Brighton’s Big Summer Read

Churchill Square’s Big Summer Read 2014

This August, Churchill Square Shopping Centre in Brighton is on a mission to get Brighton reading! They will be launching The Big Summer Read – over two weeks of summer holiday fun devoted to all things related to books. The Big Read starts on Friday August 8^th and runs until the August 24^th.

With visits from children’s authors, story telling sessions, reading workshops, early years specialists on hand with help and advice on getting started, story telling treasure hunts, games, story-writing events, a whole host of lovable characters for you to meet, a book exchange and library corner, The Big Summer Read is designed to inspire people of all ages to get reading.

Cbeebies Star Sid Sloane and best-selling authors announced for free two-week book bonanza

Churchill Square is pleased to announce an impressive list of authors confirmed for their Big Summer Read 2014, beginning on Friday 8^th August. The authors will be taking part in a whole host of readings, book singings and special events. All events are free and drop-in.

Kicking things off will be Cbeebies star, Sid Sloane, who will visit Churchill Square to read – on film – three of his favourite books, including of The Gruffalo and Room on a Broom. The film will be screened throughout the two-week event.

The line up of authors taking part will include Brighton’s very own literary star Emily Gravett; award winning writer and illustrator, twice winner of the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal for best-illustrated book (Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears);Chris Bradford – the man behind the award-winning Young Samurai series. Chris has written 15 fiction books to date, been published in more than 20 languages and nominated for over 29 book awards; award -winning mother and daughter duo of AJ Foxx, responsible for creating the Mr Hendrix series of books. They will be joined on the day by Mr Hendrix the Pomeranian puppy –the real-life inspiration for the stories ;Joanna Simmons – author of the Pip Street series of books – will also be doing a reading; writer, Abie Longstaff, will be talking about her best-selling series of books: The Fairytale Hairdresser; Eastbourne author Jenny McLachlan – whose debut novel ‘Flirty Dancing’  is set in Brighton -will be doing a fun event for teens and Brighton based best-selling illustrator Sue Hendra will be using her new book Spider Sandwiches as inspiration for a whole host of craft activities.

• Don’t forget to nominate your FAVOURITE BOOK OF ALL TIME for a chance to win a Kobo Mini E-Reader via Churchill Square & Child Friendly Brighton! We are running this prize giveaway to coincide with Churchill Square’s Big Summer Read, and you have until 24th August to enter – full details here: https://www.childfriendlybrighton.co.uk/brightons-big-summer-read-competition-time

Throughout the 2-week book bonanza, Churchill Square’s promo court will be transformed into a cornucopia of books! Expect: –

*      Story Telling and Reading Corner  complete with beanbags and book shaped coffee tables.

*       Library and Book Exchange  bring in your old books and swap them for some you haven’t read yet. For all ages.

*       Pre-School ABC Area complete with ABC foam floor, bright and giant bold A B C shapes. Come along and meet ‘Letty Loves’  our early years reading expert. Letty will encourage toddlers and their parents to play together whilst learning the basics of ABC

*       A giant inflatable 20 foot bookworm

*       A Craft and Making It Zone: a craft area focused on stories, characters, words and letters. Come along and make bookmarks, badges and decorate letters.

The full two-week schedule is as follows:

Tues 12^th August

Time: 2.30pm

AJ Foxx: Mr Hendricks and the House that Talked

Winner of The People’s Book Prize for children’s fiction; the mother and daughter team of AJ Foxx will be at Churchill Square to read and sign copies of Mr Hendrix and the House that Talked. Mr Hendrix – the Pomeranian puppy upon which the books are based – will also join the authors (Jennifer and Anji) on the day for a special appearance. Visitors will also get the opportunity to take part in an arts and crafts session with the authors.

Wed 13^th August

Emily Gravett: Little Mouses’s Big Book of Beasts

Time: 2.30pm

Critically acclaimed author and illustrator, Emily Gravett, will be talking about her award-winning children’s books, as well as holding a drop-in craft session at The Big Summer Read. On the day, Brighton-born Gravett will encourage visitors to construct their own beast hats. This year Emily was chosen as one of the World Book Day authors, with her activity book, Little Book Day Parade.

Sat 16^th August

Chris Bradford: Young Samurai series

Time: 2.30pm

Chris Bradford – author, professional musician and black-belt martial artist – is best known for hisYoung Samurai series of books. At Churchill Square’s Big Summer Read, Chris will be dishing out self-defence tips to visitors (as part of his talk about the Bodyguard series).

Mon 18^th August

Joanna Simmons: The Pip Street series

Time: 2.30pm

Brighton-based Joanna Simmons has written four books in the Pip Street series and is currently working on her fifth. She will be dropping in to The Big Summer Read to read and talk about her books, while also entertaining visitors with an interactive session and quizzes.

Tuesday 19^th August

Jenny McLachlan: Flirty Dancing

Time: 2.30pm

This laugh-out-loud series for readers aged 12+ is about a group of four (ex-) best friends (Bea, Betty, Kat and Pearl) known as the Ladybirds. Set in Brighton, when national dance competition, Starwars, comes to Bea’s school looking for talent, Bea is desperate to sign up but her friends have the same idea…Think Geek Girl meets Dirty Dancing (with a bit of Louise Rennison’s Tights). Flirty Dancing is sure to appeal to fans of Strictly Come Dancing, Britain’s Got Talent andThe X-Factor.

Wed 20^th August

Abie Longstaff: The Fairytale Hairdresser series

Time: 2.30pm

Author of the best-selling children’s series The Fairytale Hairdresser – Abie Longstaff – will take you into a modern fairy tale world where the Big Bad Wolf runs the opticians and Red Ridinghood has a skateboard shop. Abi will also be bringing along dolls so Big Read visitors can practise their fairytale hairdressing skills.

Thursday 21^st August

Illustrator Sue Hendra: Spider Sandwiches (written by Claire Freedman)

Time: 2.30pm

Spider Sandwiches is the first offering from the partnership of Claire Freedman and Brighton based illustrator Sue Hendra. Kids will laugh out loud at Max’s monstrous mealtimes and terrible tastes in this silly, funny, gloopy, gunky picture book. Sue Hendra’s best-selling picture book series Wanda and the Alien will appear as an animated series on Milkshake in 2013/14. Sue has also illustrated Barry the Fish with Fingers and Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell..

Tina Dallorzo, Centre Director for Churchill Square said, “Churchill Square’s Big Summer Read aims to celebrate all things related to books. Whether you are 6 or 60, there is something for all ages – with a whole host of great events planned to inspire the people of Brighton and beyond to get reading.”

Churchill Square’s Big Summer Read takes place at Churchill Square from August 8 – 24^, 2014.

For further information go to www.churchillsquare.com