BOOKNIKS Children's Book Festival

Draw, write, read, play, build, fix and create with us. From two to tweens and everything in between: Bookniks, JW3's annual children's book festival is back!

This year’s theme is “The Environment” and coincides with Tu Bishvat, the Jewish New Year for trees. We will be turning JW3 into an enchanted forest, where you can meet the very best in children’s authors, get cosy under the branches for storytime or learn how to change the world!

Discover people saving the planet, enjoy free workshops inspired by nature and take part in some hands-on social action to really connect your family to the natural world around us.

10:30 - 12:15  Anna at War: Helen Peters                        £69+   11:00 - 11:45Lauren Child: Meet Clarice Bean                      £87+   12:00 - 12:45Frann Preston:I am the seed that grew that tree                       £6 5+1:00 -  1:45 Kate Pankhurst : Great women                £6   6+ 1:30 -  2:15     Andy Stanton: Historical innacuracy Guaranteed                  £8   7+ 2:00 - 2:45  An Otter Called Pebble: Helen Peters               £6   5+ 3:00 - 3:45  Benji Davies: Meet Tad the Tadpole               £6   4+ 

11am | Helen Peters - Anna at War: In this workshop, author Helen Peters takes older readers through “Anna at War” a tale of bravery and loss. Brought to England on the Kindertransport in WWII, Anna must find her place on the farm she now calls home. Packed with intrigue and espionage, the author Helen will give you an insight into writing fast-paced adventures and help you write your own action thrillers. Ages 9+.. Book now   

11am | Lauren Child - Meet Clarice Bean: Meet the original eco-warrior Clarice Bean, the creation of the wonderful Children’s Laureate from 2017-2019, Lauren Child. Feisty and fabulous Clarice Bean first appeared over 20 years ago, campaigns to save the trees when they are threatened with being cut down. Lauren talks about her favourite character Clarice Bean along with her latest books Hubert Horatio: How to Raise Your Grown-Ups and others of her bestselling creations including Ruby Redfort and Charlie and Lola. Ages 7+. Book now

12am | Frann Preston-Gannon and I am the seed that grew the tree: Join illustrator Frann Preston-Gannon as she shares poems and illustrations from I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree, the award-winning book of nature poems for every day of the year. Draw inspiration from the world outside as Frann leads an illustration workshop. Ages 5+. Book now

1pm | Kate Pankhurst – Fantastically Great Women Who Saved the Planet: Join illustrator, author and suffragette descendant Kate Pankhurst as she tells the stories of some of the inspirational women who have dedicated their lives to studying, conserving and protecting Planet Earth and all its living things. Learn about ethical products through The Body Shop’s Anita Roddick, the importance of recycling with Isatou Ceesay and the hole in the ozone layer through Edith Farkas plus much, much more!  There will be drawing, there will be dressing up and most importantly, there will be lots of inspiration to change the world. Ages 6+. Book now

1.30pm | Andy Stanton – Historical Inaccuracy Guaranteed: Join the ridiculously funny author of Mr. Gum for an hour of joyous nonsense as he introduces his brand new series, set in ancient Pompeii. Meet Caecilius the fart merchant! Thrill to the adventures of Barkus Wooferinicum, the family mutt! Tremble at the terrifying legend of the ma-wol-n-f! 85% historical inaccuracy guaranteed. Ages 7+.Book now

2pm | Helen Peters - An Otter called Pebble: Author Helen Peters Introduces us to Pebble- the baby otter found in a woodland stream. Join her as she takes us on a journey of how she started writing stories about wildlife and how you can make up stories about animals too. Expect cute creatures and inspiring writing. Ages 5+.  Book now

3pm | Benji Davies – Meet Tad the Tadpole: Sometimes the biggest stories come from the smallest beginnings… Meet Tad. Tad is the smallest tadpole in a big pond and lives there with all her tadbrothers and tadsisters. Tad’s world gets turned upside down when she notices something is different in her world. The latest creation from Benji Davies, the award-winning author and illustrator of The Storm Whale and Granddad’s Island, you’ll get to meet Tad, learn all about her and how tadpoles grow and evolve, and get to make your very own tadpole yourself. Ages 4+. Book now

2-4.30pm | Free activities on the day:

Crafternoon - Learn to make beautiful flowers out of old magazines. Book now

PJ Library - Amie Taylor will be running interactive storytelling, or join a workshop with illustrator Inbal Leitner - or do both! Sessions at 11.50 and 12.50

Rebel Club - Enjoy a taster session of our new creative book inspired by 'Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls'.