Events for Children and Young People

Anisha, Accidental Detective is the award-winning series from Serena Patel and Emma McCann, featuring a host of mysteries that need to be solved by Anisha, her best friend Milo and their animal companions. Join Serena to solve the biggest mystery at Anisha’s holiday camp: who destroyed the holiday park’s mascot, Delilah the Duck?

What creature is causing such disruption in the great Library of Life? What is happening to our planet? Join Head4Arts with Tamar Eluned Williams in a storytelling and craft experience exploring climate change and biodiversity crisis.

Mae’r gweithdy hwn yn ddwyieithog ac yn croesawu siaradwyr Cymraeg a Saesneg.

This workshop is bilingual and welcomes both English and Welsh speakers.

Fabulously funny actor and author Stephen Mangan and tremendously talented illustrator Anita Mangan provide laughter, storytelling, drawing and tales about working with your sibling. Following their bestselling debut Escape the Rooms, the duo will reveal how the smallest (and smelliest!) action can have big consequences and how children can be heroes in their hilarious new adventure, The Fart that Changed the World.

Hannah Lee introduces her new picture book, The Rapping Princess – a gorgeous fairy tale about finding your voice and standing out from the crowd. Shiloh might not be able to sing like her sisters, but she has other talents, and sometimes it’s about embracing your differences and celebrating them. Learn about fairy tales, discovering your own talents and the perfect ingredients for making up your own rap.

An opportunity to get crafting! Activities differ every day, including everything from print-making to junk modelling with recycled materials. Get messy and creative: your imagination is the limit.

Book for the session and you can drop in at any point during the 2.5 hour duration. An accompanying adult must attend at all times but does not require a ticket.

The inimitable Michael Rosen takes a free-wheeling, fast-paced and fun look at some of his most loved books and rhymes of all kinds. The former Children’s Laureate celebrates the release of Rigatoni the Pasta Cat, Ready for Spaghetti and many more of his books in this joyous event.

The writer and illustrator of this groundbreaking YA memoir about being a trans teen is an influencer, filmmaker and bold new voice in comics. He takes readers on a heartbreaking but ultimately healing path as he overcomes trauma, confusion and dubious fashion choices to become the man he was always meant to be. This book will resonate not just with trans teens, but with every young person who has ever felt the awkward sting of finding their identity in adolescence.

What if your parents wanted you to behave badly? In the snowy fjords of a Viking kingdom, terrible twins Hack and Whack are proud to be the best-worst Vikings. Nothing can stop the marauding pair. Join Horrid Henry author Francesca Simon as she introduces the second book in her new series. Find out lots of interesting facts about Vikings and expect plenty of anarchy and chaos in this fun-filled event.

Dive in to discover why we must protect freshwater to save life on Earth. Catherine Barr reveals the water footprint of your jeans, why fish leap up ladders and who lives in washing-up bowl ponds, while illustrator Christiane Engel shows how to draw rare pink river dolphins.

Join authors of The Mab Matt Brown and Eloise Williams for an event full of thrilling Welsh tales, alongside an enchanting illustration workshop from Max Low. Use your imagination to bring the mystery, magic and myth of the Mabinogion to life and to celebrate this new dual-language book.

An opportunity to get crafting! Activities differ every day, including everything from print-making to junk modelling with recycled materials. Get messy and creative: your imagination is the limit.

Book for the session and you can drop in at any point during the 2.5 hour duration. An accompanying adult must attend at all times but does not require a ticket.

David Olusoga takes readers on a journey through Black British history, exploring the forgotten histories of Black people in Britain from Roman times right through to the present day. His children’s book Black and British: An Illustrated History is the essential introduction to understanding this issue. He talks to art historian and presenter Dr Janina Ramirez.

The author and artist collaborate to take you on a journey deep into the sea and beyond. Set in Shetland, Julia and the Shark tells the story of a girl who accompanies her parents to the island where her mother is attempting to track down the Greenland Shark. She finds herself on an adventure with dark depths and a lighthouse full of hope. The novel is a celebration of our natural world and an exploration of family relationships and mental health.

The author of An Answer for Everything teaches you how to research varied topics from sightings of the Loch Ness Monster through to how many humans have ever lived on Earth. Rob will then show you how to turn this data into glorious data visualisations.

Join this dynamic duo for an event full of fun, frolics and flying ponies as they celebrate the fourth and final Roly Poly Flying Pony adventure. Expect live drawing, interactive story building, songs and surprises.

Join author and historian Dr Janina Ramirez to discover the incredible goddesses, witches, saints, spirits and guides that have shaped our belief systems. There are fearsome warriors, mystical protectors and wise leaders – and each one can inspire you. From Medusa to Mami Wata, Brigid to Lakshmi, tales of powerful female figures have been told since the beginning of time – and it’s time to celebrate them.

An opportunity to get crafting! Activities differ every day, including everything from print-making to junk modelling with recycled materials. Get messy and creative: your imagination is the limit.

Book for the session and you can drop in at any point during the 2.5 hour duration. An accompanying adult must attend at all times but does not require a ticket.

Meet the illustrator of the silver anniversary edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Find out how he creates the unique Harry Potter covers and watch him bring your favourite Harry Potter characters to life. Take a pencil and paper to draw along with Jonny. Join us after the event in the HAYDAYS courtyard to share your magical memories of reading Harry Potter and celebrate 25 magical years of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone with Bloomsbury Children’s Books and the National Literacy Trust. Everyone welcome.

Danielle Jawando’s new novel is a powerful coming-of-age story set in Manchester about chance encounters, injustice and how the choices that we make can completely change our future. Danielle Jawando teaches creative writing, her credits including Coronation Street and her debut YA novel And the Stars Were Burning Brightly was shortlisted for many awards.

Meet the authors of the Kid Normal series to hear about their new book that tells of a hospital heist, some banana-loving llamas and a talking cat called Bin Bag. This mind-bending adventure is packed full of laughter and imagination.

Join Amelia Fang creator Laura Ellen Anderson for a journey to The Weatherlands, the magical setting for her Rainbow Grey series. Meet an extraordinary cast of characters including Ray Grey and her Weatherling friends, Snowden Everfreeze and Droplett Dewbells. Create an exciting book cover, featuring your very own climate-controlling Weatherling character and learn how to draw Ray’s adorable cloud-cat Nim.

An opportunity to get crafting! Activities differ every day, including everything from print-making to junk modelling with recycled materials. Get messy and creative: your imagination is the limit.

Book for the session and you can drop in at any point during the 2.5 hour duration. An accompanying adult must attend at all times but does not require a ticket.

The comedian and author introduces his book in which Billy Smith’s life is turned upside down when a TV crew arrives at Bracket Wood Primary School. He talks about the inspiration behind his many books and why he loves writing for children.