A CHILDREN'S Literature Festival taking place in Keighley, with Jenny Agutter as a patron, will include a Railway Children walk.
The festival is, says founder Christina Gabbitas, an inclusive event "giving children and families from all cultures, backgrounds and abilities an equal opportunity of access to books and a free literature festival".
Running from May 2-7, the festival includes a competition for youngsters aged seven to 16 to write a poem about the area where they live - their work will be displayed in Keighley Library - and interactive reading sessions with schoolchildren.
The festival line-up is:
* Monday, May 2: A Railway Children Walk from Haworth park bandstand at 10.30am, taking in locations from the much-loved 1970 film. The walk will raise funds for Childline and future Children's Literature Festivals.
* Wednesday, May 4: Read aloud interactive sessions with primary schools at Haworth's West Lane Baptist Church.
* Thursday, May 5 and Friday, May 6: Schools Fest at Keighley Library. Opened by the Mayor of Keighley, it will involve interactive reading sessions with pupils from eight schools. In attendance will be author Tom Palmer; Blue Peter Award winner Andy Seed; UNESCO Poetry Day Ambassador Dom Conlon; Bollywood dance teacher and children's author Salma Zaman; National Poetry Day Ambassador, Matt Goodfellow; author Chitra Soundar; illustrators Liz Million and Ursula Hurst, rap poet Donavan Christopher; poet Sue Hardy Dawson and festival founder and author Christina Gabbitas. Each child attending will receive a book token for a free copy of Nutty Nonsense by poet Colin West.
* Thursday, May 5: Evening with Children's Literature Festival patron Michael Bradley of Northern Irish pop punk band The Undertones, author of Teenage Kicks: My Life As An Undertone. Other guests include Rappaman, Matt Goodfellow, Liz Million and Andy Seed.
* Saturday, May 7: Communities Day - a free event featuring authors and illustrators from 10am-3pm.
Said Christina: "There are over 350 literature festivals in the UK, with less than 10per cent solely dedicated for children, and for those that are, families have to pay to see one author or illustrator. I don’t hail from a privileged background, my mum used to take us to the library. I think libraries are essential, that’s why I like to use them as a focal point for these festivals."
Christina has organised festivals in Blackburn, Darwen and Selby, with another planned for Oldham. During the pandemic she invited children, young people and teachers to write poems about their lives in lockdown. Judges including Jenny Agutter and Michael Bradley selected poems for a compilation, called Lockdown Life. Copies of the book, signed by Jenny Agutter, will be given to those taking part in the Railway Walk.
Said Jenny Agutter: "I’m delighted that all these wonderful events are taking place in Keighley and Haworth. The Railway Children Walk takes you to lovely locations we used in the film. I have such fond memories of these places. It's a wonderful way to support the Haworth and Keighley Children’s Literature Festival and Childline. I’m sure E Nesbit would love the idea of encouraging children to enjoy books."
Keighley Town Mayor Cllr Julie Adams said: “I’m looking forward to supporting this wonderful event that gives free literacy events for all in our community.”
* Visit childrensliteraturefestivals.com
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