Tuesday 7 October 2014 Multi award-winning author and illustrator Lauren Child earned a new accolade after her appearance at Ilkley Literature Festival last weekend – the prize for the longest book signing queue! Lauren’s appearance was one of the first in a lively programme of events for families at this year’s Children’s Festival which is sponsored by The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL). With Lauren’s books ranging from picture books for very young children to the Ruby Redfort series for pre-teens, and the adaptation of her characters Charlie and Lola for TV, it was no surprise that her appearance drew the crowds. Following a Q&A session with interviewer Nick Tucker in front of a packed Kings Hall audience, Lauren spent another two hours meeting her fans and signing books. The popular author even found time to answer the questions of Julia Coyle, a Year 6 pupil at GSAL, who was conducting an interview for local magazine Families Leeds. Julia said: “It was exciting to meet Lauren after hearing her speak as I could ask the questions she didn’t cover in her session. I found out that her characters aren’t specifically based on herself but each one has little bits of her or her friends, also she thinks festivals like this are important because you get to find out about new authors and their books.” The Children’s Festival continues this weekend with activities for children of all ages, including author sessions with Yasmeen Ismail, Angie Sage, Caryl Hart and Kjartan Poskitt. Children can join in circus skills with Suitcase Circus, drama with Mud Pie Arts, storytelling with Ilkley Library staff and a blast from the past with children’s museum Eureka! The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) sponsors the Children’s Festival and is inviting children under the age of 16 to enter a Design a Bookmark competition. The best entry in each of three age groups will win a Kindle – find out how to enter Children are also invited to send in their festival reviews and the best will be published on the GSAL website. To book for Children’s Festival events, call the Box Office on 01943 816714, book online or purchase on the door subject to availability. General Primary News
