Fun guaranteed for literature lovers at Shrewsbury Bookfest

The theme of this year’s festival is about inspiring young minds to be creative, to challenge them with exciting new activities and masterclasses and to enjoy words by celebrating them in both the written and spoken form.

Workshops which will give children the chance to create their very own masterpiece and soft skills such as creative thinking sit side-by-side with expert model-making tuition.

A highlight of the festival weekend is a children’s theatre group, which will be running interactive and inventive drama workshops, inspired by Roald Dahl’s extraordinary stories, to develop both creative and literacy skills through performance, games and play.

There is also a whole day of free, drop-in, book-related activities in the centre of Shrewsbury and a Bookfest Quest that will take children on a winding trail through the town to spot artwork created by local primary schools.

On May 5 children can Get Hooked on Books in a fun environment, under canvas, of literature related activities in The Square in Shrewsbury.

Roald Dahl and the Imagination Seekers is a theatrical and interactive experience designed for the 7-10 age group. It develops both creative and literacy skills through a lively and fun mix of performance, games and theme-led play, while exploring Roald Dahl’s extraordinary and enduring stories.

A Cut, Stick, Doodle Masterclass will be led by author and illustrator Dominika Lipniewska, aka Dolidomino. Children will cut shapes, use stencils and variety of doodling materials to create an imaginary world of impossible buildings, silly vehicles and crazy characters

The Joy of Picture Books with Mat Tobin is a workshop for adults. Following on from his packed-out sessions at Shrewsbury Bookfest’s conference for primary school teachers in December, Mat returns to Shrewsbury to run a workshop especially for parents, carers, librarians, teachers.

On May 6 comic lovers can take part in The Phoenix Live with the Etherington Brothers who will share the secrets of the success they have had making all-ages comic adventures. Rob and Lorenzo Etherington are the creators of Long Gone Don, Monkey Nuts, Freaky and Fearless, Baggage, and Von Doogan.

Festival organisers have teamed again up with Jim Parkyn, senior model maker at Aardman, the creators behind Shaun the Sheep, Wallace & Gromit and Morph to offer workshops based on the latest blockbusting film from Aardman – Early Man.

There will be a creative writing masterclass with award winning children's author Christopher Edge. Drawing on his experience as a teacher, publisher and acclaimed author he will help participants to beat their fear of the blank page and understand the ingredients that make a great story.

Meanwhile, children can enjoy Elmer the Elephant Storytelling with Liz Fost.

On May 6 there will be Dinosaurs Galore with Sir Charlie Stinky Socks by Kristina Stephenson and children can join the World of Olobob Top with Leigh Hodgkinson.

Full information on these events and how to book visit shrewsburybookfest.co.uk