Big DoG Children's Book Festival 2024

Big DoG and Friends Bound Back to Dumfries for Children’s Book Festival

• Meet best-selling author Lauren Child and be the first to get hold of the new Clarice Bean story
• Adventures and fun with mice, robots and a disco-dancing gorilla

Become a dinosaur detective, have afternoon tea with pirates or get your hands on the brand new adventures of Clarice Bean.

Tickets go on sale on 9 February for this year’s Big DoG festival of children’s literature which takes place from 22 to 24 March in Dumfries.

The programme, unveiled today, features a multitude of authors, illustrators, storytellers, performers and others, offering an abundance of events for children, young adults and families.

Among the well-known names at Big DoG will be former Children’s Laureate, the best-selling author and illustrator Lauren Child, who will take part in three events. One introduces Smile, the latest in her hugely popular Clarice Bean series, which began 25 years ago in 1999.

The book is only officially published on 28 March, but Lauren will bring some along, so fans attending the event will be the first to be able to get hold of a copy.

The story was inspired by what children told her about their worries for the planet and by her own climate change concerns.

In the story, Clarice faces her family and the world with her usual brand of cheerful optimism and curiosity even when things appear impossible to fix.

Lauren said: “I’m really looking forward to taking part in Big DoG and talking about the new book. It came about because I decided I needed to write about my fears, but really look at them through someone else’s eyes. It helps give a new perspective.

“I wondered what Clarice would do. I thought her curiosity would inspire her to see the extraordinary in the ordinary – the most incredible being how it’s the tiniest of creatures that support all life on earth. Looking at the tiny helps you find your place in the world, helps you understand how important you are and how you can make a difference.”

Among the many other events will be Dinosaur Detectives, presented by Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre. Puppetry, projections and shadow theatre are combined to tell the tale of the first fossil hunters.

Then there’s the choice of having afternoon tea, or even breakfast, at Moat Brae, and enjoy lots of Peter Pan inspired fun and games with The Storyweavers.

As well as the public events, Big DoG is supporting Dumfries and Galloway schools with a free education programme.

Teachers can now book tickets for the Big DoG Schools Gala Day on Friday, 22 March.

Based at The Bridge on Glasgow Road, it will be lots of fun and give 600 of the region’s primary school pupils the chance to meet Lauren Child along with Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre – the creators of Adventuremice.

Andy Stewart, Big DoG's Producer, said: “There’s loads to enjoy at this year’s Big DoG – with authors, illustrators, storytellers and performers from all across Scotland, the rest of the UK and from here in Dumfries and Galloway.

“Over the years the event has kept on growing and now there are venues all across Dumfries taking part – and this year we have one of our best line-ups ever with all sorts of fun and colourful activities to suit children, young adults and for the whole family.”

• Big DoG is devised and produced by Wigtown Festival Company and delivered in partnership with Moat Brae, DG Arts Festival, PlayTalkRead and PAMIS.

Big DoG 2024 events include

Children

• Dinosaur Detectives: Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre (age 5+) – Once upon a time enormous creatures walked the earth. Follow a fascinating journey of discovery, fun and conflict surrounding the first fossil finds of Mary Anning, William Buckland and Gideon Mantell. Clydebuilt combine puppetry with projection and shadow theatre. Theatre Royal, Shakespeare St.
• Adventuremice: Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre (ages 5-8) – The Adventuremice are summoned by an inventor-mouse who has built a spaceship and wants them to fly it. The Cairndale, English St.
• Later When I’m Big: Bette Westera and Mattias de Leeuw (ages 5-8) – As a child and her mother walk up to the swimming pool, she dreams about everything she’ll do when she’s older. The Kennel, 115-117 High St.
• Keep Dancing Lizzie Chu: Maisie Chan (ages 8-12) – Pick up your pencil as Maisie inspires you to write or draw your own stories using Chinese myths and legends as starting points. Moat Brae, George St.
• Fairytale Musical Mash Up: Gareth P Jones (ages 5-8) – Get down with disco-dancing gorilla, CinderGorilla, strut with Snowy White and the cat-walk cats of Purry Tale Lane. Moat Brae, George St.
• Scribble and Scrawl Crawl: Justin Davies and Jill Calder (ages 8-12) – Be inspired by sights and sounds around Dumfries and flex your creative muscles in this drawing and writing workshop with the award-winning duo. Meet at Big DoG HQ.
• Tiny Owl’s Scary Day: Petr Horacek (ages 3-7) – Pencils ready for this interactive draw-along. Join Petr as he shares his latest books Tiny Owl’s Scary Day and A Best Friend for Bear. The Kennel, 117 High St.
• Clarice Bean: Lauren Child (ages 7+) – Lauren talks about her latest novel - Smile. Clarice knows It's not just the planet that needs help – there’s her whole family too. And if you want things to change for the better, it’s not just up to everyone else, it’s also up to you.
• Strong Brave True: Great Scots who Changed the World, and how You Can Too!: Mairi Kidd and Tom Morgan-Jones (ages 5-8) – A fun-packed event about the lives of great Scottish heroes, with experiments, quizzes, drawing, and much, much more! Moat Brae, George St.
• Museum Mystery Squad and the Case from Outer Space: Mike Nicholson (ages 6-9) – Some people think museums are boring places full of glass cases, dust and stuff no one cares about: wrong! In a hidden headquarters below the exhibits there's a gang ready to handle dangerous, spooky or just plain weird problems: the Museum Mystery Squad. Moat Brae, George St.
• One Button Benny and the Dinosaur Dilemma: Alan Windram (ages 3-7) - It’s Friday and it’s party time in Robot Town. Join Alan Windram to bounce and boogie in the latest instalment of the One Button Benny Series. The Kennel, 117 High St.
• Knight Sir Louis and the Sinister Snowball: The Brothers McLeod (ages 8-12) – Splint the Sinister Snowball has his icy eyes set on world domination but Knight Sir Louis isn't about to let Castle Sideways be smothered in snow. Moat Brae, George St.
• No Matter What: Debi Gliori (ages 3-7) – Debi shares her heartfelt story with a new generation of readers. Moat Brae, George St.

