Line Up

Choose from four main stage performances and 12 possible workshops when you book your ticket. Each main stage performance will include two authors. From heart-warming tales to thrilling adventures, there will be a wide range of stories to delight every young reader and allow their imagination to soar. In addition to the main stage you can also choose from one of our 12 interactive workshops. There are signing opportunities at the end of each session you book.

Please note that you must book a ticket as an adult if you are attending with your child.

(Note – all main stage performances and workshops will last 60 minutes.)

Michael Rosen, beloved children’s author, poet, presenter, broadcaster, activist and national treasure returns to our main stage by popular demand for a session of family fun, stories and poems from his extraordinary career. Unmissable!

Plus meet Christian Foley a writer, rapper and a teacher – all at once. His interactive freestyles and improvised performances are lauded by stars like 50 Cent and creator of Hamilton, Lin Manuel Miranda. Expect his trademark tongue twisting rhymes and enjoy him bringing Hip-Hop and rap to the main stage.

Don’t miss your chance to see Joseph Coelho the former Waterstones Children’s Laureate live on our main stage. Join Joseph for an engaging session as he talks about his brilliant books, reads some of his wonderful poems and shares his fabulous ‘Poetry Prompts’. Joseph’s poetry creates all sorts of other worlds, with wild ideas and unforgettable images. He’ll share tips for writing your own stories and perform some of his own humorous and inventive poems.

Plus meet debut author Ashley Thorpe who works as an editor at Storymix, where he helps other writers to create epic stories. His greatest wish is to bring diverse characters to life that he would have loved to have seen, but sorely missed, as a young reader. He’ll be live on stage bringing some of his characters to life. The Boy to Beat the Gods is his first book.

Meet multi-million-copy selling, award-winning author (and former Children’s Laureate) Cressida Cowell, creator of the How to Train Your Dragon, The Wizards of Once and the Which Way to Anywhere series. Cressida will introduce her newest books, Dragon Tales: Short story collection and Which way round the galaxy, talk about her inspiration and give writing and drawing tips. Her events are energetic and inspiring and have been described as unmissable!

Plus Cressida will be having a guest appearance from up-and-coming star, Ramzee, whose hilarious book The Cheat Book is one of Cressida’s picks of the year. Bring along your own sketchbook if you’d like her and Ramzee to take a look in the signing queue

A F Steadman is the globally best selling author of the famous Skandar series. In this session immerse yourself in the blockbuster hit series about bloodthirsty unicorns, epic sky battles and elemental magic. During this super interactive session, you will hear all about the latest book in the Skandar series, Skandar and the Skeleton Curse, and you will also enjoy some special Skandar activities and have an opportunity to get your book dedicated and signed by A.F. Steadman at the end of the session.

Plus meet Alex Foulkes UK children's author, vampire writer, tea-lover and ghostly spirit of a librarian. Dive into her world and discover more about her latest book Ministry of Mischief. As well as reading Alex loves to dress up and sing karaoke so anything could happen!