Author and illustrator Nick Sharratt is returning to North Lincolnshire on Saturday 13 July to launch the second Power of Words Festival, celebrating literacy in North Lincolnshire.
The Power of Words Festival aims to celebrate the importance of books, words and reading, and further events will be taking place across North Lincolnshire between 13 and 21 July.
The festival’s launch event, held at Baysgarth Leisure Centre in Barton upon Humber from 10am to 4pm on 13 July, will feature ‘draw-alongs’ with Nick Sharratt, an inflatable planetarium, science experiments, craft activities and much more.
Draw-along sessions with Nick Sharratt cost £2 per person and places should be booked in advance at www.northlincs.gov.uk/POW. All other activities at the launch event are free of charge.
On Sunday 14 July, Heartbreak Productions will bring the David Walliams’ book ‘Gangster Granny’ to life with an outdoor theatre performance in Baysgarth Park in Barton from 3pm. Tickets for the performance cost just £2 each and are available online at www.northlincs.gov.uk/POW.
During the festival, each Street Sport session taking place across North Lincolnshire will offer young people the chance to try out the greatest literary sport, Quidditch. Harry Potter fans around the world have brought the magical sport to life – with a few minor amendments to allow Muggles to play the game – and now local young people can have a go themselves.
Street Sport sessions are suitable for children aged eight to 18 and are free to attend. Find out more at www.northlincs.gov.uk/streetsport.
Other Power of Words events will be held at Normanby Hall Country Park, 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, the Rabbit Hole bookshop in Brigg, North Lincolnshire Museum, Scunthorpe Central and branch libraries across North Lincolnshire.
Several authors, poets, performers and artists will be visiting North Lincolnshire schools and community venues during the festival week too, including Onjali Q Rauf, winner of the 2019 Blue Peters children’s best book award for her story ‘The Boy At The Back of Class’.
Cllr David Rose, cabinet member for children, families and culture on North Lincolnshire Council, said:
“As a council we have worked for many years to promote literacy throughout our communities, giving children the best start in life and promoting a life-long love of books and reading.
“North Lincolnshire’s Imagination Library scheme – which gifts free books to children under five each month – has built an international reputation as the most successful scheme of its kind in the world. And our Words Count team holds countless events and activities to showcase the advantages that reading can have throughout your life.
“National Literacy Trust research has found that writer visits to schools boost children and young people’s reading skills, and improve their enjoyment of reading and writing. It’s great we are able to provide this opportunity for our local pupils.
“The Power of Words Festival celebrates the success of our drive for literacy and continues that work, which we’re all so passionate about.”
Full details of all the events taking place as part of the Power of Words Festival can be found online at www.northlincs.gov.uk/POW.
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