Paul Register

Paul Register, aka the Bloke of Steel (www.blokeofsteel.co.uk), is a former school librarian from Sheffield now working as an Educational Speaker/Trainer, specialising in comics, graphic novels and school libraries. He spent 15 years managing school libraries in South Yorkshire (two large secondary schools and a Sixth Form college – not all at the same time!) and has been a comics reader since he first started reading anything! He is also the founder and organiser of the hugely successful Excelsior Award, the UK’s biggest book award for graphic novels where teens decide the winners. This award has grown from 17 participating schools in 2011 to over 200 schools in 2016! Last year saw the launch of the Excelsior Award Junior for 8–11 year olds. Paul now courses and workshops for librarians (school and public), school staff (teachers, managers, learning assistants) and students, on using comics and graphic novels in schools to generate excitement in reading and to increase library borrowing figures and student literacy levels. He has already given talks at schools, libraries and conferences across the UK and is passionate about using comics and graphic novels to create genuine love of reading and stories in children, irrespective of their reading ability, gender, race or religion.