Book Events for Children Summer Highlights
Excited about the long summer holidays? Or slightly daunted wondering how to fill the weeks ahead? Clare Burkhill-Howarth of the Book Events for Children
www.bookeventsforchildren.co.uk/ rounded up our pick of the best book-related events across the country to keep your family entertained. And don’t forget to sign them up for this year’s Record Breakers themed Summer Reading Challenge
Alice in Wonderland at 150
Celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland reach their peak this summer. In London, join The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and meet The White Rabbit at Foyles Summer of Fun
www.foyles.co.uk/summer-of-fun. Elsewhere in the capital, witness Alice’s enduring appeal in The Alice Look
www.vam.ac.uk/moc/exhibitions-and-displays/the-alice-look/ exhibition at The V&A Museum of Childhood. For Alice-themed magic tricks head to Magic, March Hares and Mad Hatters at the Cartoon Museum
www.cartoonmuseum.org/events/alice-in- cartoonland-events/50143-magic-march- hares-and-mad-hatters, whilst a truly other-worldly experience awaits you at the Adventures in Wonderland www.
lespetitsadventures.co.uk experience at The Vaults in Waterloo.
Outside the capital, Guildford Castle opens its doors for an ‘Inspired by Alice’ Family Fun Day
www.guildford.
gov.uk/article/14505/Inspired-by-Alice- --Family-Fun-day, complete with a costumed parade. Somersault Festival
somersaultfestival.com/entertainment/alice-wasteland/ in Devon promises a theatrical Alice-themed spectacular.
Heading to Wales? Visit Llandudno, where the ‘real’ Alice holidayed with her family and follow The Alice Trail
www.visitllandudno.
org.uk/things-to-do/alice-in-wonderland-trail-p296751 through the seaside town. In Scotland, Alice-themed performances feature at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe
www.edfringe.com and across the Irish Sea, Linen Hall Library in Belfast invites Alice fans to participate in Wonderland readings and an art workshop www.
linenhall.com/shop/products/childrens-event-crocodiles-in-cream.
Scotland
YA events at The Edinburgh International Book Festival www.
edbookfest.co.uk range from dystopian thrillers to mental health discussions via teenage pregnancies. Author highlights for young adults include Matt Haig, Marcus Sedgwick and Sophie McKenzie. Treats for younger readers include Sarah McIntyre, Frank Cottrell Boyce, and Debi Gliori.
Pop into The Scottish Storytelling Centre
www.tracscotland.org/ scottish-storytelling-centre for more spoken word and theatrical events.
Northern Ireland
Belfast Hills Heritage Festival
belfasthills.org/events/voyage- to-lilliput-craft-workshop/ celebrates its link with Gulliver’s
16 Books for Keeps No.213 July 2015
Travels author, Jonathan Swift and catch a theatrical adaptation of the classic story the Lyric Theatre, Belfast
www.lyrictheatre.
co.uk/whats-on/specific/on-stage/gullivers-travels. Traditional tales are retold with performances of Jack and the Beanstalk, The Three Billy Goats Gruff
www.roevalleyarts.com/rv_events/jack- and-billy/, Red Riding Hood
www.roevalleyarts.com/rv_events/ red-riding-hood/ and Into The Woods
www.belvoirplayers.org/ whats-on/.
Yorkshire and the North-East
Seven Stories, National Centre for Children’s Books www.
sevenstories.org.uk, reopens this month following refurbishment and offers three new exhibitions featuring Paddington, nursery rhymes and the works of Michael Foreman. Author events include Nick Sharratt, Adam Stower, as well as events with Artist-in- Residence Jonny Duddle.
The Railway Children
www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/event/ the_railway_children – also currently being performed at London’s Kings Cross Theatre
railwaychildrenlondon.com – returns to its York roots with amazing staging at the National Railway Museum. The Yorkshire scenery is the backdrop to festival appearances from Blue Peter Book Award winner Andy Seed (at Galtres Parklands Festival
www.galtresfestival.org.uk with Gary Northfield and WBD15 illustrator Sophy Henn appearing at Deer Shed Festival
deershedfestival.com/.
Book now for workshops with several authors and illustrators- including Annabel Pitcher, Teresa Flavin and Stephen Waterhouse at Breeze Arts Festival, Leeds
www.breezeleeds.org.
North-West
Various author appearances await young festival goers in the north-west with Lytham’s Festival of Stories
www.lythamfestival. com/festival-of-stories welcoming Cathy Cassidy, Liz Kessler and Demolition Dad author Phil Earle. In Cheshire, meet The Gruffalo, as well as authors Paul Stickland and Emma Carroll at Just So Festival
www.justsofestival.org.uk/.
Elsewhere, Jacqueline Wilson launches her latest book, Katy at Simply Books
www.simplybooks and enjoy outdoor theatre with The Wind in the Willows
www.grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.
co.uk/the-wind-in-the-willows/ and The Jungle Book www.
chapterhouse.org/show1.html.
Central England
Drop into the Draw Me A Story and Time for Bed exhibitions at The Story Museum
www.storymuseum.org.uk/ in Oxford and sign up for their Summer Story Makers writing courses. Youngsters will love Fantastic Storytelling Yoga and their weekly ABC…Story sessions.
Join workshops with Tracey Corderoy, Emily Gravett and Ian Whybrow amongst others at Cirencester Children’s Literary Festival
www.octaviasbookshop.co.uk/events/.
Highlights of the live author events at The Roald Dahl Museum
www.roalddahl.com/museum include Rastamouse creator Michael de Souza, Rob Biddulph and Paul Lyalls. Don’t miss Roald Dahl’s original writing hut too.
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