The annual Bath Children’s Literature Festival returns this month welcoming friends old and new and bringing the magic of books to life. The festival, which last year saw in excess of 16,000 visitors, is all about having fun, reading for pleasure, meeting the creators of children’s literary heroes, seeing illustrations come to life and sparking the imagination.
This year’s festival kicks-off on Friday, 26 September and runs until Sunday 5 October, bringing some of the biggest and best loved names in the world of children’s books to Bath.
The line-up includes Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, festival favourites Liz Pichon, Rob Biddulph, and Cressida Cowell, and a series of free festival events for all the family.
There’s something truly magical about a children’s book festival. It’s one of the few places where young readers can step right into the world of the stories they love alongside the people who created them.
Quote from illustrator and author Rob Biddulph
Some of the highlights this year include:
Party at the Museum | Friday 26 September, 5pm-9pm | Holburne Museum
You’re invited to join the festival’s opener, Party at the Museum: Up Late at the Holburne Museum! This free event features favourite children’s book characters, Pokemon fun, art sessions, and the Unicorn Academy Nail Bar.
Rose Ayling-Ellis | Saturday 27 September, 4pm-4:45pm| Guildhall
Join the Bafta-winning actor Rose Ayling-Ellis to hear about her book Marvellous Messages. Rose will share her inspirational heroes and talk about her career, from her early love of acting, to being the first deaf presenter of the Paralympics. There will be the chance for the audience to learn some British Sign Language and a special quiz too.
Rob Biddulph | Saturday 27 September, 2pm-2:45pm | Guildhall
Festival favourite and bestselling and multi award-winning author and illustrator, Rob Biddulph, brings a fun-packed event for all the family. Rob, the creative star behind the viral and phenomenal #DrawWithRob videos, will bring to life his award-winning books and everyone will learn how to draw some of his amazing illustrations. Paper and pencils at the ready!
Cressida Cowell How To Train Your Dragon School | Saturday, 27 September, 10am-11am| Bath Forum
Hot on the heels of the new big screen version of How To Train Your Dragon, the OG dragon wrangler herself, illustrator and author Cressida Cowell, will be bringing us more brilliant tales, with How To Train Your Dragon School and a sneak preview of her next book.
Pamela Butchart | Sunday, 28 September, 2pm-2:45pm | Guildhall
Blue Peter award-winning author, Pamela Butchart, whose hilarious stories about teachers and pupils are so popular in primary schools, will be bringing us two new books, My Teacher is a Diamond Thief, and Diary of a Future Billionaire. Expect lots of fun, laughter, crisps and seriously silly stories.
Rap with MC Grammar | Saturday, 4 October, 12:30-1:15pm | Guildhall
Award-winning teacher, Sky Kids superstar, World Book Day ambassador and viral book-rapping sensation MC Grammar will be in Bath to introduce his latest book, The Adventures of Rap Kid: The G.O.A.T. So grab your bling and shades and make your way to this epic event packed with jokes, bangin’ tunes, wicked rhythms, a sick rap battle, and the greatest dance-off of all time.
Visit bathfestivals.org.uk for more details.
Images L-R: Author Pamela Butchart, Image courtesy Chris CloseAA; Author Cressida Cowell, Image © Heather Chuter; Book rapping sensation MC Grammar, Image credit: Jiksaw