Not long to go now until Big Dog arrives in Dumfries with his case stuffed with literary goodies for children of all ages – including their grown-ups.
From 29th to 31st March authors and story-tellers will be enchanting young visitors with their tales, their pictures and all sorts of exciting activities.
Paddington Bear will appear on the Big Screen to get the weekend off to a great start, and to celebrate 60 years since he first appeared on the printed page. On the same evening there’s a family-friendly ghost walk through old Dumfries, so if grown-ups are a bit scared they should take along a small hand to hold onto.
The story centre at the Theatre Royal will be the place to drop into all weekend, and creative workshops hosted by some wonderfully inventive artists will offer opportunities to get hands-on in book-making, drawing and mono-printing. A multi-sensory adventures session will enable children of all abilities, including those who need just a little more help in their lives, to join in, not just with the written word, but with props, smells and songs to take stories onto another level. There will be a chance to decorate a dog biscuit – which Big Dog himself thinks is a wonderful event – and a Scots Workshop where some well-known tales will be read in Scots along with the possibility of discovering some new Scots words.
And talking of words, Big Dog is very excited about a translation event in English and Arabic that will feature Big Bill the Beltie Bull, extending access to non-English speakers.
All this and an array of great books and stories. Cathy Cassidy, one of the UK’s favourite children’s authors, wrote and illustrated her first book when she was eight years old. And she’ll be one of the star attractions in a weekend of delights.
She said: I’m looking forward to my event at Big Dog in Dumfries… it’ll be fab to be back in one of my fave towns ever! Reading has always been a lifeline to me. It opens the door to adventure, imagination, empathy and awesomeness! Come and find out how I work, where inspiration comes from and why we all need to daydream just a little bit more…
Big Dog is brought to Dumfries by the Wigtown Festival Company, and and funded by Baillie Gifford and SSE?
