The following information is arranged as follows:

· Exhibitions for schools and groups
· Author and illustrator events for schools and groups
· Seven Stories group visit Free Previews for teachers and group leaders
· Special author and illustrator events and workshops for adults
· Hallowe’en Creative Writing Competition
· The Seven Stories Bookshop and school accounts
· The Cool Cat Café

School and Group Visits to Seven Stories from September 2006

Exhibitions

Last Chance to visit the Ahlberg Exhibition!
What’s in the Book?: The 17 Million Books of Janet and Allan Ahlberg features books, artwork and hands-on activities which bring to life the wonderful picture books of much-loved duo Janet and Allan Ahlberg, best known for classics such as The Jolly Postman, Burglar Bill, Each Peach Pear Plum and the Happy Families series.
This interactive and stimulating exhibition will be leaving Seven Stories in January 2007 to tour nationally. It has proved very popular with children and young people of all ages, so book now to avoid disappointment.
Group visits provide you with an additional range of hands-on activities to choose from, both in the Gallery and elsewhere in the building, to inspire and delight your children and help them relate to the books and artwork on display.
KS3 groups use materials provided to look at the process of writing, illustrating and editing a picture book, which can support them in producing creative work of their own back at school. Sessions last from 10.00am – 12noon or 12.30pm – 2.30pm. Suitable for ages 3 – 14: KS1,KS2 & KS3. Pre-booking required.

Seven Stories’ New Exhibition – Westall’s Kingdom – A Writer’s Life
This October we’re launching a fabulous new exhibition with a local connection! Westall’s Kingdom- A Writer’s Life will celebrate the work of Tyneside-born, Carnegie medal-winning author Robert Westall, best known for The Machine Gunners.
Visiting groups will have the chance to explore the diversity of Westall’s books through manuscripts, artwork and hands-on creative activities, with stories based on a widely-appealing range of topics, from war and cats to the North East landscape, motorbikes and the supernatural.
Groups will learn about the real-life events, places and people that inspired Westall’s writing, and either develop their own creative writing skills or explore Second World War-based The Machine Gunners, depending on the visit activities chosen. School and group bookings for Westall will be available from Monday 6th November. Sessions last from 10am – 12noon or 12.30 – 2.30pm. Most suitable for ages 9 – 14, Upper KS2 & KS3. Pre-booking required.

Author Events for Schools and Groups

Illustrator Visit: Jackie Morris – Thursday 5 October
To celebrate National Poetry Day, award-winning illustrator Jackie Morris will be visiting Seven Stories. Jackie has illustrated over 30 children’s picture books including Can You See a Little Bear? The Seal Children and Lord of the Forest. To tie-in with the publication of Classic Poems, an illustrated anthology on 30 September, Jackie will be running a session for schools in the afternoon. This includes a chance to view the galleries and book-signing with Jackie Morris. 12.30 – 2.30pm. Suitable for year 6 – 8, KS2/3. Supported by Barefoot Books.

Drama Sessions for Schools, Tuesday 31st October – Friday 3rd November
Seven Stories has joined forces with the Performing Arts department at The University of Northumbria to offer Drama in Education programmes for both the Ahlberg and Westall exhibitions, for one week only. The sessions will involve performance that brings the exhibitions and their themes to life, with participation for your group. This is a rare opportunity for your group to experience a high quality Drama in Education experience. There are limited places for these exclusive sessions so please book early to avoid disappointment. Ahlberg sessions suitable for ages 3 – 7, KS1, Westall sessions suitable for ages 9 – 14, upper KS2 & KS3. Both sessions run from 10am – 12noon or 12.30 – 2.30pm. Pre-booking required.

Author Visit: Beverley Birch, Monday 20 November
Kenyan-born BEVERLEY BIRCH has written more than 40 critically acclaimed books and is in the top 10 per cent of all authors borrowed in UK libraries. She combines writing with an editing career commissioning children's fiction. Meet Beverley as she talks about her latest novel Rift which tells the tale of a school field trip that goes horribly wrong when four English teenagers vanish in the African landscape. 10am – 12noon and 12.30 – 2.30pm. Suitable for ages 9-13, KS2/3. Pre-booking required. In association with Egmont Books.

Illustrator Visit: Alex Scheffler, Tuesday 28th November
Illustrator of many much-loved books such as The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom, Axel Scheffler will read from his latest book, Mother Goose's Rhymes and How she Came to Tell Them, and involve children in drawing along with him.
Visiting groups will be able to look round the Galleries before the event and have their books signed by Axel afterwards. 10am – 12.30pm. Suitable for ages 6-7, KS1. Pre-booking required.

