Young Readers Festival

The Drive Methodist Church
The Drive, Sevenoaks, TN13 3AB

THE BOY AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS and THE STAR OUTSIDE MY WINDOW

Onjali Q. Rauf

10 - 11am  ~  For ages 9+  ~  £6.50

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The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf won both the 2019 Blue Peter Book Award and Waterstones Children's Book Prize.

Told with heart, humour and hope, it portrays the refugee crisis through the eyes of a child in a way that is accessible, warm and funny, It's a story about friendship and how naturally children celebrate, rather than fear, our differences.

Join Onjali as she talks about her award-winning debut and introduces her forthcoming novel, The Star Outside My Window.

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Down The Rabbit Hole Live: HOW WE BECAME WRITERS - AND YOU CAN TOO!
Cerrie Burnell, Zanib Mian and David Solomons
12 - 1pm  ~  For ages 7+  ~  £6.50

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Calling all budding authors, artists and creators!

Join us for a live recording of the children's books podcast. Three amazingly talented writers dig out the stories they wrote as kids, discuss the books and films they loved, and share the advice they'd give their 10-year-old selves.

A must for young writers!

Hear more episodes of Down the Rabbit Hole at dtrhradio.com

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THE CLOUD HORSE CHRONICLES: GUARDIANS OF MAGIC

Chris Riddell

2 - 3pm  ~  For ages 8+  ~  £6.50

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Join the former Children's Laureate and award-winning author/illustrator of the Goth Girl and Ottoline series, Chris Riddell, as he introduces you to Zam, Phoebe and Bathsheba from his new book, The Cloud Horse Chronicles: Guardians of Magic.

In this stunning fantastical world, the Kingdom of Thynne is a place where fairy tales don't behave, and magic can be found in unexpected places. When forbidden magic brings danger to Zam, Phoebe and Bathsheba, what can three ordinary children do to protect it?

Ticket price (£6.50) redeemable against Guardians of Magic (hardback £12.99)

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Marquee on the Vine
The Vine Gardens, Sevenoaks, TN13 3SY

All events on the Vine are FREE. Come along and join in!

Storytime with Rachel Valentine
11.30am  ~  For ages 3 to 6  ~  FREE

Watch out, watch out, there's an ogre about! The author of the bestselling Marmaduke series is back with her brand new book, Don't Mess With a Princess, featuring the Awful Ogre.

Join Rachel in this interactive session to find out why all good books need a BRILLIANT baddy.

All welcome - no need to book!

Storytime with Emily Gravett
12.30pm  ~  For ages 3 to 6  ~  FREE

Top drawing tips and laughs aplenty from the twice CLIP Kate Greenaway Medal Winner Emily Gravett!

Meet a very friendly squirrel and rat in Cyril and Pat, and reunite with old friends as you join Meerkat Mail's Sunny on his new adventure in the gorgeous Meerkat Christmas.

All welcome - no need to book!

Storytime with Sophy Henn
2pm  ~  For ages 3 to 6  ~  FREE

To celebrate her new book, Super Duper You, join Sophy Henn for an exciting and fun filled event, packed with storytelling, a live draw-along, and plenty of cutting and sticking!

All welcome - no need to book!

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Storytime with Sav Akyuz
3.30pm  ~ For ages 3 to 7  ~  FREE

Show off your best dance move and coolest rhymes with the awesome Sav Akyuz.

Bear Moves will have you foxtrotting and even doing the Running Bear in this energetic event for little ones!

All welcome - no need to book!

Also on the Vine....

We have live music, face-painting and a special human-story-machine! And put on your dancing shoes because we have two special disco parties based on Clare Foges' picturebooks!

The Art Trolley
11am-3.30pm  ~ For ages 5 to 11  ~  FREE

Work with artist Lorena Carbajal to create your own mini story in a concertina book with collage and drawings.

Kitchen Disco
1.30pm     FREE

It's a pumping, jumping, funky bash! All the fruit in the fruit bowl come out to play.

Bathroom Boogie
3pm     FREE

It's called the bathroom boogie - the most splashy bash of all!

Sevenoaks Bookshop
147 High Street, Sevenoaks, TN13 1XJ

THE IRON MAN
Chris Mould

Ted Hughes's classic is regarded as one of the greatest children's books of all time. With strong environmental messages, his words are more relevant now than ever.

Chris Mould is an author and award-winning illustrator He has created an exciting new edition of The Iron Man for the 21st century, featuring stunning illustrations. Chris's other work includes illustrations for Matt Haig's The Truth Pixie and A Boy Called Christmas series.

11am onwards  ~  All welcome!
Come to the bookshop and watch Chris paint the shop window. Plus drop-in drawing activities.

3.30pm  ~  For ages 7+  ~  FREE
Join Chris for a reading from The Iron Man, and see some of his striking artwork.

Tickets

Festival tickets are on sale from Saturday 27 July.

They will be available online via TicketSource or by calling 0333 666 3366. (Please note phone orders will have a charge of £1.75 per booking, this includes cost of posting tickets.)

Books

Pop-up bookshops will be selling books throughout the day in the Drive Methodist Church and The Vine.

Sevenoaks Bookshop open as usual, 9am-5.30pm.

There will be author book-signings after each event!

Food

Local restaurants will have special offers for festival-goers on the day: Nando's, Pizza Express and Wagamama.

Getting Here

By train: All venues are a short walk from Sevenoaks train station

By car: Sevenoaks is just off the M25/A25/A21. Parking available in town.

By bus: Sevenoaks bus station is a short walk along the High Street from the festival venues.