21- Nov 10 Tales for the Telling: A Journey through the World of Folktale Newcastle Arts Centre.

Presented by The Centre for the Children’s Book, this exhibition explores traditional storytelling and the folktale as it travels and changes with place, time and setting. Tours for school groups, and a schools’ programme of workshops, storytelling and talks. Evening and weekend events for adults and families. Prices vary. Tel 0191 230 1101 from September 18; email:info@ccbook.freeserve.co.uk 27 Winner of the Sainsbury’s Baby Book Award 2000 announced (see Bookstart conference, October 27).

* OCTOBER

2-8 National Children’s Book Week This year’s theme is Books are Forever. Young Book Trust is publishing resources at cost price to help schools and libraries plan book events. Packs for primary, middle and upper secondary teachers at pound;16.50 each. For publications list send sae to NCBW, Book Trust, 45 East Hill, London, SW18 2QZ. Contact: Kim Foskett on 020 8516 2984 or email: Kim@booktrust.org.uk 2-7 Wordplay: The Swansea Children’s Book Festival Based at Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea, with a community outreach programme. Evening sessions for teachers and parents include a focus on boys’ reading (October 3) and talks by poet Jenny Joseph and Holes author Louis Sachar (October 5). As always, most children’s events are 50p. School bookings welcome for daytime events. Box office: 01792 463980.

9-13 National Schools Film Week Free previews and showings of classics for school pupils throughout the UK, programmed to complement film studies. Literature-linked titles include The Borrowers, Kes, Shakespeare in Love and Wilde. Free teachers’ resources available. For further details and bookings, visit www.filmeducation.org 13-22 Cheltenham Festival of Literature Schools programme includes thriller-writing and poetry performance workshops, computer projects, the creation and performance of short plays based on Jane Eyre, and the Junior Poetry Slam. Separate children’s festival, Book it! (October 14-15 and 21-22), is packed with readings and activities mostly for children aged up to 12. Cyberfest (same weekends) allows children and adults to explore website building and writing on the net. School Days events (for pupils up to 14) feature Michelle agorian, Diana Wynne-Jones, and John Foster with Korky Paul. For a free education pack or to book a school visit, phone Ruth Yockney on 01242 775891 or email ruthy@cheltenham.gov.uk. Festival brochure hotline: 01242 227979 27 National Bookstart conference Manchester University Preliminary findings to be presented from research by the National Centre for Research in Children’s Literature on the impact of Bookstart. Speakers include Neil McClelland, director of the National Literacy Trust, and Professor Kim Reynolds of the NCRCL. Contact Elizabeth Bananuka, Young Book Trust, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ. Tel: 020 8516 2995; fax: 020 8516 2966; email: Elizabeth@booktrust.org.uk * NOVEMBER

6-18 Northern Children’s Book Festival Twelve library authorities in the North-East host two weeks of author and r visits to schools and libraries, followed by a Gala Day for families in County Hall, Durham on November 18. For an information pack, contact Helen Thompson on 01325 349616. Gala Day bookings (by post only) will open on October 16. Write to: Durham Learning Resources, County Hall, Durham DH1 5TY.

11 The Big Issues Roehampton Institute, south-west London. Conference on representations of socially marginalised groups and individuals in children’s literature, past and present. Speakers include Beverley Naidoo and Anthony Browne. Organised jointly by Roehampton’s children’s literature MA programme and the International Board on Books for Young People. Places are limited. For more details fax 020 8392 3031 or email: ibby@roehampton.ac.uk 23-25 Franco-British Youth Festival Institut Francais, 17 Queensberry Place, London SW7. Free schools programme, readings and signings with an emphasis on the secondary age group, with French and British authors and rs including Quentin Blake, Philip Pullman, David Almond and Veronique Tadjo. Contact Geraldine D’Amico, tel: 0207 838 20 62 or email: Geraldine.D-Amico@diplomatie.gouv.fr * 2001

Tell Me a Picture: An exhibition selected by Quentin Blake, 14 February-17 June 2001 in the Sunley Room, National Gallery. The Children’s Laureate’s choices will encourage younger visitors to engage with a wide range of images and to wonder what the stories might be. School visits can be booked. For information: 020 7747 2424.