When Quarto Books asked us to help launch a magical new children’s book, we knew it called for something truly special. Children of the Throne by Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho is a moving, hopeful story about climate change, community, and the hidden power of nature. To celebrate its release, we created a life-sized living throne in lush green Ligustrum delavayanum, inspired by Richard Johnson’s enchanting cover illustration.
The living sculpture was unveiled at Waterstones Wandsworth, right in the heart of Southside Shopping Centre. For one week only, families, book-lovers, and fans of Coelho’s poetry could sit upon the throne, step into the story, and take home their signed copy of Children of the Throne.
The result? A joyful installation that brought the pages to life. Shoppers stopped in their tracks. Children scrambled up to try the “magical seat.” And parents snapped photos to remember the moment. The throne became a beacon—of play, imagination, and the book’s message of living in harmony with nature.
As Joseph himself said:
“It’s been lovely seeing families approach and sit upon this fantastical seat that feels pulled forth from the pages of mine and Richard’s Children Of The Throne.”
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We’re proud to have created a sculpture that helped spark curiosity and wonder—while also echoing the story’s deeper themes of protecting our planet for the future.
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