Children’s laureate heads programme for young people

A top line-up of writers for children and young people is headed by Children’s Laureate and Gruffalo creator Julia Donaldson, His Dark Materials author Philip Pullman, Inkheart writer Cornelia Funke and Alex Ryder creator Anthony Horowitz.

Donaldson, pictured above right, and friends will act out stories and sing songs from some of her much-loved books, which include the children’s classic The Gruffalo, a work that has sold three million copies worldwide and was adapted into an animated film shown on BBC1 on Christmas Day 2009.

Pullman makes two appearances at this year’s festival – to talk about the His Dark Materials trilogy and to discuss Grimm fairy tales.  Pullman recently published a selection of his favourite Grimm tales retold in his own voice.

Funke, pictured left, is the award-winning writer of the Inkheart trilogy and is regarded as the German J K Rowling. She will be talking about Fearless, the latest instalment of the Jacob Reckless story.

Horowitz, one of the most prolific and successful writers working in the UK, will talk about his bestselling teen fantasy series the Power of Five. He travelled to Antarctica to research the setting for its exciting conclusion, Oblivion.

The full programme for children and young people includes Roger McGough, Julia Golding, Charlie Higson, Cathy Cassidy, Axel Scheffler, Eoin Colfer, Sally Gardner, Annabel Pitcher, Kristina Stephenson, and events celebrating Peter Rabbit and Spot the Dog. Click here to see the full programme.