We Love Wychwood!

It's nearly Wychwood Festival time again!
We love this fantastic local family-friendly festival which takes place this year from Friday 31st May to Sunday 2nd June at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Waterstones Cheltenham have put together a super programme of children's book events, so we thought it was a good opportunity to find out more about the authors and illustrators appearing there!

                                  
  
The line-up includes Philip Ardagh, Ian Whybrow, Petr Horacek, Wendy Meddour, John Dougherty, Jenny Smith, Christopher Edge, Julie Fulton, Jo Empson, Karen Langtree, Giles Paley-Phillips, Lynne Armstrong Hobbs as well as lots of other fun including games with Rory's Storycubes, face-painting and jokes & drawing with Gemma Hastilow!

                                 
                              
             

On Saturday we welcome author Jenny Smith with her brand new series, 
The Abominators!
                                                     
Mucker, Boogster, Cheesy and Bob, also known as The Abominators, are the most mischievous characters you will ever have come across. Their interests include chaos, mayhem and filling the school toilets with strawberry jelly. Their interests definitely DO NOT include making friends with panty-wanty-woo-wearing new boy, Cecil Trumpington-Potts...

                                     
Jenny, how would you sum up Wychwood in three words? "Wacky, Wonderful and Worthy of Visiting. (Ok, that's five words, what did you expect...someone who can write AND count???)"
What are you looking forward to at Wychwood? "(I'm) most looking forward to a tent of 7-10 year olds (especially boys) having fun with The Abominators, pranks galore and strawberry jelly! Oh yes, and maybe having one of those falafel wrap things..."
We'll leave the last word with some of the young readers who have been adoring this new series. 
The Abominators is...
'...one of the funniest books I have ever read' - Mollie
'... a must read...This is a fabulous read for both boys and girls and (I) would give it 10/10!' Mary
'...absolutely hilarious...I would definitely recommend it to my friends' Alex
        

Tony de Saulles joins us again at Wychwood, after a cracking appearance last year where he got EVERYONE drawing and doodling!

                                                 
The illustrator of the award winning Horrible Science books will be running a Horribly Creative Horrible Science Cartoon Drawing Workshop - not to be missed!

"I really enjoyed my visit to Wychwood last year. I loved the music, beer and friendly atmosphere but I'd have to say, of course, that my Horrible Science drawing workshop was my own personal highlight. With the backdrop of music from the bands playing all around, the book tent was really buzzing - it created a totally different atmosphere from my usual drawing sessions in schools and libraries. I hope even more families drop in this year to enjoy the relaxed, slightly chaotic but fun drawing workshop I'll be holding on the Wychwood Sunday."


Author, poet and musician John Dougherty is looking forward to returning to Wychwood.
                                             
 He's the author of many books, including the popular Jack Slater Monster Investigator and Zeus on the Loose series. His books are full of fun and adventure - perfect for encouraging young readers to pick up a book and really enjoy getting stuck into reading!

                                               

We asked John for his favourite Wychwood moment:
"It's difficult to pick out a favourite Wychwood moment. In my head, they've all merged together into one long lazy weekend lying in the sun and soaking up the sounds.

That's not a strictly accurate memory, of course. I know there's been rain. Actually, now I think about it, last year we put our tent up in a howling gale, and I was rather worried there'd be a gust at the wrong moment and my wife and children, still clinging on to the billowing canvas, would be carried high into the air and off over the hills. But mostly, for me, Wychwood means warmth and music.

"I suppose if I had to pick out a favourite memory, it would be of Wychwood 2006. I wasn't performing that year; my wife was away for a rare weekend break with her best friend, and I came to the festival with my children, then aged 5 and 3. It was their very first festival, and very first camping experience, and they loved it. We all did. We hung out together in the sunshine, watching my choice of acts until the kids got restless and we drifted on to another stage, and it all felt beautifully relaxed. And in the evening, when they were ready for bed, we wandered back across the site, hand in hand, snuggled down together in our little tent, and fell asleep, the sounds of mainstage our distant lullaby."


Sounds like fun, doesn't it?!

We hope you've enjoyed hearing from some of the authors appearing at this year's festival. Why not come along and meet them in person! Tickets are now on sale from the Wychwood website.  
Just click on Rabbityness below to visit the Wychwood website.