Author Visit: Beth Webb, Monday 4th December
Beth Webb is an experienced writer of children's books and has also spent many years teaching writing to young people. Her stories are mostly based on real places or events, intertwined with traditional folk legends. Beth Webb will be talking about her latest publication, Star Dancer. Set in the Iron Age, it follows the life of Tegen, a girl who is destined to be the most powerful druid of all. Shackled by tradition and caught up in power struggles she does not understand, Tegen must find the strength within herself to face her fate. 10am – 12noon. Suitable for ages 11 – 15. Pre-booking required. In association with Macmillan.

Groups gain most from an author or illustrator visit if they are prepared beforehand, through reading or discussion, and come ready with questions they would like answered.
If the group is able to take home copies of the books after the event, this also supports children’s motivation to read. Signed copies can be particularly well-loved!
Books are available from the Seven Stories Bookshop. Purchasing in bulk in advance or via a schools account can help to make this more affordable for your group. Please call the bookshop on 0845 271 0777 Extension 712 for more information.
Hallowe’en Story Writing Competition

Author Robert Westall wrote some of the best-loved and scariest stories around! His observations of real-life places, people and events were given an imaginative twist, creating fiction with an edge of reality that has the reader totally hooked.
We’re celebrating the opening of our exhibition, Westall’s Kingdom, with a chance for your school or group to get involved in story writing that could earn them a VIP place at one of the scariest Hallowe’en Parties around, plus book prizes!
We’re looking for the best scary short stories based on a real place in the North East – perhaps a special place the children have visited, or somewhere quite ordinary that they know well.
There’ll be prizes for the best entries in different age categories: 9 – 11 years and 11-13 years. Prizes will include VIP ADMISSION TO OUR SCARY STORY HALLOWE’EN SPECIAL on Sunday 29th October (just as it starts to get dark…).
Terms and conditions apply: Full details can be found on our website.
Adult and Teacher Events from September 2006

Teacher Preview Evening, Tuesday 10th October
Attending a teacher preview at Seven Stories is highly recommended to get a real feel for what a group will experience on their visit.
You will meet a member of our education team who will show you group visit workshop activities and also answer any questions you may have. There will be an opportunity to explore the building, browse in our bookshop and find out about school account offers. Refreshments will be provided. 4pm – 6pm. FREE to teachers and group leaders. Max 3 staff per school per preview. Pre-booking required.

Illustrator Event: Jackie Morris, Thursday 5th October
To celebrate National Poetry Day, award-winning illustrator Jackie Morris will be visiting Seven Stories. Jackie has illustrated over 30 children’s picture books including Can You See a Little Bear? The Seal Children and Lord of the Forest. To tie-in with the publication of Classic Poems, an illustrated anthology on 30 September, Jackie will be running a morning workshop for adults, followed by a book-signing. Particularly suitable for adults keen to illustrate for children, art and design students, librarians and all those with an interest in children’s books. 11am - 12 noon. Pre booking is required. Supported by Barefoot Books.

Illustrator Workshop: Alex Scheffler, Tuesday 28th November
Illustrator of many much-loved books such as The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom, Axel Scheffler will talk about his latest book, Mother Goose's Rhymes and How she Came to Tell Them, and run a workshop for adults keen to develop their illustration skills. He’ll also be happy to sign copies of his books. Particularly suitable for adults keen to illustrate for children and students of art, design or illustration. 1.30 – 3pm. Pre-booking required.

Seven Stories Bookshop

Book ownership is a significant factor in raising interest in reading and levels of literacy. A visit to the Seven Stories Bookshop can round off your visit and ensure that children build on their experience by re-reading their favourite stories. As well as our extensive range of the very best books for children of all ages (at a starting price of only £1), we also have a great range of gifts and souvenirs to fit all pockets.

School Bookshop Accounts
With over 10,000 children’s books published yearly in the UK alone, it can be difficult for teachers to find the right book at the right time - The Seven Stories Bookshop can help. Our knowledgeable staff will be happy to assist you on making a selection, help with ideas, particular aims you have or themes you would like to emphasise. You can receive discounts and also place orders if you cannot come to the shop by fax or email.

Cool Cat Café

Light refreshments are available in the café and hot meal deals may be booked for groups (£2.50 per child). Alternative arrangements may be possible for group lunches: please discuss this when making a booking.

Contact Us

For more information please see our website at www.sevenstories.org.uk
For further enquires or to make a booking, please contact Alison Neill our Marketing and Bookings Assistant:
Email: alison.neill@sevenstories.org.uk
Tel: 0845 271 0777 ext 707

A school or group visit to Seven Stories costs £3.50 per child with 2 free adult places for every 10 children.