Children help authors celebrate independence

Independent Booksellers Week

          June 14^th - 21^st 2010

Pyjama parties, snail races and creative writing workshops are just some of the many themed events on offer to children at bookshops around the country as part of this year’s Independent Booksellers Week, which runs from June 14^th to 21^st.

Children are being encouraged to drop into their local participating bookshop with their parents for a variety of fun and creative family events, to mark this week-long celebration of the ‘indie’, which showcases how they provide a distinctive, personal service for book lovers and the unique role they play in their communities.

Selected children’s events include:

• Evie Wyld, award-winning author and Booktrust’s online writer in residence, will be leading a creative writing event with London-based charity Kids Company at Review Bookshop in Peckham, London on 15^th June.

• Children’s illustrator and author Teresa Flavin will be making pictures and telling stories at Atkinson-Pryce Books, Biggar, South Lanarkshire on 19^th June.

• Simply Books in Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire are hosting a Butterfly & Snails Day (including snail racing!) in aid of the National Children’s Hospice on 17^th June

• Roy the Eagle authors Kate O’Sullivan and David Harfield will be reading bedtime stories at Caxton Books & Gallery in Frinton-on-Sea, Essex on 16^th June

• Linbham’s Booksellers in Heswall, Merseyside will be holding a special Father’s Day offer on 19^th June in their coffee bar

• Helen Nathan, author of popular children’s books Flossie Crums, will be leading cookie decorating and storytime at The Golden Treasury in Southfields, London on 19^th June

• Bookthrift in Beccles, Suffolk will be holding a Where’s Wally Day instore on 9^th June celebrating the iconic children’s book character

• The Walker Bear will be about in Burway Books in Church Stretton, Shropshire on 19^th June to mark the 70^th Anniversary of Walker Books

• Cole’s Books in Bicester, Oxon, are holding story times throughout the week with readings from popular books by Julia Donaldson, Dr Seuss and Quentin Blake.

IBW, which is supported by authors such as Anita Brookner and Michael Morpurgo, was established to celebrate and showcase the thousands of independent bookshops around the country.