Alison Lester’s books mix imaginary worlds with everyday life, from the animals we’d find in a jungle in Imagine, to the mysteries at the bottom of rock pools in Magic Beach. Celebrate what makes the world unique with this much-loved Australian writer and illustrator.

Lost touch with your inner word-nerd? We can cure your ailment at our walk-in book clinic. Talk to one of our book doctors, and they will write you a prescription for your next great read.

What do you do after breakfast on a typical day? Bet you don’t build a rocket and explore outer space like Scout does! Artist Sha’an d’Anthes shares her beautiful picture book about Scout, and demonstrates how magical illustrations are made.

We’re upcycling old books into haiku poetry by rearranging words and phrases cut from their pages. Sharpen up your syllable-count and join us for the fun.

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We’ve all got a tale to tell. What’s yours? Let author Celine Kiernan tempt out your inner storyteller. She’ll use a series of writing exercises to show you the nuts and bolts of putting a story together, and we can almost guarantee you just won’t stop scribbling.

Presented in association with Culture Ireland.

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Artist and illustrator Sha’an d’Anthes needs YOUR help to create a huge colouring-in wall that explores space and beyond … and you won’t get into trouble for doing it!

Jacqueline Harvey’s new spy adventure series introduces us to 11-year-old twins Kensy and Max, who between them have code-cracking spy skills that would make James Bond jealous. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find out how Jacqueline creates a top secret spy series (together we’ll have ways of making her talk…).

How did stories happen before books? People sat around the campfire thousands of years ago and made them up! Zoë Norton Lodge is co-founder of the live storytelling collective Story Club and knows all about how to spin a really good yarn. Is there anything she can’t make up a story for? Find out in this interactive session.

Plunge into the secrets of award-winning author and illustrator Kylie Howarth. Kylie’s books are filled with seagulls, lizards, sea cucumbers and jellyfish. Learn from Kylie how to draw your own sea creature characters; and maybe Chip the seagull will also make a surprise appearance!

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Who is Jane Doe? Jeremy Lachlan’s thrilling new adventure, Jane Doe and the Cradle of All Worlds is perfect for fans of Narnia, Indiana Jones and Mad Max. But just what goes into creating new worlds? And why would getting lost in the Cairo Museum hold the key to Jane Doe? Will Jeremy spill the beans?

Share in the magic of a good story with our resident storytellers. Young ones will love joining in with these interactive sessions while parents can sit back, relax and enjoy a good tale or two.

Pencils drawn and ready for action, illustrators Matt Stanton, Sha’an d’Anthes, Georgia Norton Lodge, Michael Speechley and Gavin Aung Than are picking up the gauntlet in a bid to become champion of the Scribblers illustrators. Who will be quickest on the draw?

Share in the magic of a good story with our resident storytellers. Young ones will love joining in with these interactive sessions while parents can sit back, relax and enjoy a good tale or two.

When Amos starts counting sheep, there’s one thing he doesn’t quite count on. How’s he supposed to sleep when the sheep land—thud (baa) thud (baa)—right in his bedroom? Join award winning author Meg McKinlay for a bedtime yarn with a twist (of wool) that will have the whole family—rams to lambs— laaaa-ughing out loud.

Join Educated by Nature for a hands-on, tactile play opportunity to experiment with the manipulation of natural materials to make a unique flag. Reveal the inner beauty of natural materials through stick whittling and the traditional art of Hapa Zome.

Flag making utilizes a child’s love of harvesting and grinding as they extract pigment out of flowers onto fabric. Whittling then deconstructs sticks as a way of understanding plants and the beauty of trees.

Exploration, discoveries, and derring do in the great outdoors: these are the inspirations for a typical Cristy Burne tale. Join Cristy for a voyage around ripping yarns like Off the Track and To the Lighthouse. You don’t need a compass or a passport, just be prepped and ready for adventures!

We’ve put young people in charge of the microphones in our Scribblers Festival Conversation Caravan. Come along and meet our podcasters as they interview authors and illustrators across the weekend.

Let our resident calligrapher, Tash from The Articulate, write a beautifully hand lettered card for Mum.

Superpowers at the ready! Cartoonist and New York Times bestselling Australian author Gavin Aung Than is the creator of the hilarious adventure series Super Side Kicks and knows all about superheroes and supervillains. In this hands-on drawing workshop Gavin will help you transform yourself into your very own superhero.

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Last year, our Mother’s Day bakers' market was a huge hit so we're bringing it back again in 2019. Come along for some special sweet treats and spoil your Mum.

What’s 2m tall, hairy and will make you laugh out loud? One of the UK’s funniest, tallest and beardiest writers, Philip Ardagh takes being funny very seriously. He’ll introduce you to his characters like Norman, who’s a Norman, from guess where? Normandy of course!

Don’t miss our limited edition Flower Cart, providing the perfect bunch for young hands to present to Mum…or Gran, or Auntie! Be quick as these are sure to be popular.

Author Megan McDonald’s bestselling series Judy Moody is inspired by Megan’s own memories of growing up with four older sisters. Join Megan as she tells funny stories from her own childhood, and shares how she’s transformed the experience of being the “little sister” into tales of the magnificent Judy Moody and Stink.

Fish Kid doesn’t share the same love for the ocean as his marine biologist dad and underwater photographer mum. However, all that is set to change, thanks to a smoothie with some different ingredients, a fall overboard and an encounter on a small island. Take a deep breath and dive into an ocean-packed adventure with creator Kylie Howarth.

Crows that rhyme, talking cats,raggedy witches and forbidden magic. Celine Kiernan knows all about character animation and film and uses these skills to conjure up atmospheric worlds and vivid characters. Celine shares some secrets about how adding a little bit of magic to the everyday can create something extraordinary.

Presented in association with Culture Ireland.‍

Blend science and technology with creativity and wonder in this interactive workshop, which uses science news as a springboard for story ideas. Cristy Burne helps you plan the basic plot then write your own science-inspired tale. Moon landings and deep space probes? No limits to the imagination!

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Captain Jimmy Cook has done the unthinkable, and read Alice Toolie’s secret diary. This means war! But their teacher throws the sworn enemies together as pen pals for the term. Uh oh. Kate and Jol Temple talk about bringing these two characters together in Yours Troolie, Alice Toolie.

Have you heard about the fancy new Orange 430? It’s the brand spanking new thingy whatsit, no one knows exactly what it does but everyone wants it! Join author and illustrator Michael Speechley as he talks about his hilarious picture book The All New Must Have Orange 430.