Joe Crowther to Join St Helens Festival of Reading

Bath time is about to get a little more adventurous. Children’s author Joe Crowther will take part in the St Helens Festival of Reading on Saturday 7 November 2026, bringing his book Don’t Get Sucked Down the Plughole! to the event.

The festival runs from 10 am to 5 pm. Joe is a primary school teacher based in Merseyside who wants to help children enjoy books. The event is a chance to share his story with local readers and their families.

Through teaching, Joe has learned what makes children laugh and gets them asking questions. He hopes his writing will help them develop a love of reading as they grow.

Published by Austin Macauley Publishers, Don’t Get Sucked Down the Plughole! turns a battle over bath time into a funny adventure. The child telling the story has plenty of reasons to stay out of the water. Bubbles cannot be trusted. Shampoo looks suspicious. Even the rubber ducks seem to be hiding something.

But the biggest worry is the plughole. What if it pulls you in?

With rhyme and plenty of humour, the book gives children and adults a story to laugh over together.

Joe is also a musician and a father of three. When he is not writing or teaching, he enjoys fishing and exploring new places with his family. He will bring his love of children’s stories to the festival this November.

Explore more about Don’t Get Sucked Down the Plughole! on our website.