The Wokingham Children's Book Festival is set to return next month.

The festival, now in its seventh year, will take place over the weekend of Saturday, 19 and Sunday, 20 October, featuring 13 events hosted by award-winning authors and illustrators.

Activities including book readings, crafting, and singing will be hosted at Wokingham Town Hall and Wokingham Library.

The festival will kick off on the Saturday at the Carnival Hub in Wokingham, where the Enchanted Players Theatre Company will take the audience through a selection of Julia Donaldson's popular tales with the help of puppets, props, and music, from 10.30am to 11.30am.

Among the attending authors this year is children's novelist and poet AF Harrold, who recently saw his book, The Imaginary, transformed into a Netflix animated film.

He will talk about his latest book, The Worlds We Leave Behind, as well as reading some humorous poems.

Also making an appearance will be bestselling author and illustrator, Steve Antony, who will conduct an interactive reading of his latest picture books, Cat Nap and Bird Bath, and show children how to draw their own animals.

Animals will be the topic of children's writer Holly Webb's talk, too, with attendees able to meet the bears, dolphins, and other wild creatures that have inspired her.

Other highlights include a talk from Seth Burkett and Matt Oldfield on how they got into writing and about their latest book, The Football GOAT; Catherine Cawthorne debunking fairy tales with science; Nizrana Farook taking the audience on a journey involving her books The Girl who Stole an Elephant and The Boy Who Saved a Bear; and a crash-course in creativity with Rowan Foxwood, author of Heart-Seer: The Tale of Anise Star.

Also featured at the festival will be the Authors into Schools initiative, counting Alex Falase-Koya, Derek Keilty, Manjeet Mann, and Michelle Robinson among its speakers.

Cllr Rachel Bishop-Firth, Wokingham Borough Council executive member for resident services, inclusion and fighting poverty, said: "This is a chance to meet award-winning authors right on your doorstep and take part in some really fun and engaging sessions."

Regular tickets are £3 per person, while tickets purchased between now and September 15 are discounted by 15%.

Tickets can be purchased from the Wokingham Children's Book Festival website.