The Reading is Magic Festival (Sunday 27 September – Friday 2 October 2020) will be in lieu of this autumn’s Bath Children’s Literature Festival and is aimed primarily at schools (KS1-KS3).

It will be available to watch either at the point of broadcast or as on demand.

 

 

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The festival will deliver a free digital schools programme of 25 events with a daily theme drawing on specific points from Cressida’s Waterstones Children’s Laureate Charter, declaring that ‘every child has the right to:

• Be creative for at least fifteen minutes a week
• Have a planet to read on
• See themselves reflected in a book
• Have advice from a trained librarian or bookseller

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The Reading is Magic Festival will promote creativity and connection through stories and shared experiences, creating content for children and young people in primary and secondary schools. The festival will open its virtual doors on Sunday 27 September with a special public event curated by Borders Book Festival. A week-long schedule of daily events will follow with Cressida joined by an all-star line-up of leading authors and illustrators.

Schools can incorporate the events into a learning programme, to be viewed either at point of broadcast or as on demand afterwards. Online materials and resources will support each event with book buying opportunities promoted via local independent bookshops. Fun Kids Radio is a festival media partner and will be interviewing authors and running competitions in the run up to the festival.

Cressida Cowell, Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2019 – 2022:

“I was delighted when Bath Festivals suggested the Reading is Magic Festival in partnership with a network of other festivals, based on some of the themes in my Waterstones Children’s Laureate Charter – the giant ‘to do list’ I announced on my appointment as Children’s Laureate. Research shows that reading for the joy of it has powerful, measurable real-life benefits that can transform lives. This ‘magic’ ought to be available to everyone which is why the work literature festivals do with their local school communities to inspire a love of reading is so important. I am excited that the wonderful virtual programme of events in the Reading is Magic Festival will be available, for free, to schools up and down the country and internationally, so that young people, whether at home or in their classroom bubbles can experience the magic of books and reading.”

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• ‘Reading is magic, and magic is for everyone’–@CressidaCowell. Inspired by the @UKLaureate Charter, @bathkidslitfest and partners bring you the Reading is Magic Festival, a free and engaging digital festival for schools and families! Sign up: https://bit.ly/2ZYr5sm#ReadingIsMagicFest
• The Reading is Magic Festival is a free digital festival for schools and families. @bathkidslitfest & festival partners are inspired by @CressidaCowell’s @UKLaureate Charter. Events will focus on the important themes. Find out more: https://bit.ly/2ZYr5sm#ReadingIsMagicFest

Cressida’s handle on Instagram is: @cressidacowellauthor