MORE than 13,000 children will take part in Scotland's first major book festival dedicated to young readers next month.
Glasgow's Wee Write! festival is to run from March 5 to 14 and will feature more than 100 events.
In this, its debut year, organisers for the festival have revealed that the event, which features a free schools programme, has received more than 10,000 bookings.
The festival features more than 100 events across the city, and it will also host the awards ceremony for the 2014 Scottish Children's Book Awards on March 5.
The votes of schoolchildren, teachers and librarians produced a shortlist for the awards, and the writers are invited to appear in person on the day.
All 2000 tickets have been snapped up for a World Book Day celebration, which is being hosted by Wee Write! the following day.
The Biggest Book Show on Earth event takes place at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall and will see primary schoolchildren meeting with authors including former Children's Laureate Julia Donaldson, Emily Gravett, Jill Murphy and Steve Cole.
Wee Write! is an offshoot of the well-established Aye Write! festival - now in its ninth year - which takes place from April 4-12, and for which The Herald and Times are media partners.
A spokesman for Wee Write! said: "Wee Write! will be Scotland's first major stand-alone book festival for children, families and school pupils of all ages.
"The festival aims to make reading and writing fun for children and young people, and our broad range of events will bring books to life for the next generation of readers."
He added: "We have been overwhelmed by the positive response to Wee Write! in its first year and the huge demand for places in our schools programme.
"To have taken 10,000 bookings from schools more than a month before the festival begins is incredible.
"I have no doubt that our exceptional programme of events and our renowned guest authors will inspire thousands of children to become lifelong readers."
The programme for Wee Write! takes place at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. Only family events are open to the public, tickets for which go on sale today.
Events include a celebration of 50 years of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as well as a 25th birthday for Elma The Patchwork Elephant.
The schools programme includes guest appearances on March 12 and 13 from author Alex McCall, whose first children's book, Attack of the Giant Robot Chickens, won the Kelpies Prize.
The author, artist and political cartoonist Chris Riddell will appear at the Mitchell Library on March 12. He is known for the Ottoline series, and has won major prizes, including the 2001 and 2004 Kate Greenaway Medals. At Wee Write! the author will introduce his latest book, Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse, which was shortlisted for both Children's Book of the Year at Specsavers National Book Awards and picked up the Costa Children's Book Award for 2013.
Tickets for the family programme are available by phone 0141 252 8000, online at www.ayewrite.com, or from Royal Concert Hall.
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