Spooky storyteller 'Grandpa Joe' encourages children to enjoy reading

The character Grandpa Joe, created by Wallasey librarian Carl Loughlin-Ravenscroft, is an exciting new way to get children interested in books and story-telling.

Carl has been performing as Grandpa Joe, and other characters such as the Big Bad Wolf, in libraries and book shops for a year now, even gaining interest from bosses at CBBC.

He believes his unique method can get rid of the negative ideas children have of books, and show them how stories can come to life.

Explaining why it has begun to become so popular he said; “They are interactive. I haven’t heard of anyone doing these before and the kids just really love it.

“The whole aim is to get them into reading and enjoy books.

“Books don’t have to be boring, there are so many things you can explore through the books, with the characters that make it entertaining.”

Grandpa Joe will be telling his spooky tales at Ellesmere Port Library on Wednesday October 24, between 3 and 4pm.