Rhyme, pictures and stories in north Shropshire

The second Wordwise family festival of rhyme, picture and story is set to take place in libraries, schools and village halls across north Shropshire from Saturday 17 October 2011 to Thursday 22 October 2011. 

Last year’s events attracted over a thousand children and families to a variety of events, and this year’s programme is even more exciting with author visits, craft sessions, puppet shows and storytelling at Whitchurch, Loppington, Clive, Myddle, Hadnall, Higher Heath, Calverhall, Tilstock, Prees, Clive and Shawbury. 

Most events are free and are suitable for children and families of all ages.  They include activities such as Scrappies craft sessions, ‘Fantastic Creatures’ illustration workshops, visits to villages by the Museum on the Move, with the Dinosaur, the Dodo and the Dormouse exhibition and some special baby and toddler rhyme times. 

Top of the bill are two performance shows.  Nick Toczek’s hilarious Million Miles an Hour Show which will be at the Talbot Theatre, Whitchurch Leisure Centre at 6.30pm on Wednesday 21 October 2011 (box office 01948 660660); and Sea Legs Puppet Theatre will be performing ‘Little Bo Peep’ for younger children aged two to seven with parents/carers at Shawbury Parish Hall on Wednesday 21 October 2011 at 2.30pm. Tickets for the latter are £2 and are available from Shawbury Library on 01939 250021. 

Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for libraries, said:

“This is a fantastic celebration of rhymes, pictures and stories for all ages.  I’d like to encourage as many people as possible to come along and enjoy everything on offer across north Shropshire.”

Wordwise is devised and run by Shropshire Council’s library service, and funded by Whitchurch, Wem and Shawbury Local Joint Committees. 

The full festival programme is available from your local library, or by calling 01743 255031 or by visiting shropshire.gov.uk.