We believe that reading and storytelling should be a fundamental part of a child’s life.

Each year we typically run a two week festival of book related activity working with schools and communities across the whole of the North East region. Over the two weeks we deliver a programme of visits by authors, illustrators, poets and other storytellers within and for schools.

NCBF was established in 1983 as the result of a collaboration between all of the library authorities in the North East and became a registered charity in 1992.  We are arguably the longest running cultural festival in the North East, the only children’s literature festival in the region and the only one in the UK which covers an entire region.

Since 2013 this unique festival has taken place in libraries and schools across the North East. Over two weeks the festival connects over 100 schools and more than 8000 children and young people with some of the UK’s top writers and illustrators to inspire, engage and ignite a passion for reading.

To see which brilliant authors, illustrators and poets joined us in the North East this year – see the full line up available for NCBF 2025 here!

Places are limited and in demand so get in touch with your local library service to reserve your schools spaces now – or to register interest for 2026.