Young Readers Birmingham
www.birmingham.gov.uk/youngreaders
Young Readers Birmingham is an annual festival featuring the best children’s authors, illustrators, storytellers and poets at libraries and other venues around the city.
The next festival will be in May/June 2012
If you enjoyed the 2011 festival and want to carry on the fun, why not dip into our Young Readers 2011 booklist
You could also have a look at some of the fantastic pictures created in the Stories from the Web session at the Book Bash or read all about it in the Stories from the Web blog.
Festival Launch
Each year Centre for the Child welcomes you to a day of entertainment and party fun as we launch Young Readers!
In 2011, children joined in with the stories and activities and met illustrator Lydia Monks, author of Aaaarrgghh, Spider!
Plus, in the Library Theatre there was the chance to hear Astrosaurs author Steve Cole introduce his Slime Squad series or for older young people, the mesmerising MOBO award-winning Akala, founder of the Hip Hop Shakespeare Company. Find out about the full festival launch events in 2011.
The Book Bash - May Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday
The Book Bash is a spectacular two day event held at Aston Hall over the May bank holiday each year.
Events take place in marquees with the chance to meet poets, storytellers and authors and join in with plenty of other activities such as mehndi and face painting.
Highlights in 2011 included magic with the Wizard of Wonder, a cast of fluffy toys performing in the Animal Olympics courtesy of Francesca Beard, the chance to meet Kipper and Maisy Mouse and for the little ones a Boogie Beebies dance session with Nat from CBeebies.
Half Term Fun for all the Family
Look out for Family Fun Days, author visits and theatre shows happening across the city during the summer half term each year. In 2011 there were some unmissable events including Sue Bentley, best selling author of the Magic Puppy series and the Sealegs Puppet Show’s production of Peter and the Wolf.
Schools Programme
Events for school classes and home educated children take place in the week before the summer half-term.
Brochures are sent out directly to schools and the Schools Programme also appears in full here on the Young Readers website.
** Young Readers is now on Facebook and MySpace and Twitter**
Events for Children and Young People All Year
Don't forget there are lots of fun events throughout the year in Birmingham Libraries. Find out What's On now!
Young Readers is supported by Arts Council England: www.artscouncil.org.uk