Manchester Children’s Book Festival · 28th June – 8th July 2012

Festival Exhibitions

IWM North

Once Upon a Wartime

11th February-2nd September 2012

Moving tales of loyalty, separation, excitement, survival and identity are brought to life in this major exhibition for children and adults alike. Explore some of the best loved children’s novels about war and the true events that inspired them.

On display for the first time, see the jacket worn by Albert and pages of film script straight from the set of Steven Spielberg’s War Horse film alongside personal items lent by author Michael Morpurgo. Pull up a chair in Hepzibah’s kitchen where the scene is set straight out of Carrie’s War and crawl into the gang’s secret fortress from The Machine Gunners. Follow the children’s voyage across Europe in The Silver Sword and immerse yourself in the imposing tower blocks of London’s gangland in Little Soldier. Get creative with free reading and storytelling activities for families on offer every weekend and school holidays.

The Quays, Trafford Wharf Road, Trafford Park, Manchester M17 1TZ

Call: 0161 836 4000

For further details, see: www.iwm.org.uk

The Portico Library

Charles Dickens 1812-1870 An exhibition celebrating the bicentenary of Dickens’ birth

Friday 8th June-Friday 27th July 2012

Celebrating the bicentenary of Dickens’ birth, the Portico Library presents an exhibition of books, letters, portraits, film and objects focused on the theme of ‘Children and Childhood in Dickens’, with an associated programme of talks, poetry competitions and book launches. During the Manchester Children’s Book Festival (28th June-8th July), Lynne Allan will lead workshops looking at extracts from Dickens’ texts, transforming them into poetry.

The Portico Library, 57 Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3HY

Call: 0161 236 6785

For further details, including booking, see: www.theportico.org.uk

MMU Special Collections

‘Old Friends and New Faces’: Illustrated Characters from Children’s Literature

Monday 18th June-Friday 24th August 2012

An exhibition of children’s books from the Children’s Book Collection at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Special Collections will be on display in the Gallery on the third floor of the MMU Library at the All Saints campus. During the main week of the Manchester Children’s Book Festival (2nd-6th July 2012), there will be a programme of schools workshops tailored around the exhibition, and MMU MA Creative Writing students will be producing original writing inspired by the books on show.

Manchester Metropolitan University, Sir Kenneth Green Library, All Saints, Off Oxford Road, Manchester M15 5BH

Call: 0161 247 6107

For further details see: www.specialcollections.mmu.ac.uk

Mr Ordinary’s Prize

The Story of the Story - exhibition of illustrations

Saturday 23rd June-Sunday 15th July 2012

Someone has stolen Mr Ordinary’s Thinking and Doing! What will he do without them? Join in the adventure as Mr Ordinary and his friends try to get them back. Find out the story of our project to transform Mr Ordinary’s Prize from an interactive performance to a beautiful children’s book.

Supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Peoples History Museum

Call: 0161 247 6107

For further details see: www.phm.org.uk

MMU Holden Gallery

‘Out of Schools’ 2012

Friday 29th June-Friday 9th July 2012

‘Out of Schools’ is an exhibition of pupils’ work from schools across the region that showcases the exceptional achievements in art and design from early years to college students. The exhibition will be opened by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy as part of the 2012 Manchester Children’s Book Festival

Manchester Metropolitan University, All Saints Campus, Grosvenor Building, Cavendish Street, (Off Oxford Road Manchester) M15 6BR

Call: 0161 247 1708

For further details see: www.holdengallery.mmu.ac.uk