Books / Children's LitFest
First Children’s LitFest weekender comes to Clifton
For the last seven years, Friends of Clifton Centre and Library (Foccal) have curated and organised the annual Clifton LitFest, bringing together “readers, writers and thinkers” for a busy programme of talks, discussions and events; all different in nature, but connected by “a shared belief in the power of stories”.
Now, buoyed by funds raised during LitFest, the group is launching the inaugural Children’s LitFest, in partnership with Waterstones and Clifton BID – and set to coincide with the National Year of Reading.
Taking place across the weekend of July 11-12 at Clifton Library and other selected local venues, the festival hopes to inspire “a lifelong enjoyment of books” through its mix of storytelling, workshops and activities aimed at children and young people.
The Cave Downwind of the Cafe is a prequel to The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods – photo: Harper Collins
Headlining the festival will be award-winning Bristol author, illustrator and animator Mikey Please, who will appear on Sunday with a series of live events inspired by his bestselling picture books The Café at the Edge of the Woods and The Cave Downwind of the Café.
Families will be able to enjoy illustrated storytelling sessions and musical draw-along workshops, where children can learn to sketch beloved characters René and Glumfoot in a cosy and relaxed environment.
Mermaid Ruby Rockpool – aka Hannah Pearl – photo: courtesy of the artist
Mermaid fans will be able to meet author and performer Ruby Rockpool – also known as Hannah Pearl, while interactive sessions with The Bristol Crocodile will also feature across the weekend.
Elsewhere in the programme, participating guests will include the popular fantasy author of the Peregrine Quinn book series, Ash Bond, picture book writer and illustrator Yasmeen Ismail, author and environmental storyteller Martin Kiszko, poet and performer Tom Bonson, and illustrator Hannah Rose.
There is also a planned series of bilingual Speak in Tongues storytime sessions, in which children will be able to hear stories read in English and a second language – including Italian, Mandarin, Spanish and French.
Photo: Foccal
Children’s LitFest will take place at Clifton Library and selected local venues on July 11-12. All events are free, but ticketed – and can be reserved at waterstones.com.
Main photo: Mikey Please
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