Events happening in and around Children’s Book Week

National Bookstart Day 2008

The theme of this year’s National Bookstart Day (Friday 10 October) is Pirates Ahoy! A special launch event will be held at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, with further events and parties taking place at libraries, nurseries and children’s centres across the country.

Visit www.nationalbookstartday.org.uk for pirate-themed books, activities and to find out what National Bookstart Day events are taking place in your area.

Old Possum’s Children’s Poetry Competition 2008

Michael Rosen will chair the judges of this competition for 7-11 year-olds run by the Children’s Poetry Bookshelf. Supported by National Year of Reading and using the ‘Work’ theme of National Poetry Day (October 9th), the competition will be open to entries from 11th September and close on 20th October.

Cash, book and school membership prizes will be presented to the winners at a gala celebration in December and the winning poems will be published in a booklet and on the CPB website.

The Competition will also have an ‘International learner’ section run in partnership with the British Council.
Find out more

Bath Children's Literature Festival

19-28 September

10 days of events for children and families featuring some of the world's best authors, illustrators, poets and storytellers. This year's programme includes Michael Rosen, Michael Morpurgo, Meg Cabot, Shirley Hughes, Axel Scheffler, Harry Hill, Charlie Higson, Cornelia Funke, Rick Riordan, Morris Gleitzman, Martin Brown and Cressida Cowell.

Tickets: 01225 463362 Find out more

Appledore Book Festival

29 September – 5 October

Appledore Book Festival has nine days of family events in this beautiful North Devon village. Highlights include events on 29 September by Philip Ardagh and Dugald Steer – author of the "Ologies". On 5 October Jacqueline Wilson launches Book Week in the south-west with a huge family event! Find out more

Poetry Explorers at the Poetry Library

Poetry Explorers is an informal family reading session with themed activities. We meet between 4pm and 5pm on Wednesdays. If you are interested in coming along, please let us know. You can phone on 020 7921 0664 or email info@poetrylibrary.org.uk.

We look forward to seeing you at the sessions. The Poetry Library, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London SE1.

The Children's Bookshow

The Children's Bookshow tour happens in Children's Book Week and beyond, from Friday 26 September to Friday 17 October. A tour of brilliant writers performing in theatres, this year it includes Children's Laureate Michael Rosen and Indian writer Anushka Ravishankar.

The theme is picture books and poetry. For more details visit www.thechildrensbookshow.com To book a free schools workshop email thechildrensbookshow@gmail.com or ring Kate Tull on 0774 025 6330