News and blogs News Coram Beanstalk event in Birmingham on 10th November Local Birmingham children's author Ben Davis will be joining Coram Beanstalk at a special event on Thursday 10th November at the Birmingham & Midland Institute to talk about his books and answer questions. We'll be at the Birmingham & Midland Institute in the John Peek room from 10am where you're welcome to join us for a coffee before Ben will give his talk between 10.30am - 11.30am. Ben is a local author who writes funny books for older children and teenagers. His first book, The Private Blog of Joe Cowley series has been hailed as a Wimpy Kid for a new generation. He has also written standalone books for younger readers, like the supervillain tale, Danny Dread, and the critically acclaimed My Embarrassing Dad's Gone Viral. Ben's latest book 'My Dad is Definitely Not a Crime Lord' is about a boy called Damian whose family are living under witness protection and is described as a funny, heartfelt novel about friendship and family - and where the limits are for both. Before he became a published author, Ben wrote jokes and sketches for radio shows and various other bits and bobs. When he's not writing, he regularly visits schools and leads creative writing workshops. This event is also a chance to find out more about opportunities to volunteer as a Coram Beanstalk reading helper in local Birmingham schools where there is a particularly high demand with many children waiting to receive vital reading support. There are currently 14 Birmingham schools awaiting support, with 22 volunteers needed so come and have a chat with us about how you could help! If you're already a Coram Beanstalk reading helper you can book a space via the Volunteer Portal or anyone can book a ticket here. Manage Cookie Preferences