National Trust increases children's book events

The National Trust is ramping up its children’s book activities by launching its festival at a second location, as well as supporting World Book Day at 22 properties.

This year the charity will host its Children’s Book Festival Weekend at Wray Castle in Cumbria for a second year running over 4th-5th March, as well as launch the event at a new location, Knole House in Kent. Wray will host authors and illustrators such as Axel Scheffler, Philip Ardagh, Gill Lewis and Steve Cole, whilst Lauren Child, Chris Riddell and Alex T Smith will take part in the event at Knole.

The National Trust is also taking part in March's World Book Day for the first time at 22 properties with a variety of activities, including a ‘gingerbread man’ garden trail at Ightham Mote in Kent and book-based activities at Souter Lighthouse in Tyne & Wear.

The new activities were planned under the leadership of Katie Bond, who took on the role of publisher at the National Trust in 2014.

The charity, which publishes children's books with Nosy Crow, is also supporting the Summer Reading Challenge in Worcestershire in June, July and August, and running a weekend inspired by Rudyard Kipling in May.