Former Poet Laureate to head children's festival
BBCA well-known children's author and poet is to headline a children's literature festival.
Michael Rosen, author of We're Going on a Bear Hunt, will head up the Children's and Young People's Literature Festival, which runs from 8 to 20 June.
From 2007 to 2009, Rosen also served as the UK's Children's Laureate, where he campaigned to encourage more children to enjoy books and storytelling.
The event features free talks and activities taking place at libraries and schools across Darwen and Blackburn in Lancashire.
'Fantastic event'
The event was founded by award-winning Blackburn author Christina Gabbitas, who said she hoped it would be a "fantastic event".
She said: "This year's line-up is outstanding, featuring the legendary poet and author Michael Rosen and Jocelyn Stephenson, a BAFTA-winning British-American writer and producer of children's shows such as Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam, Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock.
"We also want to shout about success stories from our own borough and, this year, have authors attending secondary schools across Blackburn and Darwen too."
The festival will include five successful and award-winning artists from the borough, including Christina Gabbitas, Saira Shah, Iqbal Hussain, Hafiza Issa and illustrator Reyhana Ismail.
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