Manchester Children’s Book Festival set to return

A popular children’s literacy event is set to return to Manchester for its sixth-year next month.

Manchester Children’s Book Festival, which has been organised by Manchester Metropolitan University, aims to engage children with literature and the arts. The event features some of the very best children’s authors and illustrators in a packed line-up taking place throughout June.

The festival is centred around the popular Family Fun Day which returns this year on Saturday, June 24 at Manchester Metropolitan University’s All Saints campus.

Among the packed programme of events will be special appearances by family favourite Peppa Pig and an interactive show from the creator of hit CBeebies series Q Pootle 5, Nick Butterworth, about the magic of storytelling and imagination.

Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate, Creative Director of the Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University and one of the festival organisers, said: “2017 is the year of Read Manchester, a collaboration between the National Literacy Trust and Manchester City Council.

“So much has come from our MCBF partnership with the city, not least the development of the Manchester Creative Learning Network, which helps communicate the city’s cultural offer to schools.

“The MCBF Family Fun Day is free to attend and everyone is welcome. There is lots to do and a range of activities taking place for people of all ages. With author readings, performances, workshops, arts and crafts, music, illustrators, indoor and outdoor activities, sports, games, science, food, favourite characters and, of course, poetry, there is something for everyone.

“Our Generation Manchester and Science Zone this year will also make sure that older teenagers are also catered for.”

Author duo Claire Barker and Ross Collins will host a session with fun, mayhem and lots of laughs to introduce creation Knitbone Pepper and his gaggle of ghostly animal friends. Bestselling author Cathy Cassidy who will be sharing her new book, Love from Lexie, and will be welcoming fans to a creative afternoon of reading and cupcake decorating.

Coronation Street actress Jennie McAlpine will be sharing her favourite stories in the storytelling tent and MC and beatboxing Guinness World Record Holder Testament will host his acclaimed Hip Hop Clinic workshops.

MCBF will be joining forces with local street food events company GRUB, to host a family food fair and there will be a special Read Manchester marquee for performances, music and author events.

As well as Family Fun Day, MCBF includes numerous live shows and interactive workshops, hosted by children’s writers, illustrators and cultural partners, taking place at exciting venues across Manchester throughout June and July.

Illustrator Nick Sharratt’s touring exhibition, Pirates, Pants and Wellyphants will be at Manchester Central Library until July 1. Two performances of David Walliams’ The First Hippo on the Moon, adapted for stage by acclaimed award-winning theatre company Les Petits, will also take place.

MCBF 2017 will be partnering with national charity Read for Good for the event, who provide books for children undergoing treatment in hospitals.

Close