Saturday 1 November
Katoomba Library plays host to an exceptional collection of children’s authors on Saturday 1 November, ready to inspire, amuse and captivate young and old (but mostly young). With interactive workshops, storytelling, poetry, craft activities and plenty of fun, our FREE Kids Program features Craig Silvey, Maxine Beneba Clarke, Sofie Laguna, Charmaine Ledden-Lewis, Tasma Walton, Bill Hope and Emilie Zoey Baker!
Location: Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, 30 Parke St, Katoomba.
10.00 - 10.45am | Katoomba Library
STORYTIME WITH SOFIE LAGUNA
Ages 2+
Award-winning author Sofie Laguna brings a treasure trove of her picture books to life with animated retellings that will transport young audiences from one glorious adventure to the next. From sheltering a strange, whimsical sea creature to a raucous night of trick-or-treating, Sofie’s entertaining tales will have children (and their accompanying grown-ups) enthralled, while also celebrating the joys that kindness, friendship and family can bring.
Sofie will also be sharing a heartwarming story about Mother and Father Bird’s discovery of a surprise addition in their nest in her latest book, The Last Egg.
10.00am-12.00pm | Circular Room
THE BIG BANG THEORY OF STORY BEGINNINGS with Vivian Pham
Ages 13-18
Have you always wanted to write but weren’t sure where to start? Good news: every writer begins somewhere – and often, they begin again and again.
Led by Vivian Pham, author of The Coconut Children, this hands-on workshop offers guidance for starting your writing journey. Through playful prompts and guided exercises, you’ll learn how to listen to your instincts, trust your imagination, and get words down on the page.
11.00am-11.45am | Katoomba Library
RUNT AND THE DIABOLICAL DOGNAPPING WITH CRAIG SILVEY
Ages 5+
Join award-winning author Craig Silvey for a chat about his bestselling book, Runt, and what lies in store for its beloved protagonists Annie and Runt in their second adventure Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping.
The story of 11-year-old Annie Shearer and her best friend, an adopted stray dog, Runt won a string of awards, including CBCA Book of the Year in 2023, and was adapted as a major film in 2024. Young readers who adored Annie and Runt’s antics at Krumpets Dog Show will be thrilled with the pair’s latest outing. Endlessly charming, deeply funny and bursting with heart, Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping is an engrossing mystery filled with twists and surprises.
12.15-1.00pm | Katoomba Library
DRAW YOUR OWN FOOD MONSTER WITH BILL HOPE
Ages 5+
Have you met You and Me? Or encountered the exciting, surprising, knuckle-headed adventures they’ve had? First, they ventured into the Land of Lost Things to hunt for a lost lucky rabbit foot and now they’re plunging into a deep hole in the cave of the legendary Peanut Butter Beast! Bestselling author Andy Griffiths combined his powers with illustrator extraordinaire Bill Hope to bring a spectacularly mind-boggling new series to entertain the kids.
12.30-3.30pm | Circular Room
SLAM POETRY WORKSHOP with Emilie Zoey Baker
Ages 13-18
Join award-winning poet and performer Emilie Zoey Baker (EZB) for a high-energy workshop that will unleash your voice. In this interactive session, you’ll explore the art of slam poetry and learn how to transform raw ideas into powerful spoken word pieces that captivate an audience.
Through dynamic writing exercises, you’ll develop skills in writing with impact, building stage confidence, and finding your unique style. The workshop concludes with a mini slam, where participants can share their words in a supportive and encouraging space.
1.30-2.15pm | Katoomba Library
POETRY STUFF, WITH MAXINE BENEBA CLARKE
Ages 7+
The unbearable itch of chicken pox. The annoyance of sharing a Spotify account with your parents. The delight of smearing tomato sauce over everything you eat. The rebellion of the fake tattoo you know your nan will hate.
Maxine Beneba Clarke is back with 99 new poems for young people in the form of sonnets, pantoums, narrative verse, free verse, blackout poems, tongue twisters, limericks, found poems, concrete poems, haiku and more – all in the name of making magic out of the ordinary.
Let Maxine be your guide in this fun, hands-on, creative workshop that’s just for kids, where they’ll experience what it’s like to unleash some poetry from their everyday world.
2.45-3.30pm | Katoomba Library
NAYNAY AND THE MERMAID WITH TASMA WALTON & CHARMAINE LEDDEN-LEWIS
Ages 4+
Naynay and her family are abalone divers. Her mother tells her to keep watch for one of the water spirits who protect the seas. Naynay sees the splash of a tail. Could it possibly be a mermaid?
Author and actor Tasma Walton and illustrator Charmaine Ledden-Lewis take young audiences on a magical underwater adventure with Naynay, drawing on the stories of the Boonwurrung people of coastal Melbourne, bringing the ocean to the mountains for this magical event. Warm and welcoming, young readers can enjoy connecting with these ancient tales, then make their own shell necklace to take home.
Sunday 2 November
10.00AM-2.00pm | Blue Mountains Cultural Centre
MTNS ZINE CLUB AMPED UP
All Ages
Drop in for a relaxed day of zine making, live music and open mic zine readings in the café courtyard at the Cultural Centre. Make your own zine, contribute to the mega-zine – the world’s longest zine – or settle in on cushions and picnic rugs for open-mic readings. Musical instruments and spontaneous jams welcome. A fun and free event for all ages.
This is a free event and event registration is not required.
The Kids Program at the Blue Mountains Writers Festival is presented in partnership with the Blue Mountains City Council and Katoomba Library.
