CHILDREN’S authors and illustrators gathered in the borough to share their stories with young writers at a festival organised by Wokingham Town Council.
The annual Wokingham Children’s Book Festival at the weekend drew crowds of youngsters and their parents to the Town Hall and Wokingham Library.
Lots of budding creatives turned up to find out about their favourite authors’ sources of inspiration, and how they put their ideas onto the page.
This year’s visiting speakers were: Nick Sharratt, Holly Webb, Giorgia Byng, Iszi Lawrence, Nizrana Farook, Ally Sherrick, James Carter, Zanna Davidson, Gareth P Jones, Jane Elson, Fiona Barker, Clare Bevan, and Rikin Parekh.
Speakers’ sessions were fun and inspirational, with plenty of giggles to entertain, including illustrator Nick Sharratt’s talk about silly museums, packed with jokes, puns and drawing activities.
Wokingham town mayor, councillor Sally Gurney enjoyed the festival as much as the children.
She said: “It was fantastic.
“From packed out sessions to smaller and more intimate ones, every author I had the pleasure of listening to was engaging and enthralling. “And it was clear from the faces of everyone around, young and old alike, that I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
“I particularly enjoyed Iszi’s spellbinding storytelling and infectious enthusiasm – she is an incredibly lively speaker.
“The whole event is just so much fun, and full of people who share a passion for reading, and a mutual joy of visiting other worlds through the pages of books.
“I’m really grateful that I get to be part of the festival and thankful for all our volunteers and staff who helped bring it to life.”
For more information, visit: Wokingham Children’s Book Festival website, at: www.wokingham-tc.gov.uk/bookfest
