A star-studded line-up has been unveiled for the UK's largest children's book event – and it is all on our doorstep!

Tickets are now on sale for the Barnes Children's Literature Festival, which promises more than 100 fun readings, workshops and performances for young book fans.

Comedy legend Sir Lenny Henry, as well as Dame Cressida Cowell, the mega bestselling author of the How to Train Your Dragon series, and master storyteller Sir Michael Morpurgo are just a few of the big names on their way to Barnes.

Dame Cressida Cowell's poster for the festival (Credit https://www.barneskidslitfest.org/)

They will be joined by The Gruffalo illustrator, Axel Scheffler and Lydia 'Ladybird' Monks, renowned cartoonist Chris Riddell, and the rock star historian and co-host of the popular The Rest Is History podcast, Tom Holland, will introduce his new children's book, The Wolf Girl, The Greeks and the Gods.

A highlight will be a very special event to celebrate the centenary of beloved Barnes' resident Judith Kerr, author of The Tiger Who Came To Tea, who lived and worked in the village for over 60 years.

Judith's daughter Tacy Kneale will join with Judith's dear friends, the former Children's Laureates, Sir Michael Morpurgo and Lauren Child as they chat to Nicolette Jones, the children's books editor of The Sunday Times, to remember her remarkable life. 

Gruffalo illustrator, Axel Scheffler, will feature his work (Credit https://www.barneskidslitfest.org/)

Dame Cressida paid tribute to the festival, describing it as: "'Delightful, imaginative, innovative - and beautifully organised."

The event was founded by Amanda Brettargh, who was recently named as a Coronation Champion, which was awarded to those who have made an 'exceptional difference' in their community.

She said: "After the huge success of the 2022 Festival, which sold over 10,000 tickets and more than £21,000 worth of books, Barnes will offer something for everybody of all ages, whatever their reading interests or abilities. 

"The Barnes Children's Literature Festival brings the whole community together for one weekend to promote the power of reading, writing and creativity to more and more children every year from all over London and the UK.

"The Festival has transformed Barnes into the UK's capital of children's literature and it is a source of huge pride that we'll be the centre of the centenary celebrations of our beloved Judith Kerr and that so many of the world's favourite stories and poems were born here including The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Mog the Cat, Jan Pienkowski's Meg and Mog and Roger McGough's The Sound Collector."

The Festival runs from May 18 to Sunday 25 June 2023 and it incorporates the completely free Primary Schools' Programme, which has been expanded to offer 13,000 children the chance to see an author or illustrator event at five sites in Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, Kingston, Twickenham Stadium and Barnes.

The stellar line-up includes the British Book Award winners, S F Said and MG Leonard, Waterstones Children's Book Prize winners, Onjali Q Rauf and Hannah Gold, the author of the smash hit Escape Room, Christopher Edge, and the queen of historical fiction, Emma Carroll.

Performers will bring events to life (Credit https://www.barneskidslitfest.org/)

There's plenty of fun for non-fiction fans too including the superstar space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, and brilliant autistic teenage author and environmentalist Dara McAnulty, palaeontology pro Dr Nick Crumpton and science educator Lucy Hawking.

This year's programme is packed with family friendly theatre performances including a brand-new event based on the extraordinary stories of Roald Dahl, a magical Pippi Longstocking show and a trip to the wacky world of The Wizard of Oz.

There are shows for the littlest book lovers too with Paddington Bear's First Concert, the Mr Men & Little Miss characters and everyone's favourite patchwork elephant, Elmer.

Children can get creative with comics, poetry writing, clay-mazing workshops with Aardman Animations, and there are lots of free things to do too.

The Festival is presented in partnership with the University of Roehampton and St Paul's School.

Tickets are now on sale for the event here - https://www.barneskidslitfest.org/