Cathy Cassidy

Coco Caramel

The bestselling girls’ favourite author is back with a brand new book in the Chocolate Box Girls series, which began with Cherry Crush.

Duration 45 mins.

9+ years

Jez Alborough

The creator of the Eddy And The Bear stories, which became a Bafta Award-winning television series, is here to bring you Nat The Cat’s Sunny Smile.

Duration 45 mins.

4+ years

See also event HF48

Kitchen Academy Workshop 11

Join us in making Mini Spanish Omelettes, Welsh Sushi, Giant Chocolate Waffles, Sicilian Chicken and No Bake Cheesecakes. The menu will be rotated between sessions on a daily basis.

5–8 years – children must be accompanied

Sponsored by The Co-operative Cymru/Wales

Royal Shakespeare Company Workshop 1: As You Like It

Melanie Whitehead leads this participatory workshop for families and children, introducing themes and scenes from Shakespeare’s play, which pitches Rosalind and Orlando on the run into the forest of Arden. Maria Aberg’s new production with music by Laura Marling opens on 12 April.

Families and children 10+ years

Tilly And Friends

Join picture-book genius Polly Dunbar to find out what Tilly’s friends Hector, Doodle, Tumpty, Tiptoe and Pru have been up to.

Duration 45 mins.

4+ years

Don’t Scratch Your Bum With A Hedgehog

Fascinating facts and the kind of advice you won’t get anywhere else from the bestselling and double-Blue Peter Best Book with Facts-winning Mitchell Symons.

Duration 45 mins.

7+ years

Emma Dodd

Cinderelephant

Emma Dodd shares her beautifully executed story, in which the well-known fairy tale is retold with a pachyderm heroine and a trunk-load of charm.

Duration 45 mins.

4+ years

Kitchen Academy Workshop 12

Join us in making Mini Spanish Omelettes, Welsh Sushi, Giant Chocolate Waffles, Sicilian Chicken and No Bake Cheesecakes. The menu will be rotated between sessions on a daily basis.

9–12 years – children must be accompanied

Sponsored by The Co-operative Cymru/Wales

Roger McGough

An Imaginary Menagerie

The nation’s favourite poet is back with a brilliant, warm and witty performance of poetry old and new.

Duration 60 mins.

7+ years

It’s A Girl Thing

Three fabulous queens of teen, Sarah Webb, Sophia Bennett and Luisa Plaja, talk about why they love to write for girls and how they develop their stories.

Duration 60 mins.

9+ years

Jez Alborough

The creator of the Eddy And The Bear stories, which became a Bafta Award-winning television series, is here to bring you Nat The Cat’s Sunny Smile.

Duration 45 mins.

4+ years

See also event HF42

Skulduggery Pleasant

Derek Landy flies in specially from Dublin to bring some awesome to Hay and share his Skulduggery genius. Sneak peek from Book 8 a definite maybe…

Duration 60 mins.

10+ years

Eleanor Updale & Geraldine McCaughrean

The Last Minute & The Last Performance

Updale writes about the last minute of life for hundreds of people, and McCaughrean about a seaside theatre’s very last performance. Find out what is so absorbing about the end of things.

Duration 60 mins.

11+ years

Emma Dodd

I Love You

A warm and joyful look at a child’s world and all the things they love. Follow on from the Booktrust Early Years Award-winner I Love My Mummy.

Duration 45 mins.

4+ years

Kitchen Academy Workshop 13

Join us in making Mini Spanish Omelettes, Welsh Sushi, Giant Chocolate Waffles, Sicilian Chicken and No Bake Cheesecakes. The menu will be rotated between sessions on a daily basis.

5–8 years – children must be accompanied

Sponsored by The Co-operative Cymru/Wales

Creative Computer Recording

Sound like the stars. Learn how to use your computer to record and put down a track in this hands-on session.

12–18 years

Hands-on workshops from Cool Fossil Music Foundation

Simon Scarrow

Gladiator: Son of Spartacus

Roman history through the eyes of Marcus, newly freed from slavery, whom Julius Caesar tasks with overthrowing a rebel army. Third in the series from the Number 1 bestselling author.

Duration 45 mins.

10+ years

Laura Dockrill

Darcy Burdock

Voted one of the top ten literary talents by The Times, this uniquely gifted young artist who ‘writes, draws and talks’ is here to perform and read from her first book for young readers.

Duration 45 mins.

9+ years

Sponsored by Herdman Coaches

Kitchen Academy Workshop 14

Join us in making Mini Spanish Omelettes, Welsh Sushi, Giant Chocolate Waffles, Sicilian Chicken and No Bake Cheesecakes. The menu will be rotated between sessions on a daily basis.

9–12 years – children must be accompanied

Sponsored by The Co-operative Cymru/Wales

Synths, Sound And Software

Creating synth sounds and effects using synths, samples and software.

12–18 years

Hands-on workshops from Cool Fossil Music Foundation