Waterstones Children’s Book Festival
The Waterstones Children's Book Festival in Lincoln is a vibrant celebration of stories and illustration, aimed at encouraging the joys of reading, writing, and drawing. The festival will take place from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th February 2025 and will feature a variety of activities including author events, comic and writing workshops, storytelling, and craft activities. It will be held in different locations across the city, including The Engine Room, Southside, Lincoln Library, and Waterstones Lincoln. The festival is a family-friendly event that will showcase bestselling and beloved children's authors, making it a perfect opportunity for families to engage with literature and creativity.
Children’s Book Festival: Bunnies of Hoppity Hill
Lincoln Central Library, Free School Ln, Lincoln, LN2 1EZ
Friday 13th February at 10.30am
Join this interactive session for pre-schoolers based on We’re Going on a Treasure Hunt! Join a crew of brave bunnies for a swashbuckling adventure on land and sea. Explore the shores, hunt for hidden coins and keep a look out for surprises and treasure! Suitable for ages 3-5. Please especially note that children must be accompanied by an adult who must also purchase a ticket.
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket: We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (PB) £12 ● Adult Ticket Only £6 ● Child Ticket Only £6
Children’s Book Festival: Luna Loves… with Fiona Lumbers
Lincoln Central Library, Free School Ln, Lincoln, LN2 1EZ
Friday 13th February at 1pm
Join Fiona Lumbers, the amazing illustrator of the Luna Loves picture books to celebrate the joy of gardening. Fiona will share the latest Luna adventure, Luna Loves Gardening – the fifth in the Luna Loves series – and will show how plants and nature connect us to the world and our communities. Suitable for ages 3-5. Please especially note that children must be accompanied by an adult who must also purchase a ticket.
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket: Luna Loves Gardening (PB) £12 ● Adult Ticket Only £6 ● Child Ticket Only £6
Children’s Book Festival: Mr Panda Story Event with Steve Antony
Lincoln Central Library, Free School Ln, Lincoln, LN2 1EZ
Friday 13th February at 3.30pm
Join award-winning author and illustrator Steve Antony for a joyful, interactive story event featuring everyone’s favourite polite bear, Mr Panda. Children will enjoy a lively read-along, and take part in a fun step-by-step draw-along, learning how to draw Mr Panda themselves. Suitable for ages 3-5. Please especially note that children must be accompanied by an adult who must also purchase a ticket.
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket: Please Mr Panda (PB) £12 ● Adult Ticket Only £6 ● Child Ticket Only £6
Children’s Book Festival: Sticker Dolly Dressing Activity Event
Waterstones, 297a High Street, Lincoln, LN2 1AF
Saturday 14th February at 10am & 11.30am
Enter a world of enchantment and join the party! Celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of our most loved series’ – Sticker Dolly Dressing – and enter the magical kingdom where fairies fly with dragons through a rainbow sky, mermaids and seals explore an underwater palace, and elves creep through a forgotten forest. Suitable for ages 5+. Magical crowns, stickers and colouring sheets will be available for every child. Please especially note that the purchase of one child ticket allows entry to the event for one accompanying adult.
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket: Sticker Dolly Dressing: Unicorn Princesses (PB) £11 ● Child Ticket Only £5
Children’s Book Festival: Epic Fun with Phil Earle
Lincoln Central Library, Free School Ln, Lincoln, LN2 1EZ
Saturday 14th February at 10.30am
Meet Phil Earl, one of the most highly regarded writers for children today, when joins us to talk about the first book in his hilarious new series, Finn’s Epic Fails which introduces Finn N. O. Hope and his life of epic failure! Perfect for readers of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Loki and Tom Gates. As part of this interactive event Phil will introduce the characters and share his inspirations behind his books, as well as telling us what inspired him to start writing and where ideas for stories come from.
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket: Finn’s Epic Fails (PB) £12 ● Adult Ticket Only £12 ● Child Ticket Only £6
Children’s Book Festival: Monsters and Dragons Workshop with Jamie Hammond
Lincoln Central Library, Free School Ln, Lincoln, LN2 1EZ
Saturday 14th February at 10.30am
Monsters and Dragons: A monster-hunting, treasure-seeking adventure of an event with author-illustrator Jamie Hammond! Create your own dragon and discover if you can take on the trials! Only the successful will win the treasure! Paper and pencils will be provided but children are encouraged to bring their own sketch books and pencils/pens.
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket: Grumpfort (PB) £12 ● Child Ticket Only £6
Children’s Book Festival: Comic Book Workshop with Jack Noel
Waterstones, 297a High Street, Lincoln, LN2 1AF
Saturday 14th February at 11am
Award-winning author and illustrator Jack Noel is bringing his hilarious new graphic novel series DADBOT to life! DADBOT is packed with robots, puns, and dastardly dad-napping – ideal for fans of BUNNY VS MONKEY and CAT KID!
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket: Dadbot (PB) £12 ● Child Ticket Only £5
Children’s Book Festival: Tom Gates Fan Event with Liz Pichon
The Engine Shed, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 7TS
Saturday 14th February 12:30
Calling all Tom Gates superfans! Join the creator of the multi-million bestselling Tom Gates series, Liz Pichon to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the very first book, The Brilliant World of Tom Gates in an event that will include stories, games, live doodling and lots of laughter.
