Events And Activities Archive • Page 13 of 144 • Vision RCL

Fabula Festival is an annual celebration of arts and literature, organised by Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure. It champions the transformative power of libraries in young people’s lives.

This year, the Redbridge Fabula Festival Schools Programme will run from 7–10 July, bringing exciting author events to libraries across the borough. We’re thrilled to welcome Sophy Henn, Luan Goldie, Yussef Rafik, and Joseph Elliot to inspire young readers.

Find the full list of free activities on the Fabula Festival page on our website.

Join local author Tori Kasara for a reading of The Good Night Airport and The Good Night Garage, published by award-winning East London-based publisher Flying Eye Books.

There’ll be vehicle-themed singalongs, colouring sheets, paper aeroplane making and games – and even a lavatory truck poo-themed bean bag toss game!

Tori Kasara is a children’s book author and editor from New York. She has written more than 40 books for a variety of age ranges, across fiction and non-fiction. Tori holds an MA in Children’s Literature from Roehampton University, and now lives in East London, England with her husband and two vehicle-obsessed sons.

For ages 3-7

Tickets are free – or pre-purchase a signed copy of the book for £8.00!

Get ready for carnival with picture book author Donette Williams- Harry. She’ll be reading from her new picture book Carnival Queen, and sharing the sights, smells and sounds of this very special day!

Donette Williams-Harry enjoys diving deep into her imagination through reading and writing stories. Born in London, of Caribbean descent, she is passionate about aiding great diversity in children’s books, encouraging all children to think outside of the box.

Tickets are free, or pre-purchase a signed copy of the book for £7.00!

This event is part of our Fabula Summer Programme.

Join Shyala Smith for a reading of her picture book Sai’s Magic Silk, followed by a fun colouring session and a creative activity where you can create your own story!

Shyala Smith is an author, screenwriter, and marketing professional. Her stories explore the themes of navigating immigrant life. She is the author of Sai’s Magic Silk (2023) and The Language of Flowers (2024). Shyala grew up on the sunny island of Sri Lanka and now lives with her family in London.

Tickets are free, or you can pre-purchase a signed copy of the book for £10.00!

Programmed as part of South Asian Heritage Month.

Join author Darren Chetty for a heartwarming event based around his new picture book I’m Going To Make A Friend. Find out all about the many challenges of making new friends and how long it will take – and maybe make a few new friends yourself!

Darren Chetty is a Welsh Indian South African Dutch Londoner. He teaches in primary schools and at university and writes for people of all ages. He loves football and music and collects children’s books, snow globes and toy robots.

Tickets are free, or you can pre-purchase a signed copy of the book for £10.00!

Join storytellers Cat & Hutch for an exciting drama workshop based on the book The Secret Explorers!

The Secret Explorers are a band of brainiac kids from around the world, each with a special skill. In this workshop we follow Ollie, the rainforest expert, and journey into the rainforests of Borneo, discovering its unique ecosystem, on a mission to rescue a baby orangutan.

Cat & Hutch Storytellers bring children’s stories to life through interactive shows and workshops with the aim to encourage children to read for pleasure and use their imaginations to learn through play.

For ages 6-9 years

Free, but booking essential!

Join author Krina Patel-Sage for a reading of her new picture book Watch Me Bloom, and explore the beautiful flowers growing close to home. Then, join in with a fun, interactive craft and colouring activity!

Krina Patel-Sage is an illustrator, author, and designer. Beginning her design career at a children’s publishing house in 2012, she developed a passion for illustrated non-fiction. In 2018, she was shortlisted for Penguin’s WriteNow illustration prize. Most days, you’ll find her in the local woods, spotting birds and fungi with her two young sons.

Tickets are free, or you can pre-purchase a signed copy of the book for £10.00!

Programmed as part of South Asian Heritage Month.

Poet and entertainer, Justin Coe, brings the wild inside with a not so common or garden variety of wacky wordplay, silly stories, puppet-enhanced verse and interactive fun and games.

Even the very youngest of participants get a chance to spin the whizzy-wordy-wheel, grow poems of their own and create and illustrate crazy creatures to adorn our indoor garden’s golden Poet-Tree. There’s sure to be plenty of shouting out and moving about – and for the adults, an opportunity for a spot of indoor sunbathing. 

A captivating performer” – The Guardian

Image credit © Suki Corker

For ages 3-11

Free, but booking essential.

A fun, intimate and sensory storytelling for ages 0-3 — featuring sensory objects, storytelling and stay-and-play. 

Welcome to our pumpkin patch. We’re looking for our favourite pumpkin, can you find yours? Is it too fuzzy, too bumpy, too hairy or too sparkly? 

Based on the best-selling ‘That’s not my…’ series 

These sessions offer 15-minutes of sensory exploration and storytelling for little hands, feet and minds, guided by our Discover Children’s Story Centre’s expert Story Builders. Plus, an additional 10-minutes stay-and-play in a comfortable and supportive environment. 

For children aged 0-3 (up to 36-months) and their caregivers. 

Co-Created by: Callum Rhys-Williams & Marian Hoddy