We are delighted to announce that we have joined forces with Barnes Children’s Literature Festival this year and, as part of this, will be offering one lucky family the chance to win tickets for a weekend of Barnes Festival fun on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May. But that's not all, the winners will also have the opportunity to interview an author in the Green Room and then have their completed interview published on the Toppsta blog!

To enter, email [email protected] with the subject 'Barnes Festival Tickets' by midnight on 21st April. Please note that the competition is open to UK entrants only and does NOT include travel, accommodation or food expenses. 

Barnes Children’s Literature Festival is London’s largest dedicated children’s literature festival, www.barneskidslitfest.org and, like us, will celebrate its 5th birthday this year, on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May when Barnes Pond will become the capital of children's literature! 

Led by UK Laureate Lauren Child and master story tellers Judith Kerr, Michael Rosen, David Almond, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Francesca Simon, we think this year’s programme looks better than ever! 

From humble beginnings as a conversation among some friends from Barnes Primary School, these days the Festival offers more than eighty fun sessions to book into over the weekend for young book fans of all ages. Other authors and illustrators to see include David Almond, Costa winner Hilary McKay, Maz Evans, Ross Welford, Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet, Candy Gourlay, Sam Usher, Jessie Burton, Emma Carroll, Robin Stevens, Matthew Syed and many more.  Ever-popular characters, Paddington and Elmer the Elephant will delight children too with storytelling shows.

Other highlights also include the London premieres of the theatre performance of The Lost Words: Seek Find Speak, based on Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris’ book and a hilarious new interactive show from the world of Roald Dahl.

Babies from six months old are not forgotten this year either with a first ever festival appearance from West End performers Baby Broadway and a family rock concert from Nick Cope.  Barnes also provides more relaxed storytime sessions for children with special or extra needs including an event based on the bestselling 'That's Not My...' books and mask making with Rose Robbins based on her picture book about life with an autistic sibling, Me and My Sister.

Aardman Animations will return with its brilliant model making workshops and the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is back with its Matilda Musical Theatre workshops. There will also be The Greatest Showman singing sessions for musically minded youngsters and The Moomins craft workshops.

As part of a commitment to making sure every child can have the Festival experience, this year sees an expanded Education and Community Outreach Programme which provides three days of free sessions for up to 4,500 primary school children. We at Toppsta will be giving away our brilliant Reading Records to children attending these events. 

The Festival is presented in partnership with the Barnes Community Association (BCA) and the University of Roehampton. The full programme and ticket sales are here:  http://www.barneskidslitfest.org/