Turn the Page - Children's Book Festival, 15 October

This year’s festival will take place over an entire weekend – 15th and 16th October, at the Royal Seven Stars Hotel once again. We are delighted that two of the UK’s leading authors and illustrators, Nick Sharratt, who has family connections with Totnes, and Dartmoor- based Philip Reeve, will be taking part.

There will be 11 events with 15 authors and illustrators.  The age range is broader so that the festival will appeal to more children, from 3 to 11 years old. It will feature picture books, funny books, non-fiction, poetry, illustrated books for older children and two great young authors who write for 9 – 11 years olds.  

Authors and illustrators taking part

Philip Reeve and illustrator Sarah McIntyre will be performing their show based on their brand new book ‘Jinks and O’Hare: Funfair Repair’.   Nick Sharratt’s event will include his new book for slightly older readers, ‘The Cat and the King’, as well as the popular ‘Shark in the Park’ books, Nicola Daviesand Petr Horacek will be launching their brand new book ‘A First Book of Animals’ with surprise visit from feathered friends, and Katherine Woodfineand Ross Montgomery’s events will be based on their latest books for older readers  – ‘The Mystery of the Jewelled Moth’  and ‘Perijee and Me’ – both of which have had wonderful reviews.

North Devon-based Claire Barker’s event will be based on her popular ‘Knitbone Pepper’ books, the third of which is newly published.  Knife and Packer, winners of the new Lollies (Lots of Laughs) Award for funny books will be making you laugh with live drawing and readings from ‘Badly Drawn Beth’.  Josh Lacey will be focusing on his popular ‘Dragonsitter’ series, and John Dougherty and Tom Morgan Jones will be performing funny poems, drawing and even playing the guitar to get everyone enjoying their illustrated poetry book ‘Dinosaurs and Dinner Ladies’.

Exciting young illustrator Lucy Letherland will encourage children to draw in her event centred on a brand new book ‘A Miniature World of Adventures’.  Following on from her sell-out event last year, Rebecca Cobb will visit from Falmouth for the second time to entertain families with an interactive show based on her latest books.

Partners 

Once again we will be working with the Totnes Library and the Totnes Bookshop. The library will host an event with Totnes author Peter Bentlyfocusing on his new book Potion Commotion and previewing other festival books and storytelling sessions for very young children based on the wonderful picture book Five Minutes Peace by Jill Murphy on Wednesday 12th October.  The bookshop will be selling books at all events, discounted for ticket holders.