St Austell Festival of Children’s Literature – Line Up Announced!

St Austell is gearing up for a spectacular weekend as the St Austell Festival of Children’s Literature returns for its third year on 13th and 14th June 2025. Stars from the world of children’s literature, including authors, illustrators, and poets, are set to bring the town alive with a packed line-up of events.

Big Names Heading to St Austell

The festival will feature some of the biggest names in children’s literature such as S.F Said, Laura Ellen Anderson, Dr James Greenwood, Tom McLaughlin, Alex Falase-Koya, Sue Hendra, Cath Howe, Anika Hussain, and Jim Smith, among many others.

Laura Ellen Anderson, creator of Midnight Marnie, will introduce her magical world of minibeasts, while Sue Hendra, co-creator of Supertato, will lead an interactive veggie adventure for families. Kate Pankhurst will be encouraging young inventors to unleash their creativity, and Alex Falase-Koya and illustrator Paula Bowles will deliver a superhero-themed session. Jim Smith and Steve May will even face off to decide which of their poo-themed novels comes out on top!

📷Anika Hussain

Family Fun Across St Austell

The Family Day, open to everyone, will take place across various venues in St Austell town centre on Saturday 14th June. Families can look forward to a day packed with interactive readings, workshops, storytelling sessions, author signings, and a children’s bookshop, all for just £1.00 per ticket. Tickets are available now at www.staustellfestivalofchildrensliterature.com.

Festival-goers can expect a buzzing atmosphere with creative activities and performances inspired by some of their favourite books and characters.

Schools Day on 13th June

Before the Family Day festivities begin, a Schools Day will take place on Friday 13th June. Participating schools will have the opportunity to hear from favourite authors such as Dr James Greenwood, presenter of Channel 4’s Fur Babies, A.F. Steadman, author of Skandar, and Anika Hussain, author of Heartbreaker.

The festival will kick off with a special event for local teachers, where S.F Said, author of Varjak Paw and Tyger, will inspire teachers about the importance of reading for pleasure and its impact on educational outcomes.

📷Dr James Greenwood

Quotes from the Organisers

Simon Pollard, Headteacher and Festival Director, said:

“We’re thrilled to bring another Children’s Literature Festival to St Austell town after the brilliant success of last year’s festival. We’re inviting schools, educators, children and families from across Cornwall and the South West to explore the exciting world of children’s books.

With a range of activities, stories, and workshops it’s the perfect opportunity to inspire a love of reading and enhance literacy in our local community. Reading is a powerful tool that contributes to improved educational outcomes and the personal development of young people. Our wonderful festival will help make reading for pleasure more accessible to all children and families by bringing a stellar cast of children’s literature creatives into the region.”

David Pooley, Town Clerk, added:

“I am delighted that the Town Council has agreed to support the Literacy Festival once again this year. This compliments all the good work that St Austell Library and local schools do to raise literacy levels and encourage the enjoyment of reading. We wish Simon and his Team every success with this event and hope that families will take advantage of the opportunity to meet the amazing authors that are coming to St Austell.”

Festival Aims

• Empower Children: Foster a love of reading that contributes to improved educational outcomes and personal development.
• Strengthen Families: Provide opportunities for families to discover the joy of shared reading experiences.
• Build Community: Create a network of readers, educators, and creative professionals united in the belief that reading changes lives.

Festival Details

Author events will take place at venues across St Austell, including Holy Trinity and St John’s Churches, Unit 4 studio, and various pop-up locations.

The St Austell Festival of Children’s Literature is now a designated Community Interest Company (CIC) working to benefit the local community. The team is led by Directors Simon Pollard, Heather Wright, Amy Enever, and Phil Webb, supported by volunteers.

The festival is proudly partnered with White River Place, St Austell Town Council, and Reading Rocks, with additional support from Cornwall Education Learning Trust (CELT) and local businesses.

The team is also currently running a Crowdfunder to help support the event and future festivals. Donations can be made at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/st-austell-litfest.

For more information and to book tickets, visit www.staustellfestivalofchildrensliterature.com.