STAHS BOOK FESTIVAL
CHILDREN'S
STAHSChildren’sBookFestivalbeganonSaturday15June2019,withhundredsoffamilies flockingtohearinspiringtalksfromsomeofthebiggestnamesinchildren’sliterature. Intotal,morethan800peoplevisitedSTAHSPrep’sidyllicWheathampsteadgroundstosee authorsDavidBaddiel,RobinStevens,JamesMayhewandJonathanStroudinaction.Allgave brilliantpresentationsandspenttimesigningbooksandchattingwiththechildren,whowere equallydelightedbySimonPeggandKathrynHolt’sstorytellingsessionsinouryurt. Whentheeventreturnedin2022itwasevenbetter.Thistime,morethan1,000peoplecameto listentoastellarbillofauthors,includingOnjaliRauf,ChristopherEdge,KimbaandRob Biddulph. TheReaders’Theatrecompetition,inwhichlocalschoolsdeliveredperformancesofpopular children’sbooks,kickedoffbothevents.SimonPeggandSTAHSthenHeadJennyBrown crownedStJoseph’sintheParkthewinnersin2019,whileKimbaandDeputyHeadMartyn VandewallegaveAldwickburytheirvotein2022. TheSTAHSChildren’sBookFestivalofferssomethingforeveryone,withanadventure playground,goldpanning,ziplining,writingworkshops,gardening,artandcraftactivitiesand evenanAliceinWonderlandthemedshowbeingamongthisyear’shighlights! WewerealsotreatedtosomefantasticcateringfromlocalbusinesseslikeGodfrey'sFishand Chips,LimeFace,FunkyElephantandmore.Anunforgettablefamilydayout,thoroughly enjoyedbyallofourvisitors! FESTIVAL THE
PAST
GUESTS
'ThankssomuchtoSTAHSBook Festival,Ihadthemostwonderful timereadingtothechildrenand judgingtheReaders'Theatre.'
Stroud
Catherine Hoult
Simon Pegg
'Thiswasatrulyfabulousbook festival,anamazingachievement foritsinauguralyear.Veryhappyto havebeenpartofsuchaspecial day.Whatatriumph!Astupendous premiere!Iabsolutelylovedit.'
Onjali Rauf
JonathanJamesMayhew
Kimba Robin Stevens Rob Biddulph DavidBaddiel 'AsuperlovelyafternoonattheSTAHS Children’sBookFestival–itwas wonderfultomeetsomanyenthusiastic DetectiveSocietymembers,oldand new.ThankyousomuchtoSTAHSPrep forlookingaftermesowell.' Jonathan Stroud 'Enjoyeditverymuch. ThanksSTAHSBookFest.' 'Whatasuperbdayat awonderfulfestival!'
REVIEWS 'BookFestwasawonderfulfamily dayoutinstunningsurroundings. Listeningtotalksfromauthors whosebookswe'vealllovedwas suchatreat.' 'Weallabsolutelylovedthe STAHSBookFestival.Brilliant andengagingtalks,afantastic rangeofactivitiesandyummy food.Agreatdayout!' VISITOR 'Afantasticdaywhichwas trulyinspiringforyoung writersofthefuture.Well donetoallinvolved!' 'Whatasuperb celebrationofgreat literatureingreat company. ' 'Thankyouforputtingtogetherthis excellentopportunityforourchildren.We allhadatremendoustime.Iamlooking forwardtoenjoyingtheexperienceagain nextyear.'
childrenrepresentinglocal schoolsintheReaders' Theatrecompetition 50+ 700 childreninStAlbans andLutonvisitedby poetJohnHegleyonthe BookFestSchoolTour 2,000+ ticketssoldforthe festival 2,500+ NUMBERS! 100+ photostakenwiththe Gruffalo 1,000+ 1,500+ booksboughtbyyoung readersvisitingthe festival THE ordersoffoodfromaround theworldtakenfromour CateringCourt autographssignedin thebooksigningtent
@STAHSBookFest festival@stahs.org.uk 01582839270