"Thank you for creating some magical moments that our children will remember for years to come"
​- Assistant Head Teacher, Greenford 

Why book a visit from John?

Professionalism

"A passionate advocate for the power of stories and very funny too" - Carnegie-nominated, award-winning author CHRISTOPHER EDGE

Fun!

When you book John, you're not just getting a critically-acclaimed writer of ridiculously funny books for children. You're getting a performing songwriter, a poet, and a former teacher with all the skills necessary to have a hall full of kids helpless with laughter one minute, and ready to leave the hall quietly and sensibly the next.

Inspiration

Children and teachers alike love John's sessions. An expert communicator and a very funny man, he''ll enthrall them, inspire them, and at times have them helpless with laughter. ​​

​​John's major aim is to help the school in developing or maintaining a culture of Reading for Pleasure.  It sometimes feels like not a day goes by without someone producing more evidence that reading for pleasure is enormously good for both children and adults. An author visit can be a very effective way to help children make the connection between reading and fun, and with years of experience as a teacher, a writer and a performer, John is one of the best choices you could make.

Most of all -
​the effect on the children

International visits

John's always very happy to receive invitations from international schools, and as a dual British-Irish citizen, he retains the right to free movement throughout the European Union!

​John entertains an audience of 1,700 children and teachers at the 2017 Hay Festival. The session was also live-streamed to 900 primary schools in Wales.

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"In an age where all-things electronic are vying for children's attention, John Dougherty is a wonderful ambassador for books. His events are as loud and colourful as his shirts. They're packed with humour and music - he plays a mean guitar - and he clearly illustrates (not with a pen, thank heavens) the joys of reading and writing.  A John Dougherty session is such fun that his young audiences - big or small - might not realise just quite how much they're learning." - Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning author PHILIP ARDAGH