Following a two-year break due to the Covid pandemic, primary school children across the Island will once again be invited to meet top children’s authors at special literary events as part of this year’s Jersey Festival of Words.
Among this year’s featured children’s writers are Anna James, who will be presenting an event based on the fourth book of her successful Pages & Co series, The Book Smugglers, author of the internationally acclaimed Mr Gum series Andy Stanton and comedy duo Sean Thorne and Luke Franks, who will be appearing to discuss their new novel Luke McFlair and the Ultimate Brain Hack. Journalist Rich Knight will be discussing his new book If I Ran the Country, an accessible illustrated introduction to politics in which students are encouraged to make the decisions.
Given the continued closure of the Opera House, this year’s primary school events will take place in the Festival Marquee, which will be erected in Howard Davis Park for the duration of the festival, which takes place between Sept 21 and 25. Tickets to these events are free for class teachers to book via Eventbrite, with the relevant links and details to be provided to schools.
Performance poetry maestro Farrago Poetry returns to the Island to run a workshop with Years 7-9 at Haute Valle School, while students at Le Rocquier will be treated to a poetry workshop with acclaimed poet Raymond Antrobus. Writer Dean Atta, named by the Independent as one of the most influential LGBT people in the UK, will be discussing his new novel Only at the Weekends at Hautlieu.
‘Our schools events have always been an integral part of the Festival of Words,’ says teacher and festival Vice-chair Paul Bisson. ‘Bringing young readers into direct contact with their favourite writers is a great way to encourage literacy, self-expression and the simply joy of reading. We’re delighted to be welcoming such a great roster of authors and poets to Jersey this year.’
