Words and Pictures Children’s Bookshop to open in partnership with Stepping Into Stories Kids' Lit Fest

A new children’s bookshop, the Words and Pictures Children’s Bookshop, will be opening in Herne Hill, south London, in partnership with the Stepping Into Stories Kids’ Lit Festival 2024. 

Before officially opening in spring 2024, the bookshop will host a pop-up bookshop selling signed books in Station Hall, Herne Hill during the week of the Stepping Into Stories Kids’ Lit Festival, from 30th January to 4th February. It will also be available to schools taking part throughout the week. 

Children’s author and illustrator Frann Preston Gannon, known for I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree (Nosy Crow), and writer Anja Stobbart will run the bookshop together. They have launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the shop, which has raised £2,849 at the time of writing. 

"We are delighted to be bringing a children’s bookshop back to Herne Hill, and launching through this partnership with the incredible Stepping Into Stories Kids’ Lit Fest, which takes Herne Hill by storm every February," said Stobbart. "Having lived in the area for 17 years, I know just how vital books and stories are to the local community, and can’t wait to inspire children from all backgrounds to celebrate reading, creativity and stories in all their rich array."