'Wendy's House' pops up in Orpington Library in tribute to Wendy Cooling

Orpington Library is to host the UK pilot of "Wendy’s House", a project set up in memory of Bookstart founder and author Wendy Cooling.

The library in Orpington, Bromley will feature pop-up tents where children can explore a selection of books – including some by Cooling herself. The tent will be decorated by local school children from low-income families under the guidance of children’s illustrator Steve Antony. Following this launch at the end of November, it is hoped that many more tents will follow in community spaces right across the UK.

The project has been devised by Jo Williams – known for her involvement with the Bookaroo Festival and the Red House Children’s Book Award – who has already successfully established three "Wendy’s Houses" in India and Malaysia.

Children’s librarian, Jenny Hawke, who also worked on the project, said: “It is an honour and a privilege to participate in such an innovative scheme. The London Borough of Bromley has an established history with BookTrust and we have seen first-hand the joy which the Bookstart packs have brought to families over the years. Thus, it feels fitting to remember Wendy Cooling by hosting one of the wonderful ’Wendy’s Houses’ at Orpington Library.”

Cooling, who died in 2020, founded Bookstart almost 30 years ago. It is Booktrust charity’s early-years programme whereby every child in England and Wales receives free books before starting school.

A secondary school teacher, she also wrote children’s books for Puffin and in 2009 was made MBE for Services to Children’s Literature.