Wonder Festival

Exciting children’s book events come to Bath for Wonder 2020

5 March 2020

If your kids are keen bookworms, read on. A series of brilliant children’s book events are coming to Bath this year as part of Wonder 2020. 

This new non-profit venture launched in January 2020, with the aim of providing inspiring, entertaining literary events for children in Bath and Bristol. Throughout the year, Wonder will be bringing together some of the biggest and best children’s authors and illustrators in the world. Events will also celebrate emerging talent, and provide residents and visitors to Bath and Bristol with engaging, magical, story-led workshops and clubs. 

It’ll all culminate in the first ever Wonder Festival from 10-18th October, across some of Bath’s best modern and classic venues. These will include the city’s best-loved bookshops, such as Topping & Co, Mr B.’s Emporium of Reading Delights and Waterstones. 

Describing what’s happening in Bath this year, Wonder organiser and kids lit expert John McLay told Kids of Bath:

“Wonder is our chance to do something different for the young book-lovers of Bath. We’ll be staging amazing events, throughout the year, and not only each Autumn during our big Wonder festival. 

There’ll be talks, signings, workshops, clubs, screenings – all with exciting big names from the world of children’s books and loads of new names too. We want to champion new talent, local authors and interesting venues.”

There’ll be events of all sizes taking place for members of the public, as well as local schools. 

Here’s your at-a-glance guide to the next few Wonder events coming up in Bath in 2020, so you can start planning your trip to the city!

Ben Miller – Talk and Book Signing 

Wednesday 25th March, Waterstones Bath, Milsom Street 

The actor, comedian and now best-selling author Ben Miller has a new novel – The Boy Who Made the World Disappear. It follows on the success of his smash hit festive novel, The Night I Met Father Christmas

To launch the new novel, which comes complete with beautiful illustrations by rising star Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini, Ben Miller will be settling down at Waterstones Bath on 25th March. For £6 a ticket, you’ll enjoy a talk from the author and the chance to get your copy signed.  

Lucy Worsley – Talk and Book Signing 

Saturday 28th March, Bath Assembly Rooms

The enormously popular TV historian Lucy Worsley is bringing her new book, The Austen Girls, to Bath. And it’s the perfect setting, as the book focuses on the life of the city’s most famous former resident, Jane Austen. Grab the kids and go along for a fascinating talk and the chance to get your copy of The Austen Girls signed by the author. 

Lou Abercrombie – Book Launch

Thursday 26th March, Waterstones Bath, Milsom Street. 

Be one of the first to get your mitts on the exciting debut novel from emerging talent Lou Abercrombie. Aimed at readers aged 10+, Fig Swims the World follows Fig Fitzsherbert on an epic adventure – swimming round the world, when she doesn’t know how to swim. 

This exclusive book launch will be held at Waterstones Bath on Milsom Street. It’s just up the road from our charming Milsom Street Apartment, and around the corner from Queen’s View

Get your timing right and you’ll be in the perfect spot for this brilliant Wonder event in Bath, as well as the Ben Miller book signing. You could even go to all three!