Knole
25 —2
6 March
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
knole/kidsbookfest
Saturday 25 March
Come and meet a smashing smorgasbord of children’s authors,
characters and illustrators including the UK Children’s Laureate
Chris Riddell, bestselling Cressida Cowell and her ‘How to
Tame your Dragon’ series and HORRIBLE SCIENCE’s illustrator
Tony De Saulles. 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.
Jo Empson
Ask the
Laureate with
Chris Riddell
9.1 5A M ⁄ AG E S: 7+
This is your chance to meet the UK
Children's Laureate Chris Riddell and
ask him anything. Come along with
your question and Chris will pick his
favourites to illustrate, giving you an
insight into the laureate world. The
lucky questioners he picks can take
their doodle-answers home with them,
a unique piece of art from one of our
greatest illustrators.
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Rachel Bright
Cressida
Cowell
1 0. 45A M ⁄ AG E S: 8 +
Join the bestselling author and
illustrator of the wildly popular series,
How To Train Your Dragon (also a
blockbuster film series and Netflix TV
show), as she talks about the LAST
book in the series, How to Fight a
Dragon’s Fury — can Hiccup save the
dragons? Get top tips on becoming an
author or illustrator and listen to how
the books became films.
1 0.0 0A M ⁄ AG E S: 3+
You may recognise author and artist
Rachel Bright not only for her funny,
heart-warming picture books, but also
her multi-million-selling gift range,
The Brightside. Rachel will chat to
children about her books The Lion
Inside, The Koala Who Could and Love
You Hoo, do some storytelling, and
teach the children how to draw some
characters!
M.G Leonard
Tracey Corderoy
1 0.0 0A M ⁄ AG E S: 8 +
1 1 . 3 0A M ⁄ AG E S: 5+
Did you know the rhinoceros beetle
can lift over 800 times its own body
weight? And that the bombardier
beetle can shoot acid out of its
own bottom? Find out about these
awesome beetles and more in a
bug-tastic event with author of the
bestselling Beetle Boy and sequel Beetle
Queen. It promises to be packed with
fun, facts and — of course — beetles!
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. Award winning author
Tracey Corderoy will entertain
with the most recent — and
delicious — smash-hit as well as
her other brilliant books.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kidsbookfest
1 1 . 3 0A M ⁄ AG E S: 3+
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!
Tony De Saulles
1 . 3 0 PM ⁄ AG E S: 8 +
Brace yourself for who will bring
science to life in all its gloopy glory
with live drawing, jokes and foul facts.
A fun-packed workshop leaving you
with a handful of your own minimasterpieces and a headful of ideas
for what to draw next. It’s science with
all the squishy bits left in!
Rachel Bright
Workshop
1 . 3 0 PM ⁄ AG E S: 4 +
In this event, artist Rachel Bright
will encourage kids to get creative by
demonstrating some of her techniques
and giving top writing and drawing
tips from her books, The Lion Inside,
Love You Hoo and The Koala Who
Could. Bring along your own creative
masterpieces for Rachel to have a look
at and offer advice!
Elissa Elwick
& Philip Ardagh
3 .0 0 PM ⁄ AG E S: 4 +
Join bestselling author Philip Ardagh
and rising author-illustrating star
Elissa Elwick in their brand new
Little Adventures story: Leafy the pet
Leafy. Follow Foss, Finnegan, Peanut,
and Sprat as they find out about
pets, plants, and nature. An exciting
and interactive event, with animal
puppets, storytelling, and a chance
to join Elissa in making a brand new
Little Adventurer.
Andy Riley
3 .0 0 PM ⁄ AG E S: 7+
Join Emmy winning writer Andy Riley for an event
filled with evil laughs, striding music, and royally
good drawing. Don your crowns to discover the key
elements of King Flashypants — intriguing settings
complete with ‘weird meadows’, a brave but
chocolate-obsessed child hero, and a villain who
comes equipped with his very own marching band,
You can also challenge author and illustrator Andy
Riley to draw anything!
Join the conversation: @KnoleNT @NTbooks #kidsbookfest #nationaltrust
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Sunday 26 March
Come and meet the cast of children’s best loved authors,
characters and illustrators including the bestselling
author and illustrator Lauren Child, Roald Dahl Funny
Prize winning author Philip Ardagh and Alex T Smith’s
Claude. And don’t miss out on a cuddle with Kipper!
The festival author events and play areas are
suitable for families with children aged 3 — 11 ¾.
Lauren Child
Alexis Deacon
Picture Books
9.1 5A M ⁄ AG E S: 9+
1 1 . 3 0A M ⁄ AG E S: 4 +
Lauren Child talks about Ruby
Redfort, the super-cool teen spy and
about the sixth and final book in her
bestselling series — Blink and You Die.
