Bath Children’s Literature Festival was founded in 2007. It takes place in late September and early October and usually lasts ten days, spanning two weekends. Various events are held at local schools on weekdays, but the most exciting events take place on weekends in several venues across the city. Each year, the festival features authors, poet, storytellers and illustrators from all over the United Kingdom and abroad. Some events have free admission, while others require tickets.
Bath Children’s Literature Festival regularly attracts some of the biggest children’s authors and illustrators from the UK and internationally. Past special guests have included Jacqueline Wilson (Stevie Day, Tracy Beaker, Freddy’s Teddy, Hetty Feather), Michael Morpurgo (War Horse, The Butterfly Lion), Anthony Horowitz (Alex Rider, The Diamond Brother), Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), David Walliams (The Boy in the Dress, Billionaire Boy), Chris Riddell (The Edge Chronicles), Liz Pichon (the Tom Gates series), Shirley Hughes (Dogger), Cressida Cowell (the How to Train Your Dragon series), Julia Donaldson (The Gruffalo), Eoin Colfer (the Artemis Fowl series), Neil Gaiman (Stardust, Coraline), Francesca Simon (the Horrid Henry series) and many others.
The goals of the festival are quite simple. The event is designed to entertain children and to encourage them to read more. The organizers aim to create a friendly, family atmosphere in which young festival attendees can meet their favorite authors and book characters, learn something new, talk to each other and make new friends.
Along with Q&As and book signings with special guests, the program of Bath Kids’ Lit Fest includes book readings, games, quizzes, and craft activities. The festival star-studded line up sometimes leads to huge signing cues. At some events, young book fans have to wait up to three hours to get their books signed by their favorite author.
Photo: bailbrooklodge.co.uk
