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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. The festival culminates in a free Gala Day celebration event where children and their families are able to meet and get actively involved in creative sessions run by the inspiring creators of their favourite children’s books.
Our unique regional approach, using the region’s library networks, covers the whole of the North East, including reaching some of the most deprived communities where access to creative activity is extremely limited or non-existent. Annually we work with around 100 schools reaching around 15,000 children. Every year the Gala Day is held in a different location ensuring communities with limited access to transport and where families don’t travel far to access activity experience an inspirational festival on their doorstep.
“I’m very honoured to be a patron of the Northern Children’s Book Festival. This particular festival is very dear to my heart – it reaches out to so many children, teachers and families, and offers a hugely important message. Stories and pictures open up whole new worlds that can change lives … and the Northern Children’s Book Festival provides a fantastic opportunity for children to discover this for themselves”.
Vivian French, Patron
“The NCBF is our favourite literary festival in the whole wide world – it is very precious to us! As writers, we are constantly inspired by the warmth, friendliness and freshness of our audiences in the North East.
The NCBF takes authors to places where books are needed most and hardest to get hold of. That’s why we love it. With the NCBF we feel we can change lives, not just tell people what they already know. Long may it continue!”
Steve Skidmore & Steve Barlow, Patrons