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Top authors book in for new children’s festival

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By Fiona Reid
Dumfries and West
Top authors book in for new children's festival

A CHILDREN'S book festival is being launched in Dumfries next month — with nearly 30 different events.

The Big DoG festival is offering fun for the entire family at venues across the town, and with help from the Wigtown Book Festival.
Wigtown artistic consultant Adrian Turpin said: “We hope that Big DoG will become not only a resource for children and parents in Dumfries and Galloway, but also a draw for visitors from further afield as it grows in future years.”
Aimed at everyone from under threes to their larger siblings, parents, grandparents and friends, the festival running from April 7 to 9 will feature favourite writers at venues The Theatre Royal, Robert Burns Centre, The Observatory, The Usual Place and the Park opposite the Ewart Library.
And it is all about stories — whether stories read, stories told, stories danced and stories in film.
Katie Morag creator Mairi Hedderwick will read from her latest adventures, as well as talking to grown-ups about her own life.
And author Renita Boyle will focus on squirrels, skunks, acorns and canoes to provide family fun.
Meanwhile, Emily Dodd, famous for CBeebies’ Nina and the Neurons, will introduce the smallest people to Ollie the osprey and Isla the otter, while Debi Gliori will tell her enchanting tale of a dragon in need of an egg.
For older children there is a session of creative dance based on themes from Peter Pan, as well as Peter Pan The Graphic Novel, an opportunity to make shadow puppets, and a chance to use their artistic skills making a bookbag, an activity that could get a little messy.
A free concert for all ages from the talented Bookshop Band focuses on music inspired by books, there will be a chance to explore the Theatre Royal led by JM Barrie himself, and an arts and crafts drop-in event.
The first ever BIG DoG event is supported by The Robertson Trust and Dumfries and Galloway Council, with GRAHAM Construction as the biggest sponsor.

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