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket: The Brilliant World of Tom Gates (PB) £12 ● Adult Ticket Only £12 ● Child Ticket Only £6
Children’s Book Festival: Pablo and Splash with Sheena Dempsey
Lincoln Central Library, Free School Lane, Lincoln, LN2 1EZ
Saturday 14th February at 1pm
Step back in time with bestselling author and illustrator Sheena Dempsey as she brings her time-travelling penguins to life in a riotously fun, interactive event.
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket: Pablo and Splash: Roman Holiday (PB) £13 ● Adult Ticket Only £12 ● Child Ticket Only £6
Children’s Book Festival: Cosmic Cadets Workshop with Ryan Crawford
Lincoln Central Library, Free School Lane, Lincoln, LN2 1EZ
Saturday 14th February at 1pm
Join author and game designer Ryan Crawford for an interactive, imagination-fuelled workshop inspired by Cosmic Cadets, his colourfully illustrated adventure series for younger readers.
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket: Cosmic Cadets and the Bubblegum Bots (PB) £12 ● Child Ticket Only £6
Children’s Book Festival: Pia’s Pet Club Workshop with Serena Patel
Waterstones, 297a High Street, Lincoln, LN2 1AF
Saturday 14th February at 2pm
Calling ALL pet fans! You’re invited to Join Pia’s Pet Club with Serena Patel, the author of the award-winning Anisha, Accidental Detective
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket: Pia’s Pet Club: Puppy Problems (PB) £11 ● Child Ticket Only £5
Children’s Book Festival: A Mysterious afternoon with Robin Stevens
The Engine Shed, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 7TS
Saturday 14th February at 3pm
You’re invited to join million-copy-bestselling author Robin Stevens for a special event spanning both of her addictive and thrilling series, Murder Most Unladylike and The Ministry of Unladylike Activity.
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket Options from £12 ● Adult Ticket Only £12 ● Child Ticket Only £6
Children’s Book Festival: Writing Historical Adventure Stories with Judith Eagle
Lincoln Central Library, Free School Ln, Lincoln, LN2 1EZ
Saturday 14th February at 3.30pm
Join author Judith Eagle for a fantastic event to introduce her latest middle-grade novel The Blitz Sisters. Journey back to 1930s England during WW2 and take part in an engaging workshop where you can learn all about how to create your own historical adventure stories. There will be a themed quiz and an opportunity to ask Judith questions.
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket: The Blitz Sisters (PB) £12 ● Child Ticket Only £6
Children’s Book Festival: This Event Will Make You a Scientist with Dr Sheila Kanani
Lincoln Central Library, Free School Lane, Lincoln, LN2 1EZ
Saturday 14th February at 3.30pm
Tackle bold ideas and learn about incredible scientists from around the globe with Dr Sheila Kanani as she shares her new book This Book Will Make You a Scientist!
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket: This Book Will Make You A Scientist (HB) £19 ● Adult Ticket Only £12 ● Child Ticket Only £6
Children’s Book Festival: Creative Writing Workshop with Nat Harrison
Waterstones, 297a High Street, Lincoln, LN2 1AF
Saturday 14th February at 4pm
Join Nat Harrison, author of the brilliant The Girl Who Raced the World, as she takes you on a thrilling literary voyage inspired by Jules Verne’s classic adventure Around the World in Eighty Days.
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket: The Girl Who Raced the World (PB) £11 ● Child Ticket Only £5
Children’s Book Festival: Meet book royalty and dragon tamer, Cressida Cowell!
The Engine Shed, University of Lincoln, Linc, LN6 7TS
Saturday 14th February at 5.30pm
Cressida will be talking about her newest books How to Train Your Dragon School and Which Way to the Future. She’s been described as a national treasure – come along and find out why!
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket Available from £12 ● Adult Ticket Only £12 ● Child Ticket Only £6
Children’s Book Festival: An evening with Hannah Gold
Lincoln Central Library, Free School Lane, Lincoln, LN2 1EZ
Saturday 14th February at 6.30pm
Join us for an unmissable evening with bestselling children's author Hannah Gold to celebrate her new novel, The Lone Husky.
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket: The Lone Husky (HB) £19 ● Adult Ticket Only £12 ● Child Ticket Only £
Children's Book Festival: The Dinosaur that Pooped Story Time!
Waterstones, 297a High Street, Lincoln, LN2 1AF
Sunday 15th February at 11pm
Meet the Dinosaur that Pooped in our very special interactive story time!
Listen some of to the fabulously funny tales of what the dinosaur pooped, with plenty of chance for you to jump, dance and roar along with our very special guest... the Dinosaur himself!
Ticket Options | Child Ticket Only £5
Children’s Book Festival: Winnie-the-Pooh Storytelling Event
Waterstones, 297a High Street, Lincoln, LN2 1AF
Sunday 15th February at 11.30am, 1.30pm & 3.30pm
Celebrate 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh with Jane Riordan, author of Winnie-the-Pooh: Tales from the Forest and Winnie-the-Pooh: Once There Was a Bear.
Ticket Options | Child Book & Ticket: Once There Was A Bear (PB) £15 ● Child Ticket Only £5
Children's Book Festival: Dog Man Comic Club
Waterstones, 297a High Street, Lincoln, LN2 1AF
Sunday 15th February at 1pm
Meet Dog Man and make your own heroes and comics inspired by his adventures!
Part dog, part man, ALL HERO - we all love Dav Pilkey's incredible Dog Man... but can you do better? Let's find out! Join us for a comic creation session inspired by the hero hound - all activities and crafts will be supplied in order to create your very own comic. But best of all, there will be a very special guest appearance... from Dog Man himself!
Ticket Options | Child Ticket Only £5
Find out more and book your tickets here.
