed in creative pursuits. He became president of the archaeology society but spent much of his free time with the Drama Society, directing plays (such as 12 Angry Men and The Crucible) at campus theatres . All the while, he continued writing poems and discovered London’s live poetry scene. He began attending open-mic nights at the Poetry Café and connected with organizations like Apples and Snakes (a performance poetry network) and The Poetry Society . Coelho took a formative performance poetry course at the Battersea Arts Centre, where he learned to share his work on stage and found that some of his poems could even make audiences laugh . This period in the early 2000s saw him honing his voice as a performance poet and playwright. He started running creative writing workshops in schools and writing small plays for children’s theatre companies – gaining experience with groups like Oily Cart, Polka Theatre, the Unicorn Theatre, and the Lyric Hammersmith .

Throughout his twenties, Coelho’s path was far from straightforward. After university, he worked a variety of odd jobs – “everywhere and did everything,” as he puts it – from being a gym instructor and a salesman, to working as a transport planner, and even appearing as a film extra . (He jokes that if you look closely, you can spot him in a suit in the background of the movie Agent Cody Banks 2 .) But crucially, “still I wrote,” he notes – no matter the job, he kept writing poems and plays on the side . This relentless dedication during the years before his literary break would later pay off, but it also meant enduring a long journey of persistence. Coelho has candidly shared that it took him “12 years to get published” as an author, remembering how hungry he was in those early years to see his words in print . “I keenly remember that hunger to get words in print and to be able to share my work far and wide,” he says – a hunger that sustained him through many setbacks and rejections until his breakthrough came .

Breakthrough into Publishing and Major Works

Coelho’s big break as a published writer finally arrived in 2012, a moment he credits to a chance meeting and his years of groundwork. At the London Book Fair that year, he met Janetta Otter-Barry – a respected children’s publisher – and showed her some of his poems . She saw promise in his work and agreed to publish his first collection. Thus, after over a decade of quietly refining his craft, Joseph Coelho’s debut poetry anthology Werewolf Club Rules was released in 2014 . The collection was a tremendous success for a first-timer: it went on to win the prestigious CLPE CLiPPA (Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award) in 2015 . This accolade put Coelho on the map as an important new voice in children’s poetry. Reflecting on that transition, Coelho has said he still has to “pinch [him]self” now that young readers across the country are enjoying his work, because he remembers vividly the years of striving that led up to it .

Since that debut, Joseph Coelho has built an extraordinarily prolific and wide-ranging literary career. In just a decade he has published around 50 books for children and young adults , spanning poetry collections, picture books, early readers, and YA novels. His works often blend lyrical writing with themes of family, nature, and imagination, frequently drawing on elements of his own childhood experiences. Notably, his second poetry collection, Overheard in a Tower Block (Otter-Barry Books, 2017), is a semi-autobiographical anthology that channels the voice of a child growing up in a high-rise estate very much like the one in Roehampton . That book, praised for capturing urban childhood memories, was shortlisted for the CLiPPA award in 2018 . In fact, Coelho’s tower block upbringing has directly inspired specific stories: his 2022 picture book Our Tower centers on children living in a grey tower block who discover a magical tree, a concept he conceived because “I wanted to bring the magic of Narnia to the tower block.”

Several of Coelho’s picture books have become modern favorites, often celebrated for their warmth and inclusivity. His Luna Loves… series (illustrated by Fiona Lumbers) began with Luna Loves Library Day (2017), an ode to the special bond between a child and her father at the library. Luna Loves Library Day was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2018 and was selected as one of the top 25 stories to share by World Book Day UK . He followed Luna’s adventures with other titles like Luna Loves Art and Luna Loves Dance, which subtly reflect diverse family dynamics and the joys of cultural experiences. Another acclaimed picture book is If All the World Were… (2018, illustrated by Allison Colpoys), a touching story about a little girl’s memories of her grandfather; it won the Indie Book Award for Children’s Picture Book in 2019 . Coelho has in fact twice won the Indie Book Awards (in 2019 and 2022) for his picture books , underscoring his appeal among independent booksellers and young readers alike.

On the poetry front, Coelho has continued to publish vibrant collections for children. He followed up his earlier anthologies with books like Poems Aloud (2020) and Smile Out Loud (2022), which encourage children to perform poetry and revel in wordplay. He also edited and contributed to a unique collection of micro-stories in verse, Ten-Word Tiny Tales (2023), showcasing his inventive approach to form. In the middle-grade and YA category, Coelho has not shied away from experimental or deeper themes. His novel-in-verse The Girl Who Became a Tree (2020) is a dark, modern reimagining of the Daphne myth intertwined with a teenager’s grief; it earned critical acclaim for its lyrical depth and was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal. In 2022, Coelho published a ambitious YA verse novel The Boy Lost in the Maze, which reinterprets the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur in a contemporary context. This work went on to achieve one of the highest honors in children’s literature: Coelho was announced as the winner of the 2024 Yoto Carnegie Medal for The Boy Lost in the Maze . The Carnegie Medal jury recognized the book for its innovative storytelling and emotional resonance, cementing Coelho’s status among the top tier of children’s authors.

