The Simpsons and Albert the Tortoise writer visiting Penarth

Children’s author Ian Brown will be visiting Cogan Primary School in Penarth, plus Rhws Primary School and Romilly Primary School in Barry, to read from his Albert the Tortoise and Hugg ‘n’ Bugg series of illustrated books and talk with students.

The event at Cogan Primary School, which is part of Cogan Community Day on June 30, will also see Mr Brown collect the Cogan Picturebook Heroes Award – judged by the children and boasting an award designed by pupils.

The award goes to picture book Albert Supersize in its English and Welsh versions. The Albert the Tortoise and Hugg ‘n’ Bugg series of books are all published by Cardiff-based Graffeg in English and Welsh.

“I’m incredibly excited to visit all these schools and to meet the hundreds of pupils,” said Mr Brown who was once a journalist.

“It is especially wonderful to be collecting an award as well – one voted for by schoolchildren.”

He added that he is “very much” looking forward to talking about the real Albert – an actual tortoise who inspired the books and is a big hit on social media with fans in the UK, USA, Japan, and Australia.

“Albert seems to be taking all this in his stride,” said Mr Brown.

“He has become a bit of a diva – but that might just be his age.

“It took me 30 years to get a publishing deal, trying in between TV work, but Albert was the inspiration I needed.

“Cogan Primary School has been a great champion of all our books and I look forward to saying 'diolch' to them in person.”

The author is also set to visit award-winning Griffin Books in Penarth on Saturday July 1 to read his stories and sign books for customers. The bookshop was recently named UK Independent Bookshop of 2023.

The Albert the Tortoise picture books and the Hugg ‘n’ Bugg books can be ordered now for worldwide shipping from bookshops and from publishers Graffeg at www.Graffeg.com.

Find out more about Albert at www.AlbertTortoise.com