February 2020

Find out about children's book events taking place this February.

February

Early February: The Branford Boase Award longlist will be announced.

1-8 February: It's National Storytelling Week, so let your imagination run free and tell those stories. Check out the website for what will be happening up and down the country to celebrate a love of storytelling.

4-9 February: We're very excited for the Stepping Into Stories Herne Hill Kids' Lit Fest in London! It's being brought to us by a group of super people including the iconic children's bookshop Tales on Moon Lane and features the likes of former Children's Laureate Chris Riddell, Sibéal Pounder, Candy Gourlay and Joseph Coelho along with workshops, puppetry and even an open mic story night. Head to the website for more details about what to expect.

6 February: Lo and behold, it is probably the best night of the children's bookish calendar - it's Harry Potter Book Night! The theme this year is the Triwizard Tournament. 

7 February: The paperback of Flights of Fancy - a collaboration between the Waterstones Children's Laureates - is published today. And it still looks just as glorious as the hardback!

12-23 February: The inimitable Imagine Children's Festival returns for another promising programme of events at London's Southbank Centre - there'll be something for everyone aged 0-12, and adults won't be disappointed either. Look out for Waterstones Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell talking about creating magical ideas and BookTrust's Writer in Residence Cerrie Burnell and some of her awesome friends giving readings and talking about finding yourself in stories.

14 February: One of our treasured days of the book calendar is International Book Giving Day - what could be better than giving just one book to a child? Get involved by using the hashtag #BookGivingDay!

17 February: It's Random Acts of Kindness Day - you don't need an excuse to give someone a book, but why not choose today to do so? 

26 February: Today is Tell A Fairy Tale Day - escape into the magical world of fairy tales, or even create your own...

Also in February: The Klaus Flugge Prize longlist will be announced.