Bath’s Independent Retailers Celebrate Children’s Literature

September 27, 2016

Bath Festivals and the children’s toy store, My Small World, set Bath’s independent retailers the challenge of creating magical, inspiring and inventive window displays based on the theme of children’s literature leading up to and for the duration of the 10^th Bath Children’s Literature Festival which comes to Bath on 1^st to 9^th October. These window displays are now in place for all to enjoy.

On Friday, a panel of judges visited each of the retailers involved to determine their top three. Judges included local author of children’s and teen fiction and writer of Chris Hoy’s Flying Fergus series, Joanna Nadin, 3D Design Course Leader at Bath Spa University’s School of Art & Design, Julia Keyte and the founder of the Bath Children’s Literature Festival, Gill McLay. The tour concluded with drinks at the Forum Coffee House with all of the retailers and supporters involved, including the Mayor and Mayoress of Bath.

Dawn Burden, owner of My Small World, was instrumental in gathering support from the local indie community. She says “We have been a long time supporter of the Bath Children’s Literature Festival. A love of reading and literature is key to developing young creative minds and independent thinkers, and for Bath children nothing will beat the inspiration of hearing and seeing their literary heroes right on their doorstep. This is the largest independent children’s festival in Europe and that’s something that we should be proud of.” She continues “The independent business community in Bath have enjoyed coming together to celebrate this amazing 10 year success story – and just like the best children’s illustrators, independent businesses can always be counted on to add colour, vibrancy, life and passion to the city – as their beautiful window displays will demonstrate!”

After much deliberation, the judges chose (in no particular order), the following windows as their top three:

Harvest – Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree
The Framing Workshop – Roald Dahl’s Oxford Dictionary
Graham & Green – The Jungle Book

The overall winner of the challenge will be announced at the Bath Children’s Literature Festival launch party and will receive a £100 gift voucher for the Bath restaurant of their choice, courtesy of the Bath BID.

Calling all families and literary fans!

Irrespective of the judges decision, organisers want to encourage families and literary fans to have their own say by posting photos of all of their favourite windows onto the Bath Festivals Facebook page or on Twitter @BathFestivals, using #kidslitwindows. Maps can be collected from the Bath Box Office or any of the stores involved. All photos will go into a prize draw to win Bath Festivals Pen Friend Annual Membership (worth £50) and a bundle of books from the festival. Children will also have the chance to design their own window display on the map and win a £25.00 gift voucher for My Small World.

Festival founder and artistic director, Gill McLay says “The Bath Children’s Literature Festival has always had children at its heart so it’s only right that they have the chance to choose their favourite indie windows. We are absolutely delighted that the indie community has embraced this challenge and would like to thank them for the time and effort. This is the start of an initiative that we hope will grow in years to come.”

Bath Festivals would also like to thanks Colorworks, Bath So Maps, Bianca Lucas and Rita Lazaro who created the indie trail maps and posters.