News, events and schools' information for families across Bath and West Wiltshire

Tickets are now on sale for the Bath Children’s Literature Festival, which opens on Friday 24 September for ten days of fabulous and fun-filled events celebrating the joy of reading and books.

For 2021, for the first time, The Bath and Wiltshire Parent is proud to be media partner for the festival, which is the largest children’s book festival in Europe. We’ll look forward to seeing many of you at these live events in the autumn.

Here are some of the highlights that we’re looking forward to:

Cressida Cowell

1 Cressida Cowell is not only a spellbinding writer and illustrator (How To Train Your Dragon, The Wizards of Once) she’s also a bewitching teller of live stories, conjuring up images of wizards and dragons which always have her audiences enthralled and inspired to come up with their own adventures.

Sat 25 Sept, 10am, The Forum, suitable ages 7-12.

2 Kristina Stephenson (creator of Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and THE most watched event of the Reading is Magic digital festival last autumn) is putting on a specially created interactive theatre show at The Egg theatre in Bath. She’ll be bringing puppets, storytelling and encouraging children to join in as she welcomes them to The Museum of Marvellous Things.

Two shows, Sat 25 Sept, The Egg, suitable ages 3 – 7.

Liz Pichon

3 Festival favourite illustrator Liz Pichon is back at the Bath Kids Lit Fest. Can you believe it’s ten years since her character Tom Gates came into our lives? Liz will be drawing us in to her wonderfully created and cleverly illustrated world with Tremendous Tales of Tom Gates.

Sat 25 Sept, 5pm, The Forum, suitable ages 7-12.

4 Actor Stephen Mangan (the voice of Postman Pat, also starred in The Split and Episodes with Matt Le Blanc) has worked with his sister Anita to create Escape the Rooms and adventure story aimed at nine to 12-year-olds.

Sun 26 Sept, 2pm, Komedia.

5 Simon Farnaby, actor, comedian and writer, is part of the Horrible Histories troupe and author of the series The Misadventures of Merdyn the Wild. Meet Merdyn the Wild, the world’s greatest warlock, Rose, his 21st century descendent and her guineapig Bubbles. 

Simon will be sharing some of his script-writing tales and doing a dramatic reading from The Warrior in My Wardrobe.

Sun 3 Oct, 12pm, Komedia, ages 7 – 12.

David O’Doherty

6 Comedian and actor David O’Doherty is another welcome returnee to the Bath Children’s Literature Festival, as he makes the adults laugh as much as the children in the audience. David will be entertaining us talking about his new book, The Summer I Robbed A Bank.

Sunday 3 Oct, 2pm, Guildhall, ages 9 – 12.

Dape Adeola

7 Illustrator Dapo Adeola went down a storm last year when he talked to children aged seven and under about the award-winning picture book, Clean Up! which prompted lots of community action amongst his young fans. Dapo will be in Bath to chat about We’re Going to Find the Monster, a celebration of family and creativity, which has words by best-selling author Malorie Blackman.

Sat 2 Oct, 2pm, Guildhall, suitable ages 3 – 7.

Joe Wicks (Photo: Conor McDonnell)

8 Hands up everyone who used to jump around in their pyjamas to the daily exercise sessions with Joe Wicks! Well, the man himself is coming to Bath. He’s created some new characters for kids called The Burpee Bears and we’re all going to be on our feet and letting off some steam when Joe takes the stage at Komedia. Might have to change out of our pyjamas though . . .

Sat 3 Oct, 1pm, Komedia, 4 – 11 (plus mums and dads!)

Greg James and Chris Smith

9 Greg James (he of BBC Radio fame) and his friend and fellow creator of Kid Normal, Chris Smith, are bringing their brilliant double act back to Bath, to the delight of their fabs. The pair have written a brand new adventure, The Great Dream Robbery. Join them as they tell us about their heroine Maya, her dad and his invention and the baddie Lilith who knows how to trap people inside their own nightmares.

Sat 25 Sept, 1.30pm, The Forum, suitable ages 9 – 12.

Rob Biddulph

10 Have your pencils at the ready as record-breaking illustrator Rob Biddulph hosts an event, Monsters and Magic. The man who held the world’s biggest online art class, #Draw WithRob will be sharing his monstrously packed activity book Monster Madness. And he’ll dazzle you with Peanut Jones and the Illustrated City, the first title in an adventure series fizzing with magic, danger, friendship and art.

Sat 2 Oct, 10am, Komedia, suitable 6 – 11.

For tickets, got to bathfestivals.org.uk

Did you know that Bath Festivals is actually a charity? That means they don’t put on events to make lots of money, but for people to be entertained and interested. You can sign up on the website to become a bronze member for £25 and get tickets for your family before they go on general release. You’ll also get newsletters about who’s coming to Bath next, so you never miss out.