With performances organised across the country, schools can bring student groups to experience something that they may never have before. The Children’s Bookshow have very kindly put together some details for us about who they are, what they do and how to find out more about their Autumn Showcase…
Do you remember when you first saw a writer perform a poem, or read live from one of their stories? The Children’s Bookshow is a charity that inspires children with a love of reading through theatre events and in-school workshops with world-class authors and illustrators. The artists selected are chosen from a wide variety of countries and cultures to give young people access to the very best stories, poems and illustrations from all over the world.
At a time when reading enjoyment is in steep decline, The Children’s Bookshow helps teachers to provide their students with a rich and exciting experience of literature – designed to spark the joy of reading.
Inspiring author stories, exhilarating poetry performances, epic fantasy, compelling history and the very best picture books: the charity’s annual autumn programme delivers a range of literary experiences designed to encourage creativity in primary school children of all ages.
The events offer more than just entertainment, they also provide meaningful cultural experiences that many children might never otherwise encounter. For many pupils, attending a Children’s Bookshow event represents their first time inside a theatre, creating treasured memories that expand their cultural horizons. The charity has a commitment to reaching schools with above-average levels of pupil premium funding, ensuring that children from all backgrounds have access to these transformative experiences, and every child who attends a Children’s Bookshow performance leaves with their own copy of the author’s book.
This approach recognises a fundamental truth: book ownership matters. When children have their own copy of a book to treasure, share, and return to repeatedly, the reading experience becomes personal and lasting. It transforms a single event into an ongoing relationship with literature.
94% of teachers who attended a Children’s Bookshow event in 2024 reported that children were very pleased to receive their free book, and the excitement and enthusiasm generated by the books helps to sustain the enthusiasm for reading created during the theatre events.
“We had a 40 minute bus journey home and the children read the poems out loud to one another all the way!” – Teacher Feedback, 2024
Each year, The Children’s Bookshow also allocates sixty free in-school workshops to schools who attend the
related theatre performances.
These lively workshops offer an invaluable opportunity for the children to develop their own creative skills by working with an author, illustrator or poet in their own classroom and help to extend the impact of the theatre performances.
In the workshop environment, children are given a safe, inspiring space, where everyone can gain confidence in their creative abilities, without worrying about getting things right or wrong, and they also get the chance to see and work with a real-life author or illustrator up close!
“Catherine Johnson was very inspiring and inclusive, giving children from different backgrounds the sense that they have a voice and can tell stories that are important to them.” – Teacher Feedback, 2024
This year’s autumn programme includes 12 tour locations, reaching primary schools in cities across England including, Hull, London, Ipswich, Bristol and Portsmouth. Highlights include performances by children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce and multi-million copy bestselling author Katherine Rundell, as well as a morning of stories and illustration with award-winning picture book creator Catherine Rayner in Newcastle, and Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson – author and illustrator of the acclaimed Last Stop on Market Street – coming all the way to Wolverhampton from the West Coast of America.
Real magic happens when children see authors as real people with real stories to tell, when they hold their own books in their hands, and when they discover that art, literature and creativity is for them – and it can be fun!
Find out more about The Children’s Bookshow and book to attend an event: https://thechildrensbookshow.com/
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Many thanks to The Children’s Bookshow for sharing these details – perhaps there’s an opportunity here for the students at your school. If you would like to know more about events, projects, competitions and challenges for students between 4 – 18 years please keep an eye out – we are curating a list to share shortly!
