Hundreds of children were transported into a world of stories and imagination at the Big Malarkey Festival at the weekend.
Hull’s third annual children’s literature festival saw writers, poets, cartoonists, artists, illustrators, musicians and performers gather in East Park among brightly coloured tents and a huge big top.
The festival attracted a host of national and local names including Nick Sharatt, award-winning illustrator of Tracy Beaker and the Jacqueline Wilson books, Channel Five’s Milkshake presenter Amy Thompson, Jim Smith, author of the Barry Loser series, The Roman Mysteries author Caroline Lawrence and bestselling Young Adult author Lisa Williamson, who penned Paper Avalanche and The Art of Being Normal.
Channel 5 Milkshake presenter Amy Thompson at The Big Malarkey Festival. Pictures: Jerome Whittingham @PhotoMoments
This year’s Writer in Residence, Hull’s Phil Earle, explained how a street in Hull inspired his award-winning Story Street books and took families on a journey to unpick their writers block, helping to create some incredible stories.
Stories were celebrated and Hull theatre favourites The Herd launched their book, Slime, before they head off to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival later this summer.
The Slime book launch at The Big Malarkey Festival.
Lisa Williamson talked to families on Sunday about her writing journey and what inspired her to write her first book The Art of Being Normal, which won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for Older Fiction in 2016, and read from her new book, Paper Avalanche.
Ellen Bianchini, director of The Big Malarkey Festival, said: “It was wonderful to see East Park come to life once again with the beautiful tents and so much energy and enthusiasm for storytelling.
Games with The Herd at The Big Malarkey Festival.
“Our school’s programme was well-received and we were delighted that so many families came to the park over the weekend to enjoy the good weather in what has been a wonderful festival atmosphere. This is what the festival is all about, bringing stories to life for families to explore, share and enjoy.”
