Books Our Bridge to Bigger Dreams - CALFE in Manchester 2025

🌟 The Children & Authors' Literary Fanfare Event is back in Manchester with oour theme📚 Books: Our Bridge to Bigger Dreams

After such great support from Arts Council England, in 2024, the Children and Authors' Literary Fanfare returns to Manchester, proudly supported by Manchester Museum and Nurturing Foundations.

✨ This year's event takes place on Saturday 11th October 2025 at the Manchester Museum, as part of CALFE 2025's North Region activities, in celebration of Black History in Literature.

📍 Event Details

📌 Venue: Manchester Museum📅 Time: 12noon-4pm🎟️ Tickets: Free entry for families & children | Paid Writing Panel for adults

✨ Come learn, play, create, and connect at the Children & Authors' Literary Fanfare and Events 2025 – an extraordinary celebration of culture and imagination for children aged 2–11.

It’s all about sparking a Young Love for Culture ❤️ celebrating who we are, discovering new worlds, and having FUN together with friends and family.

🌍 Our Purpose

To inspire all generations to discover, enjoy, and celebrate African heritage and literature, while creating space for families, educators, and communities to connect through creativity.

✨ Festival Highlights

🎶 Music & movement workshops📚 Author readings, book signings & storytelling🎨 Creative art, craft & illustration activities👗 Dress-up & photo fun in African wear🎲 Traditional African games & artefact handling🎉 An extraordinary day designed especially for children aged 2–11 years old.

• Carrol May Nelson – Author of the Dolly May Series, a distinct voice for Caribbean heritage in children’s books
• Tolu Shofule – An icon in the design and graphic world, using illustrations to tell heritage stories
• Margaret Omoniyi – Musical Workshops for Toddlers
• Sandra Smith - an mathematics guru presenting the indigenous, cognitive mancala game
• Sade Fadipe – A Fun ABC & Clips from Snowy Joy
• Oghomwen Adeyinka-Edwards - Fashion and Costumes in Africa by Oghomwen Adeyinka-Edwards
• ESOPIP AFRICA - Art & Crafts ( pitched to different ages)
• Damilola Ajibola - storytelling - Our Culture, Our Stories (7 -11yr olds by Nurturing Foundation)
• Artefact Handling - Rare African Collection (Manchester Museum)
• Amaka Ekwegh - CALFE Bookstore

💡 Special Feature: The Writing Panel

For adults - don’t miss this exclusive panel featuring: Genres and Writing for Kids from these most exciting voices shaping children’s literature today, from print to stage. £35 per adult participant.

Together, they promise a powerful, inspiring, and practical discussion for anyone passionate about writing for children.

🎟️ FREE entry! Bring your parents, carers, brothers, sisters… everyone’s welcome!

🌍 Supported by Manchester Museum, University of Manchester and Nurturing Foundations, Manchester.