PROGRAMME 14-18 June 2021

MONDAY 14th June

Smriti Halls 9.30-10.15am Rain Before Rainbows Suitable for EYFS-KS1 (Ages 5-7) Book now

Smriti Halls is an award-winning, critically acclaimed children’s author who is currently BookTrust’s Writer in Residence. Based on Smriti’s book Rain Before Rainbows illustrated by David Litchfield, this workshop will help children to ‘find their rainbows’ and understand the things that cheer them up when they need it.

Jamila Gavin and Jacinta Read 11am-12pm In Her Element - from 10 Stories to Make a Difference Suitable for Upper KS2-KS3 (Ages 10-14) Book now

Jamila Gavin, award-winning author of Coram Boy, and Jacinta Read, a talented debut illustrator, collaborated to create In Her Element in Pop Up’s collection of new titles inspired by the theme of difference. The story is about a girl with cerebral palsy whose passion for water enables her to make a new friend by helping them come to terms with their disability.

A.M. Dassu 2-3pm Boy, Everywhere Suitable for Upper KS2-KS3 (Ages 10-14) Book now

A. M. Dassu’s internationally acclaimed debut middle grade novel, Boy, Everywhere was noted as ‘One to Watch’ by The Bookseller, the UK’s definitive book industry magazine and website. Chosen as one of the Best Children’s Books of 2020 by Bookriot, BookTrust and CLPE, the book also featured among ’s ‘Children’s Best New Novels’ in 2020 and on Amnesty’s ‘Books That Inspire Activism’ list. It has also been awarded a coveted Kirkus Star.

TUESDAY 15th June

Emily Gravett 9.30-10.15am Too Much Stuff! Suitable for EYFS-KS1 (Ages 5-7) Book now

Emily Gravett is the author and illustrator of several children’s picture books. For her debut book published in 2005 and again two years later, she won the annual for the year’s best-illustrated British children’s book. Come for a tour of Emily’s studio and find out how to draw some of her characters!

Holly Sterling 11-11.45am Karate Kids Suitable for EYFS-KS1 (Ages 5-7) Book now

Holly Sterling is a children’s book illustrator. Her books are funny and lively, look- ing at family, childhood and friendship in a playful, slightly surreal way. Being a karate champion and teacher herself, Karate Kids is a very personal book for Holly. This book is a joyful and uplifting celebration of the sport which will inspire the next generation of karate kids!

Polly Ho-Yen 11am-12pm Boy in the Tower Suitable for Upper KS2-KS3 (Ages 10-14) Book now

Polly Ho-Yen is a writer and a qualified primary teacher. Her debut novel about the invasion of Earth by scary plant-like aliens and a boy protecting his vulnerable mother, Boy in the Tower, was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award, Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Federation of Children’s Book Groups Book Award. Three of her middle-grade novels have been nominated for the Carnegie Medal.

Kate Wakeling 1.30-2.30pm Moon Juice - Live from The Story Museum Suitable for KS2 (Ages 7-11) Book now

Kate Wakeling is a poet and ethnomusicologist. She was the winner of the CLiPPA 2017 for Moon Juice, her first poetry collection for children. As writer-in-residence with Aurora Orchestra, Kate is co-creator of the Far Far Away series of children’s storytelling concerts, and her scripts and stories for the orchestra have featured across the UK and beyond. Kate loves performing poetry, particularly for family audiences. Kate works regularly in primary schools and is part of Pop Up Festival for SEND, delivering creative workshops for children with special education needs and disabilities across Kent.

Sarah Ardizzone 2-3pm Everyone’s A Translator - why reading books from around the world makes us engaged global citizens Suitable for KS3+ (Ages 12+) Book now

Sarah Ardizzone shows why accessing international literature matters more than ever, gives a whistlestop tour through some of the books she’s translated (Little Prince graphic novel; Vango; Just Like Tomorrow and Alpha), and offers an introduction to important current issues around translation and identity.

Born in Brussels and based in Brixton, Sarah Ardizzone has lived in France, Argentina and Greece, as well as travelling to the Caribbean on a cargo ship! Along the way, she’s trans- lated some forty books from French for children, young adults and grown-ups. She’s passion- ate about the right of children to access stories and imaginations from all over the world.