Throughout his literary output, Coelho often infuses his Roehampton roots and personal history into his writing. For instance, Overheard in a Tower Block and many individual poems recollect the landscape of his youth, and the Luna Loves series subtly echoes the positive influence of libraries and art that he himself experienced. He has said that “all these memories start to filter their way back into my stories and poems,” and young readers from his hometown can even recognize familiar local details in his books . Coelho finds it “very powerful” that children can see their own home town reflected in literature – something he himself lacked growing up – and this motivation to represent his community has become a driving force in his work.

Advocacy, Awards, and Children’s Laureate (2022–2024)

By 2022, Joseph Coelho’s contributions to children’s literature and literacy led to his appointment as the UK’s Waterstones Children’s Laureate. He became the 12th person to hold this prestigious role, which is awarded biennially to an author or illustrator to be an ambassador for children’s books . Coelho’s tenure as Children’s Laureate (2022–2024) was marked by energetic advocacy for libraries, diversity, and inspiring young writers. Upon accepting the post, he remarked that publishing still had “a long way to go” in terms of diversity, and he aimed to “celebrate new voices” during his laureateship so that “every young person [has] an opportunity to see themselves as a writer” . This vision was a direct extension of Coelho’s own childhood experience of rarely seeing families like his in books. “I didn’t see a huge number of people like me, from families like my own in the books… as I was growing up,” he has explained, which is why he now feels “very passionate about including all sorts of people and families and backgrounds” in his poems and stories . Ensuring greater representation in children’s literature became a hallmark of his platform as laureate.

One of Coelho’s flagship initiatives was his Library Marathon, which actually began in 2019 and continued into his laureateship. He set out to join and visit a library in every local authority area across the UK – 213 libraries in total – as a public show of support for these “essential launchpads of learning” . By October 2023, he was on the verge of completing this marathon, having joined hundreds of libraries “up and down the country” to encourage people to use their library cards . At each stop he would chat with librarians, take a photo with his new library card, and share updates on social media to spread the message . “Libraries have always been very dear to me,” Coelho said, noting that his first Saturday job as a teenager was at a local library (West Hill Library in Wandsworth) and that he has long seen libraries as “the ideal focal point for communities to come together.” Coelho frequently emphasizes that libraries are “the heart of [the] community”, offering not just books but a free space for people of all ages to gather, learn, and even seek support for various needs . During his time as Laureate, this passionate defense of libraries took on urgency, as news spread that over 770 UK libraries had closed since 2010 . Coelho’s nationwide Library Marathon was a celebratory counterpoint to that trend, shining a light on the vitality of those that remain. In October 2023 he completed the final legs of the journey, joining his last libraries (in Liverpool, Bury, and the Isle of Man) and celebrating at the British Library in London .

In addition to the library campaign, Coelho launched other creative projects during his laureateship. He rolled out a weekly series of “Poetry Prompts” on YouTube to get children writing their own poems – eventually compiling 50 of these exercises into a published compendium in late 2023 . He also started an event series called “Bookmaker Like You”, hosting talks that spotlight diverse talent in the publishing industry, to inspire young people (and aspiring writers of all backgrounds) by showing them role models who might look like them . These initiatives aligned with Coelho’s personal mission of inclusion and were often timed with awareness events like Black History Month . Whether through online engagement or live appearances at book festivals and schools, Coelho used his Laureate platform to encourage creativity and emphasize that storytelling is for everyone.

Coelho’s term as Children’s Laureate was also a period of personal recognition and accolades. In June 2023 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL), an honor bestowed on the UK’s most distinguished writers. The following year, he was named in the King’s 2024 Birthday Honours list and received the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to the arts, children’s reading, and literature . The OBE honor explicitly cited his contributions to encouraging reading among children, a nod to his outreach efforts. Coelho’s investiture as OBE was particularly meaningful given his journey – the “performance poet… who grew up in Roehampton, south-west London” was now celebrated at the national level for enriching the lives of young readers . Later that same year, in January 2025, Coelho was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Roehampton, a local institution in his home borough. This honorary doctorate was presented in recognition of his achievements as a “best-selling, multi-award-winning” author of over 50 books and his impact on children’s literature, including his Carnegie Medal win and work as Laureate . It was a full-circle moment: the boy who once thought writers “didn’t exist in Roehampton” stood as a celebrated literary figure honored by Roehampton’s university.

