Book cover for 'Rapunzel is a Lettuce' by Joseph Coelho. The title features the word 'Rapunzel' written in curling, vine-like green letters. The main illustration shows a large orange pumpkin carriage with spoked wooden wheels. Inside a window in the pumpkin, a girl with extremely long brown hair is dressed in green lettuce leaves, wearing a leafy crown. She is taking a bite of a green apple while holding a potted cactus. Her hair trails out of the window, forming a thorny border. Below the main image, text reads 'Poems to GROW with', 'ILLUSTRATED BY SHIRLEY HOTTIER', and at the very bottom on an orange band, 'with an introduction by MICHAEL ROSEN'.

Book cover for 'THE FLYING MACHINE OF DREAMS' by Kate Wakeling and Viviane Schwarz, with the tagline 'Come aboard for a magical poetry ride'. The whimsical, watercolor-style illustration features a fantastical, chaotic flying machine against a light blue, cloudy sky. The vessel is a patchwork of parts, including spoked wheels along the bottom, a red cabin structure with bare trees sprouting from the top, and a front section shaped like a large orange bird. A string of colorful bunting stretches across the top of the machine. Several tiny figures are scattered around, with one climbing the trees, one swinging from a rope underneath, one sitting on a large floating yellow horn in front, and others peeking out of windows or standing on the deck.

19 Sept 202611am - 2pmAll Saint's ChurchAll Saint's Church, Market Place, WR11 4RWFree

Evesham Vale of Tales

Name: Evesham Vale of Tales
Start: 2026-09-19T11:00:00
End: 2026-09-19T14:00:00
Location: All Saint's Church

A free event for children and families

See event details

About Us

Bringing Stories to Evesham

Evesham Vale of Tales is a newly formed organisation, inspired by the 2026 National Year of Reading and aiming to inspire a love of books and reading among children and their families in Evesham.

We are a small team of local residents who all share a love of children’s literature. Working in partnership with a literary consultant, Books Up North, as well as local schools and the library, we will be bringing a regular programme of visits by some of the country’s best children’s authors, illustrators and storytellers to the town.

We hope that you are able to join us!

Meet the team

The people behind the scenes

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and a soft smile sits at a wooden table with her arms crossed. She is wearing a white button-up shirt patterned with black dashes and has a pair of reading glasses resting on top of her head. Behind her, a large window reveals a view of a modern, stepped brick building and a glass roof structure with solar panels.

Andrea Ellison

Founder

Andrea Ellison is the founder member of Evesham Vale of Tales. She worked as a professional librarian, latterly as Chief Librarian for Leeds City Council introducing developments such as the city’s first Story Bus service for children under 5. Andrea relocated back to Evesham following her retirement and was awarded the BEM for services to libraries in 2024.

A close-up portrait of a smiling woman with long brown-grey hair, wearing thin-framed glasses and a white top with a subtle leaf pattern against a plain beige background.

Sandra Capaldi

Trustee

Born in Evesham, Sandra Capaldi served as the founding president of Rotary in the Vale and is a Trustee of the Samuel Wallace Smedley Trust. Through these roles, she champions social and educational opportunities for local youth initiatives that create a lasting positive impact. A passionate advocate for child literacy, Sandra works tirelessly to foster a lifelong love of reading and learning in young people.

A smiling woman with short blonde hair stands in front of a wall covered in various photographs. She is wearing a sleeveless yellow top with a floral pattern, a delicate black necklace, and has a black strap across her shoulder

Simone Lacroix

Trustee

Simone has a degree in bilingual and European business. She has experience of teaching English and French in primary schools and organising out of school activity clubs, including language clubs. More recently she has worked in hospitality, heading up customer service and event management.

A smiling older man with curly grey hair and round glasses stands in a doorway. He is wearing a blue and white checkered button-up shirt under a dark vest. In the background behind him, a decorated and lit Christmas tree is visible.

Tim George

Trustee

A Company Secretary with over 40 years’ experience in public companies, Tim is responsible for ensuring that Evesham Vale of Tales adopts and follows good practice.

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