Derby Book Festival welcomes Children’s Laureate, Frank Cottrell Boyce, to their annual Meet the Author event for primary schools next Tuesday, 16 June at Derby Theatre. The event, sponsored by local educational supplier, Cosy, will include children in Years 5 and 6 and their teachers and will celebrate the National Year of Reading and aims to inspire school children in a love of reading. The percentage of children at the expected level in Literacy at foundation stage in Derby City is 66% compared to the national average of 71% (2025 figures).
Frank will talk to the children about his latest books and his life as an author and will then meet the children and sign their books. The event will also be live streamed to schools across the city and county. In 2025 around 11,000 children enjoyed the live event either at the Theatre or in their classrooms.
Frank will also visit Becket Primary School in the city where he will meet children and teachers to find out more about their engagement with the Derby Children’s Picture Book Award and the children’s Book Group, which is organized by Festival Trustee and school governor, Di Smith.
The Festival has organised the Meet the Author events every year since its start in 2015 and has welcomed a range of inspirational and much-loved children’s authors over the years, including Sir Michael Morpurgo, Lauren Child, Joseph Coelho and many more.
There will also be a second event with illustrator and author Joe Todd Stanton at Derby Theatre for Years 3 and 4.
Professor Keith McLay, Chair of Derby Book Festival and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “The annual Meet the Author events are a key part of our community programme and have inspired a love of reading for children across our city.
“As a Civic University serving the city and county, we aim to inspire and create positive opportunities for our community and supporting Derby Book Festival is one of many ways we bring this to life.
“Derby Book Festival offers something for everyone and we are proud to champion creativity and connection for all ages and interests.”
Derby Book Festival celebrates its 11th year in 2026 and recently held its Summer Festival last month with 70 events for children and adults.
The Festival has a strong programme of projects and activities for schools including the Derby Children’s Picture Book Award, Children’s Book Appeal, which to date has collected and donated over 20,000 books to children and schools across the city, Flash Fiction Writing Competition and the Teachers’ Book Group, which introduces teachers to a range of children’s books and authors.
This year the Festival organisers are presenting two programmes with the next one, the Autumn Edition, to be held from 13 – 15 November and tickets go on sale at the end of September.
The Festival is organised in partnership with all the major arts and cultural partners in the city. You can find more information about the Festival at www.derbybookfestival.co.uk
