Northern Children’s Book Festival: Inspiring Children’s Imaginations in Northumberland
21 Nov 2023 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
This November, Northumberland Libraries and Northumberland Schools Library Service are once again introducing fantastic authors to hundreds of school children across the county as part of the 40th annual Northern Children’s Book Festival.
This follows last year’s welcome return of in-person visits, as research shows that not only were children's literacy levels severely affected by the pandemic but also that author visits to schools can inspire children and help them on their journey to a love of reading:
‘The impact of an author visiting shouldn’t be underestimated. These are the types of things that people talk about when you ask them what they remember about school.’ - Times Educational Supplement
The festival, which runs for a fortnight from Monday 20 November, is one of the largest children’s book festivals in the UK and will see a host of inspiring and top name authors, poets, storytellers and illustrators visit schools who elected to take part following a county-wide invitation from Northumberland County Council.
Library staff have arranged for the children to meet five amazing children’s authors. Authors will be talking about their books, telling stories and making pictures, with lots of opportunities for audience participation and questions. The events are always entertaining and promote the message that reading is fun.
The first author being welcomed to Northumberland is Dom Conlon. Dom is a double Carnegie-nominated poet and author whose work is guided by nature and the stars. He's written poetry and picture books, fact and fiction, and will be spending the day at Abbeyfields First School in Morpeth.
Next up is debut author, Andy Ruffell. Andy will be delivering sessions to children from two schools in the west of the County; Henshaw Primary School and Greenhead Primary School in Hexham. Andy's debut novel, Lily Grim and the City of the Undone, won him the Hachette Children’s Novel Award in 2021.
Marie Basting, author of My Family and Other Romans, is heading to Blyth to visit children at Malvin’s Close Primary, along with pupils from Croftway and Morpeth Road Primaries, who are all joining together to take part this year.
Festival stalwart, Tracey Corderoy, is returning to the festival this year to delight children at Seahouses Primary and Shilbottle Primary with her fun and interactive workshops based on her popular picture book series, Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam.
We finish off an amazing fortnight with Scottish-based author, Maisie Chan. Maisie’s books have won her the Jhalak Prize and the Branford Boase Award, as well as having been longlisted in the Diverse Book Awards. Pupils at Holy Trinity First School in Berwick and Wooler First School look forward to meeting Maisie and hearing about her Tiger Warrior book series.
Councillor Jeff Watson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Culture, Heritage and Libraries, said:
“Every year we welcome to these events wonderful authors who are set to share their love of words and pictures with children across Northumberland. We look forward to the Northern Children’s Book Festival and other similar initiatives which inspire children to read and to develop their love of books.”
For more information, visit www.mylibrary.co.uk.