Events in and around Children’s Book Week
Exciting events took place all over the UK in the week of 5-11 October in schools, libraries and a range of other venues. Here are a few highlights:
StarLit, a new week-long festival of children’s literature organised by the Shoreditch Trust, celebrated the very best of writing for 5-15 year olds in London’s Hoxton Square. Over 70 authors, illustrators and poets took part, including Darren Shan, David Melling, Jamila Gavin and Booktrust's new writer in residence, Nii Parkes, who appeared in a special event alongside Michael Rosen and Lemn Sissay on 5 October.
National Poetry Day Live! took place on Thursday October at the Royal Festival Hall. The Poetry Society celebrated its centenary with readings from Carol Ann Duffy, John Hegley and Roger McGough as well as beach-ball haiku, a woolly extravaganza from the makers of the first giant knitted poem and the announcement of the BBC's Nation's Favourite Poem poll.
Winners of the John Clare Poetry Prize for young people aged 7-18 read their poems at Poet's Corner at Westminster Abbey and on Speaker's Steps at Westminster Hall alongside a special celebrity guest. Find out more
South East:
Herts Mercury Radio celebrated Children's Book Week with a very special competition that took presenters Tank and Aussie Heather to a winning primary school to read their favourite books. Find out more
South West:
Blisland Community Primary School in Cornwall enjoyed a ‘Snuggle Down with a Book’ event where children returned to school in the evening, in pyjamas and dressing gowns, to share favourite bedtime stories (and of course, hot chocolate) with teachers and parents.
This year's theme of Words and Pictures provided the inspiration for a creative Collage Challenge in the school library at St Martin’s Garden Primary School in Bath.
Midlands:
At Mattersey Primary School in Nottinghamshire, Year 1 read The Jolly Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg and then took part in related activities such as visiting the local post office and writing postcards to send to parents.
At Ernehale Junior School in Nottinghamshire, the theme for the week was ‘fantasy and science fiction’: the assembly hall was transformed into a fantasy land, and children enjoyed activities themed around books such as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. The week ended with a fancy-dress day and an exhibition of all the work produced.
North West:
Children at Pudsey Primrose Hill Primary School in Liverpool celebrated Children’s Book Week by dressing up as their favourite book characters. Teachers brought in their own favourite childhood books to share with pupils, and the children joined in with a Great Big Bookswap.
North East:
Yue Guo and Clare Farrow visited The People's Theatre Newcastle on Friday 9 October as part of The Children's Bookshow, a national tour of the best children's writers and illustrators which takes place between September 25 and November 25. Other writers and illustrators appearing as part of the tour include Michael Rosen and Alexis Deacon: visit the website for full details of tour venues and dates.
Seven Stories in Newcastle will be played host to a great family event with author Simon Bartram, plus a picture book event with author and illustrator Debi Gliori during Children's Book Week, as well as a new exhibition celebrating the work of one of Britain's best loved author-illustrators, Judith Kerr - creator of Mog and The Tiger Who Came To Tea.
Children at the Orkney Library had fun with activities themed around the book Millie’s Marvellous Hat by Satoshi Kitamura. As well as storytime sessions, the children made ‘marvellous hats’ of their own – and the staff joined in by wearing ‘marvellous hats’ to work that ranged from soldier’s helmets to pink glittery cowboy hats!
The Mainstreet Trading Company’s Children’s Bookshop in St Boswell’s hosted a programme of special events for Children’s Book Week, including appearances by authors Johnny O’Brien, Charlie James and Joan Lingard.
Wales:
Brynteg Comprehensive School in Bridgend enjoyed a variety of fun events ranging from quizzes, games and puzzles to a special Children’s Book Week ‘Readathon’ challenge.
Nationwide:
KidsLit was an exciting new Virtual Literary Festival that took place during Children's Book Week. Thousands of children across the UK took part in ‘Hot Seat’ interviews with authors and illustrators including Jacqueline Wilson, Martin Brown, Holly Webb and Children’s Laureate Anthony Browne, via Intuitive Media’s safe and mediated social networking sites for young people from 5-9 October. Find out more via SuperClubsPLUS (for age 6-12) or GoldStarCafe (for age 11 to 14).
Events took place all over the UK for The Big Draw 2009, ranging from a workshop with illustrator Axel Scheffler at the British Library in London, to an event themed around Dr Seuss's 'The Lorax' in Leeds. Find out more here.
Linking with National Poetry Day on 8 October, The Children's Poetry Bookshelf is asking children aged 7-8 and 9-11 to write a poem on the theme of 'Heroes and Heroines' for their Old Possum's Children's Poetry Competition.
How did your school celebrate Children's Book Week?
We’d love to know how your school or library celebrated Children’s Book Week 2009. Email details to education@booktrust.org.uk (with photos if possible) to see your school or library featured on our website!
