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Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho will open the Stepping into Stories Kids’ Lit Fest in Herne Hill, south London, later this month.
From 30th January to 5th February, the programme covers the full range of children’s literature, from picture books to teenage and young adult fiction, as well as sessions for adults considering careers in the book industry. Alongside Coelho, an extensive list of bestselling authors will make appearances, including Rashmi Sirdeshpande, Alex Wheatle and A M Dassu, who returns to the festival for the second time.
Dassu, author of Fight Back (Scholastic), said it was a pleasure to be a part of the festival. “I was able to work with schools who ordinarily wouldn’t have the budget to invite me to deliver a workshop. It’s such an important festival and one I’m sure makes a huge difference to the community.”
In order to capture the diversity of the local area, the theme of this year’s festival is ‘All Aboard’. With funding from Arts Council England and Aviva, concessions are available for all events.
Mo O’Hara, children’s author and member of the festival management team, said: “The line-up includes LGBTQ authors and illustrators, authors with disabilities, participants from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and speakers who represent many different cultures, ethnicities and journeys through their works—just like London. Twelve local schools take part in the festival, including many from some of London’s most deprived wards and two for children with special educational needs. We want to make sure all children have access to amazing books and we aim to spark a life-changing love of reading.”
A festival highlight is the Stepping Into Stories Competition awards ceremony. Children of all ages have been invited to tell their own stories, in any format, using the festival’s theme. Winners will receive their awards at an event on 4th February.
The festival is run by and for the local community through a partnership between Station Hall Herne Hill community centre, Children’s Writers and Illustrators for Stories and Literacy, and Tales on Moon Lane bookshop. It is supported by the wider Station Hall and Herne Hill Forum teams as well as local volunteers, schools and businesses.