Wray Castle4 — 5 March

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ wray-castle

Philip Ardagh Book Launch of The Secret Diary of John Drawbridge, a Medieval Knight in Training.12 . 30 PM / FREE E VENT ALL WELCO ME

We are very proud to announce the launch of The Secret Diary of John Drawbridge, a Medieval Knight in Training written by Roald Dahl Funny Prize winning author Philip Ardagh. An exclusive to all visitors to Wray Castle on Saturday, listen to exacts read by Philip and be the first to get your hands on signed copy of this exciting, historical and action-packed mystery — full of historical facts and trivia.

Andy Seed1 . 30 PM ⁄ AG E S: 7+

Join amusing author Andy Seed and his comedy squirrel sidekick Ned the Nature Nut for an hour of jokes, quips, puns and funny facts about nature based on Andy’s new book for the National Trust. Silliness guaranteed!

Ed Vere1 0.0 0AM ⁄ AG E S: 4 +

Max thinks he’d like to be friends with Bird. He would also like to chase Bird and maybe eat him as a tasty snack. But that’s not what friendship is all about... Is it? Join international bestselling author and illustrator Ed Vere for a fantastic interactive event about Max the kitten. There will be storytelling and live drawing.

Axel Scheffler & Philip Ardagh1 0.0 0AM ⁄ AG E S: 7+

Join Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning author Philip Ardagh and Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler for some frankly improbable but hilarious adventures with the Grunt family! They wash with cheese, eat roadkill and argue with one another all the time but they are strangely lovable, all the same. One thing’s for sure — there’s NEVER a quiet moment with the Grunts around!

Nicola Davies & Petr Horacek1 1 . 30AM ⁄ AG E S: 5+

Nicola Davies is a zoologist and knows everything about animals! Petr Horacek is an artist who brings each creature to life in this wild book. Petr does live painting whilst Nicola talks, and each piece of art is a wonder to behold. Full of animal facts and unbelievable animal stories, this event is full of fun and laughter, and you even learn to sing a whale song at the end!

Will Mabbitt1 1 . 30AM ⁄ AG E S: 7+

Get ready for a pirate adventure. Meet young Mabel Jones and her dastardly crew and take a voyage aboard the Feroshus Maggot. Expect animated storytelling and interactive, swashbuckling fun and games. Will Mabbitt also shares his top-tips on how to create your own pirate characters and write your own adventure stories — embrace the pirate in you!

Gill Lewis3.0 0 PM ⁄ AG E S: 6+

Join bestselling author Gill Lewis for a puppy-packed event. Meet the characters from the Puppy Academy series and learn about the roles that the dogs play in society, then hear about the amazing real life dogs which inspired the stories.

Alison Limentani Exhibition at Wray CastleArtist and author Alison Limentani has always been fascinated by animals and wildlife. She has a Degree in Animal Behaviour and an MA in Children’s Book Illustration. She has worked as a Zoo Keeper in Jersey before training as a veterinary nurse. She is passionate about drawing animals, and sharing her knowledge about them, she creates stunning images of animals and insects by using traditional printmaking techniques.

Axel Scheffler1 . 30 PM ⁄ AG E S: 3+

Join Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler as he introduces the latest adventures of his delightful characters, Pip and Posy. Good friends (most of the time!) this charming pair, Pip and Posy always have fun and will delight toddlers and parents alike. There’ll be live drawing and storytelling, and maybe even a surprise guest... or two!

Harry Potter with Fleurble Laffalott! 3.0 0 PM ⁄ AG E S: 8+

Have you ever wanted to explore the magical world of Harry Potter books? Which Professor of Hogwarts would you like to meet? Join Fleurble Laffalott (super-assistant to the Professor of Potter) for a fun and interactive hour as she introduces some of the great Professors from J.K. Rowling’s much loved books, and throws in some transfiguration, potions and even a slow-motion Quidditch match along the way! New and exclusive bookmarks for all who attend.

Come and meet the cast of bestselling children’s authors, illustrators and characters including the Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler, Philip Ardagh, Gill Lewis and Ed Vere. Wands at the ready for our Harry Potter event and don’t miss out on a cuddle with Peter Rabbit! You can enjoy a jam-packed day of storytelling, dressing up and colourful craft.

The festival author events and play areas are suitable for families with children aged 3 — 11 ¾ (Free admittance for Under 3s sitting on knees).

WHY CAN’T YOU BUY A PAIR

OF STAGS?

THEY’RE TWO DEER.

DOE!

www.nosycrow.com£6.99

has been sent to WIDEMOAT CASTLEto learn to be a KNIGHT. The castle is a place ofmuch wonderment: it hath towers and dungeons,

battlements and kennels, and much, MUCH more.And because coming to the castle is the most important

event in his life so far, John has decided to keep aSECRET DIARY of his life as a knight-in-training…

This book is published by Nosy Crow in partnership

with the National Trustwww.nationaltrust.org.uk

Saturday 4 March

Come along with your wands

at the ready and

there will be prizes for the best

dressed wizard!

