Judith Kerr and Michale Morpurgo lead an incredible line up of literary figures at the Barnes Children's Literature Festival May 14 – 15
Following its sell out launch on Saturday May 7, (featuring former Children's Laureate and the award winning author of War Horse, Michael Morpurgo), the festival team are getting ready to welcome thousands of book fans, young and old, back to Barnes Pond for more than fifty fun family events.
It's also been confirmed that Barnes' best loved resident Judith Kerr, the bestselling author of the children's classics, The Tiger Who Came To Tea and Mog, will make a rare public appearance at Olympic Studios on the Sunday. Mrs Kerr will reminisce about her remarkable life and work with Nicolette Jones, the children's books editor of The Sunday Times. Now 92, Mrs Kerr has lived in Barnes for more than fifty years, having escaped from Hitler's Germany with her family in 1933 when she was nine years old.
Mrs Kerr will be joined by million-copy-selling authors Jacqueline Wilson and Cathy Cassidy, Charlie and Lola creator Lauren Child and the Costa Children's Book of the Year winners, Frances Hardinge and Kate Saunders, as well as the former Carnegie medallist Philip Reeve, two time Kate Greenaway award winner Emily Gravett, Roald Dahl Funny Prize winner, Jim Smith and the winner of the 2015 Children's Poetry Prize, Joseph Coelho. Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler will also be back by popular demand.
This year's special guests, include the internationally acclaimed authors Morris Gleitzman from Australia and the German fantasy writer, Cornelia Funke, who will be in London exclusively for the Festival.
There will be plenty of laughs with author and comedian Danny Wallace, and one of Britain's best loved children's writers Jeremy Strong, as well as music with CBeebies star Cerrie Burnell. There'll be singing – and plenty of stomping – with former Children's Laureate Anthony Browne in a special musical performance of Willy the Wimp, featuring his well known chimpanzee.
Older children won't want to miss Roald Dahl & the Imagination Seekers, a new interactive show which explores Dahl's extraordinary stories like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG, or the Horrible Scientists Nick Arnold and Tony de Saulle in their horribly scientific and hilarious event.
There's fun and games for families with authors and Barnes residents Giles and Saethryd Brandreth, craft with Holly Webb based on her new book, Return to the Secret Garden, creative writing and comic drawing classes too with the brilliantly bonkers Etherington Brothers, who are best known for their work on The Phoenix magazine.
The Festival also includes a new free programme this year featuring storytelling sessions by local authors Karen Inglis, Barbara Laban and Piers Clifton among others, music from the Barnes Concert Band and giveaways from the children's newspaper, First News.
Tickets are on sale now from http://www.barneskidslitfest.org/
