Published:
2:30 PM May 27, 2021
Updated:
4:36 PM May 27, 2021
Two days of book readings to delight children at Genesis cinema on June 17 and 18.
- Credit: Barnes Festival
A children s book festival is coming to east London for the first time after a turbulent year of pandemic restrictions.
Free events are planned for primary schools at Genesis Cinema in Mile End Road on June 17 and 18 as part of the 10-day Barnes Children s Literature Festival.
Some best-known children s authors are taking part, including British Book Awards winners MG Leonard and Sam Sedgman, Supertato authors Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet and TV’s Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq.
Returning for its sixth year, the Barnes Children’s Literature Festival is back with a bang with a new programme including Jacqueline Wilson, Lauren Child and David Almond. Speaking in a media release about the transfer into ‘real life’, director Amanda Brettargh said Barnes is ready to ‘celebrate the end of the era of literature festivals in living rooms and get back out there and do what we do best. We ve got plenty of room to move here in Barnes and we re confident we can deliver the maximum amount of book fun and keep families, our authors, illustrators, performers and volunteers safe.’
Families can join London s largest children s books and pets party this half term. Some of the UK s best-known authors will be sharing the screen with their furry friends on Saturday (Feb 20) at the online Barnes Children’s Literature Festival. Children s Laureate Cressida Cowell, Blue Peter Presenter Konnie Huq and Gruffalo creator Axel Scheffler are among those attending the ‘Pet Parade’. Festival Director Amanda Brettargh said: “This year has got off to such a dreadful start with schools closed and families once again doing such a wonderful job of juggling working from home with online learning, we wanted to support them”
Lucy Worsley at the Barnes Children s Literature Festival 2020 - Courtesy of BCLF 2020
London’s largest children s book festival is leading the way in literature education in the midst of the UK’s third lockdown. With schools closed, bookshops shelved and live festivals stopped in their tracks, the volunteers of the Barnes Children’s Literature Festival, based in Barnes, South-West London, have come together to keep up the love of children’s literature during lockdown. Although their in-person 2020 programme was moved online for its sixth year, forty thousand people from forty-six countries tuned in to watch their twenty-nine online events that boasted book legends like Lauren Child, Chris Riddell and Axel Sheffler as well as current Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell, Paralympian Ade Adepitan and actor Stanley Tucci.