Families can look forward to the biggest ever Bath Children’s Literature Festival this autumn, with bestselling authors, illustrators, TV favourites and performers coming to the city for 10 days of events celebrating the joy of reading.
Running from 25 September to 4 October, this year’s festival marks the National Year of Reading with its largest and most ambitious programme to date, offering something for every age and every type of young reader.
Among the headline names appearing are Dame Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Michael Rosen and MC Grammar, Katherine Rundell, Cressida Cowell, A.F. Steadman, Ben Miller, Alexander Armstrong, Andy Day, Greg James and Chris Smith, Rob Biddulph and Jamie Smart, alongside dozens of other leading authors and illustrators.
The festival will also feature live shows inspired by much-loved characters including Supertato, Elmer the Elephant and Horrible Histories, as well as story times, draw-alongs, creative masterclasses and interactive events designed to inspire children to discover a lifelong love of books.
This is the second year that the festival has partnered with Longleat, strengthening links between two of the South West’s best-loved family attractions. The collaboration follows Longleat’s celebrations of the 60th anniversary of opening the first drive-through safari park outside Africa.
The programme has been carefully designed to appeal to every kind of reader. Younger children can enjoy story sessions and illustrated adventures, while confident readers can meet the creators behind bestselling fantasy and adventure series. Families looking for laughter can enjoy comic shows, live performances and poetry, while budding artists will have the chance to learn from some of the UK’s best-known illustrators.
Children fascinated by facts can hear from experts covering subjects ranging from football and science to history and true crime, while keen readers can meet many of today’s most popular children’s authors.
Waterstones will once again be the festival’s official bookseller, hosting free drop-in sessions with artists in residence throughout the festival at its Milsom Street store.
Festival founders and artistic directors John and Gill McLay say this year’s programme reflects the growing importance of encouraging children to read for pleasure.
John said, “Every year Gill and I try to bring the most popular children’s authors and illustrators to Bath to entertain and inspire young book lovers. In this, the National Year of Reading, it has never been more important to foster a love of reading for pleasure and we think we’ve put together a truly stunning programme of events. Our biggest ever.
“We hope our audiences will seek out and meet their favourite creatives, be in awe of their stories and laugh at their jokes. If you’ve not been before, come and find out what it’s all about. If you’re a regular… welcome back. It’ll be great to see you again.”
Alongside the public programme, the festival’s Schools Programme will run from 28 September to 2 October, taking authors and illustrators into dozens of schools across the South West and reaching thousands of children.
The festival also continues its Share The Story campaign, encouraging ticket buyers to donate towards giving children who might not otherwise attend the festival the opportunity to experience events and take home a book of their own.
Priority booking opens on 1 July, with general ticket sales beginning on 3 July.