WEDNESDAY 16th June

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler9.30-10.30am , Stick Man, A Squash and a Squeeze, The Highway Rat Suitable for EYFS-KS1 (Ages 5-7) Book now

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are the UK’s number one picture book pair and no storytime is complete without Julia’s perfect read-aloud rhyme and Axel’s unique artwork. Julia has been awarded with a CBE for services to literature and was a much praised Children’s Laureate 2011-2013. Axel is one of the best loved illustrators in the world; he was the inaugural Illustrator of the Year at the British Book Awards in 2018 and his artwork is exhibited internationally. Stories from The Woodshed 9.30-10.15am Suitable for KS2 (Ages 7-11) Book now

Take a virtual front row seat in the The Story Museum’s, beautiful theatre space and enjoy a world of magical tales. Stories from the Woodshed is an online traditional story- telling series.

This summer we’re delighted to launch our Heroes season with Pop Up Festival Presents and will premiere 3 stories – you’ll find heroes on quests and battlefields, but also -he roes whose quiet determination and courage wins the day. Heroes come in many forms! Free learning resources for KS1 & KS2 are available to accompany each 7 minute story.

Konnie Huq 11am-12pm Cookie and the Most Annoying Girl in the World Suitable for KS2 (Ages 7-11) Book now

As the longest-serving female Blue Peter presenter, from 1997 to 2008, is no stranger to the middle-grade market. She is an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and the British Asian Trust. Cookie is inspired by Konnie’s own Bangladeshi background, her love of science and her unashamed nerdiness!

Karl Nova 11am-12pm Rhythm and Poetry, A Curious Case of Karl Nova - Live from Discover Story Centre Suitable for Upper KS2-KS3 (Ages 10-14) Book now

Karl Nova is a Hip Hop artist, author and poet. He is the winner of CLiPPA 2018 for Rhythm and Poetry, his first published collection. Born and raised in London as well as Lagos, Karl is a social commentator, creative writing workshop facilitator, broadcaster and cultural critic who creates platforms for other artists as he seeks to uplift, inform and inspire through this artistic expression.

Nicky Singer 2-3pm The Survival Game Suitable for KS3+ (Ages 12+) Book now

Nicky Singer has written a number of books for children and adults, both fiction and non-fiction. Her first children’s novel Feather Boy won the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award, was adapted for TV (winning a BAFTA for Best Children’s Drama) and commissioned by the National Theatre as a musical. Imagine a world... where there are too many people on a too-hot earth and your only chance of salvation is to journey north. The Survival Game is a futuristic story about a teenager making her way home to Scotland in a world remade by climate change, with only an empty gun, her identity papers and a mute five-year-old in tow.

THURSDAY 17th June

James Mayhew 9.30-10.15am Gaspard the Fox, The Katie Series Suitable for EYFS-KS1 (Ages 5-7) Book now

James Mayhew has been bringing art to life for children with his best-selling series of books about Katie and her adventures in art galleries for 25 years. His books are sold all over the world and are recognised as contemporary classics. James is also the illustrator of Zeb Soanes’ Gaspard the Fox series.

Andy Stanton 11am-12pm The Mr Gum series - Live from October Gallery Suitable for KS2 (Ages 7-11) Book now

Andy Stanton studied English at Oxford but they kicked him out. He has been a film script reader, a cartoonist, an NHS lackey and lots of other things. He has many interests, but best of all he likes cartoons, books and music (even jazz). His Mr Gum books have won numerous prizes including the Red House Children’s Book Award, two Blue Peter Book Awards for Best Book With Pictures, and the inaugural Funny Prize.

James Carter 11am-12pm Weird, Wild and Wonderful Suitable for KS1-Lower KS2 (Ages 6-9) Book now

James Carter is an award-winning children’s poet, non-fiction writer and musician – and the author of over 18 popular and best-selling poetry titles. James travels all over the UK and abroad with his melodica (called Steve) to give very lively, action-packed poetry/ music performances and workshops.

Christopher William Hill 2-3pm Osbert the Avenger Live from October Gallery Suitable for Upper KS2-KS3 (Ages 10-14) Book now

Christopher William Hill is a children’s author, playwright and radio dramatist. His plays for children and teenagers have been performed throughout the UK and internationally.