For 16s and above

• New Writers’ Clinic: Mairi Kidd (adults) – Are you writing a children’s book? In these 20-minute drop-in sessions, you will meet Moat Brae’s Mairi Kidd to chat through ideas, pitches, writer support opportunities and more.
• The World of Illustration: Lauren Child and Jill Calder (ages 16+) – Lauren and illustrator Jill discuss their creative approach to writing and illustrating children’s books. The talk will be followed by a Q&A with the audience.

Family events

• Petr Paints the Rainbow: Petr Horacek - The author of Silly Suzy Goose and Blue Penguin invites you to help him paint the alphabet - from ants to boats and camels to dragons. Moat Brae, George St.
• Drop-in Draw-along: Illustrator Tom Morgan-Jones invites you to create the biggest, most magnificent drawing in Dumfries. Moat Brae, George St.
• Peter Pan Pirate Breakfast: Ahoy me hearties! Join Moat Brae’s Storyweavers fun and games inspired by Peter Pan, plus a delicious breakfa-a-a-rst with yummy pirate tucker. Dress up if you can. Moat Brae, George St.
• Peter Pan Pirate Afternoon Tea: The Storyweavers welcome you to enjoy a yummy, themed spread and Peter Pan pirate fun. Dress up if you can! Moat Brae, George St.

Free festival fun

• The Refs: Referees Tank and Bogie are looking for champions in this family-friendly walkabout show that turns everything into one big game. High St.
• Big DoG’s Family Rhyme Time: Storyteller in residence, Renita Boyle and everybody’s favourite furry canine friend tell stories, share rhymes, sing and dance together. The Kennel, 117 High St.
• Accessible Events: One-to-one sensory storytelling for those with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). Visit the website to find out more. Moat Brae, George St.
• Benji the Bus: Play Talk Read, for under 4s – Benji the double decker play bus and the PTR team offer drop-in sessions and lots of fun for you and your wee one. From arts and crafts to messy play and fancy dress. @PlaywithPTR! Midsteeple, 105 High St.
• Cucinema Workshop: Join Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival’s team as they share the art of Cucinema. Paint directly onto 16mm film and make a soundtrack. Big DoG HQ, 105 High St.

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors

About the festival: Named in honour of Nana, the big dog who looks after the Darling children in Peter Pan, Big DoG is the annual family festival for Dumfries. Take the lead from some of the nation’s favourite children’s writers, illustrators and storytellers for a weekend of barking fun where everyone has a tale.

Big DoG venues

• Moat Brae, 101 George St
• Big DoG HQ, Bookshop & Box Office, 109 High St
• The Kennel, 117 High St
• The Cairndale, 132 English St
• Theatre Royal, 66 Shakespeare St.

Box office and tickets

• Open 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday. Tickets can be purchased from the box office but calling 01988 403222. You can also purchase tickets in person at Number 11, Wigtown, DG8 9HN.
• During the festival: Tickets can be purchased on the door if an event is not sold out or at Big DoG HQ, 109 High St, DG2 7AD. Please contact 01988 403222 to check availability.
• Online booking: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at www.wigtownbookfestival.com
• Ticketing policy: Children must be accompanied by a ticket-buying adult. Under 2s who do not require a seat are free. Ages in listings are for guidance only. Seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis at each event. Big DoG does not exchange or refund tickets. If an event proceeds but not as advertised then we will exchange your ticket(s) for another event. If an event is cancelled we will offer a full refund. Events last for between 45 minutes and one hour unless otherwise stated.
• Bookshop: Festival titles and merchandise can be bought from Big DoG HQ and bookshop on the High St.
• Accessibility: To download the Big Dog Accessibility guide visit: bit.ly/bigdogfest

About Lauren Child

Lauren Child arrived on the children’s book scene in 1999. She is the creator of many much-loved characters including Ruby Redfort, Charlie and Lola, Hubert Horatio and of course, Clarice Bean. She won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal in 2000 for I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato and was announced as the tenth Waterstones Children’s Laureate in 2017. Clarice Bean: SMILE is her latest edition to the Clarice canon which have received huge critical acclaim since they debuted in 1999, selling over seven million copies worldwide as well as winning some of children’s books’ highest accolades.

Big DoG sponsors: Creative Scotland, Baillie Gifford, Dumfries & Galloway Council, Event Scotland, Annandale and Nithsdale Community Benefit Company, The People’s Project, Bard Vets.

Further information

See www.wigtownbookfestival.com

• Organised by – Wigtown Festival Company, 11 Main Street, Wigtown, Dumfries and Galloway, DG8 9HN.
• Wigtown Festival Company is limited by guarantee with charitable status. Charity number SCO37984.
• Find out more about Moat Brae https://www.moatbrae.org.