Winnie the Witch celebrates her 25th birthday this summer

BOOKING OPEN FOR
THE TELEGRAPH BATH FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
IN ITS 6TH SPECTACULAR YEAR
28 SEPTEMBER – 7 OCTOBER 2012

Booking has opened for the UK’s largest dedicated children’s book festival, taking place in Bath from 28 September to 7 October.

Best-selling authors and inspiring illustrators will once again make their way to this historic city for ten late summer days of top class events, interactive talks and creative workshops for children of all ages and their families.

Horrible Histories’ Martin Brown is this year’s Illustrator in Residence and heads a stellar line up of the UK’s favourite children’s illustrators including Axel Scheffler, Anthony Browne, Tony Ross, Laurence Anholt and Korky Paul, whose inimitable creation Winnie The Witch celebrates her 25th birthday this summer.

CALLING ALL WALLY FANS

The festival opens on Friday 28 September with a free, city-wide parade to celebrate an amazing 25 years of Where’s Wally: anyone can join in, the only requirements are red and white stripes, glasses and bobble hats.

The parade is followed by a special opening night gala in Bath’s central venue The Guildhall with Waterstones Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson and the ever-popular Axel Scheffler.  The best-selling picture book duo will talk about their much-loved characters, including their new hero Superworm.

THE BIGGEST NAMES COME TO BATH

The magnificent Georgian buildings of Bath will then play host to the biggest names in children’s literature today including Anthony Horowitz, Michael Morpurgo, Helen Dunmore, Lauren Child, Andy Stanton, Michael Rosen, and Cathy Cassidy.  With over 100 events programmed, the festival will also make use of some exciting new venues, including the Paragon School’s yurt.

We take a walk on the wild side with Michaela Strachan (BBC Springwatch), Benjamin Mee (We Bought A Zoo) Steve Bloom (Big Cats) and with intrepid explorer Matt Dickinson.    We step back in time with James Holland (Duty Calls: Battle of Britain) and Michelle Paver (Gods and Warriors) and in a KidsLit exclusive performance we witness the epic tale of Achilles, as told by master storytellers Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden.

BBC Radio 2’s Simon Mayo will talk about his first novel Itch and best-selling author Frank Cottrell Boyce tells how he has given fiction’s best-loved car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang a makeover and a new set of magical adventures.

We celebrate 80 years of Babar and 100 years of Tarzan and we welcome back Peter Rabbit, Peppa Pig, Fireman Sam, Mr Men, Maisy, Moshi Monsters and all the other family favourites.

KLF: NEW TEEN PROGRAMME

KLF is a new feature of the festival this year, designed specifically for teens and devised by a collaborative group of teens from Bath. The authors appearing in this special series of events include the award-winning Norwegian Johan Harstad (172 Hours on the Moon) as well as Sophie Crockett (After the Snow), Gemma Malley (The Killables) and Jeff Norton (Metawars) who talk about life after The Hunger Games. Darren Shan, Sally Gardner, Sophie McKenzie, and dystopian debutante Moira Young also come to Bath as part of KLF to talk about their new books.

The festival also features a series of in-depth workshops and master classes, which reinforce the author-led events and offer a range of activities from cartoon illustration to crime writing.

As part of Bath Festivals’ commitment to year-round learning and participation, there is an extensive schools programme involving visiting authors, reaching out to and engaging children of all ages, from a wide area around the city.

The full programme is available to view at www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk.
Booking line: 01225 463362

For all press information: Tamsin Treverton Jones 07980 585664/01225 462231
Tamsin.treverton-jones@bathfestivals.org.uk
Images available on request

About Bath Festivals

Bath Festivals brings leading international performers, writers and thinkers to Bath every year to inspire, entertain and challenge audiences of all ages and artistic tastes.  The festivals champion diversity and collaboration, open people's minds, and showcase the work of both established and up-and-coming performers  - all in the special setting that is Bath, a World Heritage Site, and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

Bath Festivals is the charitable organisation responsible for the internationally acclaimed Bath International Music Festival, the thought-provoking Independent Bath Literature Festival and the inspirational Telegraph Bath Festival of Children's Literature.  Bath Festivals provides year-round learning and participation opportunities for children, young people and adults through creative workshops, gigs, and master classes.

Bath Festivals acts as a central hub for the arts in Bath and North East Somerset, serving over 90 festivals, events and local arts organisations through the Bath Box Office, and supporting the Bath Area Cultural Forum.  Bath Festivals earns a significant part of its income from box office sales and sponsorship, and, since the creation of the music festival in 1948, has also relied on grants, donations, and charitable giving in order to secure its national and international reputation and the contribution it brings to Bath's creative and cultural life.    Bath Festivals is funded by Arts Council England through its National Portfolio programme and also receives support from Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Carousel is pleased to be sponsoring Polly Dunbar on September 29th