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The Children’s Book Festival is back in 2013

Media release

This is an archived media release. Links were correct at the time of publication, but may have changed or expired.

Wednesday 20 February 2013


On Sunday 24th March your favourite authors and illustrators will be taking over the lawns of the State Library for a great big book party – it’s open to everyone and it’s absolutely free. With special performances from an exciting line-up, including the much-loved Jackie French and Justine Clarke, superstar Lynley ‘Hairy Maclary’ Dodd, Rhys Muldoon and Freya Blackwood, the whole day is designed to surprise and delight.

The State Library lawn is a great place to start. Get hands-on in the veggie patch and mosey on over to the face-painters, where kids can become their favourite character. Don’t forget to enter the Best Costume Competition for some special prizes. 

Gear up for the exciting things unfolding on Little Lonsdale Street, with marquees hosting great activities and the chance for kids to create and publish their very own story. If they’re looking for inspiration, a big, red firetruck will be parked at one end of the street, while the other end will play host to a mobile farm.

From learning to make their own books, to hearing from some grown-ups with a bit of experience, the Wheeler Centre is where you’ll find the best children’s authors and illustrators chatting away, signing books and meeting readers. 

Queen’s Hall is the place for storytelling. Hear from authors reading their stories or curl up on a bean-bag in the reading corner and get lost in your imagination. Inside the Library, visit Experimedia where everybody has a story to tell and share ... Join Gus Gordon, Roland Harvey, Bernard Caleo and Mark Wilson as they visit throughout the day.

The very first Children’s Book Festival Illustrator in Residence, Oslo Davis, will be on hand to capture the sounds and stories of the festival crowd.

There’ll be places for songs and dancing, a giant wall of comics to contribute to, puppeteering and lots of story sharing, all rolled up in one giant day!

So grab your mum and dad, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends and make your way to the biggest kids’ book festival in town.

All events on Sunday 24 March are free for everybody to enjoy and no bookings are required.