Books / Children's Books
Children’s book festival goes online for 2020
Bristol’s children’s book festival will return for its second year, albeit in digital form.
Storytale Festival, which launched in 2019, celebrates all literature for young people, from picture books for infants to young adult novels for teenagers.
The 2020 festival, run by Ellie Freeman and middle grade author Kate Frost, will take place from Saturday, October 24 to Wednesday, October 28.
is needed now More than ever
More than a dozen events will be hosted on YouTube and Facebook, with a host of Bristol authors, including Katharine Orton, who penned middle grade novels Nevertell and Glasshouse and Kate Mallinder, whose Summer of No Regrets was shortlisted for the Bristol Teen Book Award 2019.
Also billed to host events are illustrator and author Nicola Colton, debut author Anna Houghton, writer of The Mask of Aribella and poet Malaika Kegode.
Each event is free to attend, with topics ranging from craft sessions to storytelling, spooky writing classes to creating fictional worlds.

The Storytale Festival team are hosting 2020’s programme online. Photo: Storytale Festival
“Travel to inspirational places with wonderful authors, illustrators and storytellers, from the comfort of your own home,” says Ellie.
“It may be online but it’s still interactive with event hosts inspiring children of all ages with storytelling and craft activities for tots, and creative writing challenges and inspiring discussions for older children and teens.”
Main photo: Ellie Freeman
Read more: New children’s literature festival announced