Aarhus 2017

Join the bestselling author and illustrator of the wildly popular Viking adventure series, How to Train Your Dragon. Cowell grew up in London and on a small island off the west coast of Scotland. She was convinced that there were dragons living on the island, and has been fascinated by these mythical creatures ever since. She has written and illustrated 12 books in the popular Hiccup series. The unique blend of child-centred humour and sublime prose made Hiccup an instant hit and the series is now published in 38 languages. The DreamWorks Animation feature films have received both Oscar and BAFTA nominations. Her new series, The Wizards of Once, publishes this autumn and has also been signed by DreamWorks.

You enter a spaceship, but where do you land?

LEGO workshop open to all children and their adults

An exhibition by the publishing house Gyldendal of the author and illustrator Jakob Martin Strid’s world, together with other well-loved children’s books. There will be readings and activities throughout the festival.

In Danish

Create your own bookmark monster out of paper. Come alone or bring an adult.

In all languages

5+ (Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult)

We need your help to give new life to old books. In this workshop you can create book art by making figures from the pages, or compose poetry through rearranging words and phrases. We provide books and suggestions to get you started.

Join the expansion of the Harry Potter-universe in Minecraft. Just bring yourself and a great idea.

In all languages

For all Minecraft-loving children

Hunters, kings and women of power become entangled in prophecy, mythology, shame, pride and insult in one of the most exciting birth-of-a-hero tales in the world – The Birth of Sundiata Keita, legendary founder of the great Malian Empire of West Africa. Internationally acclaimed storyteller Jan Blake and long-term collaborator, drummer John Predare, bring an epic performance to Aarhus. This inspiring tale reaches across the centuries, from its origins in medieval Africa to the conflicts in our own time when its telling is forbidden. Expect an exhilarating collision of wild song and heroic story...

In English

Orla and DR-Ultra invites everyone to celebrate the Danish winners of this prestigious prize, where children choose the nominees and vote for the winning books.

In Danish

The winner of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2016 talks about her writing, literature for younger readers and her novel How I Live Now, a contemporary children’s classic. Daisy, 15, thinks she knows all about love. Her mother died giving birth to her, and now her dad has sent her away for the summer, to live in the English countryside with cousins she’s never met. There she discovers what real love is: something violent, mysterious and wonderful. Her world is turned upside down and a perfect summer explodes into a million bewildering pieces. Rosoff’s other novels for young people include Just in Case (winner of the 2007 Carnegie Medal), The Bride’s Farewell and What I Was, described by The Times as “Samuel Beckett on Ecstasy”.

In English

Come and see what film we are showing today...

You enter a spaceship, but where do you land?

The publishing house Gyldendal creates an exhibit of the author and illustrator Jakob Martin Strid universe and other famous and loved children's books. There will be readings and other activities throughout the festival.

In Danish

Create your own bookmark monster out of paper. Come on your own or bring a grown-up.

In all languages

5+ (under 8 only in company with an adult)

We need your help to give new life to old books. In this workshop you can create book art by making figures from the pages, or compose poetry through rearranging words and phrases. We provide books and suggestions to get you started.

Visit the illustrators workshop where you can follow the illustrations from first stroke to the finished book - Join a workshop or just stop by and get inspired.

In Danish

“Once upon a time…” thus begins many a story. But what happens next? We make our own stories, recording and assembling them using interactive learning tool Hopspots. What happens if we change the sequence of the story? What kinds of sound effects will enhance the story? We record, play back and jump through the stories, while playing with words in this workshop.

In Danish

Come and see what film we are showing today...

Where will you land in the spaceship you make?

An exhibition by the publishing house Gyldendal of the author and illustrator Jakob Martin Strid’s world, together with other well-loved children’s books. There will be readings and activities throughout the festival.

In Danish