Book It!

The Festival for Families and Young Children

Our festival-within-a-festival celebrates the exciting world of children’s literature with over 100 events to suit every age and taste, from toddlers to teens. Our 2012 line up was packed with exciting activities…

Party Time

Younger festival-goers can meet their picture book favourites at our ever-popular character events. Spot, Peter Rabbit, Thomas, Olivia and Maisy all paid us a visit last year. Look out for special treats such as party bags or cakes, too.

Making and Doing

Do you want to ice a cupcake? Make a picture book? Design a maze? Build with Lego? Every year we feature events for children who want to use their hands as well as their eyes and ears — have fun trying something new!

Quests, Quizzes and Gameshows

Are you a true fan? Team up and join in one of our fantastic quiz events. Last year’s Dr Who quiz featured scary Cybermen, tough questions and a host of prizes. We also welcomed Alex Scarrow’s Time Riders and the Beast Quest team to test their fans to the limit.

Fantastic Fiction

We celebrate all that is best in fiction for children and young adults with a host of stimulating events, including panel discussions and top illustrators live on stage. As well as bestselling authors we also welcome the most exciting new writers to our Book It! venues. What will you read next?

Expert Workshops

From screenwriting to sword fighting, from stage make-up to making comics, Book It! offers a wide-ranging programme of extended workshops for older children who want to get to grips with a particular topic.

Just For Schools

Our ever-popular schools programme runs through out the Festival weekdays, featuring many of the top authors from our weekend programme as well as events which link to the school curriculum. Book It! for schools is renowned for the care we offer our school visitors.

Fun For Free

Saturdays are Family Fun Days! A host of free events in Imperial Gardens from 11am–1pm on both Festival Saturdays invites everyone for some taster sessions in the sunshine. Write a poem, draw a dream, watch a show or cuddle up with your favourite character… There is something for everyone.