We’re excited to announce the third annual Wokingham Children’s Book Festival will be the weekend of 17 and 18 October 17. Like many of this year’s book festivals, we’ll be online with some top authors talking about their books, inspirations, illustrations and writing techniques during the course of the weekend.
There’ll be plenty of chances for families to interact with the authors, ask questions, or for the shy bookworms to just say hello.
Diverse programme
We’ve a diverse programme of authors and illustrators, a great mix of topics and have sessions for a variety of different age ranges from 3 to 12, to suit all families and interests. Among the authors attending during the weekend we have winner of the 2019 Waterstones Children's Book Prize, Onjali Q. Raúf; bestselling author, BAFTA-winning animator, writer and filmmaker, Peter Bunzl, and young Scottish writer, Elle McNicoll – winner of Children's Book of the Week in The Times and The Sunday Times.
It's free!
Did we mention the book festival is also free? All we ask is that budding writers, illustrators or self-confessed bookworms sign-up for the sessions they wish to attend on the Bookfest website. That way we can keep an eye on numbers. The first 100 attendees signing-up for each session will also get the option of a free signed bookplate from the author that they can stick inside a copy of the author’s book or put on their noticeboard.
Books will be available on the WHSmith website for children to buy prior to or after the book festival.
Wokingham Town Councillor Daniel Hinton said: “The Town Council and our partners at ‘more arts.’ and Wokingham Borough Libraries are delighted to still be able to bring a version of the children’s book festival to Wokingham this year. It’s always a fantastic event that inspires, excites and never fails to raise a smile or two! We’ve wonderful authors and illustrators lined up and by being online, we can reach even more children than ever before.”
“This is already a much-loved event,” said Cllr Parry Batth, Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for environment and leisure. “We’re so pleased it’s still going ahead this year, albeit slightly differently, but still spreading the joy of books among children while also introducing them to our borough’s youngest readers and perhaps future professional writers.”
School author visits have always been a part of the Children’s Book Festival and this year is no exception. In fact we’ve gone bigger and better with more than 20 authors and schools from across the borough taking part in September and October. If you don’t mind a bit of name dropping we’ve got author Holly Webb who’s published more than 140 children’s books worldwide, award-winning author and illustrator from Syria, Nadine Kaadan, and bestselling illustrator of the Winnie the Witch series, Korky Paul, lined up for online school visits and activities which we hope will inspire some creative writing both in and out of the classroom.
Chairperson of ‘more arts.’ Jim Stockley: “‘more arts.’ is very pleased to continue to sponsor and support the Book Festival. And despite the challenges it has expanded its ambition and scope. And this should encourage our schools to get involved as well as families.”
The Wokingham Children’s Book Festival is bought to you by Wokingham Town Council, Wokingham Borough Council's Library Service, ‘more arts.’ and some very dedicated and fun book smart volunteers. We can’t wait to get started!
