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We are delighted to welcome to the festival superstar US children’s author Jack Gantos, Newbery Medal winner and creator of the Joey Pigza books. Joey Pigza is one of the most appealing characters in children’s books – he’s in a tough situation, but he faces everything with confidence and good cheer. Gantos’s books inspired Phil Earle to write his funny, poignant children’s books Being Billy and The Bubble Wrap Boy. On their own, they are dynamic and hugely entertaining speakers – so you won’t want to miss them together! As Joey Pigza would say, this will be a ‘pawzzz-i-tively brilliant’ event.

Gantos has written books for all ages from picture books to young adult and adult fiction. His memoir, Hole in My Life, won the Michael L Printz and Robert F Sibert awards, and his Joey Pigza books have won many awards. Earle is a UK writer. His first job after university as a care worker inspired him to write Being Billy, winner of the WeRead Book Award and shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Branford Boase Award.

This event is party of the festival’s American strand.

Age 9+