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A whole host of top authors are coming to the Island to inspire youngsters to come up with their own page-turners.
The big names including Holly Smale – the best selling author of the Geek Girl series will be here this autumn for Jersey’s first big week-long literary festival – the first chapter in what’s hoped to be an annual event.
The Connections: Jersey Festival of Words kicks off at the end of September and the organisers are really keen to get children involved both in and out of school.
They are planning a number of in-school workshops and have just announced they are putting on a number of shows at the Opera House so that students will get to meet and pick up tips from several renowned children’s authors and take part in a multi-school poetry slam.
Other big names heading the new festival include the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, Steve Butler – author of The Diary of Dennis the Menace and new writer Jess Bright who is about to release her novel Sister Sister.
Jersey’s Teacher and Learning Advisor for Literacy Caroline Whitehead said: “The Education Department are delighted that the Jersey Literary Festival Association has chosen to put education at the heart of the Jersey Festival of Words project.
“The visiting authors will present a fabulous opportunity for children to discuss the ‘author’s craft’ and to be inspired in both their reading and writing.”
Budding young comedians could have the last laugh after picking up some tips from local writer Simon MacDonald who’s also putting on a children’s comedy show on Saturday 3 Wednesday.
Young artists can also get involved in the fun up to the big festival with several competitions planned including one organised by the Harbour Gallery to design a front cover.
There will also be story-telling sessions at the Jersey Library, a children’s second hand book sale and the mobile library bus will be on the road visiting schools throughout the festival which runs until 4 October.
Festival chairman Jennifer Bridge said: “We’re thrilled to have pulled together such an exciting schools programme. The benefits for Jersey’s young people will extend far beyond literacy.
“Emerging research shows the power of stories in helping young people practice handling their own feelings and develop their understanding of how others think and feel too – key life skills.”
The festival runs from 30 September to 4 October.
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