PREPARATIONS are almost complete for a new children’s reading festival in North Yorkshire.

Local author Christina Gabbitas has organised the first Selby Children’s Reading Festival, which will take place over three days at Selby Abbey later this month.

Christina, who writes books and poetry for children, is working with Selby District Council, the Abbey and the UnLtd project to set up the event, which starts on Thursday, March 23, and ends with a family day on Saturday, March 25.

Thousands of school children will be invited, with many given a free book, paid for by funding and donations.

Christina said: “I want to take children’s reading festivals into towns and areas, to give children from all backgrounds an equal opportunity of attending a book related event.

“The family day is a wonderful opportunity to help bring families and communities together. We currently have two confirmed authors, including Yorkshire’s Andy Seed, who won the Blue Peter Book Award for his publication‘The Silly Book of Side Splitting Stuff’.”

Andy said: “To be able to inspire children is one of greatest privileges that authors have. When children are motivated to become readers after meeting an inspirational author it can be a life-changing moment and so I am particularly excited to be involved in an event which brings so many children and authors together.”

Cllr Mark Crane, Selby District Council leader, said: "Reading is an essential life skill so it’s important that we make the activity more widely accessible to all children in Selby.

“The festival will help inspire and encourage more children in Selby to read. Please help support this wonderful festival so that it can grow to become an annual fixture in the Selby events calendar.”

To find out more, go to childrensreadingfestivals.com