P4-7

The remarkable real-life story of a girl’s journey from war in Bosnia to safety in the UK.

This is the story of a conker that never fell, an interrupted stethoscope, prayer beads, water splashing in a face, cat with no home, a car, a mask, a party hat, a pair of swimming pants, a flying pool ball, a letter, and a photograph. Mostly it’s the story of a girl called Selma and her remarkable real-life story of her journey from war in Bosnia to safety in the UK. It is the tale of an incredible journey, a world turned upside down, loss, friendship, courage - and conkers. It is also the story of Scottish based writer, director and performer Victoria Beesley. Join her as she talks about the story behind the play and how she came to meet and become the friend of the remarkable Selma. Over two episodes, this is the perfect exploration of war, displacement and the human cost told against a backdrop of humour, empathy and kindness.

Vickie is the Associate Director for Learning and Engagement at Horsecross Arts in Perth. She also writes and directs touring theatre productions across Scotland and the rest of the UK, usually inspired by real-life stories, for audiences of children, young people and adults.

Nursery – P2

Join podcast creator, Johanna Hall, to create your own flower story exploring your family. Using Jo’s popular podcast character, Jojo the Gnome, the workshop gently questions the concept of what a family ‘looks’ like by hearing the story of Jojo as he realises his friend’s families are different and within families each family member is different too. Then create a story flower to describe yourself. Perhaps even ‘plant’ a whole garden of flowers to show each, individual person in the class. Fun, interactive workshop designed for early years.

This talk will be BSL interpreted

Live event

S1-S3

Internationally bestselling author Liz Kessler’s new novel, When the World Was Ours, is inspired by her father’s true story of escaping Nazi-occupied Europe and the horrors of the Holocaust. Liz’s novel follows three friends in Austria and the three paths their lives take during the Second World War. Liz has done hundreds of school events during her career as a children’s author and talks sensitively and age-appropriately about this topic. She will show photographs and letters from her father’s story and talks about her visits to the sites of concentration camps during her research. Liz will be talking live and there will be plenty of opportunity to interact via the chat function to ask questions.

P5-7

Lauren Burke says “They won’t tell you this in school…” is how my parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles began a lot of sentences. What usually followed was an uncomfortable truth, a painful memory, or lesson. In my experience, Black history is mostly an oral history passed down in the community via elders. Once, at a National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) event, my father instructed me to pay close attention to a speaker who began their talk by saying, “They won’t tell you this in school, but Rosa Parks was a radical.” Join American writer and illustrator, Lauren Burke as she introduces her graphic novel It’s Her Story: Rosa Parks celebrating a lifetime of activism versus a single moment in 1955 when Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white passenger. Rosa’s story takes in late nights, setbacks, and moments of doubt but also provides a vital understanding that while change is possible, it doesn’t happen overnight. You have to put in the work.

6+

Live event

Join festival Illustrator in Residence, Julia Vohl as she leads a fun, interactive workshop involving making and decorating your own bird mask. Your mask could take inspiration from the birds in your garden or local park or it could be a complete flight of fancy as you create some wonderful, colourful new species.

Julia loves all forms of drawing especially drawing comics so perhaps there will be inspiration on how to tell your own adventure story based on your mask creation.

To make your mask you will need to have: 

- Egg Carton (a 6-egg carton can make two masks)

- Popsicle Stick or Small Branch

- Glue

- Pen or Pencil

- Scissors

- Any craft paints, craft papers, dried leaves, etc. that may be around for decoration

ALL AGES

Join author Mairi Kidd and illustrator Tom Morgan-Jones as they introduce a brilliant selection showcasing the innovations of Scots -- well-known and less well-known, men and women alike -- throughout the ages and in many different fields: from astronomy, philosophy and lighthouse design to technology, poetry and medicine. An afterword for everyone of ‘an enquiring mind’ offers insight on how are attitudes change through time; for example, conflicts around Victorian exploration.

Who will they introduce today? Join us to find out.

ALL AGES

Join author Mairi Kidd and illustrator Tom Morgan-Jones as they introduce a brilliant selection showcasing the innovations of Scots -- well-known and less well-known, men and women alike -- throughout the ages and in many different fields: from astronomy, philosophy and lighthouse design to technology, poetry and medicine. An afterword for everyone of ‘an enquiring mind’ offers insight on how are attitudes change through time; for example, conflicts around Victorian exploration.

Who will they introduce today? Join us to find out.

ALL AGES

Join author Mairi Kidd and illustrator Tom Morgan-Jones as they introduce a brilliant selection showcasing the innovations of Scots -- well-known and less well-known, men and women alike -- throughout the ages and in many different fields: from astronomy, philosophy and lighthouse design to technology, poetry and medicine. An afterword for everyone of ‘an enquiring mind’ offers insight on how are attitudes change through time; for example, conflicts around Victorian exploration.

Who will they introduce today? Join us to find out.

Poems for children aged 7 to 11

From forgotten jellybeans to sparkling daydreams, Alex Wharton’s poems are both funny and thoughtful, and aim to spark familiarity and inclusion.