Opening days of Reading is Magic Festival
Here we are on Wednesday and we’ve already been on so many Reading is Magic adventures since the festival opened on Sunday. And there’s so much more to look forward to! Here’s a quick summary of what we’ve had the joy of experiencing so far…
Don’t forget you can view any Reading is Magic Festival events on demand at school or at home for free until the end of 2020!
On Sunday afternoon we settled down to enjoy a theatrical reading of Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and his The Tale of the Two Adventures read by the brilliantly engaging Kristina Stephenson. This was a delightful Storytime session ideal for younger children, with clues to follow and puzzles to be solved by the watching audience. Learn how to make a treasure chest from a cardboard box and find out who is following Sir Charlie and his friends as they go on their quest to find the treasure. Catch up
On Monday we were inspired by Cressida Cowell’s charter for children which declares that every child should be able to be creative for at least 15 minutes a week.
Draw-along
Who better than to fire our imaginations and get our pencils drawing than comics artist Adam Murphy, creator of Corpse Talk and Lost Tales? His session gave us some ideas on how to draw cartoon characters of real people. He told us not to worry about creating the perfect drawing, but just to relax and have a go. We’ve loved your drawings that you have sent into us so far! Catch up
On being creative
We listened to award-winning spoken word artist Steven Camden chatting to Micah Lees about how he found himself making a living from his creativity through starting to write rhymes for hip-hop. As an author, spoken word artist and playwright Steven doesn’t like being pigeon-holed and says it’s exciting to wander. Inspiration for students aged 13+. Catch up
Storytime
At 11 each morning during Reading is Magic Festival, enjoy storytime. Monday’s music and laughter came from the home of the creators of the brilliantly bonkers Supertato, Norman the Slug and Barry the Fish, Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet, who are great entertainers. Their story was about Bernard, the robot, in No-Bot and Friends, is ideal for younger children. Catch up
What matters to us
Three artists talk to us about why comics matter. Scottish illustration student Caitlyn Bannatyne talks passionately about graphic novels and gives us an introduction to the genre. From Brooklyn, Katie Yamasaki, children’s book illustrator and mural artist talks about the importance of identity and representation in art. The street art and billboards that we see should represent all of us. Comic books writer Ardo Omer says you don’t need to be both an illustrator and a writer to create comic books – you can team up with someone else to create script and pictures. She recommends some comics, including Miss Marvel and The Justice series, also Teen Titans: Raven by Kami Garcia. Catch up
Assembly
We can’t all be together in real life but we can come together online. The spellbinding Cressida Cowell gives an inspiring talk to encourage us to be creative. Keep a special book to write your stories in, don’t worry about your handwriting, just get those ideas flowing. Cressida tells her own tale of her early writing and she about her series The Wizards of Once, with a tease of what happens in her final book this series, Never and Forever. As always Cressida is encouraging and full of suggestions as to how we can be great storytellers too. Catch up
Tuesday’s theme was that every child should have a planet to read on.
Letters to the Earth
Ever wondered how you can get your voice heard? Poet Rakaya Fetuga and a chorus of young voices share ideas on how we can write our own letters to the Earth and who we can share them with to be part of a call for change. Use the #LetterstoEarth and be part of the big story. Thanks to all who have sent us their letters so far! Catch up
The magic of trees
Listen as Cressida Cowell transports you into a mystical ancient forest. Wander among the trees in your imagination as we hear why trees and nature are so good for us. And how walks through woods with her grandfather inspired Cressida in writing The Wizards of Once series. Catch up
Storytime
Writer Anna Wilson chats to us from her home in Cornwall, a land of mermaids, ghosts and storytelling. She reminds us that wherever we live we can make our neighbourhood a nicer place by helping to clear up the litter. Don’t forget to wear gloves and carry a bag to collect it in! She’ll also be sharing things to do in October from her book 2020 Nature Month by Month. Catch up
What matters to us
Two compelling young voices on the importance of protecting our natural world and sharing their own stories of how nature has played a vital role in their lives. Award-wining young nature writer Dara McAnulty and Mya-Rose Craig, aka BirdGirl, are activists who make us realise from an early age we can care about and campaign to protect and share nature. Catch up
Assembly
Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola bring us the heart-warming story of Rocket and her family in Clean Up! And after reading us the story and sharing the pictures, they have tips for us at home on how to look after our world. Maybe you can put together your own community clean-up crew? Catch up
Wow! We’ve packed a lot into a couple of days. But there’s more to look out for on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of the Reading is Magic Festival. On Wednesday it’s all about representation – about a child being able to see themselves in a book. Thursday’s theme is have advice from a trained librarian or bookseller. It’s also National Poetry Day and finally on Friday we celebrate reading for the joy of it.
Take a look at the full line-up below and don’t forget to let us know what you’re watching on social media using #ReadingIsMagicFest
LOOK AT THE READING IS MAGIC FESTIVAL LINE-UP
Feeling inspired and want to buy some books? Check out our festival guide for a list of designated festival booksellers here
Grown-ups please donate if you can! Your support will help fund the cost of the Reading is Magic Festival and help fund the Bath Festivals creative learning programme.
