Children's Book Festival comes to town

Celebrating its tenth year, authors, storytellers, poets and performers including the likes of Gervase Phinn, Ian McMillan, Anthony McGowan, Annapurna Dance and Cat Weatherill, will be bringing books to life for school audiences as part of the festival, which starts on Saturday June 19, and concludes on Saturday June 26.

The events are not just limited to libraries either, with the fun spilling out into the inspirational setting of Clifton Park. 

Kicking off with Family Fun Day activities, Rotherham's premier park will be hosting two 'Rhyme Time' sessions for under fives and a story walk in the afternoon. Library staff will be found around the children's play area throughout the day wearing "Stop Me for a Story" t-shirts and offering story readings.

The week-long festival features everything from Roald Dahl treasure hunts to a Manga master class, book cover design, story illustration and a magical ventriloquist.

Taking place in libraries from Wath to Maltby, the festival is perfect for those both young, and young at heart, with something to spark the imaginations of everyone, from toddlers to teenagers.

Amongst the wide range of events, poetry legend, Ian McMillan, will be joined by illustrator Tony Husband for "A Cartoon History of Here" at Wickersley Library for a show which promises to be as fast-paced as it is hilarious.

Magical ventriloquist Kimmo will be joined by his friends at Dinnington Library for a lively interactive show and artist Tasneem Kausar will be showing budding artists the finer points of creating the Japanese phenomenon that is Manga.

Reader Development Officer Julie Hird, who has co-ordinated the festival, said: "The programme of events this year is one of our best ever and, as it is our anniversary year, we are hoping all the children who have been inspired by past festivals will join us again for another amazing week.

"The festival gives kids a stunning mix of cartoonists, illustrators, storytellers, poets and authors to be inspired by, then gives them the opportunity to use these experiences to fuel their own creativity and, hopefully, become the next generation of artists.

"Our aim is to celebrate books, reading and stories and to encourage and inspire Rotherham's young people to read and write creatively. The opportunity to hear authors and poets talk about their passion is often all kids need to spark their own life-long love of books and reading."

For more information about this year's festival and events, please contact Julie Hird on 01709 815123.

You can pick up a free booklet outlining all the events at your local library, or view the info online at www.rotherham.gov.uk/libraries.