The Bath Children’s Literature Festival opened last weekend with some amazing and entertaining children’s writers, including Michael Rosen, Harry Hill and Cressida Cowell. And the fun continues this weekend with loads more authors and illustrators coming to Bath.
And here are 10 events this weekend to take your kids to. You can even buy tickets on the door at the venues.
1 Mrs Blackhat Rides Again Saturday 5 October, 10am at the Guildhall. This is a great event to take pre-school and infant school children to as it’s suitable for age four and over. Author and illustrator Chloe Inkpen will be leading an inter-active show about the witch who loves black, with storytelling and drawing. Chloe will be joined by co-author Mick Inkpen, creator of Kipper and Wibbly Pig.
2 This Saturday is Bookshop Day and there’s a FREE event all day at Waterstones in Milsom Street, Bath. Between 10am and 4.30pm ten local authors will be calling in to the bookshop to meet their readers and sign copies of their books. Full details of who is coming and when are in the Bath Children’s Literature Festival programme. You can even take books by the authors that you already have at home.
3 On Saturday 5 October, 2pm at the Guildhall there’s the chance to meet the creator of the brave little vampire Amelia Fang. Illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson designed the cover for this year’s literature festival programme and she’ll be leading a fun-filled fangtastic session suitable for children aged six and over.
4 Saturday afternoon’s session (2.30pm at the Forum) is one for all the generations. Dame Jacqueline Wilson, who was born here in Bath, is returning to her home city to talk about the many brilliant characters she’s created over the years. There will also be the chance to buy her new book. We Are The Beaker Girls, ahead of its official publication date. Jacqueline won’t be able to do any signing but printed book plates with her signature on will be available to buy at the event. What a great early Christmas present!
5 Where Are You? is a puzzle picture book that’s unique. The creators of the book, David and Marija, will be introducing you to their crazy, creative world through drawing and games. The ticket price includes a voucher towards ordering a book, which comes with your child’s name on the cover and throughout the search-and-find pictures inside. This event in on Saturday 5 October, from 3pm at the Masonic Hall.
6 Here’s one for every child who owns, or would love to own, a pony. Popular TV presenter Clare Balding has created a series of books for readers aged seven and over, stories which celebrate friendship as well as riding. Clare will be talking about her latest adventure, The Racehorse Who Learned to Dance, on Saturday 5 October at 4pm at the Guildhall.
7 Tom Gates has legions of fans who love the way they can doodle, draw and create their own stuff. Tom’s creator Liz Pichon is bringing a lively interactive show to the Forum, at 5pm on Saturday 5 October, which will include a snack based quiz and a chance to do so doodling. This is suitable for creative kids aged seven and over.
8 Former CBeebies presenter Cerrie Burnell takes the stage at the Guildhall at 10am on Sunday 6 October. Cerrie has written a magical new novel for readers aged seven and over, The Girl with the Shark’s Teeth. She’ll be sharing stories about sharks as well as her top tips for creative writing.
9 A mysterious stranger arrives at Mabel’s parents’ hotel. Mabel thinks that the glamorous guest might be a supervillain . . . Join Sophie Dahl at the Masonic Hall at 11am on Sunday 6 October a she talks about her beautifully illustrated new story book for children aged six and over, Madame Badobedah.
10 Two brilliant, brainy and very funny authors get together on Sunday afternoon, at 5pm on the Masonic Hall, when Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Garth Jennings will be talking about their latest books for readers aged eight and over, Runaway Robot and The Good, the Bad and the Deadly 7. They will make you laugh, they will make you think and you’ll learn something new about what showbiz is really like.
To find out more about Bath Children’s Literature Festival, click here