Roehampton’s Influence and Community Engagement

Despite his broad travels and the national scope of his career, Joseph Coelho’s connection to Roehampton and the surrounding community remains strong. Today, Coelho lives in Scotland (he is based in Edinburgh with his partner, author Manjeet Mann ), but he frequently returns to his home borough of Wandsworth and credits his upbringing for shaping his perspective. “All these memories” from Roehampton “filter their way back” into his writing, he says, and he considers it powerful and validating for children to find their own locales and lives reflected in stories . Coelho often weaves London settings and childhood nostalgia into his poems and books – from the looming tower blocks, to Richmond Park’s natural beauty, to the very name of Roehampton itself – ensuring that the community that raised him is represented in literature.

Coelho has also given back directly to the Roehampton community through events and mentorship. In October 2024, after completing his tenure as Laureate, he “returned to his home borough” for a series of workshops with local schoolchildren . He visited his old schools – Ark Putney Academy (formerly Elliott School) and a local primary – and worked with over 1,000 Wandsworth pupils, sharing his writing journey and inspiring them to express themselves . Standing in front of classrooms not far from the estates and streets where he grew up, Coelho took the opportunity to reflect on his own childhood and how it led him to become an author. “For the young people to be able to recognise those places [in my stories] is not only just a lovely experience but also very powerful,” he noted during this visit . He spoke openly about being raised in a single-parent family and about the importance of representation, telling the students that he now writes families like his own into his books so that “every child gets the opportunity to see themselves reflected” in stories . Coelho also offered practical advice to the budding writers in the room – for example, encouraging them to carry a notebook to jot down ideas, so as to never lose a brilliant thought . The visit was part homecoming, part outreach, and it underscored Coelho’s role as a community ambassador. Local officials highlighted how walking around Wandsworth with Coelho was like tracing a map of his memories – from the “architectural mammoths” of the Alton Estate and its famous bronze statues, to the library that sparked his love of words .

In interviews, Coelho often emphasizes how much he owes to the community resources of his youth. He acknowledges that having access to free books at Roehampton Library and encouragement from teachers were key factors in his development . Because of this, he remains an outspoken advocate for equal access to literature for all children. He has lent his support to local initiatives as well – for instance, he has been a vocal supporter of Wandsworth’s bid to be London Borough of Culture 2025 , shining a spotlight on the creative energy of the area. Even as his career has taken him far, Coelho’s outlook and values continue to be grounded in the lessons of Roehampton: community, creativity, resilience, and the importance of giving everyone a chance to be heard.

Current Projects and Legacy

As of 2025, Joseph Coelho continues to be a dynamic force in children’s literature and education. With his Children’s Laureate term completed, he has returned to focusing on writing and editing new works. He recently edited an anthology called Spin: 10 Exciting New Voices in Poetry (Otter-Barry Books, 2024), which features poems by ten up-and-coming poets from diverse backgrounds – an embodiment of the “new voices” mission he championed . Coelho contributed some of his own poems to Spin and helped bring these debut writers into the spotlight, a project he’s “quite passionate about” as part of expanding representation in children’s publishing . He has also hinted at ongoing creative endeavors, including a new middle-grade novel he is writing and an upcoming addition to his beloved Luna Loves series . His Tower Block book was turned into a play in 2025. Fans can be assured that more of his imaginative, heartfelt storytelling is on the way.

In performance, Coelho remains active as well – delivering poetry readings, conducting school workshops, and appearing at literary festivals. He has said that he still loves performing and that “young people can engage” with his work even without him present, through libraries and books, which he finds “really quite beautiful” . Now an established author, Coelho hasn’t forgotten the struggle of his early career. He mentors and encourages new writers whenever possible, often reminding them (and himself) that the journey to success may be long but is worthwhile. His own journey – from a little boy scribbling stories in Roehampton to the United Kingdom’s Children’s Laureate and an OBE honoree – serves as an inspiration in itself. It’s a testament to the power of libraries, perseverance, and community support in nurturing a creative life. As he once advised graduates, it’s crucial to “know your core identity and stick to that… don’t be afraid of who you are and follow your dreams” . For Joseph Coelho, that core identity is still very much the imaginative Roehampton kid who loved books. He carries that with him into every poem and story he creates, ensuring his work remains authentic and relatable to the children growing up today in places just like Roehampton.

Sources: Coelho’s personal website and interviews; Wandsworth Council news (Oct 2024) ; The Guardian (Oct 2023) ; UCL Portico Magazine (Autumn 2023) ; Bath Festivals (Aug 2022) ; The Independent (June 2024) ; University of Roehampton news (Feb 2025) ; The Children’s Poetry Archive ; The Reading Realm (Jan 2020) .