Announcing the full events programme!
With Reading is Magic Festival exactly one month away, we're overjoyed to share the full events programme for this wonderful celebration of books! Watch the festival trailer below to see the all-star line-up of authors and illustrators for six days of free digital events for schools and families from 27 September to 2 October. Let's get ready to read!
Watch the festival trailer
THE LINE-UP
How to Train Your Dragon and The Wizards of Once creator and current Waterstones Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell is heading the line-up of best-selling authors and illustrators. The festival will be hosted by the wonderful TV presenter, broadcaster and Strictly Come Dancing finalist, Karim Zeroual.
Among the writers and illustrators leading sessions and inspiring young people are New York based mural artist Katie Yamasaki, Costa Book Award-winner 2019, Bath-based Jasbinder Bilan, and teenage influencer Dara McAnulty, author of Diary of a Young Naturalist. Recent Waterstones Children’s Book Prize-winners Dapo Adeola & Nathan Bryon will share their new book Clean Up! on our “have a planet to read on” themed day and Scottish model, actor and writer Eunice Olumide OBE will lead a discussion on the black curriculum on our “see themselves reflected in a book” day.
Other festival audience favourites leading sessions include murder-mystery writer Robin Stevens, Supertato and No-bot creators Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet, Sunday Times bestseller Kiran Millwood Hargrave and the Observer political cartoonist and children’s illustrator Chris Riddell. And on the final day UK Waterstones Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell will be joined by USA National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jason Reynolds to celebrate the joy of reading!
That's just a flavour of what's happening during the festival. To explore the full line up, click the button below and prepare to find your new (or current!) favourite book.
Cressida Cowell, Chris Riddell, Dapo Adeola, Nathan Bryon, Jason Reynolds, Sue Hendra, Paul Linnet, Jasbinder Bilan, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Sophy Henn, Steven Lenton, Steven Butler, Joseph Coelho, Pamela Butchart, Alex Wheatle, Robin Stevens, Elle McNicoll, Anthony McGowan, Serena Patel, Sharna Jackson, Anna Wilson, Dara McAnulty, Adam Murphy, Andy Stewart, Bookshop Band, Steven Camden, Phil Earle, Kristina Stephenson, Jessica Love, Eunice Olumide, Malizah, David A. Robertson, Eloise Williams Ardo Omar, Caitlyn Bannatyne, Caitlyn Bannatyne, Katie Yamaski, Mya-Rose Craig, Katherine Woodfine, Rakaya Fetuga, Letters to the Earth and Kay Michael.
Presented by Karim Zeroual
KEY INFORMATION
Thousands of people from all over the world have already signed up here! Remember to tell your friends and teachers that anyone can register free to bring this digital festival into their classrooms and homes. It's going to be a wonderful shared experience.
There are events for children and young people ages 4 to 13 and beyond. Events will last between 10 and 30 minutes and will be broadcast on a schools-friendly platform.
All visual events will have captions, a British Sign Language interpreter and we have have worked with our friends at The Egg Theatre’s young audio describers to advise the authors and illustrators on audio describing so that more children can enjoy them. We have also partnered with Calibre Audio to ensure that children who struggle to access print can enjoy the books that will be featured in the programme.
Schools can view events live in UK time or on demand afterwards. Online materials and resources will support each event and book buying opportunities will be sign posted. As we get closer to the time, we'll send out more information to help your festival experience run as smoothly as possible so make sure you’re signed up here
Watch Cressida Cowell introduce Reading is Magic
MAGIC IS FOR EVERYONE
The festival has been inspired by Cressida Cowell’s key message as the current Waterstones Children’s Laureate: “reading is magic, and magic is for everyone”. The award-winning children’s author and creator of the How to Train Your Dragon and The Wizards of Once book series said, “Books have a transformative magic in their unique ability to develop three key magical powers: intelligence, creativity and empathy.”
Each day we explore a theme from Cressida Cowell’s Waterstones Children’s Laureate Charter:
“Every child has the right to...”
Monday
“...be creative for at least 15 minutes a week”
Tuesday
“...have a planet to read on”
Wednesday
“...see themselves reflected in a book”
Thursday
“...have advice from a trained librarian or bookseller”
Friday
"...read for the joy of it"
Reading is Magic Festival partners
With thanks to our sponsors and supporters
