pop-up workshops

Greenwich Library Tour 2026 – Read to the Beat

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As an author, illustrator, and paper engineer, it’s wonderful to be invited back into the library spaces to run hands-on workshops. This marks my fourth summer partnering with Royal Greenwich Libraries (@greenwichlibs) delivering Summer Reading Scheme-related activities.

Over the course of two weeks, the tour visited all 12 branches across the London Borough of Greenwich:

  • Eltham Centre Library
  • Greenwich Centre Library
  • Coldharbour Library
  • New Eltham Library
  • Woolwich Centre Library
  • Plumstead Library
  • Thamesmere Library
  • Abbey Wood Library
  • Charlton Library
  • Slade Library
  • Blackheath Library
  • West Greenwich Library

Thank you to every single family who came along and got stuck into the making. Using characters developed by the official Reading Scheme artist 2026, Harry Woodgate (@harrywoodgateart), I led families through the fundamentals of paper-engineering to create their very own 3D masterpieces.It was great to see so many families getting creative, utilizing Harry’s characters, and other characters invented by themselves

You can watch the short video montage below to see how the paper-engineering masterclasses unfolded across the different library spaces.

While my summer tour is officially wrapped up, the reading challenge is still going strong! Make sure to head down to your local Greenwich library branch to keep up with your reading milestones.

I’ll be next running workshops at:
Tower Bridge (closed event for local families) – Saturday 26 September 2026
Fulham Pier Children’s Literature Festival (free public event) – Sunday 27 September 2026, 2.30pm – 4pm

World Book day 2025

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Last  weeks workshops at Goodrich Primary School in Dulwich, and Oakmere Primary in Potters Bar. Thank you so much for inviting me in to celebrate World Book Day  2025 together – loved your enthusiasm and energy.

#johnolearyillustration

#worldbookday #worldbookday2025 #schoolworkshops #contactanauthor #authorvisits #authorsinschools #lovereading #popup #papercrafts #paper #card #paperengineering #funwithpaper #creativecrafts #popups #popupdesign #paperengineering #3d #paperart #papercrafts #popupmechanism #kidsworkshop #kidscrafts

Marvellous Makers

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Selection of work from my mini tour of Greenwich libraries in August delivering workshops in pop-up design in conjunction with the Summer Reading Challenge 2024  #summerreadingchallenge

I had the pleasure of talking to families about books and reading before working together on a pop-up activity – with moving parts! We used the lovely characters created by @natelledrawsstuff for Summer Reading Challenge 2024 #marvellousmakers as a starting point for our designs – some children used other characters and some created their own.

Thank you to all children and adults who took part + library staff – for your enthusiasm and creativity.

#PlumsteadLibrary #WoolwichLibrary #Greenwich #Libraries #CharltonLibrary #WestGreenwichLibrary #sladelibrary #thamesmerelibrary @Greenwichlibs

Summer Reading Challenge

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This week, I finished my second library tour of the Summer – this time six libraries in the London Borough of Greenwich, as part of the sports-themed Summer Reading Challenge 2023.
The libraries I visited were Woolwich Centre, West Greenwich, Plumstead, Blackheath, Charlton House and Eltham Centre.

I had the pleasure of talking to families about books and reading before working together on a pop-up activity – with moving parts! We used the lovely characters created by Loretta Schauer for Summer Reading Challenge as a starting point for our designs – some children used other characters and some created their own.

Thank you to all the children and adults, and library staff who took part for their wonderful enthusiasm and creativity.

My next events are in Redbridge on the 23 Aug:
https://visionrcl.org.uk/event/pop-up-book-making-with-john-oleary/

Waltham Forest Half Term Workshops

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All last week I criss-crossed Waltham Forest to deliver workshops in pop-up design, character creation and story development to all the borough’s libraries. Many thanks to Waltham Forest Libraries and London Borough of Waltham Forest for inviting me to work with them over the half-term and to all the families who participated. The montage shows just a small selection of the wonderfully creative work that was produced.

Storytelling

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I really enjoyed my visit to Harlowbury Primary School on Wednesday where I talked to the children about storytelling and ran workshops in pop-up book making. During my initial talk we discussed how stories from different places can enrich our lives, help us explore our similarities and differences, and teach us to respect and value each other.

Picture shows the demo I did for Y5 and Y6. After the children make a pop-up mechanism, I usually demonstrate how to translate that into a 3D illustration and how to assemble the finished book. By the end of each session, the children have enough information to complete their books. I look forward to seeing pictures of some of the finished work.

Surrey Explorers

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Kicking off the half-term week on Monday with a full-day workshop in Putney with Surrey Explorers (Potential Plus UK). The children produced amazing work including Joss who created the piece in the video, and Daniel, Sebastian and Almaz who created the examples below.

Robot Hug

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This tutorial is a special request from someone who wants to send a Covid compliant, pop-up hug to a friend. You’ll need 2 sheets of A5 light card for this, as well as glue-stick, scissors, ruler, something to draw with and craft knife…plus an adult to help with the craft knife if you’re very young. Difficulty rating, I’d say middling. On a technical note, this one uses tube post armature for the main sections and moving straps attached to the gutter or central fold for the arms.