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We’ve heard about a fantastic new family book and arts festival which is coming to Dulwich this half-term.  

The festival looks set to be one of the largest celebrations of children’s literature in the capital and include talks and performances from Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson, Judith Kerr, Francesca Simonand Meg Rosoff, along with Mackenzie Crook and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

One of the events that I’m most interested in an interview with Michael Morpurgo by Clare Balding about his brilliant book War Horse. 

This event particularly strikes a chord with me as my grandfather, Fred, travelled across the Atlantic with his horse during the first world was as part of the Royal Canadian Dragoons.   Many of the horses died and they were give bicycles instead before word came that their horses were being redeployed and he was going to the trenches of northern France as infantry.  

He survived to tell his tale and I have a great account of his life with his horse and in the trenches which he wrote when he was an old man.

One of the other great highlights of the festival for me will be an ‘out-of-this-world event’ by scientist Lucy Hawking who co-authored George and the Big Bang with her father Professor Stephen Hawking.

We’ve booked in to see Silly Doggy! with Anthony Stower as well as to play and sing along with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

You can book your tickets here. 

Many of the events take place in the theatre but there are also lots of free activities going on over the three days.   I fancy taking the children to the OKiDO ‘Make your own book’ workshop but there are also poetry and storytelling sessions, The Machine of Visual Delights, music from Kinetika Bloco carnival group, and the opening procession which starts at 10.30am on the Saturday. 

There will also be food and craft stalls, a pamper zone and a community stage so it should be buzzing!

We have a pair of tickets to give away to the Michael Morpurgo War Horse and National Army Museum event at WordUP on Saturday 22nd October at 7.30pm.   To win them, leave a comment about why you like War Horse and we’ll choose a winner at random on 30th September 2011.

The WordUpFamily Festival is running from 22nd – 24th October at Alleyn’s School in Dulwich.  Hope to see you there.