As a boy he was almost done in on two occasions by Anglican nuns and once turned down the offer to perform with the Romanian National Opera. He also tells lies. Osbert the Avenger is the first in Christopher’s darkly comic Tales from Schwartzgarten series.

FRIDAY 18th June

Sita Brahmachari and Jane Ray 10-11am Swallow’s Kiss - from 10 Stories to Make a Difference Live from National Maritime Museum Suitable for KS1-Lower KS2 (Ages 6-9) Book now

Writer and Amnesty Ambassador Sita Brahmachari collaborated with award-winning illustrator Jane Ray to create Swallow’s Kiss, a wonderfully uplifting story filled with light, love and birdsong as part of Pop Up’s collection of new titles inspired by the theme of difference. The story explores the common threads that connect our communities and was inspired by the authors’ experiences as artists-in-residence at the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants.

Sophie Anderson 11am-12pm The House with Chicken Legs, The Castle of Tangled Magic, The Girl Who Speaks Bear Suitable for Upper KS2-KS3 (Ages 10-14) Book now

Sophie Anderson grew up hearing folk tales from her Prussian grandmother, which inspire Sophie’s novels. She has won Bookshop Book of the Year Award and the Wales Book of the Year Award, has been shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal twice, and shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award, amongst others.

Jay Hulme and Sahar Haghgoo 11am-12pm Here Be Monsters - from 10 Stories to Make a Difference Live from National Maritime Museum Suitable for KS1-Lower KS2 (Ages 6-9) Book now Award-winning performance poet Jay Hulme’s ‘little epic poem,’ in Pop Up’s collection of new titles celebrating difference, is about a sea-born creature who never quite belongs and discovers who she really is. The story is a tender and uplifting parable about the transgender experience, with breathtaking illustrations by new talent Iranian-British illustrator Sahar Haghgoo.

Ben Miller 2-2.45pm The Day I Fell Into a Fairytale Suitable for KS2 (Ages 7-11) Book now

Ben Miller is an actor, director, and comedian, best known for writing and starring in The Armstrong and Miller Show and his role as Rowan Atkinson’s sidekick, Bough, in Johnny English Strikes Back. Bestselling The Day I Fell Into a Fairytale is Ben’s third book for children.

10 Stories to Make a Difference is a collection of original illustrated stories published by non-profit children’s literature development agency Pop Up Projects, which has been bringing books, schools and communities together for 10 years.

Explore our collection of 10 beautifully illustrated, limited edition books for young readers age 5+

pop-up.org.uk/shop Join the 10 Stories launch online The British Library @ 5pm June 24th

VENUE INFORMATION

Discover Story Centre

Based in Stratford, East London, Discover Children’s Story Centre is a place where children and their families can enjoy playing, learning and making up stories together. The UK’s first Story Centre for children aged 0-11 and their families, our aim is to support a love of language, literature and stories.

October Gallery

October Gallery has been instrumental in bringing to worldwide attention many of the world’s leading international artists, including El Anatsui, Rachid Koraïchi, Romuald Hazoumè, Nnenna Okore, Laila Shawa and Kenji Yoshida. The Gallery promotes the Transvangarde, the very best in contemporary art from around the planet, as well as maintaining a cultural hub in central London for poets, writers, intellectuals and artists, and hosts talks, performances and seminars.

Royal Museums Greenwich

Royal Museums Greenwich comprises the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark, National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House. We are also home to The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre and the Caird Library and Archive. Together we’re dedicated to enriching people’s understanding of the sea, the exploration of space, and Britain’s role in world history.

The Story Museum

The Story Museum is a most unusual museum in the heart of Oxford. Through imaginative exhibitions and an exciting programme of performances, events, workshops, clubs and skills-building courses, The Story Museum engages people of all ages in great stories.

Pop Up Projects is a non-profit national children’s literature development agency, established in 2011. We deliver Twitter: imaginative education, talent and community programmes in diverse learning environments for all ages and abilities. @PopUpFestival Our mission is to transform lives through literature, especially through working with people in deprived places and Facebook: challenging circumstances. /PopUpFestival

Pop Up Projects is a non-profit national children’s literature development agency, set up in 2011, Community Interest Company Reg. No. 7504770.