Cones and the New Stadium Chronicle’s Everton’s Historic Move
With a splash of colour and a bucketload of charm, the Cones Children’s Educational Books series is back with a cracking new release: Cones and the New Stadium.
This latest adventure, written by the ever-imaginative Chris Madeley, brings the worlds of football heritage, civil engineering, and children’s literature together in a brilliantly accessible tale. It’s more than just a storybook. It’s a clever educational tool wrapped in fun, designed to ignite young minds with curiosity, career dreams, and a healthy dose of local pride.
In collaboration with the Charitable Foundation Team at Everton Football Club, this new title tracks the club’s emotional journey as it transitions from the historic Goodison Park to its spectacular new home at Bramley-Moore Dock. Through the eyes of a bunch of plucky little traffic cones, children are taken on a whirlwind tour of history, construction, and community.
Traffic guides turned tiny storytellers
At the heart of the series are the familiar characters: Conestance, Conerad, Cone-Vera, and Conen. These anthropomorphised cones are on a mission to learn about the human world and help children see the magic in everyday life. In this edition, they’re joined by a passionate local named Blue, a proud Everton-supporting cone decked out in scarf and hat, who leads them through the rich footballing and architectural history of Liverpool.
Blue introduces the Cones to Grandad Cone and his grandson Cone-Lad. “We’ve followed the Toffees through thick and thin,” Grandad Cone tells his grandson: “It’s sad to leave Goodison, but we’re ready for the next chapter.” This intergenerational moment highlights the loyalty and sentiment woven into the fabric of the Everton fan base.
A scenic stroll through Liverpool’s heritage
As the story unfolds, Blue takes the Cones on a cultural tour of Liverpool’s landmarks. The Liver Building, the two cathedrals, the Cunard Building, and the bustling docks all make a cameo. It’s a whistle-stop tour of civic pride.
“Liverpool’s built on resilience and innovation,” Blue explains: “From shipbuilding to sport, we’ve always moved forward while respecting our past.” The backdrop gives young readers a sense of place, showing them that their cities are living, breathing stories waiting to be told.
Into the thick of construction
Eventually, the group lands at the site of the new stadium, where they meet Conestructor, a no-nonsense civil engineer cone clad in high-vis and a hard hat. She’s working with the real-life contractors, Laing O’Rourke, who are handling the complex transformation of the Bramley-Moore Dock into a state-of-the-art sporting venue.
Conestructor doesn’t hold back: “We had to clear twelve unexploded WWII bombs before laying a single brick,” she tells them. “And then there was the pod of porpoise we had to safely relocate!” It’s this blend of thrilling facts and environmental sensitivity that gives the book its distinctive educational edge.
She also explains the innovative techniques being used to speed up and improve the build, such as pre-fabricating brick panels horizontally before craning them into position. For children unfamiliar with construction, it’s a lightbulb moment: building is about problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity.
History preserved in every brick
The story goes out of its way to celebrate how Everton and their partners are preserving the industrial heritage of the docklands. Blue and Conestructor highlight original train tracks, cobbled streets, ancient mooring posts, and the restored Grade II listed Hydraulic Tower and Engine House.
“You can’t build the future by bulldozing the past,” says Conestructor, standing proudly by the tower. It’s a message that dovetails perfectly with modern thinking around sustainable and culturally sensitive urban regeneration.
A career guide in disguise
One of the cornerstones of the Cones series is its commitment to showing children the diverse careers available in the real world. It’s storytelling with purpose. Engineering, construction, architecture, heritage preservation, marine biology – even sports management – all come into play through the story’s characters and their work.
The book gently nudges its readers to imagine themselves in these roles. As Chris Madeley puts it: “There’s a career out there for every child. The challenge is making them aware of the possibilities.” By wrapping that challenge in an entertaining adventure, she’s nailed the formula.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Everton’s iconic motto – Nil Satis Nisi Optimum – which translates as Nothing but the best is good enough, serves as the closing note for the book and the build. It’s reflected in the stadium’s design, in the community outreach, and now in the pages of a children’s book.
“This isn’t just a stadium,” Blue reminds the Cones: “It’s our future. And it’s got to be the best.” It’s a message that lands just as powerfully with young readers as it does with lifelong fans.
A lasting legacy for generations
Cones and the New Stadium isn’t just a charming story about a football ground. It’s a tale of legacy, change, resilience, and the future. By making education fun and careers exciting, it cements its place as a must-read for classrooms, families, and young Evertonians alike.
Whether you’re a teacher looking for an engaging resource, a parent wanting to spark a love for STEM, or a football fan fascinated by the club’s new chapter, this book scores big. It celebrates community spirit, commemorates football heritage, and introduces the builders of tomorrow to the power of construction.