Join the conversation: @NTsouthlakes @NTbooks #kidsbookfest #nationaltrustwww.nationaltrust.org.uk/kidsbookfest2 3

Will Mabbitt1 0.0 0AM ⁄ AG E S: 4 +

Join celebrated author and newly turned illustrator Will Mabbitt for a fun-packed event themed around his brand new picture book, I Can Only Draw Worms! With interactive activities galore and a hilarious live reading that’ll make you laugh until you cry, Will needs YOUR help and imagination to take the humble worm on an intergalactic adventure!

Petr Horacek 1 1 . 30AM ⁄ AG E S: 3+

Czech illustrator Petr Horáček is the author of a variety of charming picture books for children, including Blue Penguin, The Greedy Goat, Silly Suzy Goose, Elephant, Puffin Peter and The Mouse Who Reached the Sky. Join him for storytelling and watch him bring his characters to life with a live drawing session.

Steve Cole — The Young James Bond1 1 . 30AM ⁄ AG E S: 1 0+

Steve Cole is a best-selling children’s author whose sales exceed three million copies. His hugely successful Astrosaurs young fiction series has been a UK top-ten children’s bestseller and been published widely internationally. His several original Doctor Who novels have also been bestsellers, most recently the Secret Agent Mummy series for younger readers, Stop Those Monsters! and the explosive Young Bond series. His next Young Bond adventure Red Nemesis publishes May 2017.

Yuval Zommer1 . 30 PM ⁄ AG E S: 5+

Yuval Zommer has worked as a creative director at many leading advertising agencies. But his passion for picture books has led him to become an author/illustrator of highly acclaimed children’s books. Join Yuval for an interactive talk and illustration workshop where he will share some amazing facts about all sorts of bugs and beasts!

Steven Lenton & Tracey Corderoy1 0.0 0AM ⁄ AG E S: 6+

Notorious robber dogs Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam have swapped their life of crime for a career in cupcakes. But adventure — and crime! — is never far behind, with a thieving penguin on the loose. Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton entertain with comic rhymes and illustrations from their most recent — and delicious — smash-hit.

Harry Potter with Fleurble Laffalott!3.0 0 PM ⁄ AG E S: 8+

Have you ever wanted to explore the magical world of Harry Potter books? Which Professor of Hogwarts would you like to meet? Join Fleurble Laffalott (super-assistant to the Professor of Potter) for a fun and interactive hour as she introduces some of the great Professors from J.K. Rowling’s much loved books, and throws in some transfiguration, potions and even a slow-motion Quidditch match along the way! New and exclusive bookmarks for all who attend.

Nicola Davies1 . 30 PM ⁄ AG E S: 7+

Zoologist and acclaimed author of The First Book of Nature, Tiny: The Invisible World of Microbes and the Heroes of the Wild series will take you on a whistle-stop tour around the globe and guide you through the wondrous, weird and whacky world of animals. Did you know that blue whales have hearts the size of smart cars and that elephants hear through their feet?

Jo Empson3.0 0 PM ⁄ AG E S: 4 +

Join Jo Empson in a fascinating insight into the world of a picture book illustrator. Jo will take the audience on a creative journey to show them how to make a book. From sketch books full of ideas, to miniature mock up books and finally the finished work. Be swept away with an interactive storytelling of her latest books Little Home Bird and Chimpanzees for Tea with puppets, dressing-up, lots of audience participation and finishing with a big draw-along!

Meet a smashing smorgasbord of children’s authors, characters and illustrators including the bestselling author Steve Coles’ young James Bond, Will Mabbitt, Nicola Davies and Petr Horacek. Come along dressed up as your favourite wizard and explore the castle and discover all kind of exciting activities round every corner. There’ll be arts and crafts, games and puzzles, things to discover, make and take home.

Come along with your wands

at the ready and

there will be prizes for the best

dressed wizard!

The festival author events and play areas are suitable for families with children aged 3 — 11 ¾ (Free admittance for Under 3s sitting on knees).

Join the conversation: @NTsouthlakes @NTbooks #kidsbookfest #nationaltrustwww.nationaltrust.org.uk/kidsbookfest4 5

Sunday 5 March

Front cover illustration; Joe Berger, Ross Collins, Jo Empson, Petr Horacek, Sarah Horne, Jim Kay, Steven Lenton, Alison Limentani, Jamie Littler, Axel Scheffler, Ed Vere, Yuval Zommer, Beatrix Potter™ ©Frederick Warne & Co. 2017 Back cover illustration; Yuval Zommer.

Designed by Charles Watkins / endlessflax.com

©National Trust 2017. The National Trust is a registered charity no. 205846

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kidsbookfest

Thank youThe National Trust would like to thank all the authors and illustrators for coming to the festival with their wonderful books including Ed Vere, Alison Limmentani (including her beautiful exhibition), Gill Lewis & Philip Ardagh for a fantastic Friday Schools Day.