reading

Exciting new library reading programme for under 4s aims to boost children’s love of books

An exciting new early years reading programme with stickers to collect has been launched in libraries across Devon and Torbay, aiming to inspire a lifelong love of reading.

Libro’s Friends is an extension of Libraries Unlimited’s hugely successful The Secret Book Quest, which was launched in 2021.

Both programmes have been created as part of Libraries Unlimited’s drive to...

Warm accessible Tolkien suite at The Miggi vegan guesthouse

That’s novel: book-themed, vegan guesthouse opens in Torbay

Torbay’s first ever completely vegan guesthouse will open for business this year and is already taking bookings.

Opening from 1st May, The Miggi has guest suites themed on books and named after their authors.

The Mary Shelley room is a romantic, dramatic, gothic suite with red velvet covered armchairs. The Frankenstein author stayed in Torbay for a Summer, writing a children’s...

Redrow and The Bookery team up to support children’s reading in Okehampton

After teaming up last year with The Bookery, Redrow is donating a further £500 towards its schools outreach work to support and encourage reading.

The Bookery (formerly Crediton Community Bookshop) is a not-for-profit community-owned independent bookshop & creative hub. They have been serving schools in Crediton and across Devon, with author tours and book activities for the last 8...

Storytelling events hosted at local schools with Drake Circus to inspire children to read

More than 200 school children across three schools in Plymouth have taken part in storytelling sessions organised by Drake Circus aimed at helping them fall in love with reading.

The events involved children hearing stories from a professional storyteller, John Hughes, and were part of the Young Readers Programme, an award-winning initiative sponsored by Drake Circus’ owner British...

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall will appear in October

Back for 2021 - a new chapter for ExeLitFest

Momentum is building for a three-day literary event in Exeter later this year after a hiatus because of the pandemic. Last year’s Exeter Literary Festival sadly had to be shelved, but now ExeLitFest (as it’s known for short) is delighted to unveil this year’s programme and open the Box Office.

If you love reading or writing, it’s time to bookmark these dates in your diary - 5th to 7th...

The animal says...

Debra draws on her experience during lockdown to create new children's book.

Written and illustrated by Debra Wellington of Exmouth, The animal says… certainly would not have happened had it not been for lockdown. This gave Debra a chance to focus on her own art and ideas, something she’d not been able to do for years.

The animal says... brings ten animals to life with fun facts and colourful engaging illustrations for babies and young readers. Debra says: "...

Drake Circus launches summer holiday reading campaign to support children's wellbeing

Drake Circus has partnered with the National Literacy Trust to launch a new summer holiday reading campaign, as new research reveals that almost half of children (46%) in the South West claim that reading makes them feel better.

The ‘Read More, Feel Better’ campaign is designed to help children across the community to continue reading for fun over the summer holidays, with a selection...

Silly Squad Summer Reading Challenge

Libraries across Devon and Torbay are calling for children to sign up to the Silly Squad Summer Challenge and read six books this summer as part of the 2020 Summer Reading Challenge.

The Summer Reading Challenge will run from Saturday 4th July to Saturday 5th September. The online launch event will be on Saturday 4th July, a specially commissioned event featuring Rob Pudner of...

Dr Lucy Durneen Book Launch and Short Story Reading - Wild Gestures

Lucy Durneen's work has appeared in World Literature Today, Hotel Amerika, and Litro and performed on BBC Radio 4. Wild Gestures is her first short story collection, bringing together stories of loss, desire and opportunities missed, all orbiting the painful knowledge that the things we most long for remain the furthest from reach.

£6/£4.20/Friends free. Discounts available via the Artory App and free to Plymouth University students via SPiA

Jamie Edgecombe and Rachel Gippetti - Fiction and Poetry Reading

Plymouth-born Jamie Edgecome, a fiction author mainly focusing on the Far East (predominately Japan), was the recipient of the inaugural Manchester Metropolitan University Novella Award in 2014 for The Art of Kozu. Spanning epic porpotions as it moves between countries, continents and time periods, The Art of Kozu is a meticulously detailed and well-researched story.

Rachel Gippetti recently published her debut poetry collection Birthright (Eyewear Publishing) and her work has previously appeared in Shearsman Magazine, The Stinging Fly, Thief and the Apple Valley Review.

£6...

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