This July, Newark Book Festival is set to inspire and captivate young readers with its exciting Children and Young People Programme, sponsored by Tallents Solicitors. Running from 11 – 14 July 2024, the festival in Newark on Trent promises a plethora of engaging activities designed to foster a love for reading and creativity among children and teens.
One of the highlights includes a playful poetry workshop with Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2022-2024, Joseph Coelho OBE, which promises to be a hit with both kids and grown-ups. Younger children will be delighted by a morning session with picture book illustrator Alice McKinley, who will bring her charming frogs from “This Rock is Mine” to life at Beanblock Café at St Marks Place.
Pre-schoolers can enjoy a Little Roars Musical Play session with Charlotte Lion, while home-educated families can join Ally Pally Arts in crafting a feast fit for a fairytale.
On Saturday, the mysterious Shed of Stories will make its appearance at the Literature Village, and the Inspire Learning and Music teams will host fun, noisy creative drop-in play sessions at Newark Buttermarket, where you can design your own mathematical game or puzzle, have-a-go at playing musical instruments, and more.
Sunday brings the popular Book Festival Family Day to Newark Castle, featuring storytelling yoga with Peaceful Possums and Emma Oldham, Play Tales with storyteller Nicky Rafferty, BookBench Art with illustrator Vicky Kuhn, games with the Open Doors team and engaging performances by Rhubarb Theatre.
Children’s author Helen Rutter will present her hilarious new book, “Reggie Houser Has The Power,” and the festival’s Young Ambassadors will host a fantastic 5-A-Side event with illustrator Momoko Abe and authors James Nicol, Gareth Baker, Sarah Hilary, and Wilf Morgan. Schools are particularly encouraged to attend Michael Rosen’s poignant event “The Missing” at the Palace Theatre.
Teens and young adults have much to look forward to as well. Holly Smale, author of the bestselling Young Adult fiction series “Geek Girl,” recently adapted for Netflix, will join the lineup for the Battle of Genres.
Other free events taking place during the festival include Urban Canvas Word Art in the Market Place and interactive Street Performance Walkabouts with Daisy and Rhubarb Theatre.
Festival director Sara Bullimore said:
“Providing opportunities to inspire creativity and fire imaginations for children and young people is important to the festival, alongside our family programme we have 42 Young Ambassadors and an engaging schools programme”.
For a complete schedule of events and to book tickets, visit newarkbookfestival.org.uk. Don’t miss the chance to immerse your family in the magical world of books and storytelling this July at the Newark Book Festival!
Posted on 21 June 2024
