THE 8th TELEGRAPH BATH CHILDREN’S LITERATURE FESTIVAL
THE 8th TELEGRAPH BATH CHILDREN’S LITERATURE FESTIVAL
Friday 26 September – Sunday 5 October 2014
THE LARGEST DEDICATED CHILDREN’S LITERATURE FESTIVAL IN THE UK
with
GUEST ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DAVID ALMOND and OVER 100 EVENTS FEATURING THE BEST CHILDREN’S WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS
INCLUDING:
Holly Black, Martin Brown, John Burningham, Cathy Cassidy, Lauren Child, Cassandra Clare, Mandy Coe, Cornelia Funke, Simon Mayo, Dave McKean, Michael Morpurgo, Mal Peet, Liz Pichon, Chris Riddell, Michael Rosen, Andy Stanton, Henry Winkler, Benjamin Zephaniah and many more.
“Children’s Literature lies at the beating heart of our culture. It is where stories have their start and where literary culture is constantly renewed.” David Almond
The Telegraph Bath Children’s Literature Festival, the largest dedicated children’s book festival in the UK, is now in its 8th spectacular year. This is a festival bursting at the seams with vibrant activity for children of all ages, their teachers, families and friends. David Almond, in his second year as Guest Artistic Director, has created a programme for Bath that puts children, their opinions, their concerns and their creativity firmly at its core.
Once again, our Young Curators are centre stage, programming weekday discussions for young people, writing a festival blog and recommending and introducing events. The Holburne Museum hosts a range of interactive workshops including how to keep a top secret diary with Emer Stamp and how to turn nightmares into stories with Ross Montgomery.
The Guildhall is the hub for The Telegraph Bath Children’s Literature Festival Schools Programme. Launched by former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen, it features an array of authors, illustrators and poets. Hundreds of school children will gather at the Guildhall throughout the week for an exciting series of specially curated events.
This year’s fabulous cover artist is Chris Riddell who will be celebrating the publication of his second book Goth Girl and the Fete Worse Than Death. His first book in the series, Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse, has been chosen as this year’s Kids Big Bath Read. We welcome other illustrators including Laurence Anholt, Martin Brown, John Burningham, Jonny Duddle, Debi Gliori and Dave McKean.
Authors writing for older children and young adults including Joe Abercrombie, Melvin Burgess, Sally Green, Sophie McKenzie, Robert Muchamore, Garth Nix, Mal Peet and Marcus Sedgwick will all feature and Benjamin Zephaniah comes to the Festival with Terror Kid, his first novel in 7 years.
Cornelia Funke described by Time Magazine as one of the “100 most influential people in the world today” and the renowned author of the Inkheart and Mirrorworld series is in conversation with David Almond, who will also be talking about his own new novel for young adults, A Song for Ella Grey.
Also appearing at the festival are Philip Ardagh and his wonderfully eccentric Grunts, Simon Mayo talking about his new Itchcraft book and Cathy Cassidy with the latest in her series of The Chocolate Box Girls. We also welcome American authors to the festival, headlined by the much loved Henry Winkler and featuring Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, Michael Grant and Jon Sciezska.
As always, we welcome authors writing for young children including Emma Dodd and Clara Vulliamy as well as John McLay and Martin Brown with their new book The Dragon’s Dentist. Storytelling sessions with Chrissie Weltike in Bath’s Central Library and visits by Horrid Henry, Little Miss Hug and Peppa Pig are certain to delight parents and children alike. Elmer and Kipper, both celebrating their 25th birthdays will be in Bath in person to say hello.
A range of events designed for teachers, parents and educators is central to David Almond’s 2014 programme, including a keynote lecture, which takes the celebration of children’s creativity as its theme. This event is presented in association with the festival’s Creative Partner Bath Spa University.
With Minecraft, Miffy, Monsters, Murderous Maths, Michael Morpurgo and sheer mayhem with Andy Stanton at the Big Big Bath Book Quiz on the opening night, this year’s Telegraph Bath Children’s Literature Festival has it all.
The full programme is now available to view at www.bathfestivals.org.uk
Friends booking from 3 July
General booking from 14 July
Ticket hotline: 01225 463362
FOR ALL PRESS INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
TAMSIN TREVERTON JONES: 01225 462231/07980 585664
tamsin.treverton-jones@bathfestivals.org.uk