Friday 25 September–Sunday 4 October 2015   LOVEREADING4KIDS is delighted to announce we are the proud sponsors of CHRIS RIDDELL   Back in Bath by popular demand, Chris Riddell is the Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2015 – 2017. He will be appearing in two events at the Festival on Saturday 26 September – with the fantastic Michael Rosen to celebrate their new poetry collection A Great Big Cuddle and solo to talk about his phenomenally popular Goth Girl series and the release of his new book. Chris will have the audience howling with laughter as he introduces Goth Girl and the Wuthering Fright. Ghastly-Gorm Hall is to play host to a Literary Dog Show, but something strange is occurring. Mysterious snowy footprints! Night-time barking! What’s going on? Check out Chris’s tips on drawing your own amazing pictures.   THE LARGEST DEDICATED CHILDREN’S LITERATURE FESTIVAL IN THE UK TEN DAYS and OVER 120 EVENTS FEATURING THE BEST CHILDREN’S AND TEEN AUTHORS THE BEST ILLUSTRATORS AND THE BIGGEST NAMES IN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE FROM ACROSS THE WORLD   INCLUDING: Julia Donaldson, Cressida Cowell, Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Rosen, Judith Kerr, Francesca Simon, Axel Scheffler, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Floella Benjamin, Julian Clary, Helen Skelton, Sam & Mark and Andy Day   The Telegraph Bath Children’s Literature Festival is the largest dedicated children’s book festival in the UK, now in its 9th spectacular year. This is a festival bursting at the seams with vibrant activity for children of all ages, their teachers, families and friends. Two original founders of the festival, JOHN AND GILL MCLAY are back as Artistic Directors with a world-class line up to thrill book lovers from pre-school to teen and beyond. This has always been a festival that puts fun and laughter first: it’s a chance for children and young people to meet the creators of their literary heroes, see illustrations come to life and fuel their imagination.   THIS YEAR’S HIGHLIGHTS: • Former Children’s Laureate and festival favourite JULIA DONALDSON returns to Bath with illustrator LYDIA MONKS to reveal What the Ladybird Heard Next • Bath born DAME JACQUELINE WILSON with a sneak preview of her new book Little Stars, the fifth title about Victorian foundling, Hetty Feather • CRESSIDA COWELL and the latest in her massively successful series How To Train Your Dragon • MICHAEL ROSEN and CHRIS RIDDELL with their new Poetry Collection, A Great Big Cuddle • JUDITH KERR creator of classic picture books including The Tiger who came to Tea, will discuss her life’s work and new book, Mr Cleghorn’s Seal with JULIA ECCLESHARE. • FRANCESCA SIMON with her last ever Horrid Henry book • JULIAN CLARY will introduce his fabulous new book, The Bolds, which he has created with award winning illustrator DAVID ROBERTS. • Author, television presenter, politician and advocate for young people FLOELLA BENJAMIN will be talking about the 20th anniversary of her book Coming to England • Lots of events to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Alice in Wonderland • Workshops and master classes on everything from Shaun the Sheep model making to writing film scripts and creating cartoons. The cover artist for 2015 is BEN CORT, illustrator of the bestselling picture book Aliens Love Underpants and Montersaurus!   To see the full programme and book tickets visit: www.bathfestivals.org.uk