Learn out about Ruby’s amazing
gadgets, her side-kick Hitch and
best friend Clancy as well as some of
Lauren’s inspirations from film and TV.
Alex T. Smith
1 0. 45A M ⁄ AG E S: 6 +
Join bestselling author-illustrator, Alex T Smith, as he introduces you to
Claude — a small, plump dog who
wears a beret and a lovely jumper,
and his irrepressible sidekick, Sir
Bobblysock. Learn top secret
illustrator tips, including how to draw
the lovable Claude himself. Get the
scoop on Claude’s newest fun — his
adventures on the Disney channel,
starting in 2017!
Kipper Storytelling
1 0.0 0A M ⁄ AG E S: 3+
Kipper the dog is an award-winning,
bestselling character who’s appeared
not only in Mick Inkpen’s bestselling
books, but in a BAFTA-winning TV
programme. Join us for a storytelling
and games session with a professional
actress, and even get a chance to meet
Kipper himself!
Join award-winning picture book
author-illustrator Alexis Deacon, as
he tells the tale of a little finch who
wants more from his world. Hilarious
and thought-provoking, join Alexis as
we journey through the making of I
Am Henry Finch and his other brilliant
picture books.
Christopher
Lloyd
1 . 3 0 PM ⁄ AG E S: 8 +
Charlie & Lola
Storytelling
1 . 3 0 PM ⁄ AG E S: 3+
Lauren Child’s Charlie and Lola
are the UK’s favourite siblings!
Come along and hear a professional
entertainer leading fun activities,
games and storytelling, and hear
from the latest book, Charlie and Lola:
One Thing. Along with a book signing
at the end with the brilliant authorillustrator herself — Lauren Child!
Christopher Lloyd will be taking
his audience on a roller-coaster ride
through British History — from the
dinosaurs to the present day! His talk
will include a giant 8m-long version of
his British History Wallbook Timeline,
developed in collaboration with the
National Trust, and a brand new coat
of many pockets. Each pocket will
contain an object linked to 10 of the
most amazing moments in the history!
Jess French
3 .0 0 PM ⁄ AG E S: 4 +
Philip Ardagh
1 0.0 0A M ⁄ AG E S: 7+
Rob Biddulph
Join Roald Dahl Funny Prize winning
author Philip Ardagh. He is the author
of The Grunts and soon to be launched
The Secret Diary of John Drawbridge,
a Medieval Knight in Training. Philip
Ardagh is two metres tall with a
ridiculously big, bushy beard and size
sixteen feet, making him an instantly
recognisable figure at literary festivals
around the world.
1 1 . 3 0A M ⁄ AG E S: 3+
Rob Biddulph is a bestselling and award-winning
author and illustrator whose first picture book, Blown
Away, won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize.
Hear about Rob’s endearing characters Penguin Blue
and the Odd Dog Out and see him bring them to life.
Get ready for a minibeast- hunting adventure
with Zoologist and TV presenter Jess French!
Find out how caterpillars change into beautiful
butterflies, explore the world of woodlice and
count the legs on a millipede. Magnifying glasses
at the ready!
Alexis Deacon
Graphic Novels
3 .0 0 PM ⁄ AG E S: 1 0 +
Join Alexis Deacon as he talks about his
beautifully illustrated graphic novel Geis A
superb genre-spanning mix of supernatural,
historical fantasy, action, and folk-tale, this
gripping book is the first in an epic trilogy from
award winner author-illustrator. Spellbinding,
philosophical and exquisitely illustrated, this is a
story about strength, power and the true nature
of the world.
has been sent to WIDEMOAT CASTLE
to learn to be a KNIGHT. The castle is a place of
much 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 a
SECRET DIARY of his life as a knight-in-training…
£6.99
www.nosycrow.com
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www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kidsbookfest
This book is published by
Nosy Crow in partnership
with the National Trust
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Join the conversation: @KnoleNT @NTbooks #kidsbookfest #nationaltrust
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Thank you
The National Trust would like to say a big thank
you to all the authors and illustrators for coming
to the festival with their wonderful books
including Nick Sharrat, Steve Lenton, Tracey
Corderoy, Jo Empson, Tony De Saulles and
M G Leonard for a fantastic Friday Schools Day.
Front cover illustration; Rob Biddulph, Rachel Bright, Lauren Child,
Cressida Cowell, Alexis Deacon, Tony De Saulles, Jo Empson, Elissa Elwick,
Andy Forshaw, Steven Lenton, Jamie Littler, Chris Riddell, Andy Riley, Júlia Sardà,
Viviane Schwarz, Nick Sharratt, Alex T. Smith. Back cover illustration; Lauren Child.
Designed by Charles Watkins / endlessflax.com
©National Trust 2017. The National Trust is a registered charity no. 205846
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kidsbookfest